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JOINT PRESS RELEASE 1. The EU-Lithuania Association Council held its fifth meeting on Tuesday 19 February 2002. The meeting was chaired by Mr Josep PIQUÉ Y CAMPS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union. Mr Antanas VALIONIS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, headed the Lithuanian delegation. Mr Friis Arne PETERSEN, Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and Mr Günter VERHEUGEN, Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, were also part of the European Union delegation (Troika format). The Association Council welcomed the conclusions of the Göteborg and Laeken European Councils which stated that the enlargement process is irreversible, reaffirmed the "roadmap" as the framework for the successful completion of the enlargement negotiations, and confirmed the determination of the Union to bring the accession negotiations with those candidate countries that are ready to a successful conclusion by the end of 2002, so that these countries can take part in the European Parliament elections of 2004 as members. Against this background, the Association Council provided a valuable opportunity to review Lithuania's progress in the framework of the pre-accession strategy and to consider priorities for further work within the framework of the Europe Agreement. 2.The Association Council reviewed the state of Lithuania's preparation for accession in the light of the latest Regular Report, issued by the European Commission in November 2001, the new Accession Partnership, adopted in January 2002, and the Lithuanian National Programme for Adoption of the Acquis, which was revised in June 2001. With regard to Copenhagen political criteria, the Association Council welcomed Lithuania's commitment to the reform of the public administration and of the judiciary, and encouraged continued efforts in these fields. Concerning the fight against corruption, the Association Council welcomed the adoption of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and stressed the importance of its implementation as well as the need for the adoption of a new Law on Corruption Prevention. The Association Council noted that Lithuania is a functioning market economy and should be able to cope with the competitive pressure and market forces within the Union in the near term, provided that it makes further substantial efforts to continue with the vigorous implementation of its structural reform programme. In this context, the Association Council recognised that significant progress has been made, notably in the privatisation of the banking and other sectors which is nearing completion, and pointed out areas where further work is needed. In particular, the Association Council noted that unemployment remains high and underlined the need to carry forward the reform of the labour market and to fully implement the new legal framework for business. The Association Council noted with satisfaction that Lithuania has preserved macro-economic stability and welcomed the recent pegging of the Lithuanian Litas to the Euro as an important step in the process of Lithuania's economic and monetary integration into the EU. The Association Council welcomed the significant progress made by Lithuania in terms of transposition and implementation in most areas of the EU acquis. It particularly welcomed the adoption of the Schengen Action Plan which includes the decision to align with the visa acquis in 2003. As regards nuclear safety, the Association Council welcomed the steps taken by Lithuania to prepare for the closure and decommissioning of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant as well as the financial assistance already being provided by the EU and its readiness to explore with Lithuania further financial support in this regard. In this context, the Association Council notes with interest the technical co-operation between Lithuanian authorities and the European Commission. The Association Council noted Lithuania's welcoming of the opinion of the Commission that decommissioning of a RBMK nuclear power plant is a burden for Lithuania in view of its economic importance relative to country's size rendering necessary additional support which should continue for the next decades. The Association Council noted the request by the EU for a clear and binding confirmation of Lithuania's commitment regarding the final closure of Ignalina Unit 1 before 2005 and a clear and binding commitment by Lithuania to close Unit 2 by 2009 at the latest. The Association Council noted the reiteration of the Lithuanian position that the final date of the closure of Ignalina NPP should be supported by a credible financing plan and appropriate internal as well as external commitments. The Association Council acknowledged the progress made by Lithuania in building the administrative capacity which is necessary to implement the acquis and encouraged Lithuania to continue its efforts in this respect, bearing in mind that effective implementation and enforcement of the acquis are becoming increasingly important as accession approaches. 3.The Association Council noted that the implementation of the Europe Agreement is running smoothly and that no significant problems have been reported. As regards the institutional structure of the Agreement, the Association Council noted that the procedures to establish a Joint Consultative Committee between the EC Economic and Social Committee and the relevant Lithuanian economic and social partners are underway. Concerning trade, the Association Council welcomed the implementation of the agreement on reciprocal trade concessions in the agricultural sector, and new negotiations conducted in this field, as well as the entry into force in February 2002 of its Decision on the liberalisation of trade in processed agricultural products. The Association Council also noted with satisfaction that the Additional Protocol to the Europe Agreement which establishes new trade concessions for fishery products entered into force on 1 February 2002. Furthermore, the Association Council welcomed Lithuania's accession to the WTO and expressed appreciation for the close co-operation between Lithuania and the EU in the course of the negotiations. The Association Council noted that the Protocol on European Conformity Assessment (PECA) between the EU and Lithuania was initialled in July 2001. The Association Council welcomed Lithuania's participation, according to the provisions of the relevant Association Council decisions, in a number of Community programmes. Lithuania's participation in further Community programmes should be facilitated and accelerated by the proposed framework agreement that should be put in place in the near future. The Association Council also welcomed the formal participation of Lithuania in the European Environment Agency since January 2002. As concerns the pre-accession aid, the Association Council acknowledged that in 2001 a total of € 45.5 million was made available to Lithuania under the PHARE National Programme, and an additional € 3 million was allocated for cross-border co-operation in the Baltic region. In addition, € 10 million in 1999, € 35 million in 2000 and € 5 million in 2001 were allocated on the basis of a special PHARE programme to support decommissioning of Ignalina NPP and consequential measures in the Lithuanian energy sector. As regards ISPA, a total of € 50 million was committed in 2001 in support of transport and environmental projects and for the SAPARD programme an indicative amount of € 30.4 million was made available to Lithuania. The Association Council welcomed the accreditation of Lithuania's SAPARD agency in November 2001. The Association Council invited Lithuania to make maximum use of these funds by ensuring that it has the necessary administrative and project management in place. In addition, the Association Council underlined the valuable contribution of the European Investment Bank in supporting priority projects in Lithuania. 4.The Association Council exchanged views on some international issues of common interest. It welcomed the continued orientation of Lithuania's foreign and security policy towards the EU and Lithuania's continuing role in regional stability through its policy of good neighbourly relations and regional co-operation, including as a member of the Council of Baltic Sea States (CBSS). It welcomed Lithuania's interest and involvement in the Northern Dimension of EU policies, as well as Lithuania's co-operation with the Russian Federation, in particular as concerns the Kaliningrad oblast'. The Association Council acknowledged the solidarity shown by Lithuania in the fight against international terrorism and particularly welcomed its association to the conclusions of the extraordinary European Council of 21 September 2001, and to the joint declaration of the European Conference of 20 October 2001. 5.In conclusion, the Association Council expressed confidence in the development of relations within the Europe Agreement and emphasised the crucial role it is further called on to play until Lithuania's accession to the European Union.