The EU's Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) in Cyprus focuses on strengthening economic securityActivities of the Minister of Foreign AffairsEuropean UnionNews of the Ministry

On 20 February in Lefkosia, Cyprus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys, attended the EU's informal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (Trade). During the Council meeting, ministers from the 27 EU member states discussed strengthening the resilience of the European economy, EU-China trade relations, the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and preparations for the WTO's 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to take place in Cameroon in March.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing Indo-Pacific negotiations and the implementation of agreements with India and Mercosur.

According to the head of Lithuania's diplomacy, strengthening the EU's resilience and economic security to counter increasing Chinese pressure is a reality-dictated necessity that urgently requires a focused response. "Europe needs a united and decisive economic defence plan to protect the EU's single market and the Community's competitiveness," said Budrys.

According to the Minister, supply chain diversification, more effective trade defence instruments, investments in critical raw materials and semiconductor production in Europe, as well as strategic partnerships with the US and G7 countries, are priorities which EU must address.

According to Budrys, dialogue with China must be based on fair and equally aplicable conditions, respecting the interests of all EU member states. China imposed SPS restrictions on Lithuanian exports, and its continued support for Russia's aggression against Ukraine must, according to the Minister, receive a clear and united response from the EU.

In line with established tradition, an informal ministerial meeting was held in Cyprus, which took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU on 1 January this year.

Photos: The EU