News

On 13 March, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius paid a working visit to Estonia, where he held meetings with the country’s highest officials to discuss further Nordic-Baltic cooperation, relations with Eastern Partnership countries, and Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In Tallinn, the head of the Lithuanian diplomacy met with President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Paet.

At the meetings, Linkevičius pointed out that the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held on 28 and 29 November in Vilnius, would focus on closer political cooperation and economic integration.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister also informed the Estonian leaders that Lithuania began final preparations for the Presidency of the EU Council.

“We will seek to ensure that the Presidency runs effectively and efficiently, building on the results of the former Presidencies,” the Foreign Minister stressed.

Linkevičius presented main activity directions for Lithuania’s Presidency, including initiatives to achieve financial stability, economic growth and job creation, open and secure Europe, and the strengthening of the EU neighbourhood.

The meetings highlighted that Estonia and Lithuania, the country with plans for euro adoption, shared a common goal, i.e., the support of a range of measures to ensure stability of the euro zone.

When speaking about the regional energy and transport projects, the officials noted that their common objective was integration into the EU’s internal energy market. Therefore, the first steps will include reaching an agreement on a list of regional projects, promoting at the highest possible level adequate EU and national attention and financing of these projects.

Linkevičius thanked Estonia for its active support of Lithuania’s bid to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the euro zone.

In 2014, Estonia will coordinate the Nordic and Baltic Eight (NB8).