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On October 30th, at the Permanent Representation, Ambassador Arnoldas Pranckevičius congratulated the participants of the European Academy of Diplomats and the very successful Academy project, and wished that the 5-month programme will contribute to deepening the knowledge of young diplomats in the EU and its foreign policy and will strengthen ties between EU Member States in the search for common solutions to meet the geopolitical challenges of the present and future.

The discussion focused on the role of small EU Member States and cooperation between the Baltic States in different formats. It was noted that the geopolitical weight, expertise, initiative and advocacy of the countries are key features that make the Baltic voice heard both within and outside the EU. The Baltic countries' close cooperation is partly influenced by the difficult geopolitical situation, but the foundation of our communion is based on historical lessons, shared values and open and flexible dialogue.

The interactive panel discussion also covered the EU's enlargement plans, the implications of qualified majority voting for smaller EU countries, lessons learnt in assessing the EU's cooperation with Russia, future plans, and risk assessment at EU level.

The European Diplomatic Academy is a project coordinated by the European External Action Service and funded by the European Parliament, where participants develop their knowledge of the EU's external actions, policies, decision-making procedures and diplomatic practices, in order to acquire the necessary skills and competences to effectively promote and defend the EU's values and interests worldwide.