News

During an Informal Meeting of Ministers for European Affairs that took place on 28-29 July in Sopot Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas presented  Lithuania‘s priorities in preparation of the new European Union’s financial perspective and placed special emphasis on importance of continuous financing of Ignalina nuclear power plant closure.

Participants of the meeting in Poland started  political discussions on the  European Commission’s proposal of 29 June 2011 for the EU’s next multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020.

„Lithuania’s key priorities in the new financial programme are the continuation of adequate funding of EU’s cohesion policy, ensuring equal direct payments to farmers in all EU member states, extending EU financing for energy infrastructure projects that are important to Lithuania and the whole Union. Furthermore, EU’s continuing financing of the Ignalina nuclear power plant closure as stipulated in Lithuania’s Accession Treaty is of outmost importance for Lithuania,” E. Meilūnas stated at the meeting.

During Polish Presidency of the EU initial analysis of the financial perspective documents presented by the Commission is planned. In the first half of 2012 when Denmark takes over the Presidency the member-states will negotiate on the key statements of the proposal. The final agreement on the EU financial framework for 2014-2020 is planned to be reached until the end of 2012 – during Cyprus Presidency.

 The overall amount proposed by the European Commission for 2014-2020 is €1025 billion what makes 1,05% of the EU gross national income. It is proposed to increase the EU budget by 3,2 in comparison with  financing for 2007-2013.