Lithuanian president urges Europe to build stronger, future-ready economy

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is calling on Europe to build a stronger, future-ready economy to ensure the continent is prepared to withstand emerging challenges and threats.

Nausėda outlined this position at a European Council meeting on Thursday, which, among other topics, focused on boosting the European Union's economic competitiveness, his office said in a press release.

"We must fully harness the potential of the single market by reducing bureaucratic burden, removing barriers to the free movement of services, and simplifying regulations, including in the defense sector," the president said.

"Special attention must be given to ensuring the resilience of Europe's critical infrastructure," he said.

Nausėda called for energy independence from Russia to be made a top priority for the EU as a whole and urged the faster implementation of the European Commission's RePowerEU plan along with a stronger focus on sustainable energy solutions.

Speaking about the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the president "pointed out that, alongside the usual objectives outlined in the Treaties, the future MFF must also take into account new challenges such as bolstering EU security and defense, ensuring military mobility, enhancing competitiveness, and continuing support for Ukraine", his office said.