On 18-19 May, Lithuania’s Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry Evaldas Ignatavičius took part in the meeting of European Union’s Ministers for Development Cooperation. The meeting was a on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council.

During the meeting, ways of helping developing countries during the crisis were discussed and the Ministers agreed that it was necessary to take all the necessary means in raising additional financing. This does not mean that the new EU member states will have additional financial commitments.

During the business dinner, possibilities of transatlantic cooperation in the area of development were discussed.

Undersecretary of the Ministry E.Ignatavičius spoke up for a closer cooperation with the U.S.A., setting as an example the successful cooperation between Lithuania and the U.S.A. in supporting the European Humanities University (EHU). The university is based in Vilnius and is supported both by the U.S.A. and the EU countries.

Undersecretary of the Ministry met with the EU officials, who are in charge of the implementation of the Eastern Partnership initiative. E.Ignatavičius presented Lithuania’s suggestions on possible actions in this area, informing about development cooperation projects that are implemented by Lithuania in the Eastern neighbourhood countries.

During the meeting of Ministers for Development Cooperation, the topic of democratic governance in developing countries was also discussed, as well as the matters related to the process of economic partnership agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the issues of climate change.