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On 17 November in Brussels, the European Union's General Affairs Council (GAC) started preparations for the European Council on 18-19 December. There was also an exchange of views on the European Commission's 2026 work programme and discussed the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034.

According to the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sigitas Mitkus, who represented Lithuania at the meeting, important decisions on Ukraine's financing, the use of frozen Russian assets and the EU's future Multiannual Financial Framework are expected to be taken at next month's European Council, along with the leaders' endorsement of the conclusions on the EU's enlargement.

"We need to make use of the December European Council, making decisions on merit-based EU enlargement and opening negotiating clusters with Moldova and Ukraine," Mitkus stressed.

During the discussion on the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, the Vice-Minister underlined that the Commission's proposed €2 trillion multiannual budget provides a good basis for further negotiations.

"The future MFF must ensure adequate funding for the Cohesion Policy and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and should horizontally include provisions in all budget programmes for comprehensive support and special attention to the EU's eastern member states bordering the aggressor Russia and Belarus," the Vice-Minister stressed.

As regards the annual and multi-annual legislative programming, the Vice-Minister insisted that Lithuania welcomed the Commission's 2026 work programme, which foresees several initiatives relevant to Lithuania in the areas of EU security and defence, strengthening competitiveness and economic security, enhancing EU preparedness and resilience, and others.

"Initiatives to boost defence and security, increase competitiveness, counter hybrid threats, strengthen the defence industry and support the eastern border regions are particularly important for us," said Vice-Minister Mitkus.

The Vice-Minister Mitkus raised the issue of Belarusian hybrid attacks that violate Lithuania's airspace using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Violations of Lithuania's airspace by smuggler balloons launched from the territory of Belarus, according to the Vice-Minister, must be considered as a deliberate hybrid operation.

"We call for clear designation of the Belarusian regime's actions against an EU member state as a hybrid attack and for considering new sanctions against the responsible Belarusian officials and institutions," said Vice-Minister Mitkus.

The Vice-Minister also noted that Belarus must immediately allow EU-registered trucks to return to the EU's territory: “Belarus' actions are unacceptable. They discriminate against EU companies and cause additional financial losses."
The Council also took note of the state of play of EU-UK relations and held annual country-specific discussions on the rule of law situation in Bulgaria, Czechia, Ireland and Germany.