Brussels, 09/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius said on Tuesday 9 July that the enlargement process with Turkey is useful in order to have an influence on the ground. He added that dialogue is not easy; it takes time but it is important.
During his speech before the foreign affairs committee at the European Parliament to present the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council, Linkevicius underlined that, if possible, other chapters could be opened such as that on social policy and employment (chapter 19) or that on economic and monetary policy (chapter 17).
The minister said it was also important for the EU to maintain relations with Iceland should the latter decide not to continue along the road to Europe. Speaking on the Balkans, he said that it is more difficult with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania. The Presidency encourages the Albanians to enter the transition phase, just a few weeks after the legislative elections. Linkevicius said they were now going to push for candidate status adding that, in his view, the situation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is difficult and complex. He said unity and political will are needed to ensure that the country moves forward along the road to Europe.
Life will go on after the Eastern Partnership summit
Linkevicius felt it was important that, after the November summit in Vilnius, they should be able to say they had a strategy regarding Eastern Partnership. He highlighted the principle of “more for more”, explaining that this is a very good slogan that must be implemented. He said one should speak of post-2013, and that it is important to have a “vision” as life does not stop with the summit, “life goes on after 2013”. He said six partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) are distrustful and that perhaps an “individual approach” is needed for each of them as “one cannot proceed in the same way with very different countries”. He explained that “waiting and expecting the neighbouring countries to emulate the EU and to solve their own problems on their way towards us is neither fair nor a good strategy. We need to be active partners”. He rejected the “wait and see policy”.
The Lithuanian foreign minister took the view that the signing of the association agreement with Ukraine is feasible and possible. However, he underlined that time was running out. He pointed out that the discussion with Ukraine is not a discussion like any other - it is geopolitical and an indication of the success of Europe or (on the contrary) of a less impressive Europe (without Ukraine). (CG/transl.jl)