‘Poland is our strategic partner, making a significant contribution to strengthening the security of the entire region, including economic and energy security,’ has stressed the Lithuanian Prime Minister.
The Prime Ministers of Lithuania and Poland have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of defence, have discussed joint efforts to strengthen regional security and transatlantic ties, and have spoken about the continued and strong military presence of the Allies in the region.
Prime Minister Šimonytė has thanked Poland for its help in relocating from Afghanistan interpreters who had assisted Lithuania as well as their relatives, and for Poland’s support and solidarity in the face of the hybrid attack.
‘The hybrid attack, instrumentalising irregular migration flows, has demonstrated the importance and necessity of the cooperation between our border guards and other institutions,’ said Šimonytė.
It has been agreed to continue working towards common positions in all EU formats, in particular by adapting EU migration and asylum policies, and strengthening the EU’s external border.
The Prime Ministers have discussed possibilities for strengthening economic relations and implementation of the strategic infrastructure projects.
‘It is gratifying that the Governments of our countries are giving priority to the power grid synchronisation and gas interconnection projects, which we hope to implement in line with the agreed schedule,’ has emphasised Prime Minister Šimonytė.
The Rail Baltica Warsaw-Vilnius passenger train project has been discussed at the meeting.
Prime Minister Šimonytė has thanked Poland for its solidarity regarding the unsafe Astravets Nuclear Power Plant.
‘Poland is our important ally in refusing to buy electricity from unsafe power plants in third countries. I appreciate your strong position to refuse electricity imports from the NPP in Belarus,’ said Šimonytė.
Maintaining and strengthening the identity of national minorities has been discussed at the meeting.
‘We are well aware that national minorities unite our states even closer. I have no doubt that we can solve all the pending matters by working closely together,’ has emphasised Šimonytė.
The intergovernmental conference is taking place as Poland commemorates the day of the Soviet invasion of Poland and the Polish struggle against communism and fascism.
‘Lithuania shares the pain. I continue to call for cooperation, so that the crimes of totalitarian regimes are always duly condemned at the European level, and the attempts by the Kremlin and the Belarusian regime to rewrite history are treated accordingly,’ said Šimonytė.
At the Intergovernmental Conference, the Prime Ministers will sign a joint declaration on bilateral cooperation.
Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys, Minister of Finance Gintarė Skaistė, Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas, Minister of Social Security and Labour Monika Navickienė, Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis, Minister of Health Arūnas Dulkys, Minister of Education, Science and Sport Jurgita Šiugždinienė, Minister of Justice Evelina Dobrovolska, Minister of the Interior Agnė Bilotaitė, and Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Arnoldas Pranckevičius are taking part in the Intergovernmental Conference.
During her visit to Warsaw, the Head of the Lithuanian Government has also met with Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland Elżbieta Witek, and a meeting with Marshal of the Senate Tomasz Grodzki is planned.
During her visit to Warsaw, Ingrida Šimonytė is also going to visit POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, pay tribute to the memory of the Warsaw Ghetto fighters, and lay flowers at the Monument to the Fallen and Murdered in the East. The visit to Warsaw by the delegation led by the Lithuanian Prime Minister is taking place on 17 September, as Poland commemorates the 82nd anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland.
The first Intergovernmental Conference between the Lithuanian and Polish Governments was held on 17 September 2020.
