Press release, 10 June 2013

The meeting between Members of the Seimas and Members of the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom focused on the revival and growth of EU’s economy, the impact of austerity measures aimed at fighting the economic and financial crisis, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014–2020, energy security and the Eastern Partnership.

“We very much expect that the EU budget will be adopted before the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU and that our country will be able to focus on the MFF-related implementing legislation, about 40-50 legal acts in total”, Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, said.

He also expressed the hope that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement would be signed during the Lithuanian Presidency, providing the EU with more instruments to influence Ukraine.

Leader of the Opposition of the Seimas Andrius Kubilius stressed that “the Eastern Partnership has to be the priority for the whole EU. We must make every effort to bring Ukraine closer to the EU. This is Lithuania’s goal for the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in November.”

William Cash, Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, and his colleagues in the delegation under his leadership outlined the UK’s position on various instruments initiated and implemented at the EU level, and noted that UK’s position is frequently reserved and may differ from the approach of other EU Member States.

The meeting with the UK parliamentarians was also attended by the following MPs: Linas Balsys, Povilas Gylys, Andrius Mazuronis, Julius Sabatauskas, Remigijus Šimašius, Artūras Skardžius and Rokas Žilinskas.

Dalia Bankauskaitė, Adviser, Office of the Committee on European Affairs, tel: +370 5 239 6830, e-mail: [email protected]

Morta Vidūnaitė, Adviser to Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, tel: +370 5 239 6278, mob: +370 612 011 21, e-mail: [email protected]