Baltic States – CIS, Economics, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Markets and Companies

Photo: urm.lt

"The European economy is facing complex challenges, and it is important to make every effort to implement measures that stimulate economic growth and help create new jobs. A broad and ambitious trade agenda is what we need in order to achieve both these goals," Linkevicius said.

The Minister stressed that Lithuania will seek to ensure the EU's external trade agenda continuity: to further strengthen economic and commercial relations with the EU's most important strategic partners – the United States, Japan, China – and deepen economic relations with the Eastern Partnership countries.

"Today, Europe has two historical opportunities: the first is to start negotiations with the United States for a free trade agreement establishing ambitious and internationally recognized standards; and the second is to bring the Eastern Partnership countries closer to the European Union signing the Ukraine Association Agreement, which includes the formation of an extensive and comprehensive Free Trade Area, and announcing the finalizing of free trade negotiations with Armenia, Georgia and Moldova," the Minister said.

The Minister also stressed that the most important issue concerning multilateral cooperation will remain reinforcing the activities and international trade rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), especially during preparations for the IX Ministerial Conference of the WTO on 3-6 December 2013 in Bali, Indonesia.

Concerning the legislation, according to the Minister, active cooperation with Member States and the European Parliament will be developed in order to create a proper legal environment for trade policy implementation. During the Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council, meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs (Trade) Council will be chaired by the Minister of foreign Affairs of Lithuania.