Chancellor of the Government meets Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna in Brussels
On 21 March, Chancellor of the Government Giedrė Balčytytė, who is on a working visit to Brussels, met with Olha Stefanishyna, the Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. The parties discussed bilateral and EU support to Ukraine’s reconstruction and Euro-integration processes, Ukraine’s reform agenda and Lithuania’s potential to contribute to its smooth implementation.
“Ukraine has shown extraordinary will in resisting Russian aggression and great efforts to rebuild what has been lost. At the same time, in the context of the Euro-integration reform process, the challenge facing Ukraine is enormous and requires the solidarity and support from democratic countries. Ukrainians can continue to rely on Lithuania for our expertise in the reform process, our support in the reconstruction of the country, and our constant voice in the EU and other international fora, underlining the importance of Ukraine’s struggle for freedom and the support necessary to achieve victory,” said Chancellor Balčytytė.
The parties highlighted Ukraine’s progress in implementing the European Commission’s recommendations, including the ones concerning anti-corruption institutions, the judiciary and other areas, despite the country’s challenging circumstances dictated by war.
The country's EU membership aspirations are directly linked to the implementation of the necessary reforms and Lithuania will continue its multifaceted assistance to meet Ukraine’s institutional support needs, the Chancellor said at the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna.
As Chancellor Balčytytė added, by contributing to Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts in Irpin and Borodianka, where projects are being implemented to meet the basic needs of the population, Lithuania will continue to encourage its partner countries, both by word and example, to focus on Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts without waiting for the war to end in those areas, wherever such works are feasible.
On Tuesday, as part of her visit to Brussels, the Chancellor also met with the Secretary-General of the European Commission, Ilze Juhansone, to discuss the opportunities for multilateral cooperation in the area of Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery as well as Ukraine’s Euro-integration process.
On Tuesday, Chancellor Balčytytė also discussed support for Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery and for the country’s smooth Euro-integration with Ms Anna Jarosz-Friis, Acting Director of the Ukraine Service of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations.