At the meeting, Mr Kirkilas, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, noted Lithuania’s heavy dependence on foreign trade. The introduction of an embargo on food products by the Russian Federation had changed the market outlook for EU’s agricultural production. In 2015, exports of goods of Lithuanian origin to Russia fell by 47 per cent, followed by a further 10 per cent decrease in the first nine months of 2016. The EU now seeks to open up new markets with third countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan. The adoption of the EU-Canada Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will repeal almost 99 per cent of tariffs and ensure higher legal certainty for service economy. The Agreement will also lead to enhanced corporate mobility and help to create a system for the recognition of various professional qualifications.
Mr Kirkilas underlined Lithuania’s support the Eastern Partnership countries and sustained efforts to ensure EU’s continued support to Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova in the implementation of deep and comprehensive free trade agreements. He enquired about New Zealand’s position towards the EU – New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and its fundamental principles.
Andriejus Stančikas, Chair of the Committee on Rural Affairs, briefed the guests on the situation in Lithuania’s agricultural sector and noted that a number of difficulties emerged in the sector after the embargo was imposed by the Russian Federation. The crisis affected dairy sector most severely, resulting in extremely low purchase prices of raw materials in recent years. The Chair of the Committee stressed the importance of finding credible foreign trading partners for Lithuania. Together with Latvia, Estonia and Finland, Lithuania could create a region where no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were used in agriculture. This would enable the region to offer exceptional quality food products to the world market.
Mr Kirkilas referred to the visit of the delegation of the Committee on European Affairs of the Seimas to the EU institutions on 5–7 March 2017. He recalled the delegation’s meeting with Michel Barnier, EU’s Chief Brexit Negotiator. Mr Kirkilas stressed that, in the light of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (BREXIT), Lithuania’s key interests lay in the UK’s further active involvement in enhancing security in the region and resilience of Europe and the neighbouring countries; preservation of EU funding in most important programmes, including agriculture (UK’s commitment of 14 per cent totalling to approximately EUR 60 billion under the multiannual financial framework until 2020); maintaining the developed economic ties, and avoiding barriers to trade.
In view of the current challenges facing the EU, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, presented the White Paper on the Future of Europe. It envisages five scenarios of further evolution of the EU by 2025. Mr Kirkilas, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, noted that the ‘hard’ BREXIT scenario lay outside the EU’s interest and that Lithuania supported the continuity of the European Union and a united EU without the need to amend the respective EU Treaties.
