At the Inter-Parliamentary Conference for the Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy in the Seimas, Linas Antanas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, covered the ideas and measures aimed at promoting democracy in Europe and put a particular emphasis on the Eastern Partnership.

The Minister stressed that the Eastern Partnership was the most influential EU instrument aimed at helping the Eastern neighbours who aspire to democracy and closer political and economic integration with the EU.

“The EU Member States cannot simply sit and wait. We need engagement at the highest level. We need to show initiative and produce clear guidelines for further relations,” Mr Linkevičius said. The main focus of the speech was on Ukraine. The Minister reminded the audience that the choice Ukraine needed to make between the East and the West was important for Europe as well and highlighted that the EU Member States should not remain inactive.

“Ukraine is a litmus test to us in terms of the rule of law and human rights. There are still many things to be implemented and attained by this country. However, I would say that we should not turn a blind eye to the current state of play. Let us help the country. I sometimes feel that some of our colleagues are guided by the “wait and see” approach. I believe more should be done apart from assessment and decision-making on who can join our club,” Mr Linkevičius said.

According to the Minister, Ukraine should undoubtedly fulfil the requirements concerning the legal reform and elections in order to cast away any doubts concerning selective justice. However, comprehensive assessment of the process and support to this country would make other countries, such as Moldova, follow suit.

“We have to actively tap into the potential of the Eastern Partnership, believe in its power and cast no doubt concerning its usefulness to our Eastern partners and their societies. And by “we” I am referring to Member States, institutions and parliaments,” Mr Linkevičius said.

He went on to remind the audience of the important event to take place in Lithuania in November this year, namely, the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. It is expected to bring about specific results: the signature of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, initialling of Association Agreements with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia, progress in negotiations with Azerbaijan, and debate on the facilitation and liberalisation of the visa regime.

Minister Linkevičius claims that a clear future prospect will send a signal to the stakeholders who clearly declare their ambition and demonstrate progress in the advancement of the European system of values and European rules of play in their countries that the EU is an attractive and realistic project and not a mirage in the far distance.

“We need to be creative and active in helping out those countries. This will finally lead us to the implementation of the idea of a free Europe; and this is what the European Union is all about, after all,” Minister Linkevičius said to the participants of the Conference.

Saulė Eglė Trembo, Public Relations Unit, tel. +370 5 239 6203, e-mail: [email protected]