News

On 25 October at the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis and chiefs of diplomacy from the other 26 EU member states discussed cooperation with Georgia, the situation in Cuba, review of the European Neighbourhood Policy and evaluated the Middle East Peace Process.

EU foreign ministers adopted conclusions on Moldova. The Council expressed satisfaction that Moldova was making progress in its efforts towards integration with the EU. Foreign ministers re-affirmed the EU’s readiness to allocate financial assistance worth 90 million EUR to Moldova. The ministers also invited the European Commission to prepare a draft action plan for a visa-free regime with Moldova.

The Council also adopted conclusions on the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood. The conclusions summarize the results of this EU programme and offer guidelines for further activities.

Foreign ministers adopted a decision extending for one year the restrictive measures against certain officials of Belarus. At the same time, the application of the restrictive measures was “frozen” for the same period in order to accelerate progress in the areas highlighted by the EU. The EU has reserved a right to review this decision at any time.

The Ministers assessed the situation in Uzbekistan as regards human rights and the EU-Uzbekistan cooperation one year after restrictive measures were lifted. The Council remained concerned by the overall situation regarding human rights, democratisation and the rule of law in Uzbekistan. The Ministers stressed the prerequisite of substantial progress in the areas of concern for the development of closer bilateral relations.

In preparations for the discussion on Georgia at the Foreign Affairs Council, Czech, Lithuanian and Polish Foreign Ministers circulated a joint document that assessed the dynamics of relations between the EU and Georgia, and set out proposals for enhanced cooperation.

Prior to the Foreign Affairs Council, Foreign Minister A.Ažubalis attended the meeting of the Friends of Georgia Group with Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Grigol Vashadze that was held by the Czech Republic. At the meeting, heads of diplomacy from the EU member states listened to Georgia’s opinion on the European integration process of the country and its internal reforms. European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby also attended the meeting.

At the Foreign Affairs Council, Minister A.Ažubalis called on the European Commission to open negotiations for a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement with Georgia as soon as possible.

“It is important to achieve that Russia fully implements its commitments under a ceasefire agreement and that members of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia are able to have access to the entire territory of Georgia,” the Minister added.

He also invited EU member states to aim at involving the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) more actively when addressing Georgia’s problems.

At the Council, Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Cuba and the EU’s relations with this country. This summer the Government of Cuba admitted that it held political prisoners and announced that the country would release fifty-two of them. Cuba has released 38 prisoners so far, but they are not allowed to stay in Cuba.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister spoke up for continuing EU’s political dialogue with Cuba in accordance with the EU’s common position that was established earlier. Its essence is to encourage Cuba’s transition into democracy and to support human rights.

“Further deepening and upgrading of the EU’s relations with Cuba have to be linked with a follow-up of positive changes in the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

EU foreign ministers also spoke about the strategic discussion on the future of the European Neighbourhood Policy that was initiated by EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Š.Füle. Minister A.Ažubalis said that the EU should maintain an “open door” policy with regard to its neighbours in the East. According to the Minister, when applying the instruments of the EU Partnership to each partner country, their different priorities, readiness for reforms and progress has to be taken into account.

“In the context of visa liberalization for the EU’s neighbours in the East, regional coherence is important both to EU’s Eastern Partnership countries, and to Russia,” the Minister said.