Vilnius, 05/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Energy prices, the single energy market, employment (especially for young people), financial stability, the creation of banking union, the digital economy, services and the eastern neighbourhood policy are the main priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second half of 2013.
This is what was summarised by Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaité after the joint meeting on Friday 5 July between the Lithuanian government and the European Commission to prepare the EU's work for the next six months. In the view of President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso the priority is economic recovery. “We have to work to get people back to work. We need to provide companies with money and to reform our economies to make them more competitive”, he said. “We must put banking union on solid foundations. This is crucial for the return of trust and for resolving the weaknesses that remain in this sector”, he added.
Single resolution mechanism (SRM). Barroso confirmed that on Wednesday 9 July the Commission will present its proposal on the SRM, which is due to be definitively adopted by the end of the European Parliament's term of office. Replying to questions from the press, he acknowledged the existence of various sensitive areas. “The Commission will make a proposal which should be accepted by all the member states. We need a resolution mechanism that corresponds to the single supervisory mechanism”, he said, without wanting to give any more detail. The European Council has already stated that the legislative process should be finished before the European elections in May 2014.
Multiannual financial framework (MFF). Barroso also stressed the need for an agreement by the end of 2013 on the different legislative acts arising from the EU's MFF for 2014-2020. The programmes to stimulate growth would thus be able to start work on 1 January 2014.
Lastly, Barroso is “certain” that the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius will be “a success” and he stressed that the countries involved should do their share in terms of the work and reforms. He said that these countries must be offered closer economic integration and political association. The signing of the association agreement with Ukraine could take place at this Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, as could the start of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia. (LC/transl.fl)