Vice-Minister Mitkus and his Finnish counterpart discussed the priorities of Lithuania's Presidency of the Council of the EU: security, competitiveness, and resilience

On 30 June, In Vilnius, Lithuania and Finland held bilateral political consultations . The Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus and Joakim Strand, the Finnish Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, discussed bilateral cooperation, priorities for the preparation of the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2027, support for Ukraine and regional security issues.

During the consultations, it was emphasized that Lithuania and Finland are actively strengthening cooperation in the field of defence industry, coordinating actions on border protection and countering hybrid threats.

The Vice-Minister Mitkus presented the key priorities of Lithuania's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU: strengthening security and defence, ensuring support for Ukraine, EU enlargement, enhancing the EU's competitiveness and social security.

"The Nordic and Baltic countries remain among Ukraine's most active supporters. It is necessary to continue to ensure adequate support for Ukraine and to work towards opening all negotiating chapters on EU membership as early as July", stressed Mitkus.

The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Lithuanian-Finnish development cooperation projects in Ukraine and opportunities for cooperation on new projects for the reconstruction of Ukraine.

"We appreciate Finland's leadership in the Civil Protection Shelter Coalition in Ukraine and invite you to join the projects initiated by Lithuania - the "Future School for Ukraine" and rehabilitation of soldiers in various projects," said the Vice-Minister.

Mitkus noted that in the negotiations on the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework, Lithuania is seeking an expanded EU budget to tackle shared challenges and to finance new priorities - security and defence, competitiveness, support for Ukraine.

"Traditional policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Cohesion Policy, convergence of direct payments, as well as the EU's eastern regions that border the aggressor countries must be given due attention, and funding must be ensured," said the Vice-Minister.

Mitkus stressed that among the priorities of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU will be the fight against disinformation, hybrid threats and attempts to rewrite history. The Vice-Minister invited Finland to contribute to the initiative of Lithuania and other EU member states to build a Brussels-based Pan-European memorial for victims of totalitarianism.