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On 27 July at the European Union’s General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas and his counterparts discussed priorities of Sweden’s EU Presidency that began recently and the issue of Iceland’s EU membership.

At the Council meeting, Sweden presented its EU presidency programme, pointing out two priority areas: promotion of economy and employment and climate change.

Minister V.Ušackas stressed that Lithuania supported Sweden’s efforts to strengthen the supervision of financial institutions, thus seeking to avoid financial crises in the future. According to Minister V.Ušackas, revival of the EU economy remains an important priority.

“The issue of climate change is also important. We are aware of the significance of fight against climate change, but we have to be realistic and cannot allow ourselves to be too ambitious in this sphere during the downturn, particularly in undertaking additional financial obligations in the sphere of assistance to developing countries. It is necessary to bear in mind the financial capacity in every country,” the Minister said.

According to Minister V.Ušackas, other developed countries should also join the EU in undertaking this responsibility.

Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy drew attention to other issues on the EU agenda, which are important for Lithuania.

“Firstly, we have to take care of energy links and to develop EU’s external energy policy as fast as possible. Secondly, after launching the EU’s Eastern Partnership it is necessary to translate ambitious ideas into reality. Thirdly, it is important to continue evaluating crimes of totalitarian regimes at the EU level,” said Minister V.Ušackas.

At the Council, the EU foreign ministers mandated the Commission to submit an opinion regarding Iceland’s preparation to become an EU candidate country.

“I hope that the next year Iceland will begin negotiation talks with the EU. I am glad that today the Council gave green light to this and sends a positive signal to Iceland,” head of Lithuania’s diplomacy said. Minister V.Ušackas flew straight to Brussels after his visit to Iceland on 25 July.

According to the Minister, the Western Balkan countries that are pursuing the EU membership should see Iceland’s EU accession as a certain icebreaker in the process of enlargement, and not as competition with them. Iceland has already harmonized about 70 percent of its legislation with the EU legal basis, it is also a member of the European economic space and party to the Schengen Agreement.

At the Council, the European Commission presented to the EU foreign ministers a communiqué regarding the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. It is intended that regional projects will be implemented in the areas of energy, transport, environment protection, innovations and others. Minister V.Ušackas supported this initiative and suggested bearing in mind the Kaliningrad Region and considering ways of involving Belarus when involvement of the third countries into the implementation of the strategy would be discussed in the future.