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On 1 March in Rome, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis and his Italian Counterpart Franco Frattini discussed the issues of bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Italy and the countries’ positions regarding the future of the European Union (EU). The ministers also spoke of relations between the EU and the neighbouring countries. The Italian Minister acknowledged that the political, economic and cultural relations between Lithuania and Italy were friendly and firm and would gain additional dynamics with Lithuania’s membership in the EU. Franco Frattini underlined the interest of Italian businessmen to invest in Lithuania’s economy and the importance of establishing Italian banks’ subsidiaries in Lithuania in order to encourage investment. According to the volume of import, Italy is the fourth Lithuania’s trade partner and the second among the EU countries after Germany. The Italian Minister also underlined the significance of implementing infrastructural projects, namely the railway project Rail Baltica, which would connect Lithuania with the EU old-timers. At the meeting, the issue of former Lithuanian Embassy’s building in Rome was also raised. Franco Frattini indicated that he was well aware of the issue and confirmed his personal and his country’s commitment to resolve it in the way, which would be the most favourable to Lithuania. The ministers agreed to hold a bilateral meeting of working groups in the nearest future. The Lithuanian and Italian Foreign Ministers acknowledged that the countries’ positions on the issues of the EU Intergovernmental Conference were very similar. Franco Frattini underscored the necessity to avoid a two-speed or “core” Europe, as an agreement of all the 25 European countries was particularly important at this historic moment. The Ministers also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the Southern and Northern European countries and the mutual input into development of such cooperation. Antanas Valionis and Franco Frattini also discussed relations of the EU with the neighbouring countries. It was underlined at the meeting that the expansion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement formalising the bilateral relations between the EU and Russia into all the new EU member states would be of great importance to constructive cooperation between the EU and Russia. The Ministers also exchanged opinions on Russia in the view of the forthcoming presidential elections. At the end of the meeting, Antanas Valionis invited Franco Frattini to visit Lithuania. The Italian Minister kindly accepted the invitation. On the same day, Antanas Valionis left Rome for a three-day visit to Malta.