News

On 8 January in Vilnius, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius met with U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. Ministers discussed the European agenda, the implementation of NATO’s decisions, strengthening of security in the region, situation in Ukraine, the Eastern Partnership and relations with Russia.

L.Linkevičius stressed that Lithuania and the United Kingdom enjoy strong economic and political ties, and that two countries share common views towards most of the EU individual positions, e.g. Lithuania, just as the U.K., spoke up for a faster creation of the internal market, strengthening competitiveness, creating a digital market, strengthening energy security, deepening trade ties and strategic relations with the U.S.A. L.Linkevičius highlighted that he sees the United Kingdom as an important and strong member of the European Union.

Lithuania’s Minister stressed the importance of the implementation of decisions taken at NATO’s Summit in Wales on collective defence measures and called on the United Kingdom to once again take part in NATO’s air policing mission and in NATO’s military exercises in the Baltic region.

L.Linkevičius noted that it is necessary to create stable and secure area in the EU’s neighbouring regions. To this end there was a need to further strengthen the Eastern Partnership and to deepen relations with countries participating in the Eastern Partnership.

Minister Linkevičius said that Ukraine needs various humanitarian assistance- financial aid and expert support. There is a need for a consistent policy for the relationship with Russia. The current sanctions are effective and must be continued.

During the meeting, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister and the U.K. Foreign Secretary signed a joint document of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Lithuania and Estonia, calling on EU institutions to fight against the Russian propaganda.

The Ministers started their meeting by remembering the victims of the terrorist attack in Paris on January 7, and by expressing their solidarity with French people and the journalists.

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