Litouwen heeft zich tijdens het Europees Jaar van de Burger gericht op de dialoog tussen overheid en burger (en)

Today, Algirdas Butkevičius i, Prime Minister of Lithuania, has greeted the European Year of Citizens closing conference's guests. It’s the last high-level event of the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council. According to the PM, during the Presidency Lithuania has focused on the dialogue between all levels of government and civil society and business.

“I’m sure that Europe will remain united, consolidated, and competitive and will also take into consideration the needs and interests of its citizens,” the PM said during the greeting.

“I’m glad that our efforts for a Credible, Growing, and Open Europe have been aimed at the improvement of the well-being of all Europeans. (...) And by this I mean not just the EU’s citizens. One of the Presidency’s priorities - the Eastern Partnership programme - is an excellent testament to my words. Global openness and dissemination of democratic values - these are the features which make the EU model unique and attractive,” Mr Butkevičius said.

Over 300 participants form various EU NGOs and institutions came to the conference, How to make every year a year for citizens! On Lithuania’s initiative, representatives of the EU Eastern Partnership countries’ (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan) NGOs were invited to participate as guests.

In 2012, the European Parliament and Council declared 2013 the European Year of Citizens. The goal of the European Year of Citizens is to inform about EU citizenship-related rights and duties.