In an official political calendar of its EU presidency in the second half of 2013 published by Lithuania, more than 50 formal and informal council meetings should take place.
The presiding country is authorized to head task forces where representatives of all member-states discuss EU matters.
The calendar includes the main events on the European Union agenda, namely, meetings of the European Council, EU Ministerial Council, Committees of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I and II), meetings of Political Committee and Security Committee, informal top-level meetings in Lithuania.
"We have provided EU countries with a political calendar of Lithuania's EU Council presidency. This marks yet another key and responsible step in the process of preparations," the ministry cited Lithuania's permanent representative to the EU, Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis, as saying.
The calendar was distributed among EU member-states. Its content is yet subject to changes before the start of Lithuania's presidency over the European Union Council.
According to the press release, Lithuania intends to focus on four priorities during its six-month presidency, namely, EU's enhanced attention to energy security, closer cooperation with Eastern neighbours, such as Georgia or Ukraine, stronger guard of external borders, and reinforcement of all types of relations in the region around the Baltic Sea.
Lithuania will preside over the EU Council between July and December 2013.
