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The informal meeting of the Council Working Group on Enlargement (COELA) on 11-12 September in Vilnius discussed EU enlargement issues: principles of managing the enlargement process, candidate countries’ progress towards accession, opportunities and challenges.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the EU member states and institutions. The event was also attended by Turkey’s Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bağış, the Chief Negotiator for Negotiations on Accession of Montenegro to the EU Aleksandar Andrija Pejović, and Serbia’s Chief Negotiator Tanja Miščević.

Welcoming the participants of the meeting, Ambassador Dalius Čekuolis, the Political Director of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stressed that Lithuania’s Presidency of the EU Council worked intensively to ensure further progress in the enlargement process.

“Lithuania has always spoken up for an open, safe and secure European Union. Successful management of the EU enlargement process is especially important in this context,” D.Čekuolis said.

Speaking about the progress of candidate countries and potential candidates, D.Čekuolis noted that Lithuania strongly supported the principle of equal application of conditions and requirements and called for the implementation of commitments.

The rotating Presidency traditionally holds informal meetings of the Council Working Group on Enlargement (COELA).