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On 25 November at the 17th Baltic Council in Tallinn Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis reviewed the achievements and upcoming challenges of Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian cooperation.“This year we saw how strong and united we can be on the issue of preservation of the totalitarian regimes memory. We are grateful for our neighbors’ support  in Michail Golovatov case, but the unity is also needed to address other issues in the European Union”,  A.Ažubalis underscored.

He regretted that the proposals on the EU cohesion and common agricultural policy in the EU budget for 2014-2020 discriminate the Baltic States the most, and stressed that the unity of the countries in this issue will be necessary.

The head of Lithuanian diplomacy also expressed hope that Latvia's decision to oppose the EU Energy Council Conclusions to give the European Commission mandate for negotiations with Russia and Belarus on synchronization of the Baltic States electricity network with the continental system is temporary.

"Integration into the EU energy systems is an integral part of our national security, I hope that this Latvia’s decision is only a temporary stop on the way to our region's energy independence",  A.Ažubalis said.

He also announced the priorities of Lithuanian Chairmanship of the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2012.

According to A.Ažubalis, Lithuania will seek to promote the knowledge-based economy, to strengthen defense cooperation in the Baltic States, separately and together with the Nordic States, to  implement strategic energy projects  aiming at development of the Baltic energy market and integration into the European Union's energy systems.

The Minister also stressed the importance of cooperation in the implementation of international transport projects Rail Baltica and Via Baltica.

The Baltic Council issued a joint statement establishing priorities for the Baltic States cooperation in 2012: joint actions and projects to promote economic growth and job creation, enlargement of the Baltic electricity market and its integration into the EU energy system, reaching permanent solution for the NATO Baltic States air policing mission, the single digital market and effective coordinated implementation of joint transport project "Rail Baltica".

The Baltic Council is the joint annual meeting  of the Baltic Assembly and Baltic Council of Ministers. The meetings are held since 1995.

During his visit to Estonia A.Ažubalis also met with Estonian and Latvian Foreign Ministers Urmas Paet and Edgars Rinkēvičs. They discussed  implementation of important for the Baltic States joint energy and transport projects, security policy and  the EU enlargement issues. Lithuanian Foreign Minister acquainted Latvian and Estonian colleagues with Lithuania’s priorities of coordinating cooperation  of the Nordic and Baltic States (Nordic Baltic Eight, NB8) in 2012.