News

During his visit to Austria on 21 October, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of Austria Michael Spindelegger. During the meeting, key issues of bilateral relations and the European agenda were discussed. The Ministers expressed satisfaction about good bilateral cooperation, especially when providing consular assistance to the citizens of the countries.

Minister V.Ušackas thanked Minister M.Spindelegger for Austria’s decision according to which as of 1 August Austrian Embassies in the Philippines, Colombia, Syria and Lebanon issue Schengen visas to the citizens of these countries for travelling to Lithuania. The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy suggested that Lithuania’s diplomatic representations in Minsk, Hrodna and Kaliningrad provide analogous services to those who wish to travel to Austria.

While discussing the future European External Action Service, the Ministers stressed that the EU representations abroad would have to provide the necessary consular assistance to all EU citizens.

During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the outcome of the referendum in Ireland, preparation for the upcoming European Council, issues of the implementation of the EU Eastern Partnership and the EU enlargement, the situation in the Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Western Balkans, perspectives of Iceland’s membership in the EU.

Minister V.Ušackas emphasized the significance of bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Austria in the area of science and innovations.

Kaunas University of Technology, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and the Lithuanian Energy Institute belong to the EU’s Knowledge and Innovation Community led by the Austrian Graz University of Technology. These communities join several partner universities in the EU member states and encourage international cooperation of scientists.

The Ministers emphasized that the cooperation between Vilnius and Linz, the two European Capitals of Culture in 2009, was a beautiful highlight of bilateral relations.

Today Minister V.Ušackas is also meeting with Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian National Council Josef Cap. They intend to discuss bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation, strengthening the role of national parliaments after the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force and other EU issues.