Lithuanian president: Conclusion of association agreement with Eastern Partnership countries may eventually lead to EU membership

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite believes that the conclusion of the Association Agreement with the Eastern Partnership countries is a step that may eventually lead to their membership of the European Union.

"The Association Agreement is a step towards deeper integration. In the future, this may be even a membership, but all these - a deep and comprehensive free trade area, the association agreement and then the membership negotiations - are necessary steps," Grybauskaite told reporters in Vilnius on Tuesday ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit, which will take place in Lithuania on November 28-29.

"I'm not saying that we will sign [the agreement], but we will be ready to sign the Association Agreement with Ukraine, and initial those with Georgia and Moldova," she added.

When asked by Interfax-Ukraine about the final declaration, which is to be adopted at the summit, the Lithuanian president said that the document was still being discussed.

"The declaration should include many opinions. I'd like to see [in the declaration] an assessment of the Eastern Partnership and the future cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries," the Lithuanian president said.