Lithuanian president going to Brussels to discuss NATO, EU issues

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is going for a two-day visit to Brussels to discuss EU and NATO-related issues amid changes in EU leadership and preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in London in December.

"This year’s election to the European Parliament marks the start of a new political cycle for the European Union, with intensive preparations for the December NATO Summit. Therefore, during this visit, with the EU and NATO leaders I will discuss issues of security, global politics, economics, finance, and energy that are relevant to Lithuania," Nauseda said in a statement issued on the eve of the visit.

On the first day of the visit, the Lithuanian president will meet with President of the European Parliament David Sassoli and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

On the second day, meetings with President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Junker, President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President-elect of the European Council Charles Michel are scheduled.

The meetings with the EU leaders will focus on the long-term strategic EU agenda, the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027, the Brexit, EU global policy, the Eastern Partnership, energy security, safety of the Astravyets nuclear power plant and sustainable development of the member states.

The president and NATO secretary general will discuss the security situation and threats to Lithuania and the Baltic region, defense funding, as well as preparations for NATO Summit to be held in London, in December, this year. 

The President will also visit Lithuanian Permanent Representations to the EU and NATO in Brussels, where he will meet with their staff. A working visit to Brussels is the sixth foreign visit and the first one to the EU and NATO institutions during the president’s term of office.