The Eastern European country is “serious but calm” in the face of Russian aggression and is “doing its homework” by spending between 5pc to 6pc of its GDP on defence.
Lithuania has created a “very well functioning” management system with a good reputation globally, according to the vice-minister of foreign affairs of Lithuania, Sigitas Mitkus.
“We are a unique country in the EU in terms of cyber security. We have created a very well functioning cyber security management system in Lithuania,” he told the Irish Independent.
“Our cyber-security centre has a very good reputation globally, and our experts would be ready to share experience with Irish colleagues.”
The country is a member of Nato and is ramping up defence spending as well as its military.
“We have been investing into our defence and security, we are doing our homework. We need to be serious but calm.”
“We do appreciate what the Irish Government does for our citizens
It comes as Lithuania marks 21 years in the EU alongside Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia after joining in 2004.
After re-establishing its independence in 1990, Lithuania also joined Nato in 2004. Mr Mitkus hailed Lithuania’s membership within the EU.
“Our GDP per capita grew more than five times in comparison with what we had in 2004, so our membership is a success story. And I’m not talking only about Lithuania. I’m talking about Latvia and Estonia as well,” he said.
“We really believe in the European Union, in our unity, in solidarity and we have to stick together. And we believe in enlargement, in the benefits of enlargement for both – for the European Union and for candidate countries.”
Currently, around 70,000 Lithuanians live in Ireland, with thousands having migrated here during the early 2000s.
Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the EU from July to December 2026. The Irish presidency will form the first part of an 18-month “Trio Presidency” which will also involve Lithuania and Greece.
Mr Mitkus said more Lithuanians are now coming back to Lithuania than they are leaving.
The country has put a public servant in each municipality in charge of resettling people who left and have come back.
“We do appreciate what the Irish Government does for our citizens. But of course, we were looking forward to welcoming them back to Lithuania.”
He met European Affairs junior minister Thomas Byrne on his visit to Ireland last week, where alongside the Danish European affairs minister, the three ministers took part in a panel discussion on EU challenges in a conference organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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