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During the May 29 meeting with the delegation led by Chair of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) of the European Parliament (EP) Vital Moreira, Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius underlined the importance of developing trade and economic ties with the eastern neighbours of the European Union. ‘It is important to sign Association and Free Trade Agreement with the Ukraine, initial such agreements with Georgia, Moldova, and Armenia. The summit of Eastern Partnership that will take place in November in Vilnius is an opportunity to achieve these goals’, said L. Linkevičius.

Referring to the priorities of the Presidency of the EU Council in the field of international trade, the minister stated that Lithuania will seek to ensure continuity of the agenda of EU external trade, develop economic and trade ties with Eastern Partnership countries, strengthen trade relationships with strategic EU partners – the USA and Japan, as well as China and Russia. The minister said that strengthening of operation and international trade regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will remain the main issue in the sphere of multilateral cooperation, especially with the upcoming ninth WTO Ministerial Conference on 3-6 December 2013.

On May 30, the EP INTA committee delegation met with Lithuanian business representatives. During the meeting, the business representatives drew attention to the fact that it is very important for Lithuania to ensure mutual trade relations, especially with competitive countries with growing economies, as well as equal competition rights in the EU domestic market (both through balanced bilateral agreements and by ensuring effective application of trade protective instruments).

The members of INTA committee already met with President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė. After the meeting with Lithuanian business representatives, the INTA delegation will visit company Precizika Solet Photovoltaics manufacturing solar modules. Later Professor V. Moreira of ISM University of Management and Economics will hold a lecture about development of EU trade relations with third countries, influence of the Lisbon Treaty on their legal regulation ‘EU common trade policy and its changes after coming into effect of the Lisbon Treaty’.