During their meeting, the Presidents will discuss issues related to the implementation of projects important for energy and economic security of Lithuania and Latvia, relations with Eastern Partnership countries, and Latvia's experience of joining the euro area.
Lithuania has been the first Baltic country to stand at the helm of the Council of the European Union. Dalia Grybauskaitė will present experience, results and follow-up of the Lithuanian EU Presidency to the leader of Latvia. This country will take over the presidency from 1 January 2015.
According to the President, Lithuania and Latvia are the only Balts bound by common cultural roots and permanent cultural ties. Therefore, the status of the European Capital of Culture granted to Riga is also a good opportunity to present the Balts culture to the world.
The European Capital of Culture year in Riga will open with Richard Wagner's opera Rienzi, conductor Modestas Pitrėnas from Lithuania. This is a proof of nice cooperation. Lithuanian and Latvian Presidents will attend the opening concert and give their welcome addresses.
During the visit, President Grybauskaitė will be presented with a replica of Terra Mariana, a unique album of the old history of the Baltic countries. The original volume, made a present to Pontiff Leon XIII in 1888, is in the Vatican Apostolic Library. One of the existing copies of the album will be given as a gift to the President who will later hand it over to the Vilnius University Library.
This year Riga is co-sharing the title of the European Capital of Culture with the Swedish city Umeå. Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture in 2009, Tallinn - in 2011.
