News

In the political consultation on 26 June in Vilnius, Political Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Rolandas Kačinskas and General Director for European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Portugal Francisco Duarte Lopes adjusted their stance on important issues related to the EU, NATO and bilateral cooperation.

“It is more important today than ever before to strengthen the principle of European solidarity and to increase mutual awareness of the threats facing our countries. Lithuania attaches particular importance to issues related to the Eastern Neighbourhood, Ukraine and a unified EU policy towards Russia. However, we understand the difficult challenges facing our southern partners,” said Kačinskas.

When speaking about cooperation with NATO and security policy, the Lithuanian representative underlined the importance of strengthening transatlantic ties and implementing the Readiness Action Plan, which the Allied leaders had approved at NATO’s Wales Summit.

“We appreciate Portugal’s attention to security of NATO’s eastern countries. Portuguese fighter-jets have guarded the air space over the Baltic States twice, operating from the Air Force Base in Šiauliai. Joint exercises with soldiers of the Portuguese Armed Forces were also conducted in Lithuania this year,” said the Lithuanian representative.

The officials also discussed efforts to improve the EU strategic communication, the UN Security Council resolution authorizing a European mission against migrant traffickers in the Mediterranean, the difficult political situation in sub-Saharan Africa and other issues.

Kačinskas handed a diplomatic note to the representative of Portugal on possible cooperation between Lithuania and Portugal in the field of the issuance of Schengen visas.

Lithuania and Portugal re-established their diplomatic relations in 1991.