Lithuania’s foreign minister congratulated Iceland on the start of EU membership negotiations Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis sent a letter to Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Össur Skarphéðinsson congratulating Iceland on the start of EU membership negotiations. More...

In Brussels, EU foreign ministers discussed situation in the Western Balkans and Central Asia On 26 July, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis attended the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting, during which issues of Sudan and Iran, the Middle East peace process, the situation in the Western Balkans and Central Asia, and relations with the EU's strategic partners - India and Brazil – were discussed. More...

Statement of José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, following the passing away of former President and Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas “I express my heartfelt condolences to the people of Lithuania for the passing away of former President and Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas. More...

The EU is interested in stable and global rules-based trade relations with neighbours in the east, Lithuania’s foreign minister says The European Union is economically interested to reach an agreement on stable and global rules-based trade relations with its neighbours in the East as soon as possible, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said during the meeting with Péter Balás, Deputy Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade in Vilnius on 11 May. More...

EU development cooperation policy was discussed in Brussels On 10 May in Brussels at the European Union Development Ministers session, the situation in Haiti, the establishment of the European External Action Service, the EU position for the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) review summit were discussed and ways for the EU to use its policy instruments to promote gender equality and to empower women were identified. More...

Eastern partnership initiative brings the EU and its Eastern neighbours closer, Lithuania’s foreign minister says The Eastern Partnership programme embodies a shift into a new stage of the European Union’s relations with its neighbours in the East and is an important tool for promoting reforms in these countries and their economic integration, and for helping them to facilitate the movement of persons, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis says on the occasion of a one-year anniversary of the Eastern Partnership programme. The programme was announced on 7 May last year in Prague. More...

Lithuania is celebrating Europe day In May, Lithuania is celebrating the Europe Day and is also marking the 6th anniversary of the country’s accession to the European Union. On this occasion, various festive events will be held in twenty-six Lithuanian cities and towns. The events aim to promote greater public interest in the EU and to strengthen the European identity of the Lithuanian people. More...

EU should be more helpful to Georgia in achieving stability and progress, Lithuania’s foreign minister says The European Union has to seriously consider ways of practical support to Georgia in achieving stability and progress, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis said on the occasion of the first anniversary of signing Lithuania-Georgia Charter on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. More...

EU General affairs council reached a political orientation on the establishment of the European external action service On 26 April in Luxembourg, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis attended the EU General Affairs Council meeting, during which the Council agreed on the establishment of the European External Action Service. The Council exchanged opinions on ways to make the European citizens’ initiative operational and discussed results of the European Council. More...

Strategic guidelines of Lithuania’s European Union policy for 2008 – 2013 Strategic gudelines of Lithuania’s European Union policy for 2008 – 2013 “More Europe in Lithuania and more Lithuania in Europe!” More...