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During European Union‘s General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels on 16 March, ministers of foreign affairs discussed the agenda of the European Council scheduled for 19-20 March. The EU leaders will discuss issues of economy recovery, energy security and Eastern Partnership at the summit.

On the subject of economic recession and means to tackle it, Lithuania‘s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas noted that the macro-financial stability was an important prerequisite for the recovery of Europe‘s economy.

„It is important that the European Council stresses the significance of solidarity as a fundamental value of the European Union and invites the European Commission and the Council of the EU to take the necessary actions in order to guarantee cooperation with international financial institutions. If needed, the EU bodies should contribute to the stabilization of financial situation in the EU Member States“, Minister V.Ušackas said.

The Minister also welcomed the EU‘s intention to increase financial support which would allow to balance the budgets of the EU Member States.

During a discussion on the European Economy Recovery Plan, Minister V.Ušackas highlighted the need for a decision which would authorise timely start of critical energy projects based not only on the progress of the projects but also on their importance to the energy security. Lithuania, according to the Minister, especially values financial EU support to the electricity link with Sweden.

The Minister welcomed the efforts of the European Commission and the Czech EU Presidency to strengthen and develop the Eastern Partnership. Head of Lithuania‘s diplomacy stressed that a very important task for this week‘s European Council was to adopt an ambitious declaration on the Eastern Partnership which would constitute a framework for a clear strategy of the development of relations with EU‘s Eastern neighbours - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Lithuania will aim to maintain the ambitious spirit of proposals presented in the communiqué of the European Commission, and the initiative has to include such important aspects as the creation of free trade areas, facilitation of visa regime, supplementary financing, solution of frozen conflicts and promotion of multilateral cooperation.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council decided to extend for one year the travel restrictions imposed on certain officials of Belarus on 13 October 2008 and to maintain the suspension of the application of these restrictive measures for a nine months period. Minister V.Ušackas stressed that the EU‘s policy towards Belarus should be formulated considering the developments in the country and implementation of the principles of human rights and democracy.

Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that Lithuania‘s interest was independent and stable Belarus, which functioned according to the principles of free market and moved towards the creation of an open democratic society.