Baltic Prime Ministers gathered for informal meeting in Lithuania
On 17-18 August, an informal meeting of the Prime Ministers of the Baltic Council of Ministers took place in Lithuanian cities of Klaipėda and Palanga. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė met with her counterparts: Estonia’s Prime Minister Kristen Michal, and Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa.
‘The strength of the Baltic countries lies in our unity. Together, we can accomplish a great deal. It is particularly important to discuss live the key projects that are critical to our shared security today. I am pleased that my colleagues and I were able to exchange insights on how we can collaborate to strengthen defence and deterrence, accelerate energy independence, help Ukraine win the war of attrition, shape the future of the European Union, and work together on other issues of relevance to our countries. Informal talks translate into concrete actions, strengthen unity, and help us move forward on a common path,’ said Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė.
The meeting gave significant attention to regional security, noting the need to further strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, particularly forward defence on the eastern flank, through close cooperation with Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom, as leaders of the forward presence groups in the Baltic states.
Prime Minister Šimonytė also highlighted the need for the Baltic countries to urge the EU Member States to increase defence spending, tighten sanctions against Russia and its allies, continue supporting Ukraine, and rally efforts to accelerate the Euro-Atlantic integration of both Ukraine and Moldova.
Apart from security, the discussion also covered cooperation in transport and energy sectors, synchronization with continental European networks, progress on the Via Baltica and Rail Baltica projects, enhancing the protection of critical infrastructure, and the need for increased military mobility funding.
As part of the meeting, the Baltic Prime Ministers visited Lithuania’s first liquefied natural gas terminal, Independence, the first in the Baltic states. They also toured the Coast Guard’s Kopgalis Border Surveillance Centre, the Baltic Sea Animal Rehabilitation Centre, the Maritime Museum, Cape of Ventė, and other Lithuanian coastal landmarks.
