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During the working visit to Spain on 19 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with the Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Alfonso María Dastis Quecedo. The Foreign Ministers positively assessed the developments in bilateral relations between Lithuania and Spain. The meeting focused on the key issues of security, cooperation within the European Union and NATO, and the European Neighbourhood.

Linkevičius thanked his Spanish counterpart for Spain’s contribution to ensuring security in the Baltic Sea region. The Spanish fighters have already carried out NATO’s Baltic air policing mission or missions to strengthen air policing four times, including twice in Lithuania. In May this year, Spain will again send Eurofighter fighter jets for NATO air policing mission, which aims to preserve the security of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s airspace. The fighter aircraft will be deployed to Šiauliai Air Base until August.

The Foreign Ministers also agreed on close cooperation between the two countries on countering hybrid threats, improving cyber security, and resilience to information attacks.

“In order to address successfully complex security, economic issues and other challenges facing Europe, Lithuania, Spain, other EU member states and our allies today, we must act decisively through unity and solidarity amongst us,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

Minister Linkevičius also emphasized the need to strengthen the EU’s support to the implementation of reforms in the Eastern Partnership’s associated countries. In addition, Lithuania seeks backing for the European long-term support plan for Ukraine that would help ensure the pace and sustainability of reforms.

Linkevičius highlighted that the positions of Lithuania and Spain coincided with regards to many items on the EU agenda. According to both Ministers, the EU will be able to meet internal and global challenges, if it assumes responsibility for its future and acts in line with common, fundamental values.