Last updated in October 2008
Political relations
Relations between Lithuania and Germany are close and continue to progress on a sound footing. They are based on a sense of solidarity and partnership in the EU and NATO as well as on a close-knit network of contacts in the economic, scientific, cultural and social sectors. Numerous visits with the active involvement of the German federal states and municipalities are evidence of the wide-ranging dialogue between the two countries.
High points in the programme of regular mutual visits were the visit to Vilnius by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on 26 August 2008 and that of Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Vygaudas Ušackas to Berlin on 12 February 2009.
On 1 September 2009, the Federal Armed Forces took charge of NATO air traffic control for the Baltic states – the third time they had done so. German combat aircraft (for the first time the Eurofighter) are stationed at Lithuania’s Siauliai air base until the end of 2009.
Economic relations
After Russia, Germany is Lithuania's second-largest trading partner. Germany is the third-largest foreign investor after Sweden and Poland. German investors include E.ON-Ruhrgas and Siemens as well as many small and medium-sized enterprises.
Cultural relations
Bilateral cultural relations between Lithuania and Germany are long-standing and wide-ranging. After a series of parallel events in 2008 – a Baltic Culture Year in Germany and German Culture Weeks in the Baltic countries – 2009 has two cultural highlights in store for Lithuania: to mark the thousandth anniversary of the first written mention of Lithuania in the Quedlinburg Annals in 1009, Vilnius is sharing with Linz the title of European Capital of Culture 2009. As part of the European Capital of Culture programme, numerous joint events have formed the basis of cultural cooperation this year.
There exist numerous ties and partnerships in the artistic and civil-society sectors: in addition to the 40 town-twinning arrangements, there are lively school, university and youth exchange programmes.
