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The European Commission report on the progress implementing the renewed Lisbon strategy was presented and European Union strategy for Belarus was discussed on January 30 at the meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels. These are the most important issues at the General and External Relations Council.

Speaking in the Council Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis noted that energy is one of the most significant fields achieving Lisbon strategy goals. 

The head of diplomacy stressed that common energy policy is necessary for the EU in order to finish the creation of internal market and guarantee EU security. According to the Lithuanian Foreign Minister, the importance of joining different energy sources, EU members‘ energy networks should be evaluated in the common EU energy policy.

“The EU should not only react to energy crises but also prepare for them and in advance envisage protective measures“, – noted A.Valionis.

The head of Lithuanian diplomacy informed the EU foreign ministers about the last week meeting in Vilnius of Baltic states officials and representatives of the largest energy companies of the region which addressed the steps of the Baltic states seeking common energy policy in the Baltic region. 

The Minister proposed to discuss energy security issues periodically at EU foreign ministers meetings.

Discussing the EU strategy for Belarus in the Council, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister A.Valionis pointed out that during the recent years the EU had significantly strengthened its support for democratic forces and civic society in Belarus.

“The most vivid example – the European Humanitarian University starting to operate in Vilnius,” – said the head of Lithuanian diplomacy.

Minister A.Valionis drew attention to the fact that the EU states could avoid their policy contradictions when on the one hand contacts with ordinary people of Belarus are encouraged and on the other – visa prices are increased, in this way creating a new wall of „visas“ between the EU and Belarus. The Minister presented Lithuania’s example, when last year the number of coming Byelorussian citizens doubled after having reduced the visa price.