At the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels on 22 January, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Vytautas Leskevicius presented results of the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council. According to the Lithuanian Foreign Deputy Minister, the Presidency's success depends on hard work, focus and determination to find consensus, the MFA says.

Photo: urm.lt

The Foreign Deputy Minister thanked Henri Malosse, President of the EESC, for his support from the very beginning of Lithuania's Presidency.

"Within six months of the Presidency we have actively cooperated in creating a credible, growing and open Europe. We have discussed issues related to finances, the banking union, rural development, women's employment, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, energy, trade and health in Europe," Leskevicius said.

In turn, Malosse and leaders of the EESC thematic working groups expressed their heartfelt gratitude for Lithuania's excellent Presidency of the EU Council. They stressed that Lithuania deserved special assessment for engaging civil society representatives in the Presidency's activities.

According to Leskevicius, this experience of the recent six months is unique for Lithuania, because it has given Lithuanians more strength and confidence.

During the Lithuanian EU Presidency, a total of 141 legislative and 283 non-legislative dossiers were concluded.

Established in 1957, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is a consultative body of the European Union and an integral part of its institutional set up. The EESC advises the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union.