“The talks will continue intensively until the last night. They are closed when a decision is made. It is really difficult to predict when a decision on the new financial framework will be taken. The parties want to close the talks this year but some observers guess that they may not be completed as simply as that. It may also happen that they will be closed during our presidency, for example,” he told the reporters after the government’s meeting.
Kubilius said that the Cabinet on Monday decided to extend the mandate of a task force that was established for talks on funding for shut-down Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) although Deividas Matulionis, chairman of the task force and head of prime minister’s office, earlier told BNS that the government would be advised against this measure.
“We have just decided that the task group will continue with its work because there will be changes in personalities [former negotiator, Neilas Tankevičius, has already taken up his new post as Lithuania’s ambassador to Estonia] ... We also discussed all progress achieved in talks. As you know, actual progress will finally be shown by the talks on the new financial framework, which will take place at the EU summit or the next Council, which will hold its meeting at the end of November, or later, if the talks are not finalized,” Kubilius said.
He noted that Lithuania was discontent with the European Commission’s initial proposal to earmark 210 million euros for the decommissioning of INPP until 2017.
“We have been working actively with all European Union Member States during this year, we have explained why that initial Commission’s proposal is not acceptable to us. The final decision will be taken by the Council when deciding on the entire financial framework,” Kubilius said.
The EU Council is expected to agree on the financial framework of 2014-2020 at the summit due on 22 to 23 November.
Lithuania will take over the EU Presidency on 1 July 2013.
