Lithuanian foreign minister categorically objects to unsatisfactory tendencies in the new financial perspective

Euro.lt

 

On 20 October at the first political debate on the EU Financial Framework 2014-2020 in Brussels, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Ažubalis said that Lithuania was not satisfied with the proposed principles of the new budget of the European Union, particularly with the areas of cohesion, agriculture and energy security.

“The mission of the European Union’s cohesion policy is to ensure that disparities between EU regions would be reduced, while today’s proposals made by the European Commission could bring opposite results. This is contrary to the interests of the EU and Lithuania, and to similar countries, and it is completely unacceptable,” reads the Minister’s report.

Lithuania’s position is that the cohesion appropriations at the proposed threshold of 2.5 per cent of GDP will dramatically reduce funding for the least developed EU regions, disproportionately affect the countries that have experienced the greatest decline in GDP and need help, and, moreover, will penalize member states with the best absorption of cohesion appropriations.

 

“Fair distribution of direct payments for agriculture has direct impact on successful growth of the EU economy. The Commission’s proposal is obviously lacking ambition – the inequality of distribution remains too big, and this will continue to hinder effective functioning of the EU’s internal market, and will hurt the competitiveness of the EU. Lithuania cannot agree with this,” said the Minister.

 

When speaking about energy security, A.Ažubalis reminded the EU’s commitment to contribute substantially to cover the costs of the closing down of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

 

“Upon joining in the EU we committed to close the nuclear power plant for our sake and for the sake of entire Europe. In order to make this possible, we are bearing a heavy economic burden for the time being and facing challenges of energy security. The European Union has to fulfil its promise with regard to the financing of the closing down of the nuclear power plant. Another attitude would discredit the European Union and it is possible that other EU member states would start having their doubts,” stated the Minister.

 

In his opinion, the European Union must not forget also Lithuania’s determination to implement the provisions of the 3rd energy package that demands to separate energy suppliers from the owners of transmission systems, as well as to bear in mind the successfully implemented construction project of Visaginas nuclear power plant, which has an impact on energy security in the entire European Union.

 

The debates were attended by the highest-ranking representatives from the European Commission, national parliaments, the European Parliament and governments of member states: President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and Prime Minister of Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU Donald Tusk.

 

21-10-2011