News

On 6-8 April during the political consultations that were held in Sofia and Ljubljana, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas discussed economic cooperation, energy safety and issues on the agenda of the European Union.At the meetings, the Vice-Minister discussed possibilities to intensify bilateral economic relations and acquainted the Slovenian and Bulgarian officials with Lithuania’s promising investment areas.

At the meeting with Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Konstantin Dimitrov on 6 April, E.Meilūnas expressed support to Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area and discussed the EU’s bilateral agenda.

K.Dimitrov and E.Meilūnas agreed that both countries will continue to maintain a single position on the evaluation of crimes committed by totalitarian regimes at EU level, consult and coordinate their positions on the EU Eastern Neighbourhood policy issues.

During the consultations, the officials also shared their experience regarding nuclear safety and the implementation of macro-regional strategies.

On 7-8 April in Ljubljana, E.Meilūnas and State Secretary at the Slovenian Ministry for Foreign Affairs Dragoljuba Benčina discussed energy safety. E.Meilūnas and D.Benčina agreed to raise the issues of nuclear safety and environmental impact and to give more attention to energy efficiency policy development at EU level.

D.Benčina positively assessed Lithuania’s Chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and shared the best practices of the Presidency of the EU Council.

Slovenia held the Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2008 and the OSCE’s Chairmanship in 2005. Lithuania will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2013.

E.Meilūnas invited representatives from Slovenia and Bulgaria to take part in the events that will take place in Vilnius at the end of June/beginning of July. The events are meant to put in a nutshell the experience and results of Lithuania’s Presidency of the Community of Democracies.

Mid-2009 through mid-2011, Lithuania holds the Presidency of the Community of Democracies, which joins together more than 100 countries. The Community aims to promote and strengthen democracy and democratic institutions around the world.