News

On 3 October at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting the ministers decided to start the accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia.

The main point of 30-hour-long discussion was Austria’s proposal on alternatives to Turkey’s full membership. After intense discussions and bilateral EU Presidency consultations the ministers reached the decision to start negotiations with Turkey.

“The decision to start the accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia is of immense importance in European history. It shows that the EU enlargement processes do not stop at Central and Eastern Europe. The EU is ready to start negotiations with all the countries that meet the requirements. This should be an encouraging signal for our eastern neighbours,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antanas Valionis said.

Speaking about forthcoming negotiations with Turkey Antanas Valionis noticed that this is a start of complicated and long process and results are difficult to forecast.

“The requirements in negotiations with Turkey are going to be stricter than the ones in our accession talks. The success of the negotiations will depend not only on Turkey’s efforts but also on the EU’s readiness to accept Turkey,” the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy said.

The decision to start accession negotiations with Croatia was taken after the report of the International Criminal Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Carlos del Ponte, who gave positive assessment of Croatia's cooperation with the Tribunal.

“Lithuania always supported Croatia’s membership in the EU. Croatia has proven its cooperation with the Tribunal and deserves the start of accession talks,” Antanas Valionis stated.