WIREDGOV

Lithuania, the United Kingdom, France and Hungary have agreed to establish a Trust Fund to financially support participation of the Eastern Partnership countries in joint Common Security and Defence Policy activities. Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas informed of that EU’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 18–19 November in Brussels.

Establishment of the Fund is one of the issues of Lithuania’s Presidency to strengthen practical co-operation with Eastern partners. Other EU member states will join the Trust Fund in the future.

“This is a question of mutual dependence: partners enable the EU, and the EU enables partners. Co-operation of Eastern Partners with the EU in security and defence area has become as extensive as never before. To large extent it is the outcome of constant and directed efforts of Lithuania”, J. Olekas underlined.

“I hope that the European Heads of State and Government will stress the importance of Partnerships and will emphasize the EU’s role as security provider in the neighbourhood,” Lithuanian Minister said at the joint session of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence.

Following the meeting of the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence J. Olekas also pointed out that Lithuania’s priorities of the Common Security and Defence policy had been well reflected in the draft conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council. Based on them the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy will submit proposals on issues that should be discussed by the Heads of State and Government in December later this year.

“I am happy that during discussions with EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence we have come to an agreement that it is necessary to maintain closer cooperation with our partners in the area of security and defence and that it has been confirmed in the draft conclusions of the meeting”, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence J. Olekas said.

As an important outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council, J. Olekas welcomed the inclusion of energy security dimension into the draft conclusions among other emerging security challenges. The Minister also welcomed the agreement to initiate consultations on the development of the EU Energy Efficiency Strategy in the field of defence.

“By making armed forces more energy efficient it may help reduce costs and operational risks and boost military effectiveness. Further, it boosts technological innovations and creates new jobs. Experience and knowledge of Lithuania based NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence could be used to strengthen EU and NATO cooperation in energy security area,” Lithuanian Defence Minister said.

Together with other EU countries Lithuania actively supports revision of the EU Security Strategy and suggests that this revision should be initiated during the European Council in December later this year.

At the session of Ministers of Defence on EU international operations, J. Olekas said that Lithuania was in favour of the extension of the mandate for the EU Naval Force Somalia-Operation ATALANTA until 2016.

The Lithuanian Minister of National Defence also informed EU representatives on Lithuania’s intent to join one the EU flagship programmes designed to strengthen national cyber defence capabilities. To that extent joint training and exercises in cyber defence are planned to be conducted.