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On 10 December, during the European Union General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels, Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Žygimantas Pavilionis together with heads of diplomacy of the EU Member States discussed preparations for the upcoming European Council on 13-14 December, listened to European Commission’s report on the European Neighbourhood Policy.

Discussing preparations for the European Council, Undersecretary of the Ministry Ž.Pavilionis thanked EU states for their approval to discuss all aspects of the EU energy policy – internal as well as external – during the meeting of the European Council in spring. Ž.Pavilionis reminded, that the European Parliament and many of the EU Member States repeatedly talked about the need to create an effective external EU energy policy. Undersecretary of the Ministry also turned attention to President V.Adamkus’s letter on this issue that had been addressed to all EU Heads of State.

While discussing European Commission’s Communiqué on the European Neighbourhood Policy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the need to deepen relations with the EU’s eastern neighbours.

“The European Neighbourhood Policy is an appropriate instrument for solving concrete problems, but we must also consider the possibility for specific cooperation in the EU eastern neighbourhood”, – said Ž.Pavilionis, stressing that the political energy of the European Union cannot be concentrated solely in the southern EU neighbourhood.

Undersecretary of the Ministry urged to assess Moldovan efforts at implementing the EU Action Plan and encouraged to send this country a positive signal.

“Implementation of reforms will be useful for Moldova as well as for the EU, therefore negotiations on a new agreement of deeper cooperation between the EU and Moldova should be started, the EU decision on this could be made in the beginning of the next year”, – said Ž. Pavilionis.

Ž.Pavilionis also urged to speed up the EU negotiations on the new treaty with Ukraine, which would enable Lithuania and other EU Member States to develop free trade with Ukraine.

Ministers also discussed the issue of Kosovo status, situation in Iran, Myanmar, and Sudan, a planned EU military operation in Chad and Central African Republic as well as the Middle East peace process.

On the topic of the Kosovo issue, Ž.Pavilionis spoke for the necessity that the EU Member States continue being constructive and showing good will in the near future.

“We must agree, that in case of threat to the stability of any European region, we will stay united, thus already now we have to prepare for and resist provocations in neighbour regions of the EU”, - said Undersecretary of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a session of General Affairs, Ministers also discussed “enlargement package” 2007, which contains the EU Enlargement Strategy 2007-2008 and Progress Reports by Croatia, Turkey and Western Balkan states.