On 9 March, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Andrius Krivas and members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, who are visiting Vilnius. The officials discussed important issues related to the relationship between Lithuania and Ukraine, the EU-Ukraine agenda, the security situation in eastern Ukraine, the implementation of the Minsk accords, Lithuania’s support for Ukraine, and how the trade part of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement could be best used to deepen the bilateral economic relationship.
“The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement creates new favourable conditions for the development of economic cooperation between the EU and Ukraine. Member states of the EU and Ukraine enjoy all the benefits that free trade brings to them. We call on Lithuanian and Ukrainian businesses to make the best possible use of these new opportunities,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister.
In a meeting, Krivas drew attention to guidelines for reforms under the Association Agreement, which Ukraine should follow for the implementation of its reforms in the coming years. Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister said that Lithuania was already providing expert assistance to the Customs Authorities of Ukraine, the legal sector reform and in other fields, and was ready to continue to help Ukraine, sharing its own experience of European integration.
The members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are paying a visit to Lithuania on 7-12 March. The aim of their visit is to get acquainted with Lithuania’s democratic reforms and the experience of Euro-Atlantic integration. The programme of the visit is being conducted in accordance with the cooperation agreement between the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania and the International Republican Institute.
