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Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs L. Linkevičius, participating in the 15-17 March traditional Brussels Forum, has stated that the project of a wide and free Europe is still not completed, and the Eastern partnership is created precisely for the purpose of including the Eastern partners.

According to L. Linkevičius, for the project to be successful not only Eastern partnership countries shall put additional efforts, but also the European Union.

‘We should not observe and wait until these countries will achieve the set goals on their own, but to actively help those that are committed to follow our example and join the Euro-Atlantic structures. A Wider Europe is possible and achievable, but only if we take active measures ourselves’, emphasized the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

To L. Linkevičius’ point of view, the third meeting of the heads of Eastern Partnership that is taking place in Vilnius on 28-29 November will have to define guidelines for a new and more proactive strategy of relationships between the European Union and the Eastern Partnership states.

‘Association agreements, negotiations that will hopefully be completed by the summit meeting in Vilnius, cannot be treated as the final objective, but rather a tool and the first step towards deeper relationships. For our politics to be successful, we need not only help the partners, but also respond to their expectations very clearly: our doors are open for them in the long-term perspective', said the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

One of the main priorities of Lithuanian presidency of the EU Council is further strengthening of political association and economic integration of the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and the Ukraine.

The annual forum held by Brussels office of political research center German Marshall Fund of the United States is one of the most prestigious high level events in Brussels, which is attended by the most influential political, business and science leaders from North America and Europe. This year’s participants include President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, the Estonian President Toom Hendrik Ilves, the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, and other senior officials from EU institutions and states.