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Lithuania strives for the creation of the single European energy market to be a priority issue during the European Council meeting in March.

This position was presented by Lithuanian Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Oskaras Jusys on 27 February during the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting  in Brussels.

“Effective single European energy market would reduce the vulnerability of the states without alternative energy sources, Lithuania among them,” Mr Jusys noted.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary also stressed that during the European Council meeting a step forward should be made in discussion of further actions for finalizing the creation of the internal market of the EU. That would allow accelerating the implementation of the Lisbon strategy.

In the GAERC meeting plans to increase Shengen visa fees were also discussed. It is planned to reach agreement on the issue in April and the fees would likely be increased from January 2007.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Oskaras Jusys indicates, that before the final agreement is reached, Lithuania requests a thorough analysis of the impact that the increase of Shengen visa fees would have on the European Union’s relations with its Eastern neighbours – Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and other countries of the South Caucasus.

“Only when such analysis is taken into account the decision on increased visa fees can be made,” Undersecretary Jusys stated.