BALTIC AND VYSHEGRAD GROUP STATES STRIVE FOR THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE ENLARGEMENT OF THE SCHENGEN ZONE
On 13 November Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas discussed with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier preparations for the EU-Russia Summit and future enlargement of the Schengen zone.
German Foreign Minister marked that it is necessary to seek for technical possibilities for realisation of the enlargement of the Schengen zone in 2007. Minister Steinmeier also promised to find possibility to visit Lithuania as soon as possible.
Minister Vaitiekūnas also took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Vyshegrad Group States (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) and the Baltic States.
The ministers expressed common determination to seek to join the Schengen zone in October 2007 as it was confirmed at the European Council meeting in June 2006. If this does not happen for technical reasons, the confidence in the EU among the new members of the Union will be undermined. All 7 states urge the European Commission and the Member Sates to meet their commitments and work together to ensure the earliest possible enlargement of the Schengen zone.
Social media
