RRI Live!

Listen to Radio Romania International Live

Lithuania, at the helm of the European Union

‘Fewer promises, more results. That is the slogan of the authorities in Lithuania, the country that on July 1st took over the EUs presidency for the next six months.

Lithuania, at the helm of the European Union
Lithuania, at the helm of the European Union

, 02.07.2013, 00:00

Lithuania has turned a new page of its history. This is how the media in Vilnius presented the take over, by the small Baltic state, of the EU rotating presidency. This is the first presidency for Lithuania, a country of 3.2 million people, which joined the Union in 2004. It is also the first Baltic state to take the EU stint.The two other former Soviet republics, Latvia and Estonia, will assume their presidential duties in the first half of 2015 and in the first half of 2018 respectively. The Lithuanian Presidency is also the first of a 28 strong Union, after Croatia’s recent EU accession.



Lithuania “is prepared”, the country’s president Dalia Grybauskaite has said, while the domestic media has recalled that the Lithuanian presidency needs to take some important and quick decisions, expected by the whole of Europe. The context is not simple at all. Lithuania assumes its presidency in the final period of the mandate of the European Commission and the European Parliament. As far as the European agenda is concerned, it is a very busy one, also including issues inherited from the previous presidencies.



According to EUobserver, a record 563 dossiers, mostly economic ones, will have to be managed by the Lithuanian presidency. Although not a member of the euro zone, Lithuania was more successful than other EU countries in overcoming the economic crisis. That is why the Lithuanian authorities believe it will bring a breeze of fresh air into the European family. On the one hand, it will have to push though provisions related to the implementation of the 2014-2020 budget.



Issues such as economic growth, curbing the growing unemployment rate and strengthening public finances have to be addressed and negotiations on the trade accord with the US must be further conducted. Special attention will be paid to the Eastern Partnership, during a summit due in Vilnius, in November, which is expected to initial the association agreement with the Republic of Moldova and make a recommandation regarding the liberalization of the visa regime for Moldovans.



Another sensitive issue is Romania’s and Bulgaria’s acession to the Schengen area. Sooner or later it will be solved, Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaite has said reffering to this issue, because, although there are still questions to be solved, there is a political will for that. The European Commission has clearly underlined the issues that need to be dealt with, so Romania and Blgaria know exactly what they have to do, the Vilnius authorities explained, recalling that all EU member states need to agree to the two countries’ Schengen accession, including those that are still reticent about it.

President Nicușor Dan
Today in the News Wednesday, 20 August 2025

Security guarantees for Ukraine?

Romania will contribute to providing solid security guarantees for Ukraine, which will be implemented through close cooperation between Europe and...

Security guarantees for Ukraine?
Întrevederea premierului Ilie Bolojan cu reprezentații Asociației Magistraților din România
Today in the News Tuesday, 19 August 2025

Talks over the new fiscal budgetary measures

A new round of talks has taken place in Bucharest over package 2 of the fiscal measures aimed at curbing Romania’s budget deficit, for which the...

Talks over the new fiscal budgetary measures
Photo credits: Septimiu / pixabay.com
Today in the News Monday, 18 August 2025

Romania, an investment-grade country

  Preceded by a first set of tough fiscal measures taken by the Romanian government and with a second one under way, the assessment by the Fitch...

Romania, an investment-grade country
Photo: pixabay.com
Today in the News Thursday, 14 August 2025

What kind of agreement would be needed for Ukraine?

A series of meetings for Ukraine and its future have taken place both physically and online between the Western leaders ahead of the upcoming...

What kind of agreement would be needed for Ukraine?
Today in the News Wednesday, 13 August 2025

Romania is in for higher inflation

Prices are on the rise in Romania and what people have been seeing for a month now has also been confirmed by the National Institute for Statistics....

Romania is in for higher inflation
Today in the News Tuesday, 12 August 2025

Romania and crisis resolution

Romania supports a solution based on full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, with Ukraine fully...

Romania and crisis resolution
Today in the News Monday, 11 August 2025

Romania fulfils its duty in the Schengen area

Romania became a full-fledged member of the world’s biggest free-movement area on 1st January 2025, after the EU’s Justice and Home Affairs...

Romania fulfils its duty in the Schengen area
Today in the News Friday, 08 August 2025

Romania’s Foreign Minister on a visit to Kyiv

Romania’s Foreign Minister Oana Ţoiu paid a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, where she met with president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Yulia...

Romania’s Foreign Minister on a visit to Kyiv

Partners

Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român Muzeul Național al Țăranului Român
Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS Liga Studentilor Romani din Strainatate - LSRS
Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online Modernism | The Leading Romanian Art Magazine Online
Institului European din România Institului European din România
Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti Institutul Francez din România – Bucureşti
Muzeul Național de Artă al României Muzeul Național de Artă al României
Le petit Journal Le petit Journal
Radio Prague International Radio Prague International
Muzeul Național de Istorie a României Muzeul Național de Istorie a României
ARCUB ARCUB
Radio Canada International Radio Canada International
Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti” Muzeul Național al Satului „Dimitrie Gusti”
SWI swissinfo.ch SWI swissinfo.ch
UBB Radio ONLINE UBB Radio ONLINE
Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl Strona główna - English Section - polskieradio.pl
creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti creart - Centrul de Creație Artă și Tradiție al Municipiului Bucuresti
italradio italradio
Institutul Confucius Institutul Confucius
BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți BUCPRESS - știri din Cernăuți

Affiliates

Euranet Plus Euranet Plus
AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters AIB | the trade association for international broadcasters
Digital Radio Mondiale Digital Radio Mondiale
News and current affairs from Germany and around the world News and current affairs from Germany and around the world
Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona Comunità radiotelevisiva italofona

Providers

RADIOCOM RADIOCOM
Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company Zeno Media - The Everything Audio Company