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At the meeting with the new French Ambassador to Lithuania Maryse Berniau on 15 December, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė underlined close ties and cooperation between the countries and discussed important issues of bilateral relations.

This year, Lithuania and France celebrates the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations. The Vice-Minister stressed that the bilateral dialogue has been gradually strengthened over the years, especially in such areas as economy, security and culture. The Lithuanian-French strategic partnership action plan, which has been implemented since this summer, also testifies to the intensification of bilateral relations.

When speaking about activities of the countries of the European Union, the Vice-Minister expressed hope that the support of France would help to strengthen the judicial cooperation in criminal matters - European Arrest Warrant – within the EU that was based on the principle of goodwill.

During the conversation, important EU issues were also discussed: challenges arising to the EU in the eurozone and the European Union’s next Financial Perspectives (2014-2020).

The Vice-Minister stressed benefits of activities of the French Institute in Lithuania, which is the largest one in the Baltic States, and pointed out that the Lithuanian people had a great interest in the French language and French culture.

The French Ambassador presented her credentials to the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė on 3 November. Lithuania and France re-established diplomatic relations on 29 August 1991.