*alt_site_homepage_image*
en

PRESS RELEASE

With regard to the approaching EU-Russia Summit of 11 November, the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Lithuania states that Lithuania's position in the discussions on transit to and from the Kaliningrad Region via Lithuania is based on the following earlier declared principles: respect to Lithuania's sovereignty, effective border control, observance of the principle of reciprocity for travel of Lithuanian citizens to Russia and Kaliningrad. Any decisions must apply to all current and new Member States of the EU and are to be incorporated into the Schengen acquis. It is the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that no new decisions must either delay Lithuania's earliest possible accession to the Schengen Area, or entail any additional financial burden for Lithuania. Lithuania will be able to implement only such EU-Russia agreements that are in line with this position and only taking full account of the package of legal and financial guarantees as an annex to the Accession Treaty and with a view to Russia's fulfilment of its commitments.