News

On 18 February, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius met with Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Iceland Össur Skarphéðinsson, evaluated the progress of the country’s accession negotiations with the EU as excellent, and assured Lithuania’s continued full support to Iceland in this regard.

“Lithuania will always stand by Iceland on its path towards the European Union. Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the EU is ready to be just as much ambitious with regard to Iceland’s negotiations for EU membership, as much Iceland will be willing itself,” Linkevičius said.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister added that Iceland had achieved impressive progress in its accession negotiation and called for maintaining the momentum behind it. According to the Minister, it is very important to continue the negotiations also after a parliamentary election, which is scheduled to be held in Iceland on 27 April.

“Iceland’s accession to the European family would strengthen the influence of Nordic and Baltic countries in Europe,” the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy said.

Linkevičius promised Lithuanian expert support to Skarphéðinsson both during the accession negotiations and when transposing the EU norms into the national legal system, i.e., public administration and regional policy.

With regard to the EU enlargement, Lithuania speaks up for the “open door” policy for those countries that meet all the membership criteria and implement all the necessary reforms. Therefore, from the very beginning of the negotiations in 2010, Lithuania has consistently supported the EU membership of Iceland, its close ally on the international scene.