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During a traditional meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers’ of Nordic and Baltic states (NB6) on 12 February in Brussels, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Žygimantas Pavilionis highlighted the need to end the isolation of natural gas market in Lithuania, to take action against the negative impact of the monopoly of the third countries on the liberalized market in the European Union and to implement effective EU mechanisms for the management of energy crises.

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ž. Pavilionis proposed to coordinate actions while creating energy infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. He stated that it would be useful to carry out an independent impact assessment of the Nordic gas pipeline.

Ž.Pavilionis reminded that Russia had cut its oil supply to Lithuania via the oil pipeline Druzhba thus making Lithuania refer to the natural oil transportation through the Baltic Sea. This could condition an even greater pollution of the sea, which is already officially declared as one of the most polluted seas of the world.

The issues of energy policy were as well emphasized by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting. Lithuanian delegate also proposed that during the forthcoming meetings of the EU Heads of State and Governments and meetings of Ministers of Foreign Affairs should permanently pay attention to the closest EU neighbours.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson submitted information to the EU Ministers about the resumed negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the anticipatory actions of the Commission. Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ž.Pavilionis welcomed this and made a point that all WTO countries should make concessions in the negotiations, the EU not being an exception.

“In the negotiations one should not go beyond the limit, which was set in 2003, when it decided upon the reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy”, – said Ž.Pavilionis. 

Lithuanian delegate supported the decision to send an EU police mission to Afghanistan.

“Most importantly the mission shall be carried out not only in the capital city, but also in provinces, including Ghor Province, in which Lithuania is leading a Provincial Reconstruction Team”, – said Ž.Pavilionis.

When the Ministers discussed issues of Kosovo province, Ž.Pavilionis stressed that the solution of the status of Kosovo province should be followed by other solutions concerning  “frozen“ conflicts in the EU neighbourhood.