Lithuania EU Council Presidency preparations

Lithuania is preparing for its presidency of the Council of the European Union, scheduled for the first half of 2027. Defense remains a primary focus for the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, which aims to strengthen European defense readiness, promote sustainable industry development, and ensure support for Ukraine.

Specific strategic goals include enhancing military mobility across the Union and reinforcing the Eastern Flank, the external border shared with Russia and Belarus. Lithuania intends to host an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Vilnius and organize a high-level conference for the ‘Eastern Flank Watch’ initiative, a project involving 18 countries focused on border protection and drone threats.

Beyond security, the presidency is expected to address the war in Ukraine, relations with the United States, economic competitiveness, energy resilience, and EU enlargement. Lithuania also plans to utilize the term to promote its national interests and cultural heritage, including hosting the ‘Faith, Heritage and Tourism’ International Religious Tourism Forum.