News

On 21 October, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Sigitas Mitkus took part in the General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg and met with his counterparts within the Trio of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), namely Thomas Byrne, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland with special responsibility for European Affairs, and Alexandra Papadopoulou, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece.\

Mitkus stressed that consistent cooperation among the Trio countries is crucial in preparing for the presidency of the Council of the European. "We continue our joint meetings to prepare well for taking the helm of the Presidency by our Trio of states, addressing future challenges, showing unity, mobilisation, and responsible leadership," said the Vice-Minister.

The meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the General Secretariat of the Council, discussed further development of the EU Trio Presidencies' common programme and cooperation with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the EU legislative process. Mitkus stressed that during Lithuania's presidency, the country will focus on the following priority areas: strengthening the EU’s security, defence, and competitiveness; fully supporting Ukraine and its integration into the EU; negotiating the future EU Multiannual Financial Framework; strengthening internal and social security; fighting disinformation; fostering Europe’s historical memory; EU enlargement; and protecting European values around the world.

Trilateral cooperation is ongoing, and further coordination meetings among vice-ministers and experts are planned in the near future.

EU Council presidencies are organized in groups of three member states, known as 'trios'. Established by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, the system allows the trio to develop a joint program with long-term goals and a common agenda, and identify topics and key issues to be addressed by the Council of the EU within 18-month period. On the basis of this programme, each of the three countries prepares its own more detailed six-month presidency programme. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026, Lithuania in the first half of 2027, and Greece in the second half of the year.