Foreign Vice-Minister Mitkus in Berlin: Focus on bilateral issues, EU enlargement, and priorities for the upcoming multiannual EU budget

On 22 July, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus paid a working visit to Berlin, where he met with Chief European Policy Advisor to the German Federal Chancellor Michael Clauß, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office Gunther Krichbaum, and State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Niels Annen.

The visit focused on bilateral cooperation between Lithuania and Germany, as well as items on the EU agenda, particularly the enlargement process and the next Multiannual Financial Framework for the 2028-2034 period.

"Lithuania and Germany share a strategic partnership - we are working closely together on bilateral, EU, NATO, and international levels. We are grateful for Germany's leadership and long-term commitment to collective security - the permanent deployment of a combat-ready brigade in Lithuania by 2027 is a top defence priority for us," Mitkus said at the meetings.

The meetings also focused heavily on the EU enlargement process. "Enlargement is a security guarantee for both Ukraine and Europe as a whole. Ukraine's membership of the EU is our strategic goal. We need to work consistently to ensure tangible progress in Ukraine's accession process," the Vice-Minister stressed.

Another key topic was the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2028-2034. "We discussed with our colleagues the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework - Lithuania is aiming for an ambitious budget for the 2028-2034 period to address both traditional and new priorities, especially in the areas of EU security, defence, enlargement and infrastructure needs," said Mitkus.

At the meeting with the State Secretary Niels Annen, Mitkus discussed the possibilities of cooperation between Lithuania and Germany in implementing joint projects in Ukraine. "I called on my German colleagues to contribute to Lithuania's international initiatives, such as build underground schools, strengthen the administrative capacity of Ukrainian institutions, and provide expert support in the process in EU accession negotiations," said the Vice-Minister. There was also an exchange of views with German representatives on the possibilities of involving the private sector in development cooperation projects, creating new financial instruments, and implementating joint projects in Africa.

The visit also included a discussion with representatives of German think tanks and independent research institutes.