LITHUANIA AND FRANCE AGREE THAT EU LEGAL COOPERATION NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with French Prime Minister François Fillon, currently visiting Lithuania. The main points of discussion were the economic situation in Europe, Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014—2020, creation of a single EU energy market, nuclear energy safety, and the need to review the European arrest warrant procedure.
Speaking about the release of Mikhail Golovatov, suspected of crimes against humanity in the January 13 case, that revealed the existing loopholes in EU legal cooperation, President Grybauskaitė pointed out that France, just like Austria, applied derogation to the European arrest warrant.
“Lithuania seeks to have guarantees put in place at bilateral and European levels to prevent a suspect in crimes against humanity from ever travelling freely across Europe,” the President stressed.
The French Prime Minister said that he understood Lithuania's concerns and would search for relevant solutions.
With respect to the economic situation in Europe, President Grybauskaitė and Prime Minister Fillon agreed that only joint and concerted action by EU member states could stabilize the economy.
According to President Dalia Grybauskaitė, a common European energy policy was the key for ensuring Europe's economic growth and competitiveness. The implementation of energy projects would help reduce electricity and gas prices for consumers and would promote economic recovery.
Lithuania and France also agree that adherence by nuclear power plants to nuclear safety standards was a major challenge to European security and a concern of the international community as a whole.