"Despite the Russian sanctions and growing defence spending, Lithuania succeeds to maintain economic growth momentum, and is committed to continue the current fiscal discipline. We feel the benefits of the membership in the euro zone. The single European currency helps Lithuania to withstand external shocks: Lithuania has managed to retain the positive growth, and the cost of borrowing has remained stable", said the Prime Minister.
On the issue of the strategic investment fund, the Head of Government noted the importance of this instrument for Lithuania.
"We hope that this will help to further stimulate economic growth by financing a broader range of strategically important projects, especially in the field of energy," said the Prime Minister.
European Commission Vice-President Dombrovskis presented Commission's recommendations for Member States, including Lithuania. The recommendations cover the areas of public finance, social security and labour, as well as education.
"The European Commission points out the need to address the issue of the declining working age population, as well as better match between education and labour market needs. The Government has endorsed a package of social model projects aimed to implement the Commission's recommendations, and to prevent working-age people from leaving the country and having a job here. As regards better education-labour market match, the government is already working on this: studies are carried out following state's commission, with a view to attracting young people to take a course that is or will be in great demand", - said the Prime Minister.
Other items on the agenda included European Commission's spring economic growth forecast. Annual gross domestic growth forecast for 2015 is 1.8 per cent for the EU, 1.5 per cent for the euro area, and 2.8 per cent for Lithuania.
The interlocutors expressed their delight over the optimistic projections which lead to a gradual economic recovery.
