Preparation for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and challenges which the EU faces in terms of energy, economic recovery, the Eastern Partnership and the EU multiannual financial framework (2014-2020) were discussed at the meeting between the Seimas Committee on European Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and President Dalia Grybauskaite, held at the President’s Office.

President Grybauskaitė emphasises that four working months of the Presidency will require intense work and patience since various authorities will have to cooperate and coordinate their activities in order to ensure high quality presidency and events hosted by Lithuania.

Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs, assures that the Seimas has completed its preparations for the Presidency and the Committee will approve negotiation outlines and it will grant an early mandate to the Government for the entire period in order to ensure its flexibility and consistency.

President Grybauskaitė gave a positive assessment of the Presidency preparations carried out by the Seimas and the Committee on European Affairs. Ms Grybauskaitė is invited to five parliamentary dimension events to be held in the Seimas. The two institutions agree to continue their close cooperation throughout the Presidency.

The President also stresses the importance of the common EU energy policy, which would help the EU to ensure competitiveness in the energy sector and to do away with energy islands by 2015.

The President and the two Committees of the Seimas agree that signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement during the Lithuanian Presidency would, according to the President, help the EU to bring Ukraine closer, while on the other hand the decision on Ukraine will depend on its progress in democratic reforms and the will of the great EU Members.

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