EU Affairs Committee to discuss Lithuanian EU Presidency with Ambassador

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will tomorrow afternoon meet with Lithuanian Ambassador to Ireland Vidmantas Purlys to discuss the his country’s priorities for its forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

10 July 2013

Lithuania assumed the rotating six month presidency from Ireland on 1 July.

Committee Chairman Dominic Hannigan TD says: “After a largely productive Irish EU Presidency, Ambassador Vidmantas Purlys will outline the priorities for Lithuania as it assumes its first EU Presidency. Their Presidency is aiming to build on some of the gains of the past six months in promoting economic growth and job creation, coupled with financial stability and more coordinated economic governance. The Lithuanians are also expected to focus on developing the Single Market, particularly in the area of energy. Closer integration of the EU and its Eastern neighbours will be prioritised. On behalf of this Committee, I wish Lithuania well in delivering on an ambitious programme for the next six months.”

The discussion with the Lithuanian Ambassador will be followed by an exchange of views with ESRI Professor John FitzGerald. The engagement with Prof Fitzgerald is expected to focus on the medium to longer term policy steps required to complete Economic and Monetary Union.

The meeting takes place tomorrow 11 July at 2:30 pm in Committee Room 3, LH 2000. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926

Committee Membership
Deputies
Dominic Hannigan, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Eric Byrne, TD
Seán Crowe, TD
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
John Halligan, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD

Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly