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According to Asta Skaisgirytė, the country’s senior adviser, it is only to regret that the ruling conservative faction is raising this issue with such intensity during the never-ending pandemic.
“This debate is forced, and in a pandemic, when there are urgent issues such as vaccinating people and managing the pandemic, economic recovery, it is the least irresponsible to talk about who will represent the European Council (…). It is regrettable that this debate continues. The president trusts in his constitutional powers to represent Lithuania abroad and, within the framework of these powers, he continues to act and intends to continue to act, ”A. Skaisgirytė assured LRT radio.
The adviser did not comment on the law being drafted by Matas Maldeikis, a member of the conservative faction, which would seek to regulate the procedure to represent Lithuania in the EVS. According to her, the main criterion of this initiative must be compliance with the Constitution.
“If this is not the case, then Maldeikis, a member of the Seimas, has a problem,” said A. Skaisgirytė, noting that the president would actually veto that bill.
In general, said A. Skaisgirytė, there are no serious reasons to change the representation procedure established in the EVS. The fact that the Conservatives have taken such an initiative at this time, the adviser said, suggests that political games are being played.
“We do not see any reason why it should change (…). Where was the Conservative Party 12 years ago? They were able to raise this issue 12 years ago when they were in power. Unfortunately, they did not raise the issue, now they just started It tastes so unpleasant that it is only part of the political game, “summarized A. Skaisgirytė.
A certificate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a letter were distributed to the TS-LKD faction
Last week, the elderly woman from the conservative faction in the Seimas, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, informed her faculty colleagues by letter about a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explaining what shapes Lithuania’s position in the European Council. and who appoints the EVS delegation. This letter was successfully received by the ELTA news agency.
The European Affairs Commission of the Seimas requested that the certificate be prepared “on the preparation, coordination, representation and accountability of Lithuanian offices in the European Council”.
R. Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, when reporting on the content of the explanation received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the letter sent to the members of the conservative faction, pointed out that there are arguments to affirm that the head of government could represent the country already in the EVS.
Referring to the interpretation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, R. Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė pointed out to his colleagues that if the current legal regulation were strictly observed, the rulers already have all the powers to simply deny the president the right to represent Lithuania’s position in the European Council.
“From the information provided, it was clear that the composition of the delegation before each EVS is determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that is, a component of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Accordingly, the European Affairs Committee, as mandated by Lithuania’s position, for which the Government is responsible, may recommend that the Government strictly follow the applicable legal regulation and represent Lithuania’s position to delegate a delegation headed by the Prime Minister, “said the Conservative president.
