Position paper: Lithuania

Position paper: Lithuania
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe: The Lithuanian Perspective
1. Lithuania supports the German presidency in its endorsement of the Lisbon Treaty in the
areas of economic and social welfare, cohesion funds, regional cooperation and energy
solidarity.
1.1. It is vital to Lithuania that the European Union is beneficial to all of its members in the
areas of the economy, security and regional cooperation on both the national and
supranational levels.
1.2. The inclusion of social justice within the European Union is important to Lithuania. The
cohesion policy for regional disparities is instrumental in creating a better Europe. As
seen by the example of Ireland, the extension of cohesion funds to areas affected by
economic or social afflictions, such as energy supply issues, can be addressed in a way
that benefits the Community. The addition of more civil rights to the treaty creates a EU
that is free and undivided by social and economic barriers.
1.3. Lithuania endorses increased cooperation in Justice and Home Affairs through a regional
inter-governmental approach.
1.4. Lithuania agrees with the position that there needs to be a clearer division of
responsibilities and institutions between the Union and the Member States and proposes
that the existing institutions be clarified as opposed to creating new institutions.
1.5. Lithuania feels that the role of national parliaments is key to promoting European
integration and to building the economy towards a benefit for all.
1.6. The government of Lithuania feels that stronger cooperation is needed in the area of
foreign and security policy. Lithuania feels that the ability for the European Union to act
as one voice to reach out to third party countries is an important tool for making a better,
safer and more functional Union, and is a proponent of the European Neighborhood
Policy (ENP) as an excellent measure to come to agreements that profit both the EU and
neighboring states.
2. The Government of Lithuania’s views on the issues to be discussed:
2.1. The EU needs to have a more concise legal definition that allows it to act as one voice.
Lithuania fully supports the provisions to allow more efficient voting and participation
for all Member States. The role of small and medium states is vital for the success of the
EU, and all EU Member States should have an equal voice within the Union.
2.2. Transparency and democratic legitimacy is important to the efficiency of the EU.
Lithuania feels that extended coordination in the certain areas such as CFSP and JHA are
integral to adding to this efficiency.
2.3. National parliaments should play a larger role within the EU; this allows for there to be
more democratic legitimacy within the EU, increased participation from national

parliaments would also add to the ability to monitor the actions of the institutions of the
EU. Lithuania feels strongly that the role of national parliaments is vital to the success
of the EU.
2.4. Voting procedures should reflect a more democratized EU that reflects equally the
voices of every member state equally.
2.5. Lithuania feels that there should be no option to opt out of areas of the treaty dealing
with social justice, social disparities and human rights. The availability of an opt out
option should be decided on the basis of need where implementing part of the treaty
would cause greater disparities between regions within the EU.
3. Proposals and Objectives from the Government of Lithuania:
3.1. Lithuania endeavors that a provision be made towards achieving energy solidarity in the
EU. It is important for the EU to be able to create ulterior sources for energy and to
have reliance on more than one major supplier. There is a need to create a Baltic
pipeline to supply the Member States in that area to ensure that any future shortages will
not create large disparities between the regions. The creation of a policy of energy
security for the EU to help Member States that could be hit by future energy shortages,
such as the shortage caused by the Druzhba pipeline in 2006, is an important provision
for the future of the EU.
3.2. Lithuania encourages the terms of economic growth for the long term, the creation of
more and better jobs, the promotion of social cohesion through extended use of cohesion
funds to fix regional disparities, and the protection of rights for citizens of the EU.
3.3. The government of Lithuania believes that forwarding the Community Method within
the EU and using a solidified position to create a stronger ENP is necessary, both in the
areas of common security and in promoting relations with other countries that lie close
to the EU, with an emphasis on EU-Russian relations.
3.4. The priorities for Lithuania concerning the Lisbon Treaty are economic and social
development, – pertaining to individual welfare and foreign security objectives – the
concentration of cohesion funds where they will be most beneficial (in the east)
3.5. Lithuania proposes a more efficient system of qualified majority voting. The extended
use of would aid in the overall efficiency and democracy of the EU. Lithuania also
emphasizes the voices of all states are equally important on issues regarding the longterm
benefit of all Member States.