Socialisten en Democraten bespreken belangrijkste taken EU-voorzitterschap (en)

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevičius and Vice-Minister for the European Union issues, Vytautas Leškevičius, met with the delegation of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, lead by Hannes Swoboda i.

“The upcoming election to the EP next year narrows the so called “legislative window”, i. e. less time is left for decision-making and completion of started works. As a result, close cooperation with the EU during the half year of the Lithuanian presidency i is especially important,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Objectives of the Lithuanian presidency i of the Council of the EU, Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020, relations with the Eastern Partnership countries, areas of the EU development were discussed in the meeting.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, L. Linkevičius, underlined that Lithuania strived to strengthen connections with the strategic partners of the EU and encourage economic and trade connections with the Eastern Partnership countries. Minister expressed that the Eastern Partnership Summit on November 28-29th in Vilnius could be the turning point in the relationships between the EU and the Eastern partners.

“The key objective of the Eastern Partnership Summit is to encourage smooth and continuous dialogue between the EU and the Eastern neighbours. This dialog could transform the whole region in time and open many new cooperation perspectives,” said L. Linkevičius.

During the Vilnius Summit in autumn, it is expected to sign an Agreement with the Ukraine on association and free trade, complete negotiations and initial agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.

During their visit in Lithuania, the members of the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament are also meeting the President Dalia Grybauskaitė i, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, taking part in discussions with the members of the Government and the Seimas.

The Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats is the second largest group in the EP. At the moment it has 190 members, among them there are three Lithuanian politicians: Zigmantas Balčytis i, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė i ir Justas Vincas Paleckis i.

Traditionally, delegates of the groups in the EP pay visits to the country preparing for the presidency of the Council of the EU. During these visits, members of the European Parliament are introduced to the priorities during the presidency, discuss other questions that are important to the Groups. In May, members of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and members of the Group of the European People’s Party (PPE) already visited Lithuania.