"Rail Baltica, which connects the Baltic States and Poland, will make it possible to significantly strengthen the integration of our country's transport and logistics sector into the European railway network. In order for this project of international significance to be implemented as soon as possible, we are working with its implementers and the Baltic joint venture to speed up the work and create conditions for opening the first line in Lithuania without waiting for the entire project to be implemented," said Minister Skuodis.
The minister noted that the North-South transport corridor connecting the three seas – the Baltic, the Black and the Aegean – is more important than ever in today's geopolitical context. In order to develop new transport corridors, logistics directions, as well as strategic connections with Ukraine, ways are being sought to connect Ukraine and the Baltic seaports both by road and by European standard-gauge railway.
According to the minister, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine are planning on preparing a list in the near future of projects aimed at increasing the capacity of the transport corridor between the Baltic seaports and Ukraine.
"All dual-use – military and civilian – projects for transport by road, water, air and rail are being closely coordinated both at the national and regional level, as well as with the European Commission," emphasised Mr Skuodis.
Last week, the minister discussed acceleration of the Rail Baltica project in Lithuania with the project developers – the heads of AB Lietuvos Geležinkeliai and AB LTG Infra and representatives of the management board and supervisory board of the Baltic joint venture RB Rail AS.
This will also be one of the most important issues for the minister when he meets with his Estonian and Latvian counterparts in Tallinn at the beginning of next week.
On 18 January, in continuing his visit in Poland, the Minister of Transport and Communications participates in an international conference Railway Direction Days 2023 that is being held in Warsaw to discuss the importance of the railway sector for European security. The minister will also meet with the Secretary of State for the Polish Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy and the heads of LOT Polish Airlines.
