Lithuania's vice-minister for foreign and European affairs Vytautas Leškevičius opens our presidency special issue, saying his country plans to push for "a credible, growing and open Europe". Leškevičius writes that Lithuania's six months at the helm of the EU council will see Vilnius work "together with all member states and ensuring close cooperation among all European institutions". He also stressed that Lithuania would "place special importance on the promotion of the EU's eastern partnership", saying that his country would "take the opprtunity to sign an associaiton agreement... with Ukraine". "We need to keep building a Europe that is credible to its citizens and the world," said the Lithuanian minister. "A Europe that grows its economy and offers jobs. A Europe that remains open to its partners and neighbours."