Budrys at the Warsaw Security Forum: EU enlargement – a tool for geopolitical power

On 29 September, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, participated in the discussion of the Warsaw Security Forum titled 'From Lisbon to Yerevan: Envisioning Europe's Strategy for the Wider Neighbourhood'.

When speaking at the discussion, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy stressed that the enlargement of the European Union (EU) is a clear tool for consolidating stability in Europe, which must remain our strategic interest and goal. The minister emphasized that enlargement is also an instrument of the EU's geopolitical power.

"Without Ukraine's EU membership, Europe will not be secure and peaceful - it is the driving force behind the entire EU enlargement process. We have not only a historic opportunity, but also a mission to complete the project of a free, peaceful, and united Europe. If the EU has the ambition to be a geopolitical actor, our actions and decisions must reflect this," Budrys said.

Budrys also noted that Armenia could be a new success story for the EU's European Neighbourhood Policy - currently, the window of opportunity with Armenia is open than ever, and we therefore need to fully support the country on its path towards rapprochement with the EU.

The minister underlined that the only problem for a peaceful European neighbourhood remains aggressive Russia and stressed the need to act decisively by strengthening comprehensive pressure on the aggressor, increasing support for Ukraine, and ensuring serious security guarantees to prevent aggression from recurring in the future.