On 10 January, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius and Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlăţean held a meeting in Vilnius, which focused mostly on the strengthening of bilateral dialogue in the context of Lithuania’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union and international security. Linkevičius was glad that the priorities of Lithuania’s forthcoming Presidency were very important also to Romania.

The Ministers stressed the need for a common EU policy on nuclear safety in the EU’s neighbourhood.

The meeting discussed the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020. Linkevičius stressed that EU member states had to find a well-balanced and fair compromise in the near future. Corlăţean said that after reaching an agreement on the multiannual budget, the Lithuanian Presidency would be facing some big challenges, as it would have to finalize the negotiations with the European Parliament on key pieces of legislation allowing using the EU funds.

Linkevičius stressed that Lithuania positively assessed the Romanian experience and expert knowledge in the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, especially in Moldova, and would aim to benefit from it. The Minister invited Romania to participate at the highest political level in the 3rdEastern Partnership Summit, which is due this November in Vilnius.

During the conversation, the Ministers touched upon issues related to the perspective of further strengthening the intensifying economic ties between Lithuania and Romania. Even during the period of the financial crisis, in the first half of 2012, the bilateral trade increased by 26.9%.

Romania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Titus Corlăţean came to Lithuania to take part in the traditional Snow Meeting in Trakai. This is his first visit to Lithuania.