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On 27-28 May in the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Klosterneuburg, Austria Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis stressed that the Euro is the most important European cooperation project therefore Lithuania is interested in its success.

According to Lithuanian Foreign Minister, introduction of the Euro in Lithuania is not only a privilege, but also a duty established in the Treaty of Accession. Lithuania is economically ready for this and this issue will be discussed in the June European Council.

In the informal meeting EU foreign ministers addressed preparations for the European Council on 15-16 June. Special attention was paid to discussion on the EU future, the fate of the Constitutional Treaty and further EU enlargement.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister marked that the period of contemplation on the future of the EU should be extended, but the ratification of the Constitutional Treaty should be also continued.

“We see no reason for tossing around and hurry to rewrite the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. We would not solve the current problems of the EU by starting the discussion on the Constitution, on the contrary this would turn our attention in the wrong direction,” Minister Valionis said.

According to the Foreign Minister, the solution to the current situation is the agreement on the action plan concerning further decisions on the EU Constitutional Treaty. Most of the EU members supported Mr Valionis’ proposal to adopt such action plan in 2007.

“In the meantime we should work not on the text of the Treaty, but deal with practical issues that, if left unsolved, could undermine people’s confidence in the European Union. Therefore we think that creation of stronger common EU energy policy, effective internal market, enlargement of  the Eurozone and the Schengen zone would be great contributions to European project’s success,” the Head of Lithuanian Diplomacy stated.

Speaking about further enlargement of the EU, Minister Valionis stressed that difficulties of the EU Constitutional Treaty ratification should not become a pretext for turning away from the European states aspiring to become members of the EU.