Lithuania Prepares for EU Council Presidency: Priority – a Safe and Resilient Europe
Vice-minister of the Interior Ana Burkovskienė met with representatives of the Council General Secretariat (CGS) and Edouard Schmidt, a member of the Cabinet of Hadja Lahbib, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management and Civil Protection. The meeting focused on Lithuania’s preparations for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as well as key issues related to civil protection and resilience building.
“Lithuania demonstrates clear political commitment and understanding of the importance of the upcoming Presidency. We aim to ensure a smooth, efficient, and results-oriented Presidency by strengthening cooperation with EU institutions,” said the Vice-minister A. Burkovskienė.
During the meetings, significant attention was given to strengthening civil protection in light of the current geopolitical situation. The need to further develop an all-hazards approach was emphasized, covering not only natural disasters but also security-related risks, including hybrid threats. The importance of closer civil-military cooperation was also highlighted in order to respond effectively to large-scale crises.
Lithuania places particular focus on the protection of critical infrastructure, civil protection, evacuation planning, and preparedness for a wide range of crisis scenarios. These issues are relevant not only at the national level but also regionally and across the European Union.
During the visit, Vice-minister A. Burkovskienė also took part in a conference dedicated to strengthening civil protection and resilience. Discussions focused on preparedness for large-scale cross-sectoral crises, armed conflicts, protection of critical infrastructure, health emergencies, mass migration, as well as cyber and hybrid attacks.
The conference also addressed the “preparedness by design” principle, which calls for systematically integrating preparedness into EU policies, legislation, and financial instruments. Discussions emphasized that improving resilience requires increased investment, better funding mechanisms, and closer cooperation between civil protection and defence sectors.
It is essential to ensure that European Union civil protection mechanisms are adapted to all types of threats, and that responses are based on real risk and threat assessments as well as the needs of Member States.
According to the Vice-minister A. Burkovskienė, Ukraine’s experience has clearly shown that security and resilience begin with trust.
“People stay in their cities because they trust their state, institutions, and each other. Everyone has a role to play: from informed citizens and community networks to volunteer reserves and clear action plans. Preparedness is not a choice – it is a responsibility we all share, especially in an increasingly unpredictable world,” said Alona Shkrum, Vice Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, who also participated in the conference.
During its Presidency, Lithuania aims to strengthen European Union internal security, crisis preparedness, and democratic resilience, as well as improve migration and external border management.