News

On 28 October, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus met Thérèse Blanchet, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union (EU), who is visiting Lithuania, and Didier Seeuws, Director-General for General and Institutional Policy at the General Secretariat of the Council (GSC).

The meeting focused on cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council during Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as key issues on the EU agenda.

“We value the expertise and support of the General Secretariat of the Council as we prepare for the Presidency. Close cooperation helps ensure that Lithuania is well prepared to advance key issues on the EU agenda during its Presidency,” said Vice-Minister Mitkus.

Considerable attention was devoted to issues that will feature prominently on the agenda of the General Affairs Council during Lithuania’s Presidency, including EU enlargement, the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034, strengthening democratic resilience, and other horizontal issues.

“Europe today faces unprecedented challenges to its security, competitiveness and democratic resilience. Lithuania will seek to be a unifying and reliable Presidency, helping to make progress on issues of strategic importance and strengthening the European Union’s capacity to act,” said Vice-Minister Mitkus.

High-level visits by representatives of the General Secretariat of the Council to Member States preparing to hold the Presidency are an important part of the preparatory process. They provide an opportunity to discuss Presidency priorities and the state of preparations, as well as to strengthen cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council.