Lithuania in the News
29th November 2009
Lithuania Participates in Elections for European Union’s First President and Foreign Minister
Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė (right) and France’s President
Nicolas Sarkozy congratulate the newly elected EU foreign minister
Catherine Ashton. Photo courtesy lrp.lt
European Union leaders met in Brussels on November 19, 2009 to elect EU's first full-time president and new foreign policy chief. Belgian Prime Minsiter Herman Van Rompuy was elected EU president and UK’s Catherine Ashton, currently the EU Commissioner for trade, was chosen as the EU foreign minister.
Lithuanian’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė and other Lithuanian representatives attended the special meeting of EU leaders, at which the posts were decided. President Grybauskaitė said that Lithuania was very happy with the choice of both candidates. Herman van Rompuy is a person who can find common ground in complex situations and as a Belgian would understand the issues facing small countries. Dalia Grybauskaitė worked with Catherine Ashton for almost a year, when they both were EU Commissioners, and their personal acquaintance will help Grybauskaitė in the defence of Lithuania’s interests.
Herman Van Rompuy is due to make a visit to Lithuania on December 9. This would be one of the first visits he will make since his election, though it will be formally as the Belgian Prime Minister, as his EU President post will not take effect until January 1, 2010.

Further information: www.lrytas.lt 20-23/11/09, www.lrp.lt