Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Russia

"I believe it is simply his personal opinion, it is definitely not the common policy of the European Union. We expect an EU official to have a consolidating position, not a disuniting," the Lithuanian diplomacy chief told BNS Lithuania on Thursday in comment of Juncker's letter to Putin.

In his letter to Putin that was written during the G20 summit in Antalya on Nov. 16, Juncker stated he had recently emphasized the importance of "good relations between the European Union and Russia," which "have not been able to develop over the past year." Authenticity of the letter, a copy of which was received by BNS Lithuania, was confirmed by Mina Andreeva, Deputy Chief Spokesperson for the EC.

"I have always found the idea of an integrated trade area linking Lisbon to Vladivostok to be an important and valuable objective. Trade not only fosters growth but creates links between businesses and citizens and allows interests to converge," said the EC chief.

At the same time, he restated that the power of decisions on this path lies with EU member-states and would depend on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.

"I can assure you that the European Commission will be a helpful partner in this process. I have asked my diplomatic adviser Richard Szostak to follow this issue closely," said Juncker.

"Indeed, President Juncker sent a letter to President Putin following their brief exchange on Monday in the margins of G20 summit but in the letter there's no new position and no new commitments – it simply restates the president's readiness to consider a possible engagement to the Eurasian Union and EU course in consultation with member-states and synchronization with the implementation with the Minsk agreement," Andreeva told BNS on Thursday.

"The Commission's services are already preparing a study on potential option for cooperation with the EU and EEU (Eurasian Economic Union)," she noted.

Meanwhile, the Lithuanian diplomacy chief emphasized to BNS that the Russian aim to cooperate in the efforts against the Islamic State cannot be linked with any possible concessions in the decisions on EU sanctions for Russia.

"We have said repeatedly and our Allies have said this, as well: these are separate crises and we should not link them, we should view them separately. I would add that there are things in common, as the persons involved are similar, nevertheless, the processes are separate. Solving one crisis at the expense of another crisis is irrational and unfair, therefore, speaking about trade, concessions and distribution of some spheres of influence is unacceptable," the minister concluded.