News

The informal meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs (Gymnich) on 6 and 7 September in Vilnius discussed preparations for the December European Council on defence issues, and important issues related to the Eastern Partnership and southern neighbourhood policy.

The meeting was chaired by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.

The Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius noted that the discussion on the Eastern Partnership was a very important element for the implementation of the Ministers’ agreement to discuss progress on this issue regularly.

“The member states express their solidarity with the countries of the Eastern Partnership programme that have chosen the European path and strongly support them. Russia’s pressure on Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership countries will increase, so it is important to keep this item on the EU agenda. We must consider ways to help the countries withstand such pressure,” L.Linkevičius said. He also presented to his counterparts preparations for the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit on 28 and 29 November in Vilnius.

The session on 7 September was attended by the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who is paying a visit to Vilnius and presented the Middle East peace process, as well as highlighted the role of the EU in this process. This session was also attended by the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Elmar Brok.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed that in case of the use of chemical weapons the international community could not stand aside. The United Nations Security Council had primary responsibility for this. Speaking about the growing evidence that Bashar al-Assad’s regime was behind the chemical attack, L.Linkevičius condemned the use of chemical weapons and stressed that those responsible for the attack should account for their actions.

During the discussion on the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, L.Linkevičius emphasized the need to respond appropriately to new security challenges, especially to cyber and energy threats, and to coordinate the EU’s actions with international partners.