Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council Starting on July 1st 2013

On 1st July 2013, Lithuania will become the first Baltic state to hold the Presidency of the European Union. Taking it over from Ireland, Lithuania will build on the Irish achievements in tackling problems, guiding the Presidency at a critical juncture while EU institutions seek to conclude key policy dossiers before the European Parliament elections in May 2014 and pass it over to Greece.

Credible, Growing, Open Europe – the main priorities of the Presidency
In order to restore the EU’s economic credibility, the Lithuanian Presidency will strive to make progress towards sounder public finances as it is a key factor of strengthening the ground for financial stability. The implementation and enhancement of agreed reforms will be pushed forward. Following the strategy “Europe 2020”, Lithuania will strive to further strengthen the single market, secure growth and new jobs, particularly wider opportunities for youth employment. Better management of the single market as well as the implementation of applicable rules will also be put into the spotlight. Among other factors that remain crucial to the European economy are the Digital Agenda, more competitive industry, and better conditions for small and medium businesses, research and innovation, the agreement on the multi-annual EU financial perspective for the period of 2014-2020. Lithuania will seek progress in the implementation of EU commitment to finalize internal market for energy in 2014 and thus ensure that after 2015 no EU member state would be excluded from European energy networks. In the field of regional policy, particular attention will be paid to strengthening regional cooperation in order to ensure an effective implementation of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and the Danube Region as well as sustainable regional development.

Steps for strengthening the EU as a global model of openness and security will be taken as well. Hosting the Eastern Partnership Summit in November 2013 will be key factor on closer integration of EU with Eastern Partners. Very important aspect of openness, which will be taken into account, is the enlargement process, control of the EU’s borders and much better coordination of EU energy policy, especially in the external union dimension.

The Lithuanian Umbrella (LU) of development CSOs will coordinate and implement a Presidency project. The objective of the project is to empower Lithuanian NGDOs to proactively contribute to national ODA policies in reflection to the EU agenda during the Lithuanian Presidency. Specifically a structured dialogue between civil society, Lithuanian decision makers and the EU Institutions should be facilitated. Further the capacities of LU members and other NGDOs should be improved, enabling them to contribute promoting and mainstreaming the topics being high on the EU Development Agenda and Presidencies into the national agendas during the Lithuanian EU Presidency.

For more information about the Lithuanian Presidency, events and activities contact:
Igoris Kononovas - igoris@litdea.eu

Information provided by Igoris Kononovas, Lithuanian Umbrella