Litouwse president Grybauskaite woont evenementen bij ter viering van het Litouws voorzitterschap (en)

On July 4-5, President Dalia Grybauskaitė i will launch events to mark the start of Lithuania's EU Presidency in Vilnius. The main presidency inauguration events will take place on 5 July when the European Commission (EC) will arrive in Vilnius. In the evening, an opening ceremony will be held in the Grand Courtyard of Vilnius University.

Members of the European Commission will visit Vilnius all together for the first time. Dalia Grybauskaitė as the head of the presiding state will hold a meeting with EC President José Manuel Barroso i and commissioners at the National Art Gallery.

During their meeting, the President, the Prime Minister and members of the government will discuss with the European Commission the priorities of the Lithuanian EU Presidency, the six-month agenda and the most urgent European issues.

According to the President, smooth cooperation with the European Commission is key to achieving common goals - the EU's financial stability, economic growth and reduction of youth unemployment, as well as more open and more secure Europe.

Following the meeting with the Commission in corpore, President Dalia Grybauskaitė will hold bilateral talks with EC President José Manuel Barroso.

The opening ceremony of Lithuania's EU Presidency will take place in the Grand Courtyard of Vilnius University. The event will be attended by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and members of the Commission, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy i, as well as outstanding representatives of Lithuanian culture and art, political figures and diplomats.

At the solemn ceremony, President Dalia Grybauskaitė will deliver a speech and take over a symbolic EU flag from the outgoing Irish Presidency. Lithuania will introduce itself to Europe with musical composition Sąšauka ("Link-up") by Kipras Mašanauskas, a piece consisting of 28 musical fragments. The event will be broadcast live on Lithuanian National Television and on the internet www.eu2013.lt.

Before launching EU presidency in Lithuania, on 4 July at the Presidential Palace Dalia Grybauskaitė will open an international scientific conference dedicated to Lithuania's Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Among the participants of the conference will be representatives of the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) from more than 30 European countries, politicians, scientists, and representatives of non-governmental organizations and media.

Later, the President will attend a special sitting of the Seimas to mark the start of the Lithuanian EU Presidency, and the flag-raising ceremony at Independence Square.

In the afternoon, the President will meet more than 60 journalists from across Europe to present Lithuania's EU Presidency priorities and discuss the tackling of topical European issues.