On 15-17 in Brussels, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius will participate in the Brussels Forum, an annual high-level meeting of the most influential North American and European political, corporate, and intellectual leaders.

During a session dedicated to the Eastern Partnership, the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy, Georgian Minister of Defence Irakli Alasania, Director General for Enlargement at the European Commission Stefano Sannino, and President of the Project on Transitional Democracies Bruce P. Jackson will discuss prospects for the EU’s Eastern Partnership and expectations of the Eastern Neighbourhood countries when it comes to cooperation with the EU.

One of the key priorities of Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the EU Council will be to strengthen relations of the Eastern Partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine - with the EU, and to promote European integration. On 28 and 29 November, Vilnius will host the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit. Progress in negotiations and signing of free trade agreements with Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia are expected. Lithuania will take the helm of the EU Council on 1 July.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Brussels office hosts the annual Brussels Forum, which is one of the most prestigious events in the capital of Belgium. Participants of the three-day forum include President of European Council Herman Van Rompuy, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, and other senior officials from the European Union institutions and the member states.