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On 12 February, during an official visit to Germany, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier. During the purposeful meeting, most of the attention was dedicated to the issues of energy security, Eastern neighbourhood and relations with Russia. The Ministers positively assessed development of bilateral relations; they agreed to deepen cooperation between Lithuania and Germany in the areas of culture, economy, investments, innovations, the European Union and international policy.

“Germany is one of the most important partners of Lithuania with which we are interested to develop an intensive strategic dialogue“, said V.Ušackas.

In January-November 2008, Lithuania’s export to Germany was 3.8 milliard Litas. Germany is Lithuania’s 3rd greatest export partner on the list of Lithuanian export partners. In the same time period, Lithuania’s import from Germany was 7.9 milliard Litas. Germany is second on the list of Lithuanian import partners. Germany’s direct investments (437 investors) in Lithuania amounted to 3.1 milliard Litas or 9.4% of direct foreign investments on 1 October 2008.

Lithuanian and German Foreign Ministers agreed to organise a meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the three Baltic States and Germany in May this year in Nida.

During the meeting, V.Ušackas and F.W.Steinmeier highlighted the significance of energy solidarity. The Ministers requested Germany to support and back up the suggestion of the European Commission to allot 175 million euros to build the energy link between the Baltic and Sweden. According to the Minister, urgent implementation of the project would be a serious and practical step, which would contribute to solving energy isolation problems of the Baltic States, as well as those of integration into the EU energy system.

The Ministers emphasized the importance of the Eastern Partnership Initiative for the stability in the EU neighbourhood in the East, for purposeful reforms of economy market and for consolidation of principles of democratic governance in the countries of the region. During the meeting, the Ministers exchanged their opinions on Belarus’s drawing closer to the EU perspectives.

The Ministers stressed the significance of constructive and pragmatic relations with Russia. Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy underlined that the Kaliningrad region had to become an important topic in the EU-Russia dialogue. Minister V.Ušackas suggested the EU to consider the issue of liberalisation of visa regime for the residents of the Kaliningrad region.