"To accelerate positive changes, it is essential to maintain close cooperation among all the three institutions of the European Union - the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of the European Union whose Presidency is now held by Lithuania. Only through joint efforts we can achieve our overriding goals and implement the reforms we all need at the moment," the President said.

  
Dalia Grybauskaitė and the EC President discussed the headline targets of the Lithuanian Presidency. Pooled efforts of the EU institutions will be needed in negotiating the programmes of the multiannual budget for 2014-2020. Lithuania aims for achieving all the necessary agreements as soon as possible in order the EU support could reach the member states on time.

  
The meeting highlighted the importance of secure neighborhood and preparations for one of the most important events during Lithuania's Presidency - the Vilnius Summit to be held in November. There are high expectations to achieve relevant decisions bringing about a rapprochement between the Eastern Partnership region and the European Union - it is planned to sign association and free trade agreements with Ukraine as well as finalize negotiations and initial agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.

  
According to the President, all institutions must now work hand-in-hand seeking solutions important for the EU's financial stability and economic growth. We must get on with building a banking union and implementing major economic reforms. To promote economic growth it is essential to strengthen the EU internal market - further progress is necessary in creating the internal energy market and the digital market, and in strengthening the services market.