LINKEVIČIUS: LITHUANIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE EU COUNCIL AND GERMANY ARE LOOKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION
On 4 July in Vilnius, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with members of a delegation of the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union of the German Bundestag. The Minister said he was glad that Germany supported the Lithuanian Presidency priorities and contributed towards achieving the goals that were important for the future of Europe. “Lithuanian Presidency’s goals of creating a credible, growing and open Europe are supported by Germany, especially the aims to fight against youth unemployment, to complete the internal energy market, to ensure fiscal discipline, to deepen the EU Economic and Monetary Union, and to continue financial markets reform,” said Linkevičius.
As a crucial area of cooperation, the Foreign Minister identified the Eastern Partnership policy and preparations for the next Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Vilnius in November.
“Lithuania and Germany share a common approach to the Summit objectives. The meeting is a very significant event, which has to give a future perspective for the Eastern Partnership. We believe that at the Vilnius Summit, the EU will be able to sign the Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Ukraine, finalize negotiations on similar Agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia, and initial them. Only by working together - I mean all the EU member states and institutions, as well as the Eastern Partnership countries - can we achieve our goals,” said Linkevičius.
Germany is one of Lithuania’s key partners within the EU and NATO, which is the second most important Lithuania’s trading partner and third-largest investor in Lithuania.
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