BGI Consulting is performing the evaluation of the impact of the Lithuanian presidency of the Council of the European Union

In the second half of 2013, Lithuania took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU and its preparatory bodies. It was considered to be a great challenge for our country which, while implementing the joint (together with the Presidency Trio partners, Ireland and Greece) 18-month programme of the Council and the national 6-month Presidency programme, was responsible for ensuring smooth functioning of the Council and its preparatory bodies, as well as the continuity of its agenda. The Presidency of the Council of the EU provided Lithuania with an opportunity to strengthen its status as a trustworthy EU member state, enhance the capacities of the civil service, intensify cooperation with the socio-economic partners, promoting their involvement in the EU legislative process, increase the notoriety of Lithuania in other EU member states and Lithuanian society’s awareness of the EU.

After the end of Lithuanian presidency, it is important to assess the changes conditioned by the Presidency, firstly, in the system of EU affairs coordination, and, secondly, in Lithuanian economy. This research is necessary in order to comprehensively evaluate, pass on and effectively use in the future the experience gained during the Presidency. The objective of evaluation that is being performed by BGI Consulting – to assess the impact of Lithuanian Presidency on four elements, namely Lithuania’s representation in various EU institutions, civil service system, Lithuanian society’s awareness of the Presidency, and economy.

The impact on Lithuania’s representation in various EU institutions will be assessed by analysing changes in Lithuania’s representation by certain groups of officials (members of the government, diplomats, attachés, heads of governmental institutions, civil servants, etc.), as well as evaluation of Lithuanian representatives’ presidency for the Council’s working groups provided by the participants of these groups from other EU member states. The impact on the civil service system will be assessed by analysing changes in competences of the officials working with EU affairs in the governmental institutions, and changes in the interinstitutional cooperation, comparing periods of preparation for the Presidency and that of the Presidency. The impact on the society’s awareness of the Presidency will be assessed by analysing changes in cooperation between governmental institutions and non-governmental organisations and associations, as well as peculiarities of informing the society about the Presidency. The impact on the Lithuania’s economy will be assessed by identifying the changes conditioned by the Presidency on tourism and service sectors.

For collection and analysis of the necessary data, as well as for justification of the findings of the evaluation, different qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods will be applied, including surveys, regular and in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, statistical analysis, etc. The findings of the evaluation will be presented in the evaluation report, as well as during the conference. 

The evaluation was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and is being conducted under the project aimed at encouraging Lithuanian networking in the EU, implemented by the ministry.