Press release, 9
July 2014
“Lithuania commends
Greece on its successful Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the
first half of this year. I am pleased to note that the outgoing Hellenic
Presidency, which was a wonderful partner in our Presidency Trio, continued
Lithuania’s initiatives related to such priorities as economic growth, jobs and
establishment of the banking union. However, the best news for Lithuania was,
of course, the signing of the association agreements between the EU and
Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova at the end of July,” says Gediminas Kirkilas,
Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs.
In a joint
meeting of the Seimas Committees on European Affairs and Foreign Affairs held
on 4 July 2014, Michael-Efstratios Daratzikis, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Greece, presented the results of the Hellenic Presidency of
the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2014.
Greece was
the last country of the Presidency Trio involving Ireland, Lithuania and Greece
to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Greece has taken
the helm of the Community for the fifth time since its accession to the EU in
1981. The planned budget of the Presidency was € 50m (LTL 172.6m). The
slogan of the Hellenic Presidency was: “Together we sail further”.
The key
achievements of the Hellenic Presidency included approval of the EU Maritime
Security Strategy, agreement on the Regulation on the statute and funding of
European political parties and European political foundations, successful
negotiations concerning the banking union, visa-free regime to Moldova,
political agreement on the Fourth Railway Package, agreement on rules for the
EU Solidarity Fund and establishment of a Union action for the European
Capitals of Culture.
During its
Presidency, Greece held a total of 57 Councils and ministerial meetings and 7
parliamentary dimension events, concluded 67 political agreements, and
organised 493 events. Due to the European Parliament elections, the Hellenic
Presidency actually spanned only four months.
Morta Vidūnaitė, Adviser to Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy
Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6278, mob. +370 612 01121, e-mail:
Morta.Vidunaite@lrs.lt
Matas Maldeikis, Adviser, Office of the Committee on
European Affairs, tel. +370 5 239 6864, mob. +370 620 90 947, e-mail: Matas.Maldeikis@lrs.lt
