The leaders discussed priorities and prospects in relations between the European Union and the Western Balkans as well as EU measures to help the Western Balkans implement reforms and Community support programs to combat the effects of the coronavirus crisis.
Lithuania expressed political and economic solidarity with the Western Balkan countries and highlighted that one of key preconditions for further successful European integration was full and consistent compliance with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy positions.
Lithuania supports the aim to further strengthen the EU’s relations with the Western Balkan countries and intensify assistance to these countries on their path of political, economic and social transformation. We hope that the Western Balkan countries will adhere to their strategic determination to foster European values and principles and implement reforms actively and swiftly.
“This is highly important in these difficult times, when the third countries seek to increase their influence in the region by taking advantage of the economic and social situation caused by the pandemic. We need to work together to respond to emerging disinformation, hybrid and cyber threats,” the President said.
The President pointed out that we could not forget the Eastern Partnership countries as we supported the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans.
“Both the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership countries need support to implement political, economic and sectoral reforms. We have to promote initiatives aimed at strengthening the community feeling among the EU member states and the Eastern Partnership in the areas of the single market, security and the rule of law,” the President said.
