Laima Andrikienė: ‘Our goal is the consolidation of the NATO/EU area in the Western Balkans’
Press release, 25 February 2021
At the meeting of the groups for inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Lithuanian Seimas and the Croatian Parliament, their representatives discussed bilateral cooperation and opportunities for coordinating activities in multilateral formats. The meeting was held remotely.
The Lithuanian Seimas was represented by Dr Laima Andrikienė, Head of the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Western Balkan Countries (Republic of Croatia, Republic of Albania, Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Republic of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Kosovo), while Erik Fabijanić, Chairperson of the Interparliamentary Co-operation Committee, and his Deputy Davor Ivo Stier represented the Croatian Parliament. Both Croatian parliamentarians are also members of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Croatia-Lithuania.
‘Croatia, being NATO and EU Member State, is an unquestionable frontrunner in the Western Balkans. This year, Lithuania and Croatia mark the 30th anniversary of recognising one another’s independence and establishing diplomatic relations. We work together with the Croatian representatives at the European Parliament and the parliamentary assemblies of NATO, the OSCE and the Council of Europe. An important objective of our cooperation is to help other Western Balkan countries to achieve their aspirations to join the EU with a view to consolidating the NATO/EU area in the Western Balkan region,’ Ms Andrikienė noted.
Ms Andrikienė, who is also Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), invited colleagues to cooperate at the PACE level as well.
There was also a discussion on the possibility for a delegation of the Interparliamentary Friendship Group Croatia-Lithuania to visit Lithuania in the autumn of 2021.
Jolita Siriūtė, Chief Specialist, International Relations Unit, Office of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6218, e-mail: [email protected]
Monika Kutkaitytė