HEADS OF DIPLOMACY OF THE BALTIC STATES AND THE BENELUX COUNTRIES AGREED TO STRENGTHEN REGIONAL COOPERATION
On 2-3 October in Jūrmala, during the first meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States and the Benelux countries, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas and his counterparts discussed issues of regional cooperation.
Minister P.Vaitiekūnas indicated that the meetings of the representatives of the Baltic States and the Benelux countries were especially useful and encouraged to organize them regularly.
The Baltic States, according to the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy, could apply the cooperation experience of the diplomatic services of the Benelux countries.
While presenting the position of Lithuania regarding the EU Reform Treaty, Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas pointed out the plans to establish a common EU diplomatic service called the European External Action Service. The minister encouraged the Baltic States and the Benelux countries to draft joint proposals regarding the development of the EU diplomatic service.
Participants of the meeting agreed that it was necessary to pursue active EU policy regarding Russia and the eastern neighbours of Europe. Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs P.Vaitiekūnas also emphasized the significance of concrete practical steps in the field of the EU Neighbourhood policy. The most important issues on the EU agenda in relations to its eastern neighbours, according to P.Vaitiekūnas, are the guarantees for free-trade, the facilitation of visa regime and solution of frozen conflicts.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States and the Benelux countries also discussed the role of small and medium size EU countries in the regulation of migration and integration processes in the EU, energy infrastructure and other important issues.
The next meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Baltic States and the Benelux countries is scheduled for 2008. The purpose of the meetings is to activate the mutual dialogue between the Baltic States and the Benelux countries regarding the issues on the EU agenda and to enhance regional cooperation.
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