News

On 26 June in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas received a delegation of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament, headed by Zbigniew Zaleski.

During the meeting, important issues of foreign affairs and external trade policy were discussed: the energy security, Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), relations with Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, as well as the Neighbourhood Policy in the East.

Minister P.Vaitiekūnas acquainted the guests with the issues of energy security and highlighted a possible situation in the country after the closing of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. These issues are important for Lithuania.

Members of the European Parliament’s delegation agreed with the statement of Minister P.Vaitiekūnas about Russia’s joining the WTO: assumption of key obligations of the WTO and solution of problematic issues even before Russia becomes a member of the organisation were emphasized.

Participants of the meeting stressed that during the EU-Russia’s negotiations on the future strategic partnership and cooperation agreement, it would be necessary to make an attempt to tackle all the issues that matter to both sides.

Discussing relations with Belarus, Minister P.Vaitiekūnas emphasized the necessity to wide open the European Union for the citizens of these countries, also solving the issue of visa fees. According to the Minister, it is not less important for the EU countries themselves, as well as their trade actors, to play a more active role in the market of Belarus.

At the end of the meeting, the importance of the EU Neighbourhood Policy in the East was discussed expecting that this policy might promote the integration of Ukraine and Georgia into the Euro-Atlantic space.

During the visit to Lithuania, the delegation of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament is also holding meetings with representatives from the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania, the Government, the Ministry of Economy and Lithuania’s industry sector.