Lithuanian Interior Minister Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas said this while presenting the priorities of the upcoming Lithuanian presidency of the EU Home Affairs Council to his EU counterparts in Luxembourg on Friday before taking over the presidency from Minister for Justice, Equality and Defense Alan Shatter, the Lithuanian Interior Ministry said in a press release.
The priorities in the area of home affairs include a smooth takeover of the European agenda and its implementation, financing for the home affairs area in 2014–2020, legal migration issues, the management of the EU's external borders, the future of the EU law enforcement agencies, and cyber security.
"In order to ensure the continuity and consistency of the Council work, we will actively cooperate with the European Parliament and the European Commission and continue the implementation of the Stockholm Program agenda. We think that it is the right time to evaluate what has already been achieved in implementing the Stockholm Program and to start discussions on the development of the justice and home affairs area in the future," Barakauskas said.
Lithuania plans to pay particular attention to negotiations on financial instruments in the area of home affairs in the EU's multi-annual budget for 2014–2020. It will seek to achieve that all home affairs financial regulations are adopted as soon as possible and to ensure their smooth implementation from January 1, 2014.
Issues of legal migration are another priority in the home affairs area.
"In an effort to build an open Europe, we see the necessity to ensure simplified admission procedures and that the rights of third country nationals who come to the EU to work and study are respected. An effective migration management policy would also contribute to the development of the EU economy and to meeting the labor market needs," the Lithuanian minister stated.
Effective management of the EU's external borders will be among the Lithuanian presidency's priorities as well. Special focus will be given to discussions about the Smart Borders package and the Frontex regulation.
Lithuania's tasks during the presidency will include coordinating positions of member states and EU institutions on the future prospects of two EU law-enforcement agencies: the European Police Office (EUROPOL) and the European Police College (CEPOL).
Barakauskas concluded his presentation by inviting his EU counterparts to take part in an informal meeting of justice and home affairs ministers in Vilnius on July 18-19.
Lithuania, which is taking over the rotating EU presidency from Ireland on July 1, will chair the Justice and Home Affairs Council's meetings in Luxembourg on October 7-8 and in Brussels on December 5-6.
