Vice-Minister Mitkus: The EU needs to ensure continued support for Ukraine and pay more attention to member states bordering Russia and BelarusEuropean UnionSituation in Ukraine

On 24 February, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus attended a meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels, which started preparations for the European Council meeting on 19-20 March, as well as the launch of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience and other "European Democracy Shield" initiatives.

The discussions covered the most important items on the European Council's agenda: Ukraine, competitiveness, EU security and defence, and the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034.

"As Ukraine enters into the fifth year of Russia's brutal war, our support for Ukraine must be strong, and the approval process of a €90 billion loan package must be completed as soon as possible. There is a need to increase pressure on Russia, as well as to open formal accession negotiations with Ukraine without delay, setting 2030 as the date for membership," the Vice-Minister noted.

As regards the issue of boosting European competitiveness, according to Mitkus, concrete decisions based on informal discussions of leaders in February are expected at the European Council.

"We need to complete the single market by 2028, set clear objectives and timelines, lower energy prices, increase access to finance for entities, and expand international cooperation," said the Vice-Minister.

EU leaders are expected to negotiate the 2028-2034 MFF, with most attention devoted to the expenditure category related to the European Competitiveness Fund.

"There is a need for a leaders' discussion on the overall structure of the MFF, which would provide clear guidance for further work in the Council with a view to reaching an agreement by the end of 2026", stressed the Vice-Minister Mitkus.

Moreover, according to Mitkus, the future EU budget must ensure adequate visibility and funding for the EU's traditional Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy, as well as finance new priorities - security, defence, and competitiveness - and clearly respond to the needs of the eastern EU countries.

During the Council meeting, the European Centre for Democratic Resilience was inaugurated. During a discussion with the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, the Vice-Minister underlined that Lithuania supports an ambitious model of the European Centre for Democratic Resilience.

"Information exchange alone is not enough: practical solutions, joint projects, and real capacity building are needed. One of the first projects could be dedicated to a shared European historical memory", said Mitkus.

On 12 November 2025, the European Commission and the European External Action Service proposed the European Centre for Democratic Resilience as part of the "European Democracy Shield", presenting next steps for the EU in the fight against disinformation, ensuring free and fair elections, upholding media freedom, and promoting citizens' participation in democratic processes.
Alongside the Council, the meeting of the Friends of Cohesion Group on the future MFF expressed a shared need to increase funding for the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy, and the need to eliminate corrective mechanisms.