OREANDA-NEWS. June 20, 2008. President Valdas Adamkus is attending the European Council meeting in Brussels. Together with other EU leaders, he congratulated Slovakia on its expected accession to the euro zone in 2009 and expressed belief that the single currency space would continue to expand by integrating EU member states with rapidly growing economies.

At its first working session, the European Council discussed the political implications of the sharp rise of food and oil prices and the measures to mitigate its consequences. According to Mr. Adamkus, the Council should not limit itself to oil prices only and should also cover energy prices in its discussions. This is an issue of great importance to Lithuania, facing a steep energy and food price rise.

President Adamkus welcomed the commitment of the European Commission to examine the effects produced by external factors on the prices of energy resources.

Mr. Adamkus underlined that today’s most urgent task was to ensure the functioning of a single market, develop competitiveness, and adjust agriculture to meet the growing demand. He also proposed that the European Commission evaluate the effects of the current Common Agricultural Policy measures in respect of food prices.

At a subsequent working dinner of Heads of State, the political implications of rising food and oil prices and measures to alleviate the resulting consequences were further discussed. The situation that emerged after the Lisbon Treaty was rejected by the referendum in Ireland was also high on the agenda.

Discussions on this particular issue will be continued today.