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Lithuania seeks that the decisions of the European Council (24/25 March 2011) on nuclear safety in the European Union and in neighbouring countries would be implemented as soon as possible, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said at the EU’s General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on 13 April. The General Affairs Council discussed further steps towards the implementation of decisions taken by the European Council.

“It is essential to raise the nuclear safety issues in the context of the EU’s relations with Russia and Belarus, aiming at a comprehensive implementation of international nuclear safety and environmental standards in developing new projects in the EU’s neighbourhood,” head of the Lithuanian diplomacy stressed.

On 24-25 March in Brussels, the European Council concluded that the EU would request that “stress tests” be carried out in the neighbouring countries regarding both existing and planned nuclear power plants. Moreover, at Lithuania’s efforts, the European Commission has been invited to reflect on how to promote nuclear safety in the EU’s neighbouring countries.

Following the adoption of conclusions by the European Council, Lithuania’s concerns about planned nuclear power plants in the neighbouring countries - Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad Region - have become a common issue of the EU. This issue will be further discussed by the EU’s institutions.

Moreover, the ministers agreed to raise the issue of nuclear safety at the EU’s meetings with third countries, as well as at the EU-Russia summit in June.

The EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg also adopted the conclusions on the EU’s Strategy for the Danube region. The Strategy is drafted based on the experience gained from the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region that is currently being implemented. The Strategy and its Action Plan will be finally adopted by the European Council on 24 June.

The main objectives of the Strategy are: the development of transport infrastructure along the Danube River, the improvement of maritime security, the implementation of environment related projects, strengthening business and social relations. The Strategy involves Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, as well as four non-EU countries: Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine and Moldova.