The President outlined Lithuania’s experience in achieving energy independence and moving away from Russian oil, gas and electricity imports.
“Lithuania was the first in the European Union to phase out the import of Russian energy resources. By successfully participating in LNG projects in Croatia, and now in Germany, we have contributed to the energy security and independence of our partner states,” the President said.
Looking to the future, Gitanas Nausėda underlined the importance of building an integrated regional transport system.
“We must all consider the major role played by Ukraine’s resilient railway system in the country’s war efforts. We need to accelerate major infrastructural projects and initiatives, such as Rail Baltica, Via Baltica and Via Carpatia. These transportation arteries would ensure that allied supplies and reinforcements reach NATO’s eastern flank – the Three Seas region.”
The 2024 Three Seas Initiative Summit will be held in Lithuania. Addressing the Business Forum in Bucharest, Gitanas Nausėda said that alongside the political agenda, business will also be in the spotlight at next year’s summit. The International Transport Forum, organized jointly with the OECD, will focus on green transport, digitalization, urban mobility, and rebuilding Ukraine's infrastructure.
The Three Seas Initiative brings together twelve EU countries located between the Baltic, Black and Adriatic Seas: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. 3SI strategic partners are the United States, Germany and the European Commission. The initiative aims to promote accelerated development and convergence in the region by improving connectivity between the participating countries in transport, energy and digitalization along the north-south axis, strengthening cohesion in the European Union, and enriching transatlantic links between the European Union and the United States.
