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On 10 May in Brussels, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis attended the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting, during which the preparation for the EU-Russia summit to be held in Rostov-on-Don on 31 May was discussed.

This meeting will focus on important international issues for both sides, such as the economic crisis, climate change, energy and the EU-Russia relations. The EU-Russia summit will also aim to reach an agreement on the EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation.

“The EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation has to encompass not only economic modernization, but also political and social modernization of Russia,” Minister A.Ažubalis said when presenting Lithuania’s position.

The Minister also urged to seek progress in talks on the new EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. According to him, there is still some uncertainty about Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation, certain concerns are raised by Russia’s protectionist practices in increasing customs duties and establishing them in the emerging Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

When commenting on suggestions to take further steps in the ongoing EU-Russia visa dialogue, the Minister stressed that a visa-free regime was a long-term objective, to which the EU applied a step-by-step approach focusing on substance. Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy drew participants’ attention to the importance of visa-regime liberalization for the countries that are participating in the Eastern Partnership initiative.

According to the Minister, ensuring compliance with international nuclear safety standards and standards for the protection of environment has to be high on the agenda of the EU-Russia relations, especially when implementing new nuclear energy projects in Russia.

EU foreign ministers discussed the EU’s objectives at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference that started in New York on 3 May, and the results that were reached during the first days of the conference. Lithuania speaks up for international sanctions against Iran, if the country will continue to ignore its international obligations and will not stop to implement its nuclear programme.

At the meeting, the EU foreign ministers signed the EU-Republic of Korea Framework agreement.

Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy also took part in the meeting of Friends of Ukraine, during which the ministers and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko discussed the political situation in this country, important issues of cooperation between the EU and Ukraine, including also the perspective of the liberalization of visa-regime.

The General Affairs Council examined an agenda for the European Council meeting to be held on 17-18 June.  In June, the European Council is expected to adopt the Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. Minister A.Ažubalis stressed that Lithuania was interested in setting realistic and stimulating national indicators, and to identify obstacles for growth at the EU and member state level. The Minister identified the lack of a well-developed transport and energy infrastructure as one of the greatest obstacles that Lithuania faced.

According to the Minister, when speaking about the climate change, Lithuania remains interested in having the efforts of international partners evaluated appropriately before making further decisions.