In his address to the EU leaders, the President underlined that full energy independence from Russia must be a long-term strategic objective for the EU, which can be achieved by tapping the potential of energy efficiency, using renewable energy, removing infrastructure and internal market bottlenecks, and accelerating the synchronization of the Baltic States’ electricity systems with the continental European grid. All this, the President said, would help to ensure the EU’s resilience and independence in energy. Gitanas Nausėda pointed out that Lithuania had shown by its example that it was possible to completely cut off Russian energy imports of gas, oil, and electricity.
During the European Council session, the President also stressed the need to seek urgent solutions to avoid a global food crisis triggered by Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s grain exports. Unblocking the port of Odessa is a priority, however, an overland route from Ukraine via Poland to Lithuania, as well as through Romanian and Bulgarian seaports, could be used as an alternative for grain exports.
“Several trial trains carrying grain from Ukraine have already reached Lithuania via Poland. This took several weeks, which is too long. By coordinating efforts at the European level, we could significantly reduce this time,” the President underscored.
In the discussion on EU defense policy, Gitanas Nausėda called for an increase in defense funding, stressing that the transatlantic bond is an integral part of EU’s security, and that NATO is the cornerstone of EU’s collective security. The President also called on the EU to increase funding for military mobility projects, to simplify defense procurement procedures and to increase access to the European Defence Fund for companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises.
