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Afghanistan has to remain a priority for the EU policy as the responsibility for the country is being transferred into Afghan hands, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis stressed at the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 18 July in Brussels.He emphasized the need to continue contributing actively to Afghanistan’s stabilization process also after the responsibility for security of Afghan provinces would have been transferred into the hands of the country’s central and local administrative organs by the end of 2014.

According to the Minister, the European Union Police mission in Afghanistan (EUPOL) should be extended after 2013, because the need for training of the Afghan police will continue to grow.

At the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, EU Ministers also discussed the implementation of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and the situation in the countries affected by conflict in the EU’s Southern neighborhood.

The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton presented her report on Common Security and Defence Policy to Ministers.

At the meeting, A.Ažubalis stated that the CSDP should be further developed by making maximum use of the existing structures, since the EU must be able to adequately respond to current security challenges.

According to the Minister, when searching for more effective ways to develop the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, it is important to exploit all opportunities for cooperation with NATO.

When discussing the situation in the EU’s Southern neighborhood, Ministers stressed that it was necessary to start thinking already now about plans for the post-conflict stage in the countries of this region and ways to support the implementation of necessary reforms in these countries.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs thanked C.Ashton and those EU Ministers, who participated in the Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies in Vilnius. “This event showed that democracy is alive and needed in the EU’s Southern neighborhood,” A.Ažubalis said. He informed EU Ministers about the new initiative, the Democracy Partnership Challenge, which was launched in Vilnius and that Tunisia had been selected as its first participating country.

According to A.Ažubalis, Lithuania is prepared to share its experience of transition to democracy with all aspiring countries.