Press release, 7 February 2013

On 4 February 2013, the Bureau of the European Parliament confirmed the plan for EP Committee visits in 2013, including visits to Lithuania. Seven EP Committees have decided to visit Vilnius and discuss in greater detail the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Three EP Committee visits to Vilnius are scheduled in April.

The first delegation to arrive in Vilnius on 3–5 April is from the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). The Committee Members will be interested in gender equality issues and will visit the European Institute for Gender Equality, which is the only EU agency based in Lithuania.

The delegation of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) will visit Lithuania on 29–30 April. The MEPs will meet with Members of the Seimas and the Government, as well as with businessmen and consumer organisations.

The delegation of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) will come to Vilnius on 29 April – 1 May. The delegation will have meetings with Members of the Seimas and representatives of non-governmental organisations, business and academia. The guests will be interested in issues related to energy safety and energy interconnections aiming to consolidate energy infrastructure and to establish a common EU energy policy. There are also plans to discuss the participation of the Eastern Partnership countries in energy projects with a view to reforming the energy sector and implementing agreements with the EU. Provided there is an opportunity, the ITRE delegation is also planning to visit the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and learn about the decommissioning developments.

The delegation of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) is coming to Lithuania on 2–3 May. The delegation plans to focus on unemployment, especially youth unemployment. The visit of the representatives of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) is planned in May or June (the date is yet to be confirmed). They will be interested in the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council pertaining to trade, including the common trade policy legislation.

In July, when Lithuania takes over the Presidency of the Council, the country will welcome the delegation of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI). The MEPs will meet with the Lithuanian politicians, lawyers and representatives of non-governmental organisations. They will discuss the relevant legal issues, the latest legislative initiatives on mutual recognition of the effects of civil status documents and regulation on cross border road traffic accidents. The Committee believes that these issues are particularly relevant for Lithuania because many Lithuanian residents often cross the borders of the EU Member States due to their employment outside the Lithuanian territory (heavy movement of the labour force).

Lithuania also plans to welcome the delegation of the Committee on Budgets (BUDG) (the date is yet to be confirmed) which hopes to meet Members of the Seimas and the Government and discuss the annual budget adoption procedure.

*There are 20 standing committees and 2 subcommittees at the European Parliament.

Jolanta Anskaitienė, Public Relations Unit, tel: +370 5 239 6508, e-mail: [email protected]