The EU foreign and defence ministers meeting jointly adopted conclusions setting out the progress achieved in implementing the EU global strategy in the area of security and defence, also approved a concept note on the operational planning, which contained measures to improve the EU’s capacity to react, building on existing structures. Lithuania called for strengthening the EU’s defence capabilities and increasing investment into security. The added value of each newly agreed-upon element must be clear and it must complement NATO, rather than duplicate it, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister noted in his speech. Now it is especially important to strengthen the EU’s unity and solidarity, therefore, all EU member states must engage into security and defence projects, as well as partner countries, which protect the same European values.
The ministers adopted conclusions on EU climate and energy diplomacy, as part of the implementation of the EU Global Strategy with an aim to strengthen synergies, and links between the relevant elements of EU climate diplomacy and energy diplomacy, and to establish priorities for 2017. As regards Lithuania’s concerns over the construction of the Astravets nuclear power plant in Belarus, Lithuanian representatives complemented the conclusions by the EU’s commitment to continue to ensure nuclear safety and electricity trade with third countries based on a level-playing field.
The EU foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Western Balkans in the context of increased internal, regional, global political and security challenges facing the countries. The ministers also reaffirmed the EU engagement and focus on the Western Balkans, and stressed the need for partners in the region to deliver on reforms to ensure they made steady progress on the European path. Linkevičius expressed his concerns over the growing third-party impact on the Western Balkans and underlined the importance of the EU’s strategic communications: “We expect that the Western Balkan countries that have chosen the European path will respect their commitment to reforms and safeguard the EU’s values. On the other hand, it is important for the EU to maintain a necessary focus on the region and to strengthen public diplomacy as a counterbalance to negative narratives offered by third countries”. “The Western Balkan region is becoming a new stage of struggle for influence in the region,” noted Linkevičius.
