The Seimas Committee on European Affairs approved the dossier for the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and granted an early negotiating mandate to the Government for the entire Presidency period. This decision will facilitate a flexible response of the Government to the positions presented by other EU Member States and a smooth presidency of the Council of the EU.

“This is a crucial step for Lithuania. The Lithuanian Presidency agenda contains more than 500 items. By granting an early mandate to the Government we took into account the experience of Poland and Ireland. The mandate granted to the Irish Government was even more flexible. Certainly, the Committee on European Affairs will continue to hear reports by the ministers when they return from the Council meetings”, said Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chairman of the Committee on European Affairs.

Renata Lygienė, Head of the Office of the Committee on European Affairs, tel. +370 5 239 6592, mob. +370 620 90524; e-mail: [email protected]

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