Press release, 31 May 2013

The European Union budget must be approved in time with due account of the remarks by the European Parliament, and EU energy security must be placed at the forefront of the EU political agenda.

Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, expressed such a view in his speech while hosting the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament chaired by Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament and Member of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, to the Seimas.

“We fully understand what the European Parliament wants for the new European Union budget, that is budget flexibility, substantial revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework after two or three years, reform of the system of own resources and budgetary unity,” said Mr Kirkilas. “The European Union today, however, especially needs precision as to how to start a financial year, how to manage EU finances for the next seven years, which means that we must plan our work to ensure smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in the EU.”

Gediminas Kirkilas stressed the importance of EU energy security, one of the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, for completing the internal energy market of the EU by 2014, consolidating energy infrastructure and integrating energy systems, implementing common EU external energy policy and diversifying energy supplies, as well as eliminating energy islands and ensuring favourable energy prices for consumers.

The Chair of the Committee on European Affairs expressed hope that the European Parliament together with the Seimas would host a joint parliamentary meeting on energy in autumn.

Gediminas Kirkilas also highlighted the fully-fledged role the European Parliament and national Parliaments play in the EU decision-making process, as enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon.

“The European Union has as much competence and power as conferred on it by its citizens. National Parliaments and the European Parliament, expressing the political will of EU citizens, can be important actors in increasing the turnout in elections to the European Parliament through exchange of views and best practices,” said Mr Kirkilas.

Morta Vidūnaitė, Adviser to Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, tel: +370 5 239 6278, mob: +370 612 01121, e-mail: [email protected]

Matas Maldeikis, Adviser, Office of the Committee on European Affairs, tel: +370 5 239 6864, mob: +370 620 90947, e-mail: [email protected]