According to President Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Baltic states working together have emerged as countries of success. Today as geopolitical tension increases in the region and Europe, our unity and consolidation is extremely important for defense, energy security and the well-being of the people.
The two presidents will also focus on cooperation with NATO partners and on joint measures to reinforce the security of the Baltic states. They will review preparations for the deployment of NATO’s battalions in the region. The multinational battalions with specific defense capabilities will ensure the deterrence of military threats. NATO centers of excellence operating in Estonia for cyber security and in Lithuania for energy security help the Baltic countries to address hybrid threats.
The energy security of the Baltic states will also be on top of the meeting’s agenda. Lithuania and Estonia are working successfully together to strengthen the region’s energy independence. Last year, Estonia imported almost one-third of the natural gas it needed from Lithuania. The presidents will exchange views on how to accomplish the key tasks of synchronizing power grids with Europe and creating an effective gas market in the region.
Special focus will be placed on nuclear safety in the neighborhood. The Baltic states need to maintain a clear unified position to ensure that nuclear energy projects are carried out in a transparent way and in strict conformity with the highest international standards.
The presidents will discuss bilateral relations and their further development. Estonia is an important partner of Lithuania, with total investments amounting to 0.7 billion euros. Boosting economic cooperation – especially in sectors with high added value – will also be an agenda item. Lithuania and Estonia are among the IT leaders in the region. The Skype software created in Estonia as well as the Pixelmator and GetJar mobile applications developed in Lithuania are used by millions of consumers around the world. According to the President, closer cooperation in areas where we are the best would contribute to well-being and progress in both countries.
Other points of discussion will include scientific and educational contacts. Lithuanian and Estonian researchers are working together on 25 EU-funded projects, but still there are many unexplored avenues of collaboration in IT and health care technologies. Estonia’s higher education ranks high on international performance tables; and Lithuania is very much interested in the Estonian experience of reforming higher education.
The Presidents will discuss Lithuania’s and Estonia’s work experience in international organizations. Next year, Estonia will take over the Presidency of the European Union and it is therefore interested in the experiences achieved by Lithuania in this field. Meanwhile, Lithuania highly values Estonia’s knowledge of working in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Kersti Kaljulaid is the first woman elected as President of Estonia.