The Prime Minister has met with her Estonian counterpart Kaja Kallas to discuss possibilities of strengthening the bilateral relations and economic co-operation, co-ordination of positions before the main EU-NATO meetings, support for Eastern Partnership countries, security situation in the region, illegal migration weaponised by the Belarusian regime and insecure Astravyets NPP, the strategic energy and transport projects and efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and cooperation in the fields of defence and security.
‘It is symbolic that Estonia is one of the first countries I have visited as Prime Minister. This shows Lithuania’s commitment to take further the already excellent relations between our countries and the existing friendship between the people’, said the Head of Government.
‘We are ready to continue to closely coordinate our positions in the EU and NATO and support each other in international organisations. Our compliments to you for the successful Estonian Presidency of the United Nations Security Council in June’, said the Prime Minister.
The Heads of Government have discussed pandemic containment efforts and the strategic transport and energy projects.
‘I hope that our governments will continue to prioritise the projects of synchronisation of the power grid with the European networks, and the Rail Baltica. Transport connections between the Baltic States must meet the nowadays’ requirements. We have to complete these strategic projects on time and make them a success story at the European level’, said Ingrida Šimonytė.
The counterparts have raised the need for ever closer cooperation against the background of current geopolitical challenges. The Lithuanian Prime Minister has pointed out that the Belarussian regime poses a threat both to its own citizens and to the EU as a whole.
‘Both the hijacking of the civilian aircraft and regime-weaponised migration pose a threat to the European Union and to the international community as a whole’, said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister has thanked Estonia for its solidarity and support as it prepares to deploy border guards to help protect the EU’s common border with Belarus.
The Lithuanian Prime Minister has emphasised the need for a joint effort to prevent unsafe Astravets-generated electricity from entering the EU.
Threats posed by Russia’s aggressive policy have also been among the items discussed.
‘I hope we are not repeating our mistakes as we rush to proceed with high-level reengagement with Russia before Kremlin discontinues its aggressive policy’, said the Prime Minister.
Ingrida Šimonytė has pointed out the need of support to the EU Eastern Partnership countries.
‘The EU membership has helped our countries to transform and make a success story. I am certain that Ukraine, Sakartvelo and Moldova must also be given European perspective and additional motivation”, said the Prime Minister.
On the second day of the visit to Estonia, on Friday, the Prime Minister is to meet with the Speaker of the Estonian Parliament, former Prime Minister Jüri Ratas.
The Prime Minister will also pay tribute to the victims of communism by laying flowers at the Memorial, also meet with the Lithuanian community and give interviews for the Estonian media.
