Airport, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Transport

For the first time in 2013 Lithuania will preside over the EU Council. The preparations were started a long time ago but not everything goes as smoothly as expected. The idea is that while Lithuania presides over the EU Council, flights from Vilnius to Brussels and vice versa should operate at least twice a day according to the time of scheduled meetings since many high ranking officials will be coming to Lithuania from the entire EU. Our country's officials will also have to fly to Brussels and chair meetings there, informs LETA/ELTA, referring to the daily Lietuvos Rytas.

Currently two airlines operate flights from Vilnius to Brussels. Belgium's Brussels Airlines have one flight every day except Saturdays, while Irish Ryanair operates flights to Charleroi airport three times a week. Lithuanian officials think that these flights will be not enough for the time when Lithuania will preside over the EU.

"Currently we have started negotiations with Brussels Airlines. So far we have only agreed on more convenient time but not on the additional flight, "says Director of Presidency of the EU Council, Ambassador Remigijus Motuzas.

Also, recently negotiations with the airlines airBaltic were launched.