The purpose of the visit is to discuss further prospects for strengthening bilateral relations between Germany and Lithuania and address topical matters on the EU agenda ahead of the informal European Council meeting in Salzburg next week.
Before her bilateral meeting with the German Chancellor, the President told journalists that the two countries had reached the most successful stage in the history of bilateral relations.
According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, Lithuania and Germany have never been such close allies and partners as they are now. Both countries enjoy remarkably close political, economic and cultural cooperation. Germany demonstrates special attention to Lithuania’s defense, security and rapidly growing economic relations.
The President expressed her gratitude to the Chancellor for Germany’s decision to lead the NATO battalion in Lithuania. According to the President, this is a strong sign of allied unity. NATO’s decision to deploy four forward presence force battalions to the Baltic States and Poland was mainly predetermined by the extraordinary leadership of Germany.
At 5.10 p.m. today, Lithuanian and German leaders will meet the German troops and those of other allies deployed in NATO’s multinational battalion in the Great Lithuanian Hetman Jonušas Radvila Training Regiment in Rukla.
Bilateral military cooperation is currently at all time high. The Lithuanian military brigade Iron Wolf is affiliated with the German Bundeswehr army division. It will significantly improve interoperability between the troops and their joint operation capacity. This is highly important in order to ensure regional defense. Lithuania buys German-made Boxer infantry fighting vehicles and other armaments. Lithuanian soldiers serve in international missions as part of the German contingent.
When discussing business relations, the President emphasized that the rapidly growing German investments in Lithuania open a qualitatively new page in bilateral economic cooperation. Global German manufacturers of high-added value and innovative products are discovering Lithuania. The automotive giant Hella opened a new manufacturing facility in the Kaunas district on the eve of the Chancellor's visit to Lithuania. The plant will create up to 2,000 jobs. Another major automotive spare parts supplier, Continental, also launched the construction of a plant in July in the Kaunas Free Economic Zone. These are among the largest investments in Lithuania.
According to all major parameters, Germany is Lithuania’s main economic partner. It is the second largest trade partner and the third largest foreign investor. German investments total to over a billion euros.
Preparations for the negotiations on the new multiannual budget was one of the key questions at the meeting. Lithuania is concerned about maintaining appropriate EU funding for cohesion policy.
Our aim is to bring direct payments to Lithuanian farmers closer to the EU average as soon as possible. Another priority is to secure appropriate funding for major projects in Lithuania, such as the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear plant, synchronization of power grids with that of the continental Europe, Rail Baltica, border protection, and cyber security.
Topical EU matters are also on the meeting’s agenda. According to the President, Lithuania is prepared together with Germany to search for solutions to overcome the challenges facing Europe, including security, global trade, migration, and Brexit – and strengthen Europe’s role in these matters. Enhancing European energy security and the threats posed by Russia’s geopolitical projects will also be addressed.
