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On May 29, Mr Linas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met a delegation of representatives of the Group of the European People's Party (EPP), visiting Lithuania; on this occasion, he stressed the importance of a further political association and economic integration of the Eastern partnership countries. According to Mr Linkevičius, “We are all interested to reach a point of no return as soon as possible in the path towards political association and economic integration of the Eastern partners”.

According to the Minister, it is important to sign the association and free trade agreement with Ukraine, initial the corresponding agreements with Armenia, and Moldova. In November, a Summit on the Eastern partnership shall take place in Vilnius; it shall serve an opportunity to accomplish the above goals.

According to the Head of the Lithuanian diplomatic service, “We believe that once the agreements above are signed and their implementation gets under way, we shall witness a true transformation, while the people and businessmen of the same countries shall enjoy tangible benefits”.

Mr Linkevičius, as far as priorities of the presidency to the Council of the EU in the field of international commerce are concerned, observed that it would be the objective of Lithuania to ensure continuous agenda of the EU external trade, develop economic and commercial relations with the Eastern partnership countries, and to strengthen commercial ties with the US and Japan, both accounting for EU strategic partners.

At a lunch with Mr Vytautas Leškevičius, Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, the members of the EPP group discussed progress on negotiations on a multi-annual EU budget, the view taken by the EP on the delegated and implementing legislation and other issues connected to the Lithuanian presidency to the Council of the EU.

EPP represents the largest group in the European Parliament, including 269 members. It also includes 4 Lithuanian nationals: Laima Andrikienė, Vytautas Landsbergis, Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė and Algirdas Saudargas.

Traditionally, visits by delegations of the EP Groups are run to a Member State about to preside the Council of the EU. During the visits, members of the European Parliament are introduced to the priorities of the presidency, and discuss other issues of interest to the groups. In early May, members of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) paid a visit to Lithuania; shortly, visits by the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists & Democrats and the members of the Green Alliance.