Prime Minister: Baltic cooperation – a guarantee for regional security

Today, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis is visiting Tallinn, Estonia, to take part in the meeting of the Baltic-Polish prime ministers. The Prime Minister has taken an opportunity to welcome the excellent cooperation between the states with a view to strengthening the region.

“We are like-minded on many foreign policy issues. Including NATO’s role for the regional security, the Eastern Partnership, the need to foster greater unity in the European Union, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its territorial integrity. Close cooperation is particularly important for our energy security and the joint energy and transport infrastructure projects”, noted the Prime Minister.

Together with the counterparts Māris Kučinskis (Latvia), Jüri Ratas (Estonia) and Beata Szydło (Poland), the Head of Government has discussed the regional security situation and energy issues, including the Baltic grid synchronization with the European network. They have also touched upon Estonia’s EU Presidency later this year as well as other Community issues.

One more item on the agenda – the importance of the completion of the EU railway project Rail Baltica. “Given the current geopolitical situation and NATO presence in the region, it is very important to have in place as early as possible a direct railway link between Tallinn and Warsaw. The existence of alternative transport links will contribute to securing resistance to external factors in the region”, said Prime Minister S. Skvernelis.

The Baltic prime ministers will also visit Paldiski in Estonia to see the site foreseen for a liquefied natural gas terminal.

Photos (Raigo Pajula, Estonian Government)