“Development cooperation is the opportunity for strengthening Lithuania’s image and showcase our public sector expertise. We need to use it even more effectively to establish ourselves in Europe and other countries. It is necessary to increase the financial investments to Lithuanian development cooperation, which so far reaches only 0.11%. GDP”- emphasized Neris Germanas, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania during the Discussion-Forum dedicated to present the results of the three-year project “Improving the Implementation of Lithuanian Development Cooperation Policy and Strengthening the Capacity of Lithuanian Public Administration Institutions and their employees”. Project was implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Central Project Management Agency (CPMA).
According to Lidija Kašubienė, the head of the CPMA, participation in development cooperation projects creates great benefit for all parties – the EU, Lithuania and partner countries. “Lithuanian public sector has the highest level expertise that we are willing to share. Our motivation was noticed by the European Commission, which entrusted the CPMA with the administration of high-value development cooperation programs in Ukraine. Even more, negotiations regarding new programs are happening” highlighted Lidija Kašubienė.
Discussion-Forum and fourth edition of the Practitioners Club gathered public sector experts working with development cooperation. During the events, recommendations for the improvement of legal acts regulating Lithuanian development cooperation activities were introduced. These recommendations are based on good practice and would allow the institutions to carry out activities even more effectively.
