Europe needs single trade policy in practice

VILNIUS – Lithuania and Germany share the same stance that a conflict with China is an issue of the European Union’s (EU) single market, which therefore should be resolved speaking with a single voice, Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite has said.

“We exchanged identical views that this conflict [with China] we have found ourselves involved in is in fact an issue of the European single market and it is therefore necessary to maintain the integrity of Europe’s single market, including the long-term perspective,” she told reporters at the Seimas on Tuesday after a meeting with Franziska Katharina Brantner, parliamentary state secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

“Speaking with a single European voice is the only way to find a way out of this situation as the Lithuanian companies are not the only ones to face difficulties – integrated European market companies with partners in Lithuania face difficulties as well,” she added.

The minister stated that she had felt Germany’s support to Lithuania during the meeting.

“We discussed the importance of developing a common and single European trade policy... Europe needs a single trade policy in practice,” Armonaite said.

According to her, Germany continued to view Lithuania as a country that was safe and promising for investment.

In addition, the minister stated that she had also talked to Brantner about Germany’s investment in Lithuania’s renewable energy sector.