The President underlined that an economically strong, growing and secure European Union was in the interest of Lithuania. Therefore, the main task of the new Commission would be to continue the work started: promote economic growth, boost competitiveness and create new jobs for the European people.
"The economic situation in Europe has stabilized, member states are slowly recovering after the crisis, but economic growth must be felt by all Europeans. The success of Eurosceptics in the European parliamentary elections in some of the EU's old-timer countries shows that people are disappointed and that they have been hard hit by the crisis. The next Commission has therefore an objective of taking every step necessary to strengthen Europe's economy and ensure financial stability in the EU," the President said.
According to the President, one of the main drivers for boosting the EU's economic competitiveness is an effectively functioning energy system, transparent competition in the European energy sector, and secure energy supplies. Therefore, the President said, Lithuania urges to press on with the ongoing efforts towards energy security by building power and gas interconnections in order to end energy isolation, creating a single European energy market and shaping a common European position in negotiations with external energy suppliers.
The President further said that the completion of the EU's internal market and the banking union, the signing of free trade agreements, especially with the United States, would create conditions for more sustainable economic growth. Close and open cooperation with European neighbors must ensure Europe's security and stability.
After the election of a new European Parliament, a new European Commission will also be appointed. The heads of state and government in Brussels discussed possible candidates for the Commission president. Traditionally, the EC President is nominated by the European Council which takes into account the candidates put forward by the elected parliamentary majority.
Following Sunday's elections, the European People's Party, which represents the Christian Democrats and a number of conservative political forces, has remained the European Parliament's biggest group. Socialists and Liberals are in second and third position. All of the three major parliamentary groups have nominated their candidates for the next European Commission presidency.
EU leaders also welcomed the presidential elections held in Ukraine on May 25. According to the President, these democratic elections, with a voter turnout at around 60 percent, have demonstrated the resolve of the people of Ukraine to decide by themselves the future of their state and choose a path of democratic development. Dalia Grybauskaitė pointed out that the newly elected Ukrainian president faced the difficult task of stabilizing the situation in the country, bringing all Ukrainian citizens together, restoring peace and order, and overcoming pressing economic challenges.
It is very important, the President said, that Ukraine should carry out a successful constitutional reform, fight corruption with unyielding determination and implement the provisions of the EU Association Agreement to speed up progress and open the door for European assistance.
