“The trade agreement, Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), is exceptionally important for Lithuania and we are interested in the immediate completion of the negotiations. However, we cannot let the ambition to finalize negotiations by the end of 2016 impair the ambition and scope of the agreement,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.
In the meeting with the European Commissioner for Trade, Linkevičius drew attention to the fact that Lithuania’s economy was heavily dependent on exports, so an ambitious, comprehensive and high-standard trade and investment agreement (TTIP) would bring significant benefits to Lithuanian business and consumers, and would contribute to job creation and economic growth. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister also reminded that it was very important for Lithuania to include a separate chapter into the TTIP agreement on trade in energy resources and to promote the application of free-market principles in trade in energy resources, their transit, distribution and access to infrastructure.
As regards the EU-Russia trade relations, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister lamented that Russia imposed trade restrictive measures against the EU member states, which was not in compliance with the country’s WTO obligations and commitments. Due to Russian sanctions on trade, Lithuania’s business has suffered material economic loss; therefore, the European Commission’s efforts and actions with a view to opening up of new markets for EU exports and having Russia’s trade restrictions rolled back while availing the WTO dispute settlement mechanism were very important.
During the visit, the Commissioner for Trade presented the new trade and investment strategy for the European Union, entitled “Trade for All”. Linkevičius stressed that the key elements of the EU’s trade strategy must continue to include job creation and value-added growth in the EU, a well-balanced mutual opening up of markets through trade agreements as well as ensuring fair and equal competitive conditions both within the EU’s internal market and the third countries’ markets.
Linkevičius and the Commissioner also discussed the implementation of free trade agreements with the Eastern Partnership countries and finalised talks for a free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada.
The Commissioner will also hold meetings with the President, the Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament), and the Prime Minister, and will attend a public event on the European Commission’s new trade and investment strategy for the European Union “Trade for All” and TTIP negotiations at the Seimas.
