The issues of Belarusian hybrid attacks, China and Afghanistan dominated the meetings. “The visit provided an excellent opportunity to inform my Nordic and Baltic counterparts about the current situation on the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, China’s actions towards Lithuania, to thank our partners for their great support for Lithuania, and to discuss joint European actions needed to address these challenges,” said Pranckevičius. The interlocutors also discussed international agenda items that were important for our region, including the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, the role of multilateral organisations (e.g. the OSCE, the United Nations, and the Arctic Council) in strengthening international security, preparations for the COP 26 UN Climate Change Conference, as well as challenges and opportunities posed by 5G and AI technologies.
During a discussion on the Eastern Partnership, Pranckevičius stressed that the Eastern Partnership was one of Lithuania’s most important foreign policy priorities. “As regards the future of the Eastern Partnership, we need to make it a strategic priority for the EU rather than an instrument of technocratic cooperation. We support associated partners' European aspirations in hopes that the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for December 2021 will set long-term goals and strengthen a motivating perspective of the associated EaP countries. It is important that they continue their reform processes," said the Foreign Vice-Minister. The meeting also discussed the situation in Belarus and Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
In the meetings with his Finnish counterparts, the Foreign Vice-Minister thanked Finland for its support of Lithuania's efforts to counter the Belarusian regime's hybrid attack, during which migrants had been used to exert political pressure on the country. Pranckevičius also stressed the importance of a unified EU policy approach to China and noted that Lithuania faced political and economic pressure from China after the country had decided to strengthen its economic and cultural ties with Taiwan, and called on partners to stand in solidarity with Lithuania in this situation.
Pranckevičius also reminded his Finnish colleagues about the threat posed to Lithuania and the region by the unsafe Ostrovets nuclear power plant and discussed measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pranckevičius also invited his Finnish counterparts to take part in the Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR), which is organised by Lithuania on 27 September-1 October and will focus on green recovery. On 1 July 2021, Lithuania took over the Presidency of the EUSBSR that will last until 30 June 2022.
In addition, Lithuania will take over the coordination of NB8 cooperation from Finland on 1 January 2022.