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On 13 November during consultations with Finnish Minister for European Affairs Paula Lehtomäki in Brussels Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Žygimantas Pavilionis discussed the prospects of coming into effect of the EU Constitutional Treaty.

“Lithuania was the first to ratify the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, and always stood for its preservation, therefore we are interested in further ratification and coming into force of the Treaty,” Mr Pavilionis said. According to him, the Constitutional Treaty is the best compromise that can be agreed.

“With the Constitutional Treaty Europe would be stronger, more effective and democratic,” Undersecretary of the Ministry said.

During the discussions on the future of the Constitutional Treaty Lithuania coordinates its position with other EU Members that have already ratified the document. According to Mr Pavilionis, Lithuania would consider possibility of adding protocols and declarations to the Treaty, if this helped to resolve the problems of the states that had not ratified the Treaty.

“We hold the most important the preservation of the substance of the Constitutional Treaty,” the diplomat said.

According to the plan adopted in June 2006, in the first half of 2007 the Member States should agree on the future of the constitutional reforms and the final decision should be taken by the end of 2008. On 25 March 2007 in Berlin commemorating 50 years of the Treaties of Rome the EU leaders will adopt a declaration setting out Europe's values and ambitions.