Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius Continues Meetings with Top EU Officials

Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius continues meeting with top EU officials right before the start of the 1st working session of the European Council this afternoon. This morning the Prime Minister met with current President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering and European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquín Almunia.
In his conversation with the President of the European Parliament, Prime Minister A. Kubilius discussed the recent European Parliament election results and a resounding electoral success for Europe’s centre-right parties. Hans-Gert Pöttering told the Lithuanian Prime Minister that so far there was no broad alliance between European Parliament factions concerning the candidacy of current President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso (to be put forward for a second mandate by the European Council).
Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius reminded the President of the European Parliament about an important initiative to support closer scrutiny of totalitarian regimes in Europe, raise public awareness of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes. Hans G. Pöttering shared Lithuania’s concern and pointed out that the EP resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism was one of those rare voting occasions that he himself took part in, as it is not usual for President of the European Parliament to vote.
During a warm and sincere conversation, Hans G. Pöttering remembered his 30-year career in the European Parliament and said that it would have been difficult to imagine Lithuania as a full-fledged member of the EU and NATO back then. Andrius Kubilius agreed and added that this course of events would have been difficult predict for the people of the occupied Baltic States themselves even 20 years ago when they stood hand in hand in the Baltic Chain. The Prime Minister reiterated his invitation for the President of the European Parliament to visit Lithuania during the millennium celebrations.
Prime Minister Kubilius also met with European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Joaquín Almunia. Algirdas Šemeta, Lithuania’s candidate for the post of the European Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget, also participated in the meeting. Joaquín Almunia welcomed actions by the Lithuanian Government during the past six months and gave it credit for the measures taken to meet challenges posed by the economic and financial recession. “You have been consistent in implementing measures that you have promised, and your measures yield results”, European Commissioner Almunia said, adding that the European Commission supports the steps taken by the Kubilius Government and wishes it every success in preserving Lithuania’s financial stability.
Prior to the 1st working session of the European Council Prime Minister Kubilius is to attend the European People’s Party summit. Heads of Government, presiding over national member parties of the EPP, of Germany, France, Poland, Sweden, and other states, are also expected to participate in the event.