President of Lithuania: the European Union Must Maintain Similar Speed of Policy in the Southern and Eastern Neighborhood
Updated 2008-01-16
On December 14, President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus attended the European Council meeting in Brussels which discussed pressing issues of current EU internal and external policy.
During the discussion on the European neighborhood policy, the President underlined the necessity to deepen relations with the eastern neighbors of the EU. “The European neighborhood policy is a suitable instrument to tackle practical cooperation issues. However, we must start thinking of how to establish specific cooperation with the EU eastern neighbors,” said President Adamkus. He noted that the political EU energy cannot be focused solely on the southern EU neighborhood.
The Lithuanian President proposed to pay more attention to the EU external energy policy. “The spring European Council must discuss all EU energy aspects. The European Union must have a single energy policy in relation with third countries,” said President Adamkus.
The Lithuanian President proposed to pay more attention to the EU external energy policy. “The spring European Council must discuss all EU energy aspects. The European Union must have a single energy policy in relation with third countries,” said President Adamkus.
The Council also discussed justice and home affairs. The European leaders welcomed the Schengen enlargement noting that the development of the European migration policy remained a priority. “Welcoming the Schengen enlargement we must ensure that the EU did not become an insurmountable fortress of visas,” said President of Lithuania.
Speaking about Kosovo, the EU leaders highlighted the importance of unity and constructiveness. According the President Adamkus, the decision on Kosovo status should not become a precedent for solving conflicts in other regions. “I am pleased that the EU is ready to assume responsibility and ignores attempts of other states to block the resolution of Kosovo issue. A veto of one state cannot prevent us from tackling complex international challenges,” said the Lithuanian Head of State.
The European Council approved a mandate of the so called group of ‘wise men’. The mandate reflects principal questions raised by Lithuanian: economic growth, social responsibility, security, migration and energy.
During the summit in Brussels, the leaders also endorsed the Declaration on Globalization which should move EU discussion from the institutional level to the implementation of specific initiatives. The Declaration says that globalization has an increasing impact on people’s lives, stimulates economic growth while at the same time raises new challenges. These are – climate change and energy, stability of financial market, global security and migration.
Prime Minister of Lithuania Gediminas Kirkilas also participated in the European Council.
Press Service of the President
