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With only a short time until the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the logo of the Presidency was officially presented at ‘The Winds of Europe’ kite festival in Vilnius.

During the event near the White Bridge, the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė together with kite lovers and presidency volunteers flew a kite that raised the 11-metre-long and 9-metre-high flag bearing the presidency logo.

'A kite's flight is the ability to harness the wind for own success. Lithuania is preparing for a special flight during the next half of the year - we will have to work shoulder to shoulder consolidating Europe and looking together for the best solutions. Therefore, the logo of our presidency symbolizes cooperation and stability, and kites are flying wishes for the well-being of Europe,' said the president to all those at the event.

The circle representing the logo of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU is a symbol of unity, representing that Lithuania will be an honest mediator seeking to harmonise differing positions. The logo refers to the united EU, the countries of which want to and can work together, foster European values, and can overcome all the challenges that arise. The colours of the logo symbolise Lithuania's close relations with the Baltic and the Nordic regions, while the blue bow of the EU flag represents the universally shared values and activities. The garland of the Lithuanian national flag’s colours – yellow, green, and red – completes the logo circle. This link symbolises the responsibility for the Presidency of the Council of the EU that is trusted to Lithuania in the second half of 2013.

Simona Mykolaitytė, who won the competition of ideas for the logo of the Lithuanian Presidency for the Council of the EU organised by Delfi in 2011, also attended the event. Her idea was chosen from 600 submissions. On the basis of her winning idea, graphic designer Kotryna Zilinskienė created an official logo for the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.

‘Creating a logo for this occasion is a huge responsibility and honour. I tried to be faithful to Simona Mykolaitytė’s logo idea that won the competition, albeit adding distinctiveness to the logo. It thus retains the circle and echoes the colours of the Lithuanian and EU flags, but I also added the motif of a garland and changed some details,’ the designer said.

Together with the kite that bears the logo of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU, ‘The Winds of Europe’ event also raised into the sky the kites made by schoolchildren at a creative workshop in the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, as well as a kite adorned with symbols of the Year of European Citizens. Those attending also had the opportunity to see a unique project by students of the Vilnius Builders Training Centre – an arc comprising 107 kites. Under the President’s initiative, Lithuanians were invited to create their own kites with greetings for both Lithuania and Europe, as the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU is fast approaching.

Lithuania will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July 2013.