Visits

Working visit by Dalia Grybauskaitė to the European Council, Brussels, 23 October 2011

The heads of state or government of the European Union countries, gathered in the capital of Belgium, discussed the EU economy revival and finance stabilization measures and debated how to solve the issues relevant for the euro zone.

According to the President, the European Union has all the necessary measures to cope with the existing economic hardships - the member states should only find the political will to implement such measures.

"Only responsible financial policy and compliance with strict fiscal discipline as well as promotion of mutual economic coordination will enable the European Union to ensure a sustainable economic growth and avoid financial populism," Dalia Grybauskaitė said at the European Council meeting.

The President underlined that any amendments to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Lisbon Treaty) should be the last measure in dealing with the challenges Europe faces today.

The processes ongoing in the euro zone, Dalia Grybauskaitė said, affect Lithuania's economy and therefore it is important for Lithuania and its people to participate when financial stability issues are being solved.

The participants of the European Council meeting also agreed to strengthen the functioning of Europe's internal market, finance and banking sectors, to improve business environment and to reduce the bureaucratic restrictions imposed on business, and urged the EU member states to implement the Services Directive as soon as possible.

A decision on concrete measures will be taken at the European Council meeting to be held next week in Brussels.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė in Brussels discussed with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk the bilateral relations of Lithuania and Poland - incumbent holder of the EU presidency.

The President extended congratulations to Donald Tusk on the victory of his party Civic Platform in the elections to the Polish parliament.

Dalia Grybauskaitė and Donald Tusk agreed that further good neighborly relations based on mutual understanding and partnership was a common goal of both countries. They favorably assessed the work of the bilateral commission of education experts formed in September.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė also had bilateral meetings with Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, and Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark.

Dalia Grybauskaitė and Catherine Ashton discussed the EU foreign policy and Eastern Partnership issues. The President also congratulated the newly elected Prime Minister of Denmark. Dalia Grybauskaitė and Helle Thorning-Schmidt agreed to discuss the bilateral relations of Lithuania and Denmark at length next Friday during the Danish Prime Minister's visit in Lithuania.

Press Service of the President