Position paper: Lithuania

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.