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Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Lithuania will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2013. Lithuania will be the first of the three Baltic States to hold the Presidency since joining the European Union in the spring of 2004. Lithuania belongs to the 2012-2013 Presidency Trio. Lithuania stands second (1 July 2013 – 31 December 2013) in line between the preceding Irish (1 January 2013 – 30 June 2013) and the successive Greek (1 January 2014 – 30 June 2014) presidencies.

 Priorities 

On November 10, 2011, the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania (the Seimas) agreed on a list of possible priority areas for the Lithuanian Presidency:


 * Finalization of the Multiannual Financial Framework regulations, further initiatives and actions for economic governance, financial stability and the agenda for growth;
 * Energy security by implementing consolidation of energy infrastructure and strengthening the position of the EU’s common external energy policy;
 * Effective support for the European Union Baltic Sea region strategy through regional co-operation;
 * Increasing the involvement of the Eastern Partnership countries at the EU level through reforms and the implementation of common planned agreements with the EU;
 * Effective protection of the EU borders by integrated management and intensified efforts to fight combat smuggling and fraud.

 Coordination 

Preparations for the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council in 2013 are coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. A special EU Council Presidency department has been designated for this task.

Other ministries and governmental institutions are directly involved in the preparation process and participate in the Presidency coordination network.

 Events 

Lithuania plans to host approximately 200 Presidency events in the capital Vilnius. The main highlights include such events like the high-level Eastern Partnership summit and the ICT 2013 conference and exhibition.

 External Links 


 * Lithuanian EU Council Presidency Facebook page
 * Twitter account of the Spokesman of the Lithuanian Permanent Representation in the European Union
 * Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

 Sources 


 * Lietuvos pasirengimo pirmininkauti ES Tarybai interneto svetainė