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On 13 January in Dublin, Undersecretary of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Evaldas Ignatavičius participated at the Meeting of European Union (EU) Political Directors, the first such meeting during the Irish EU presidency this half-year. At the meeting, the officials discussed priorities of the EU foreign policy during the Irish Presidency, the EU relations with Russia as well as projects of implementing the “Wider Europe” initiative, defining relations between the enlarged EU and its eastern neighbours. Evaldas Ignatavičius drew the political directors’ attention to the fact that 2004 would be the year of election in almost all the eastern neighbours of the EU. And, in his opinion, it was very important that the EU would devote a proper attention to these countries and contribute to strengthening democracy there. "We have to be active, but in no respect compete among ourselves,” the Lithuanian MFA Undersecretary said at the meeting. According to him, there was a need of coordination “not only inside the EU, but also with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe as well as the Council of Europe”. At the meeting, the EU political directors also agreed to renew the EU action plan aimed at fighting against terrorism. The action plan adopted in 2001 has been almost implemented, thus it was decided to supplement it with new urgent tasks.