Lithuanian Parliament is currently hosting a two-day event - Closing Conference of the European Year of Citizens 2013 "How to make every year a year for citizens!"

The outcome of the Vilnius Eastern Partnership summit of 29 November shows that the EU must do more to support the European aspirations of its eastern partners, say MEPs in a resolution adopted on Thursday. They urge the December EU Council to send a strong political signal that the door to the EU is still open, despite Ukraine's failure to sign the association agreement.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė accepted letters of credence from the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Alexander Udalcov.

A meeting of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich with the country's former presidents Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko was held on December 10th.

Today, President Dalia Grybauskaitė is symbolically handing over the helm of the Council of the European Union to Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. Greece will officially start presiding over the EU Council on 1 January 2014.

Mr. Algirdas Butkevičius, Prime Minister of Lithuania that is currently holding the European Union Presidency expresses concern over the developments unfolding in Ukraine and urges the Ukrainian government to find a peaceful solution through dialogue for the current situation in the country.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė has departed for Athens. She will hold meetings with Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė met with Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius and members of his cabinet to review the first year of the 16th Government's work, the results delivered and issues that needed a stronger focus and effort to ensure a more secure life to the people of Lithuania.

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.

www.eu2013.lt

President Schulz opened the session by calling a minute's silence to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, who died on 5 December, and to the 54 people killed and dozens injured when a supermarket roof collapsed in Riga, Latvia, on 21 November. He also urged the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from using violence against pro-EU demonstrators in Kiev's Maidan Square.