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At the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Nordic, Baltic and Visegrad Group countries, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius stressed the importance of an ambitious long-term strategy for political relations with the EU’s Eastern partners.

On 30 May, the Minister Linkevičius attended the meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the twelve Nordic, Baltic and Visegrad Group countries in Sopot, Poland. The meeting discussed issues related to international security, the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, relations with Russia, the EU’s agenda as well as cooperation on transport and energy.

As regards the relations with Russia, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister called for establishing and maintaining active contacts with Russia’s civil society, its democratic opposition, and non-governmental organizations.

Linkevičius noted that it was important to continue to consistently implement the EU policy in the Eastern neighbourhood. This process promotes the progress of reforms and modernization in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and in other Eastern Partnership countries. It also contributes to increasing the societies’ resilience, stability and security in the region that is important for the European Union.

“As we call on our partners to carry out the necessary reforms, we should also give adequate support and mobilize the necessary financial and technical resources. On the other hand, we have to develop a long-term strategic vision for the EU policy in the Eastern neighbourhood. In addition, we have to support deeper economic and political integration of the Eastern partners with the EU,” said Linkevičius.

The first annual meeting of Foreign Ministers of the twelve Nordic, Baltic and Visegrad Group countries – Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary – was held in 2013.