Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania
On 2 March, the Council of the European Union imposed targeted restrictive measures on four Russian officials responsible for the jailing of Alexei Navalny and the repression of peaceful protests. This is the first time that the EU imposes sanctions in the framework of the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime or the so-called EU Magnitsky Law. The scheme that was adopted on 7 December 2020 enables to target individuals, entities, and other bodies responsible for constant serious human rights violations.
On 23 February, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Arnoldas Pranckevičius took part in an informal video conference of European affairs ministers, who prepared the informal video conference of Members of the European Council on 25-26 February. Ministers discussed the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, security and defence, and issues of the European Union's neighbourhood. They also exchanged views on the European democracy action plan and took stock of the interinstitutional discussions on the Conference on the Future of Europe, as well as assessed the state of play of EU-UK relations.
On 22 February, EU ministers of foreign affairs made a political decision to impose targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for Alexei Navalny’s imprisonment and the crackdown on peaceful protesters under the EU global human rights sanctions regime, or the so-called European Magnitsky Act.
On 22 February, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis participated in the Foreign Affairs Council, which focused on the EU-Russia relations, the human rights and democracy situation in Belarus, Myanmar, Hong Kong, and the EU initiative to strengthen a common European security and defence culture.
On the eve of the Foreign Affairs Council to be held on 22 February, EU ministers of foreign affairs, ambassadors, and representatives of the EU institutions met with Leonid Volkov, chief of staff to Alexei Navalny, and Ivan Zhdanov, Director of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis.
On 21 January, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabrielius Landsbergis talked to the EU Ambassadors in Lithuania via virtual discussion and stressed that, in response to global challenges, the EU’s foreign policy needed to be value-based.
On 6 January, Ministers of 13 member states of the European Union called on the European Commissioners for health and for international cooperation with the EU partners, as well as on the European Commission to set up a support mechanism to allow the Eastern Partnership countries to secure early access to COVID-19 vaccine.
Just before the holidays, on 24 December, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) have agreed on partnership agreement governing the future relations.
In response to the brutality of the Belarusian authorities and in support of the democratic rights of the Belarusian people, the EU on 17 December decided to impose the third round of sanctions over the ongoing repression.
On 7 December, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius took part in the Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting took stock of the latest international developments, including the post-election situation in Georgia, the legislative elections in Venezuela, developments concerning Turkey, human rights and strategic autonomy issues.
On 27 November, the Chancellor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Jovita Neliupšienė took part in an online meeting of Secretaries of State (Chancellors) of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the European Union, which focused on the EU's top challenges in 2021. According to the Chancellor, the EU must maintain its focus on conflict resolution in the EU neighbourhood when recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 5 November, Lithuania officially submitted its application to host the European Commission to host the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) in Vilnius. Lithuania is ready to provide a strategic and symbolic location for the ECCC – the premises of Vilnius TV Tower with an exceptional information technology (IT) communication infrastructure. According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius, Lithuania’s growing and active cyber and IT ecosystem would significantly contribute to a comprehensive and autonomous European Cybersecurity Competence Network.
On 9 November, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Albinas Zananavičius took part in a video conference of the EU Trade Ministers, who discussed transatlantic trade relations after the U.S. presidential election.
On 5 October, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania held intensive consultations with other Foreign Ministries of the European Union on the demand by the Minsk regime that Lithuania and Poland reduce their diplomatic staff in Belarus.
On 29 September, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Dalius Čekuolis participated in an informal videoconfrence of EU Development Ministers.
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