At the beginning of the conversation, the President extended his gratitude to the President of Slovenia for the support and encouragement in tackling the crisis caused by the coronavirus and noted that solidarity among the states was highly important as well as strengthening of bilateral political and economic ties.
The Presidents discussed the agenda of the Eastern and Southern Partnership. On behalf of all leaders of the Nordic and Baltic States and Poland, the President highlighted the importance of the Eastern Partnership Summit scheduled for June 18 outlining new direction of the Eastern Partnership policies, encouraging the Eastern Partnership countries to pursue a European perspective and implement the reforms. The leaders agreed that it was highly important for the EU to have an ambitious agenda for the Eastern and Southern Partnership to promote the economic integration and political association of those countries. The Presidents stressed that in preparation for the Eastern Partnership forum it was crucial to follow the experience of the Western Balkans Summit.
The President of Lithuania said that it was necessary to consider a larger EU budget and to set up a European Recovery Fund that would be adequate to the financial needs in view of the current situation as he spoke of the negotiations on the multiannual financial perspective and the European Recovery Fund. It is important to create a level playing field for all member states to benefit from the European Recovery Fund, following objective economic criteria.
The President emphasized that the cohesion policy remained among the key measures for Europe’s recovery form the crisis therefore additional attention was needed for the funding of cohesion and agricultural policies.
The President took the opportunity to share Lithuania’s concern over the safety of the Ostravets NPP built next to the border of Lithuania and the fact that it failed to comply with the EU stress test requirements. The President also pointed out that the Ostravets NPP was a safety issue of entire European Union and its citizens and it was necessary to ensure the compliance with the EU stress test requirements before the launch of the NPP.
The Slovenian President wished President Gitanas Nausėda and the people of Lithuania fortitude in combating the spread of the pandemic and its socio-economic consequences. In a video that the President of Slovenia shared a week ago on his website, he addressed the Lithuanian people in Lithuanian and highly appreciated Lithuania’s effective crisis management efforts. The President of Lithuania responded with a video where he wished President Borut Pahor and all the people of Slovenia strength and good health in the Slovenian language.
The President of Slovenia invited President Nausėda to visit Slovenia when the conditions are more favorable.
