Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Western Balkan Countries established at the Seimas
Press release, 8 December 2020
The Seimas established the Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with the Western Balkan Countries. It currently comprises 12 Members of the Seimas from different political groups.
Dr Laima Andrikienė was elected Head of the Group, with Prof. Valdas Rakutis, Beata Petkevič, Audronius Ažubalis and Prof. Kęstutis Masiulis as Deputy Heads.
‘The Western Balkans is of crucial importance for the future of Europe. So far, Lithuania has paid insufficient attention to this region for various reasons. This gap must now be filled with constructive action, inter-parliamentary relations being one of the possible formats,’ Ms Andrikienė said.
The group of the Western Balkan countries includes Croatia, Northern Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. Croatia is already a Member State of the European Union, while Northern Macedonia and Albania are seeking to start accession negotiations with the EU as soon as this year. Four countries – Croatia, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and Albania – are members of the NATO Alliance.
Monika Kutkaitytė