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On 23 June in Kyiv, Lithuania’s delegation led by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Raimundas Karoblis took part in the 12th meeting of the Lithuania-Ukraine Commission for European Integration. Karoblis called on the Ukrainian officials to pay more attention to the European Union’s instruments, which allowed to benefit from the successful experience of the EU member states and to carry out the reforms more effectively.

“We urge our Ukrainian counterparts to actively make use of the EU’s instruments – Twinning and the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument (TAIEX) – and other technical assistance projects, which involve also Lithuania. They are designed to make use of the best reform experience of the EU member states, as well as to help the country’s institutions to adopt and implement the EU’s standards and acquis,” said Karoblis.

Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister noted that since 2010 until now Lithuanian institutions had taken part in 9 Twinning projects in Ukraine. Currently, Lithuania and other EU member states implement three Twinning projects in Ukraine: 1) to create a Border Management Strategy (together with Germany); 2) to modernise the railway service (together with Spain); and 3) to strengthen the Ombudsman institution (together with Austria).

Karoblis informed that, additionally, there were 18 projects under implementation in Ukraine in the fields of the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, energy, education, healthcare, pharmacy, standardization, and projects to strengthen civil society. They are implemented under the Development Cooperation and Democracy Promotion Programme of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

The representatives of Lithuania, based on the country’s experience, advised the Ukrainian officials of making a proper use of opportunities in the EU.

Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister drew attention to the fact that from 1 January 2016, when Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Ukraine entered into force, as part of their broader Association Agreement, this document should be the most important one for further implementation of reforms in Ukraine.

“The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement foresees fundamental reforms, which are necessary for Ukraine and its people. Therefore, we suggest explaining the people the need and importance of the implementation of the reforms, and offer to actively implement them. Lithuania, in turn, is prepared to share its experience and expertise,” said Karoblis.

The next meeting of the Commission will take place in 2017 in Lithuania.

The meeting was attended by more than 20 high-ranking Ukrainian officials, who work in the field of European integration. Lithuania was represented by officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Centre of Registers, the Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance, the State Labour Inspectorate under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, and the Government Office. The meeting was also attended by Lithuanian experts in Ukraine.

The Lithuania-Ukraine Commission for European Integration was established by the Lithuanian-Ukrainian bilateral Intergovernmental Cooperation Council, which was founded in 2003. The Commission coordinates Lithuania’s support for the implementation of Ukraine’s political, administrative, economic and social reforms, which aim to make Ukraine’s aspirations of European integration real.