Madam Chair, Mr Chairman,
Director General Lowe, Mr Buzek,
Distinguished Members of European and National Parliaments,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

EU Finance Ministers will seek to agree on the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) in the Council meeting on December 18, on the eve of the European Council meeting.

The EU member states' current plans for a common system for winding down troubled banks risk being too complex to work, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi told the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on Monday. Parliament's view of these plans, for which the committee is to approve a negotiating mandate on Tuesday, is likely to be much closer to Mr Draghi's vision than that of member states.

Christmas season is a time when more people than usual are sending parcels, and the delivery market is being put to the test. The Commission has today adopted a communication on completing the Single Market for parcel delivery to boost e-commerce in the EU, and to ensure that e-retailers and consumers have access to affordable and high-quality parcel delivery services.

105 Lithuanian companies were allocated LTL 12.8 million (EUR 3.7 million) from the European Union Structural Funds. The support provides an opportunity to participate in international exhibitions, fairs, business missions and make new contacts needed for export development.

Major container line company MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), a part of TIL Group which owns the majority of Lithuanian company Klaipedos Smelte shares, intends to transport more cargo by railways. MSC Vilnius, the branch of the company in Lithuania, has signed a letter of intent with Lithuanian Railways (Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai) to establish a large container terminal in Vilnius Intermodal Terminal (VIT) in the nearest future.

Clarification in the first sentence regarding amount of the loan expressed in EUR (81.0 instead of 81.094 million), clarification of the borrowing terms, and clarification of the fact that in such a way the EIB will finance up to 50% of funds related with the implementation of the LNGT project under the Agreement.

In a major step for the Banking Union, the Lithuanian Presidency has on December 11 in Strasbourg reached a political agreement with the European Parliament on the directive setting out the bank bailout rules and paving way for the creation of the Single Resolution Mechanism.

Today Lithuanian Seimas has approved a state budget for the next year. It was the third reading of the budget project at a plenary session of the Seimas.

Lithuania Post has moved its Klaipeda logistics centre to new facilities at Mainu Street. The logistics centre located at Vilnius Road will sort postal and courier mail items.