Busy agenda for first time Presidency
Lithuania, a rather recent EU Member having joined the EU in 2004, has a fully packed programme for a short and challenging first time Presidency mandate.

Punctuated by summer and winter holidays and much affected by the intra-institutional changes next year, there is high pressure on the Lithuanians to finalise as much work as possible on a vast array of different policy areas before the EU is forced to slowdown for the EU elections and Commission changes in 2014.

Allegations that US agents have not only been spying on European citizens but also on EU institutions, embassies, permanent representations and diplomats have been met with strong criticism from GUE/NGL MEPs.

In light of this recent scandal, the Group demands that the EU-US trade negotiations are immediately suspended pending clarification of the situation.

GUE/NGL MEPs also reiterated that Edward Snowden must be protected and that the EU should grant him asylum.

The start of the holiday season, and (usually) warmer months, often sees children admitted to hospital with serious injuries resulting from falls from windows. Some of these falls prove fatal. Following research by ANEC, two European safety standards have been adopted to help prevent accidental falls from windows.

For the first time ever the European cross-industry social partners have been invited to address the European Council. On this occasion, Valeria Ronzitti, General Secretary of CEEP, stated that “We strongly welcome this initiative and see it as progress from when the previous attempt to organise an Employment Summit failed”.

By agreeing to a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) deal without prior consultation of all political groups in the Parliament, Martin Schulz has neglected democratic principles inside the house. If Mr. Schulz condemns backroom deals in the Council, he should not repeat the same mistake in his own house by only consulting the two biggest parliamentary groups.