EUobserver.com

The prime ministers of Poland and Lithuania have agreed to coordinate how to proceed with talks on a long-delayed EU-Russia partnership deal, according to a statement by the Lithuanian government.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas and his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, on Thursday (8 May) discussed by telephone "the situation regarding the negotiating mandate for a new EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), and agreed to continue to coordinate their positions," reads a statement by the Lithuanians.

Mr Tusk "said he understood Lithuania's position and agreed with Kirkilas's proposal to continue consultations on the EU negotiating mandate between the Lithuanian and Polish diplomats in the short run," it continues.

Lithuania last week blocked the launch of talks on the so-called Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Russia, tabling additional requirements that have to do with Russian energy supplies, judicial cooperation, and frozen conflicts - particularly in Georgia and Moldova.

"The issues of frozen conflicts in Georgia and Moldova, EU-Russia cooperation in the field of justice, and energy security are in the interests of the entire EU, and [Lithuania has] asked for Poland's support," says the statement.

The Lithuanian veto during a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg last Tuesday (29 April) was criticised by some member states who underlined Vilnius' isolation, as well as by Slovenia, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

"We have 26 member states on one side and Lithuania on the other, this is unbearable...I hope that Lithuania will listen to the arguments by the majority of the member states," Slovenian foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel said after the meeting.

"We could listen to some of the Lithuanian arguments, but we do not have much time. We should start the talks as soon as possible," he added.

The EU's goal is that partnership talks are launched at an EU-Russia summit which is to take place in Siberia in late June.

Eventually, the PCA – covering areas such as the economy, external security or justice and home affairs - is to replace the bilateral treaty outlining EU-Russia relations until now and which expired last year.

Prior to Lithuania, Poland had blocked the start of the talks for months, due to a Russian ban on Polish meat exports which was lifted in December last year.

The deadlock has been without resolution for 18 months.

Poland and Lithuania to coordinate positions on Russia