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On 20 June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius had a telephone conversation with Romania’s Foreign Minister Titus Corlăţean and discussed Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Linkevičius noted that Lithuania had consistently supported Bulgaria and Romania’s aspirations to join the Schengen area and for the next six months the Lithuanian EU Presidency would continue to constructively address this issue, aiming to reach a consensus among all the EU Member States.

Linkevičius also stressed that Lithuania valued Romanian expert knowledge in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood countries, particularly in Moldova. Romania’s support and active participation were very important for achieving ambitious goals at the 3rd Eastern Partnership Summit in November in Vilnius.

The head of the Romanian diplomacy expressed his support to the Lithuanian EU Presidency priorities. According to Corlăţean, the Lithuanian Presidency priorities - financial stability, smart growth, open, safe and secure Europe, the Eastern Neighbourhood policy, and the protection of the EU’s external borders – are very important for Romania and entire Europe. He expressed hope that the Schengen membership for Bulgaria and Romania would be among key issues of the Lithuanian EU Presidency.