The two Presidents discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in the fields of defense and regional security as well as in the Nordic-Baltic format.
Gitanas Nausėda thanked Estonia for being the first to help and support Lithuania in the face of the migrant crisis as well as for its support and cooperation in reaching important decisions for our countries at the European Council, such as the condemnation of hybrid attacks, and in submitting proposals to the European Commission for changes to the EU’s acquis that would ensure a swift and appropriate response to hybrid attacks against the member states.
At the meeting, the Presidents agreed to continue working together to tackle the challenges of illegal migration and other threats to national security.
“I am delighted that the new Estonian President has chosen to come to Lithuania on one of his first foreign visits. We understand that only by being united and focused will we meet the challenges. The hybrid attack carried out by means of illegal migration has shown that we need to further strengthen regional and transatlantic cooperation in defense and that efforts to strengthen European defense must complement NATO. Adequate funding for defense is crucial. I am pleased to note that both Lithuania and Estonia are taking this commitment seriously,” the President of Lithuania said.
According to Gitanas Nausėda, the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit is also important for the two countries. Both Lithuania’s and Estonia’s long-term goal is a safe and prosperous neighborhood in the East. The Presidents agreed on a common position to continue consistent support for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia on their European integration path.
The Lithuanian President identified Estonia’s cooperation on the issue of the Ostrovets nuclear power plant as one of the key aspects of ensuring regional security and stressed that it was important to maintain pressure on the Belarusian authorities to comply with international nuclear safety standards and to keep electricity that is unsafely produced in third countries out of the EU’s internal market.
The Lithuanian and Estonian Presidents also touched upon cooperation between the two countries in different economic sectors and in the areas of climate change and energy as well as issues regarding the Three Seas Initiative and the Eastern neighborhood. During the meeting, the two leaders also stressed the need for coordinated action to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
