News

On 8 October political consultations between the European Union policy directors of Lithuanian and Macedonian Ministries of Foreign Affairs were held in Vilnius.

These consultations regarding the European Union issues were held following the agreements between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM, hereinafter – Macedonia) and Lithuania.

During his visit to Macedonia on 29-30 August the Head of Lithuanian diplomacy Petras Vaitiekūnas put forward an initiative to cooperate more actively with this Western Balkan country and offered the assistance of Lithuanian experts in the areas that are important to Macedonia today.

During the consultations in Vilnius, Director of the European Union Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vidmantas Purlys emphasized the significance of the Western Balkans on the agenda of Lithuanian foreign policy.

“The interest in this region has been conditioned not only by the well-expressed intentions of its countries to become a part of the EU, but also by the growing Lithuanian business investment in the Western Balkan region”, said V.Purlys.

The participants of the consultations exchanged their opinions on the EU enlargement policy, possibilities to make the EU-Macedonian relations closer.

They also discussed the readiness of Macedonia for the EU membership, possibilities of cooperation between Lithuania and Macedonia regarding the EU issues and giving the benefit to Macedonia of Lithuania’s experience. During the consultations, the situation in the Western Balkan region was also discussed, as well as the impact of the Kosovo issue on other countries in the region.

The interest of both countries to cooperate actively and share experience is reflected also in other projects that are being implemented, e.g., an official of Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will do an internship in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. The internship will include meetings with representatives of Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Seimas, the Government and the European Law Department.