At the meeting, the Lithuanian President drew the attention of EU leaders to Russia’s military build-up on its border with Ukraine, deepening military integration between Belarus and Russia, and Russia’s toughening rhetoric on NATO’s enlargement in the east. The President emphasized that these challenges required the unity and mobilization of the EU, NATO and Eastern Partnership countries. According to Gitanas Nausėda, we must send a strong message that the EU will not tolerate aggression and threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the Eastern neighborhood.
On migration, the President stressed that there were signs of the de-escalation of the crisis at the EU’s border with Belarus, but the situation of illegal migration could worsen at any time. Therefore, according to Gitanas Nausėda, the EU must adopt changes to its migration, asylum and border protection policies as soon as possible and provide EU member states with the tools for effective border protection, including funding for the construction of a physical barrier. The President stressed the need to maintain pressure on the Lukashenko regime and be ready to extend sanctions.
Gitanas Nausėda briefed EU leaders on the current state of relations between Lithuania and China. He emphasized that Lithuania was under severe economic, political and diplomatic pressure and that barriers were created for Lithuanian companies to operate in the Chinese market.
“The situation in which Lithuania currently finds itself shows once again that the EU as a whole must reduce its dependence on China. We look forward to the EU’s solidarity and support on this issue. We must send a clear message that economic pressure cannot be used for political manipulation and that relations between countries must be based on international law,” the President said.
EU leaders also discussed measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lithuanian President called for placing more emphasis on the fight against the Omicron strain of the virus, strengthening the coordination of vaccination with a booster shot at the EU level and drawing up recommendations to member states on vaccination of individual groups, people who had had the virus and children. It is essential to combat misinformation and make efforts to encourage members of society to get vaccinated, including with a booster. The President also stressed that the EU had not only to step up vaccination of its citizens but also continue to share vaccines with third countries.
