Rita Tamašunienė: common European solutions necessary for the safety of children online
Minister of Justice Rita Tamašunienė met with Stefanie Hubig, Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection of the Federal Republic of Germany. During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the priorities of Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, support for Ukraine, and the impact of social media on children.
“Relations between Lithuania and Germany, based on mutual respect and the consistent strengthening of bilateral cooperation, are one of Lithuania’s top priorities. The contribution of Germany to the security of Lithuania and the entire region is invaluable. We believe that our partnership will continue to grow stronger,” said Minister of Justice Tamašunienė.
Much attention during the meeting was paid to the growing influence of social media on children and young people. Several Member States of the European Union take the position that it is necessary to establish a uniform minimum age for using social media, as well as to create a unified identity verification system. “Social media transcends national borders, therefore, individual national measures are no longer sufficient – coordinated solutions across the entire European Union are necessary to ensure the safety of children in the digital space,” the Minister emphasised.
The Ministers also discussed the preparations for Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The main directions of the Presidency include the most important geopolitical challenges: the strengthening of the security and defence of the European Union, comprehensive support for Ukraine and sustainable funding of the defence, boosting competitiveness, development, and internal security.
In the area of justice, it is planned to continue work on key legislative issues, including the Firearms Directive, the fight against the smuggling of migrants, and the prevention of sexual exploitation of children. It is also intended to strengthen judicial cooperation in criminal matters, review the European Investigation Order Directive, and enhance the role of Eurojust. In the area of consumer protection, negotiations on the Digital Fairness Act and the Regulation on cooperation between national authorities responsible for the enforcement of consumer protection laws are identified as priority issues.
The Ministers also discussed the challenges of cross-border enforcement of judgments in civil matters, particularly given the growing use of digital assets. Lithuania intends to initiate discussions on more effective exchange of information on debtors’ assets among EU Member States, while considering the possibility of creating a common platform.
Last updated: 27-04-2026