News

On 12 December before the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis with his Polish counterpart Stefan Meller touched upon further discussions on the EU Financial Perspective and took part in traditional consultations of Nordic and Baltic countries (NB6).

During these consultations Minister Valionis  underlined the unacceptability of  the UK proposal.

In discussion of the preparations for the European Council Lithuanian Foreign Minister proposed to amend the climate and energy part of the Council conclusions. The Minister proposed to include the reference to the European Commission’s Green Paper on Secure, Competitive and Sustainable Energy for Europe.

The Minister also emphasised the importance of closer cooperation on consular issues. That would allow to ensure better consular assistance for Lithuanian citizens in the countries where Lithuania does not have its diplomatic representations.

Talking about neighbourhood policy Minister Valionis stressed that it is necessary to prepare Action Plans for the countries of South Caucasus - Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Minister welcomed active EU assistance efforts for Moldova and agreed with Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner on providing the EU neighbour countries with adequate financial assistance required for implementation of Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister proposed to provide assistance also to the neighbour countries without action plans, especially in the sphere of strengthening of democracy and civil society.

Minister Valionis also paid attention to the fact that Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with many eastern neighbours expire in 2007.

“This is the reason for serious review of the Neighbourhood Policy,” the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy stressed.