Dear Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality,

-                    Mr Mikael Gustafsson, Chair of the Committee, from Sweden,

-                    Fellow colleagues from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats: Ms Britta Thomsen from Denmark, Ms Zita Grumai from Hungary, Ms Vilija Blinkevičiūtė from Lithuania,

-                    Ms Edit Bauer from Slovakia,

-                    Ms Justina Vitkauskaitė from Lithuania,

My dear Colleagues from the Seimas:  

-                    Ms Kristina Miškiniene, Chair of the Committee on Social Affairs and Labour, my fellow Social Democrat, and

-                    Mr Leonard Talmont, Chair of the Committee on Human Rights, from the Lithuanian Poles’ Electoral Action, partners of the Social Democrats in the coalition Government.

I am more than honoured to have you here, in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.

The priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU are mostly related to foreign policy and energy security. Gender equality, however, is a daily priority of the current coalition Government led by the Social Democratic Party and also deserves appropriate attention during the next half of the year.

Moreover, human rights policy is an integral part of the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the Eastern Partnership in seeking to bring such countries as Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova closer to Europe and make them more democratic. Therefore, Lithuania actively co-operates with Denmark, Sweden and other Scandinavian countries that are the world leaders in human rights and gender equality.

Human rights, gender equality, equal opportunities and fight against any kind of discrimination also stand as principles of the Social Democrat-led Government. The governmental programme clearly states, I quote, that these are “the necessary precondition for creating a welfare state. Each individual should feel a full member of our society despite his or her sex, age, disabilities, ethnicity or sexual orientation.”

The previous Social Democrat-led governments also significantly contributed to putting gender equality principles into the country’s legislation and practical politics. During the EU pre-accession period, we achieved that the Law on Equal Opportunities was adopted and the Office of Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson was established.

Yet another achievement is the establishment of the European Institute for Gender Equality in Lithuania. For this opportunity, Lithuania had to compete with other new EU member states – Slovenia and the Czech Republic.

I can proudly say that, as the Lithuanian Prime Minister in 2006–2008, I also contributed to this project. I have to admit, however, that it was not an easy competition. Today this achievement puts pressure on Lithuania to set an example in equal opportunities at the European arena.

In the Seimas, the Social Democrats have always taken initiatives to improve women’s socioeconomic situation as we hold on the position that gender equality is good for the welfare of an entire society.

In general, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party has set a proper example in Lithuania. So far, it has been the only party which has the gender-based quota for electoral candidates. The Lithuanian Social Democrats also support many gender equality measures in politics and business that have been tested in Northern Europe. At the end of 2012, thanks to the Social Democrats in the Seimas, the Committee on European Affairs adopted the decision stating that the gender-based quotas for non-executive directors of stock-listed companies did not contradict the principle of subsidiarity.

In connection to human rights, we, Lithuanian Social Democrats, aim to pursue the European social democratic agenda. Lithuanian women were among the first in Europe to get the right to vote, with significant input of the first Lithuanian Social Democrats. Therefore, today our Government should effectively solve such issues as gender-based violence against women and help women balancing family and professional life.

I am glad that here we have a strong ally – European Parliament which has always been one step ahead with progressive ideas. The Lisbon Treaty has provided more powers to the European Parliament as well as national Parliaments in the EU decision-making.

Accordingly, a parliamentary dimension of the Presidency and the Seimas’ role become more important. The Seimas and its Committee on European Affairs have sought closer relations with the European Parliament and its committees, including the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, and individual Members.  

In Lithuania, we have planned 10 events of a parliamentary dimension: Meeting of the Chairpersons of the COSAC in July, L COSAC Plenary Meeting in October, Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy in September, and seven meetings of sectoral committees. We have suggested that the European Parliament and the Seimas hold a joint parliamentary meeting. In 2014, we should organise the Meeting of Secretaries General of EU Parliaments and the Conference of Speakers of EU Parliaments.

I hope that during the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council, the Seimas’ contribution, made in co-operation with the European Parliament, will be significant in implementing the Lithuanian priorities and communicating the human rights message to Lithuania and all Europe.