News

On 8-9 October, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus participated in an informal meeting of European Union development ministers in Dublin. Ministers and representatives of international institutions discussed the future of European development cooperation, challenges related to humanitarian assistance, financing for EU external action after 2027, and the role of international partnerships in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.

“Today, development cooperation can no longer be viewed separately from security and resilience policies. EU international partnerships must help build more stable and resilient states, strengthen Europe's security and ensure long-term support for Ukraine. As Lithuania prepares for its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we will work to ensure that these issues remain among the key priorities on the European agenda,” Vice-Minister Sigitas Mitkus emphasised.

The discussions focused in particular on how the European Union can act more strategically and achieve greater impact at a time of declining development financing and growing geopolitical competition. Participants stressed that development cooperation should be more closely aligned with the EU’s foreign policy, security and economic objectives. Partnerships should be based on mutual benefit, reflect the priorities of partner countries, and at the same time strengthen Europe’s resilience, influence and the promotion of its values worldwide.

The meeting also underscored the need to make more effective use of limited resources, mobilise private capital through the Global Gateway initiative, and place greater emphasis on tangible results and communicating those results. EU Member States agreed that the success of international partnerships will depend not only on the level of funding provided, but also on the ability to respond rapidly to geopolitical developments, work closely with partners, and deliver lasting impact in the areas of security, development and humanitarian assistance.