This text is excerpted from Lithuanian Foreign Policy Review, Vol. 44 (2026).
As Lithuania prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus explains how a state on NATO’s front line plans to lead the Union – keeping Ukraine and enlargement at the top of the agenda, strengthening EU security and competitiveness, and proving that Vilnius can act as an honest broker with long-term strategic ambitions.
Lithuania held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time in 2013. What differences do you see in the preparation process now? To what extent has Lithuania, in a positive sense, become accustomed to hosting large-scale international formats, especially after organizing the NATO Summit in 2023?
– Our first Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2013 required extensive preparation, as Lithuania had to rapidly develop the administrative capacity, inter-institutional coordination, and logistical arrangements necessary for a successful term. At that time, preparations began years in advance, focused on building internal consensus on Presidency priorities, training personnel, and ensuring alignment with EU expectations, while balancing our national interests with the broader EU agenda. The challenges included navigating high external expectations, a demanding legislative workload, and establishing credibility as a relatively new and small Member State.
Since then, Lithuania’s experience has significantly matured. The organization of the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius demonstrates that we have become accustomed to hosting large-scale international formats. Lessons learned from the 2013 EU Presidency – particularly in strategic planning and financial management, inter-institutional coordination, and management of complex agendas – have been consolidated and applied to subsequent events. Preparation processes for the 2027 EU Presidency are now more streamlined, with well-established mechanisms for prioritisation, engagement with stakeholders, and logistical execution. Lithuania has also strengthened its know-how to mediate and facilitate dialogue at the highest levels. Ministries and decision-making bodies operate under a clear EU Affairs coordination framework with structured internal guidelines. Government officials benefit from substantially broader EU-level negotiation experience. There is a well-developed understanding of how to engage in the EU Presidency and navigate the political, logistical, and communication demands associated with Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.
What are the main challenges in the current preparation phase that need to be addressed?
– We have just a bit more than a year until the official start of our Presidency, and several key challenges therefore merit careful and timely attention. First, the geopolitical context remains highly dynamic, turbulent, and unpredictable. The European Union continues to operate in an environment shaped by persistent tensions in its immediate neighbourhood, including security challenges stemming from Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and hybrid threats coming from Belarus.
At the same time, external challenges such as global economic volatility, evolving transatlantic relations, and emerging strategic competitions – particularly in the Indo-Pacific – require careful calibration of EU foreign policy priorities. Moreover, the forthcoming period will see a substantial legislative agenda, with important EU decisions in the policy areas of climate, digital transition, and internal market reforms.
Finally, the ongoing discussions on the upcoming EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 will require proactive coordination, given its central significance for the Union’s strategic priorities, and efforts to build consensus on the related EU legislation not only between the EU Member States, but also among the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament.
What do you see as the key priorities for Lithuania at this stage of the Presidency? And to what extent might these priorities evolve, given the rapidly changing geopolitical and economic context?
– Lithuania’s Presidency has identified key priorities, as approved by the Government and the Parliament in June 2025. First and foremost is the strengthening of the security and defence of the European Union and the Euro-Atlantic area, ensuring continued full support for Ukraine and adequate defence funding. This reflects Lithuania’s commitment to a resilient and united European security architecture.
Second, Lithuania will focus on EU enlargement, the promotion of European values in the Union’s neighbourhood, and the preservation of a rules-based international order. These efforts are essential for fostering stability, predictability, and the consistent application of EU principles beyond the Union’s borders.
Third, advancing EU competitiveness remains a central objective. This includes promoting innovation, technological development, sustainability, and economic resilience, as well as ensuring that the Multiannual Financial Framework effectively responds to the Union’s evolving needs.
Fourth, internal security, social cohesion, and democratic resilience will continue to be a priority. This encompasses the effective management of migration and external borders, strengthening societal cohesion, and fostering a common European historical memory while actively combating the manipulation and falsification of historical facts.
Finally, Lithuania will pay particular attention to social security and demographic challenges, with the aim of enhancing the resilience of European societies in the context of long-term structural changes.
By what criteria do you plan to evaluate the success of the Presidency? Presumably, the assessment will go beyond formal political outcomes and decisions?
– Lithuania will be an honest and impartial broker during its Presidency. We will take over at the mid-term of the current EU political cycle; therefore, there will be many EU legislative and other proposals on the table, and we will need to handle them in the process leading to their adoption, also in cooperation with the European Parliament. We are preparing for that and will drive EU legislation forward. Lithuania would like to see the EU get stronger, more resilient, and competitive. Also, we want to see Ukraine and Moldova getting closer to the EU, becoming more secure, modern European countries.
It is often noted that Lithuania prepares for the Presidency with particular seriousness and attention to detail – possibly even more so than some other EU Member States. Would you agree with that assessment?
– While we do not wish to compare ourselves with other EU Member States, I can say that Lithuania prepares very thoroughly for our Presidency. We started active preparation in 2024, three years in advance, as many other Member States do. We also learn from others and work closely with other EU Member States and EU institutions.
A significant part of this work is carried out by the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU, which plays an essential role in engaging with partners and ensuring that our positions are effectively represented at all levels. Equally important is the hard work of our diplomatic staff in Vilnius, who work closely with relevant Lithuanian institutions and national experts. These common efforts ensure that Lithuania approaches its Presidency in a well-coordinated manner.
Lithuania will take over the Presidency from Ireland and later pass it on to Greece. How does the ‘Trio’ mechanism work in practice, and how closely are priorities and decisions coordinated among these countries?
– Within the framework of the Trio mechanism, preparations for the common 18-month programme are already well underway. Lithuania is working closely with Ireland and Greece to identify a balanced approach that incorporates the most important priorities of each country. The Trio Presidency ensures continuity and coherence across consecutive Presidencies by fostering co-ordinated planning of legislative and policy priorities, facilitating structured handovers of ongoing initiatives and dossiers, and promoting strategic alignment on key EU objectives.
This system enables countries to manage the Council’s workload, avoid gaps in policy implementation, and maintain steady progress on major initiatives that range from legislative proposals to high-level political decisions.
What message would you like to convey to international partners and audiences regarding Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency?
– As the Presidency, Lithuania will do its part in ensuring active dialogue and close partnership with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the EU Member States, and all other partners engaged with the EU’s multifaceted agenda.
Beyond the EU, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has deeply impacted the life of the European continent. Lithuania strongly supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and will further extend its sustainable support for Ukraine, its recovery and reconstruction, as well as further integration into the EU. We expect our partners and international audiences to have the same attitude when looking at Ukraine’s long-term security.
Furthermore, in the face of growing insecurity in Europe and the world, Lithuania expects that together with our international allies and strategic partners we will strengthen global peace and security, benefit from a stronger and more capable EU in defence and security, while upholding the rules-based international order and effective multilateralism.
As Lithuania prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2027, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus discusses how a NATO frontline state is getting ready to lead the Union. The key themes are support for Ukraine, strengthening EU security and defence, enlargement, competitiveness, and Lithuania’s role as an honest broker in a complex geopolitical environment.
Read the full publication here.
