News

On 3 June during a working visit to Italy, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas and Italy’s Foreign Minister Franco Frattini discussed ways of intensifying bilateral relations between Lithuania and Italy. During the meeting, Minister V.Ušackas offered his condolences to the families of ten Italians, who had died in Air France jet crash.

Lithuanian and Italian Foreign Ministries signed a declaration on enhanced cooperation. The declaration foresees regular cooperation of the ministerial officials and consultations on important issues of the European Union, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), United Nations (UN) and other international organisations, European Neighbourhood, energy security, and public diplomacy issues.

In this inter-institutional declaration both countries are also undertaking obligations to closely cooperate in preparing for the EU Presidency and the OSCE Chairmanship.

The Ministers drew attention to the fact that Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs last time visited Italy five years ago, and Italy’s Foreign Minister visited Lithuania only once in 1994. Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs F.Frattini accepted the invitation of Minister V.Ušackas to pay a working visit to Lithuania in September.

During the conversation, the Ministers discussed issues of European security and Eastern Partnership, preparation for the forthcoming meeting of the European Council on 18-19 June in Brussels, important issues on NATO’s agenda.

At the meeting, V.Ušackas reminded his counterpart about an unsolved issue regarding the building of Lithuania’s diplomatic representation in Rome. Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy presented necessary technical requirements for the building of Lithuania’s diplomatic representation in Italy.

Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs F.Frattini assured that currently an appropriate building for Lithuania’s diplomatic representation in Rome was being searched for.

In 2008, Lithuania’s exports to Italy amounted to 883.1 million Litas (256 million EUR) and, as compared to 2007, decreased by 10 percent. This constituted 1.6 percent of total Lithuanian exports. In 2008, Lithuania’s import from Italy amounted to 2580.4 million Litas (747.9 million EUR) and, as compared to 2007, increased by 5.3 percent. This constituted 3.6 percent of total Lithuanian import.

In 2008, trade turnover between Lithuania and Italy was 3463.5 million Litas (1003.9 million EUR). Lithuania’s trade balance with Italy was negative and amounted to 1697.3 million Litas (-492.0 million EUR).

Lithuania will hold the EU Presidency in 2013 and Italy in 2014. Lithuania will chair the OSCE in 2011.