During it‘s presidency of the EU council Lithuania will emphasize quality of education, recommennds to follow youth ideas to increase employment On the first day of The Council of Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Lithuanian Minister of Education and Science Dainius Pavalkis introducing priorities of the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council in the field of education stressed internationalization and efficient financing of higher education, as well as leadership in education, as matters of highest importance. Minister of Social Security and Labour Algimanta Pabedinskienė emphasized, that Lithuania in the EU Council will devote particular attention to youth employment and social inclusion. More...

Future Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union As the European Union moves towards recovery, closer cooperation between member states is needed more than ever in order to ensure growth, job creation and better competitiveness. The EU must demonstrate to its people and the world that it pursues credible financial and economic policies, is committed to growth through joint initiatives that increase competitiveness, and aims at security for its citizens and openness with its partners. More...

Lithuania presented the logo of its Presidency of the European Union At the festive event by the White Bridge, President Dalia Grybauskaitė together with schoolchildren, students and volunteers raised the kite carrying the 11-meter-long and 9-meter-wide flag with the logo of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU). More...

United Kingdom supports Lithuanian EU presidency priorities On 9 May in London, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the British Foreign Secretary William Hague. The meeting mainly focused on Lithuania’s Presidency of the EU Council in the second half of this year. More...

Lithuanian foreign minister assures high-ranking Turkish official that Lithuanian EU presidency will back Turkey’s EU aspirations On 14 May, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Vytautas Leškevičius met with the Undersecretary of Turkey’s Ministry for EU Affairs Haluk Ilıcak to discuss progress in the country’s accession negotiations, and assured that Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the EU Council would further support Turkey’s European aspirations. More...

Ministers opened the way for faster negotiations on the 2014-2020 EU Multi-annual financial framework The EU Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) agreed to amend this year’s EU budget, to step up the fight against tax fraud and evasion and discussed the aspects of bank recovery and resolution. More...

Charlemagne Prize – recognition of the people of Lithuania At the historical Aachen Town Hall, President Dalia Grybauskaitė was presented the prestigious International Charlemagne Prize. The award, also known as "Oscar in Politics", has been extended to President Grybauskaitė for Lithuania's contribution to uniting the European Union and building the economic stability of the whole Europe. More...

Europe will seek for strengthening gender equality Ministers of Lithuania, Ireland and Greece approved in written that during Council Presidency they will seek for actual equality of women and men especially in the economic life. More...

Lithuanian military on preparation for the operation in Somalia Lithuania is increasing its contribution to the European Union-led operations by deploying an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) to the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation ATALANTA off the Somali coast as of the second semester of 2013. The Lithuanian AVPD will be protecting a World Food Program (WFP) chartered ship delivering humanitarian aid to various ports in Somalia. More...

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Calls for a Compromise on the European Multiannual Financial Framework At the meeting of EU Ministers responsible for European affairs on 22 April in Luxembourg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius stressed that Lithuania supported a wish of the EU’s Irish Presidency to reach a compromise with the European Parliament on the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework. More...