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On May 6, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis attended a discussion by foreign ministers from EU and EU candidate countries on future reforms in the organization and their importance to European societies in Nyköping, Sweden. The debate in Sweden- embracing the 15 EU foreign ministers and their colleagues from 13 candidate EU nations- was intended to allow exchange of opinions of Europe's future economic and political integration. The participants of the informal discussion tried to identify issues of most interest to the European community in the light of the future EU reforms. "It is natural that the pre-accession negotiations, membership costs and benefits draw increasing public attention. The interest rises even further when talks are opened in more complex and sensitive chapters," said Valionis. Speaking at the meeting, the Lithuanian minister informed his colleagues about the last week's Vilnius forum of agriculture ministers of EU candidate nations, which noted that the matters currently on discussion at the EU would have a direct impact on future members of the organization. A suggestion was also made that the candidate countries were given a more active part in the decision-making process. Valionis also noted the importance of parliamentary institutions, political parties and non-governmental organizations in raising public awareness about the EU future.