During the plenary session of the European Parliament on 9–12 December in Strasbourg, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vytautas Leškevičius, will present the EU Council's position on external instruments of the Multiannual Financial Framework. The external instruments will receive about 51 billion euros.
The European Neighbourhood Instrument will provide about 15 billion euros and the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance – about 12 billion euros. The Vice-Minister will also discuss regulations on the use of the funds for the Instrument for stability, the Partnership instrument for cooperation with third countries, the Financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights worldwide, and the Common rules and procedures for the implementation of the Union's instruments for external action.
The Vice-Minister will speak on behalf of the EU Council in discussions regarding the Justice Programme 2014-2020, the Rights and Citizenship Programme 2014-2020, and preparations for the European Council meeting (19–20 December 2013). He will also present the Council's position on the 2013 progress report on Albania and the Administrative tribunal of the European stability mechanism.
During the plenary session, the Vice-Minister will speak on behalf of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in discussions on human rights in the world in 2012 and EU policy on the matter.
