"I wish the new President of the EU gives regard to and supports the interests of Lithuania and the whole Baltic region. The most important thing for us is that the new economic conception covers energy independence and energy connections between the Baltic region and Europe. This means that Lithuania will continue asking that the EU's financial perspective envisages funds for the post-closure maintenance of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and for the construction of electricity connections with Western Europe," President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

According to the President of Lithuania, the fact that the new President of the European Council has chosen Lithuania for one of his first visits is very important as it demonstrates that the EU equally cares both for large and small Member States.

The Treaty of Lisbon, which entered into force on December 1, brings changes to the Community's institutional structure, introduces a simpler, more effective and more transparent decision-making process, provides the European Union with new competences, and promotes a more active engagement of citizens in the political process.

The new constitutional treaty has also created the posts of President of the European Council and High Representative for Foreign Affairs. At the decision taken by the European Council at its informal meeting in Brussels, these posts were given to former Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy and former EU commissioner Briton Catherine Ashton, respectively.