News

On 14 May a meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers took place in Brussels.  One of the most important items on the meeting’s agenda was preparation for the EU-Russia Summit planned for 18 May in Samara.

“If the strategic partnership with Russia is important for the European Union, it is twice as important for the EU Member States – Russia’s neighbours. We are the first to win or to suffer, when the EU-Russia relations change,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas said at the meeting.

In P. Vaitiekūnas’ opinion, at the moment it is too early to confirm the mandate for the new EU-Russia Cooperation Agreement without concrete positive steps from Russia’s side. Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga was of the same opinion. Veterinary problems, secure provision of energy resources and other problems of the EU-Russia relations still remain unsolved.

“We are not working in legal vacuum and all conditions for effective cooperation between the EU and Russia have been provided,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister said.

The EU Foreign Ministers agreed that the breach of the principles of the Vienna Convention, cybernetic attacks, and using economy and energy against EU members are unacceptable in relations with the EU. Many EU Foreign Ministers believe that at the moment the EU should demonstrate solidarity and firmness protecting the interests of all EU Member States. This would provide a basis for lasting success in the EU-Russia relations.