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On 22 February in Brussels, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis attended the European Union’s General Affairs Council and the External Relations Council. The External Relations Council focused on Ukraine, Afghanistan and Haiti. During the General Affairs Council, the agenda of the forthcoming European Council on 25-26 March and climate change issues were discussed.

During the External Relations Council, the ministers discussed results of presidential elections in Ukraine and further cooperation between the EU and Ukraine. Having taken into account the democratic nature of the elections, Minister A.Ažubalis encouraged the EU member states to establish the highest level contacts with Ukraine’s new authorities immediately.

“The EU countries should have a more positive attitude towards Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations and should begin a serious dialogue on visa-free regime by endorsing visa-free regime guidelines for Ukraine. In the meantime, Ukraine’s new authorities have to show a strong commitment to continue with reforms in the country,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

During the meeting, results of the London Conference on Afghanistan were discussed, as well as further steps of the EU in Afghanistan. Minister A.Ažubalis emphasized that Lithuania, which had led the Ghor Provincial Reconstruction Team since 2005, would continue to provide aid to this country and would seek to contribute to strengthening of the civil capacity in Afghanistan. At the meeting, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton informed ministers about her decision to appoint Ambassador-at-Large of Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as head of European Union’s delegation in Afghanistan. Minister A.Ažubalis said that the diplomatic competence of former Lithuania’s Foreign Minister had been evaluated by appointing him to head Afghanistan’s reconstruction mission that is important for the whole EU. It is also recognition of Lithuania’s long-term activities in the EU’s foreign and security policy and an evaluation of Lithuania’s long time contribution in Afghanistan.

EU foreign ministers continued the discussion of development cooperation ministers on provision of aid to Haiti.

At the General Affairs Council, the ministers discussed the task of the forthcoming European Council (scheduled for 25-26 March) to reach an agreement on the new EU 2020 Strategy. Head of Lithuania’s diplomacy stressed that the new EU2020 Strategy had to be based on solidarity and responsibility of the EU and its member states. According to the Minister, the Strategy has to create preconditions for economic recovery and competitiveness, to remove the existing barriers for the functioning of internal market, especially the internal energy market.

During the meeting, the ministers discussed results of the Copenhagen Conference and further actions in preparation for the UN Conference that is due in the end of 2010 in Mexico. It is intended to endorse the international agreement on climate change at the conference. Minister A.Ažubalis said that before making further decisions, it was important to assess efforts of international partners and the leverage that guarantees competitiveness of the EU industry.

The Minister also met with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle and discussed with them the creation of the new European External Action Service, as well as the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood policy. The Minister highlighted the importance of the Eastern Partnership programme.

“It is necessary to start as soon as possible the implementation of projects with the countries of this programme: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.