During his official visit to Stockholm, Mr Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Mr Per Westerberg, Speaker of the Riksdag of the Kingdom of Sweden. The meeting focused on the upcoming Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and future priorities of the EU, particularly the Eastern Partnership and energy.
During his visit to the Kingdom of Sweden, Mr Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Mr Per Westerberg, Speaker of the Riksdag. Photographer – Melker Dahlstrand (the Riksdag Administration)
Mr Gedvilas observed that Lithuania had been raising the issue of energy security for several years. The construction of the NordBalt reciprocal electricity line between Sweden and Lithuania, which will result in a united energy network in the region, is among the key priorities for Lithuania. “This project is of vital importance with a view to ending energy isolation of the Baltic countries and enhancing the reliability of electricity supply. Lithuania considers Sweden’s experience in increasing energy efficiency, energy saving, renewables and the use of environmentally-friendly technologies to be of great importance,” the Speaker of the Seimas said.
The Speakers also discussed the intended EU priorities during the upcoming Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, namely financial stability, smart growth and employment, open and safe Europe and the Eastern Partnership.
Having stressed that cooperation with Sweden and other Nordic and Baltic countries constitutes one of the major priorities for Lithuania, Mr Gedvilas expressed his hopes that the Baltic Network established in the Riksdag and the Seimas Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations with North European Countries will contribute to the development of relations among the countries.
The Speaker of the Seimas met with Crown Princess Victoria and discussed the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and Lithuania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas; and Andrius Kubilius, Leader of the Opposition. Photographer – Melker Dahlstrand (the Riksdag Administration)
During his visit to Sweden, the Speaker of the Seimas met with Crown Princess Victoria. The Speaker extended his gratitude to the Royal Family for their time devoted to the delegation from the Seimas and reminded to Her Royal Highness that Lithuania and Sweden were bound by historical dynastic ties. The marriage between Catherine Jagellon (sister of Sigismund Augustus, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania) and King John III of Sweden, which took place in Vilnius in 1562, gave rise to the House of Vasa, which has left a significant imprint in the history of both countries.
Mr Gedvilas also spoke about the upcoming Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and presented the intended priorities of the Presidency.
At the audience, Crown Princess Victoria showed her interest in the Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, Lithuania’s nature and people and expressed her admiration at their diligence, concentration and perseverance.
On the last day of the visit to Stockholm, the delegation of the Seimas also met with Mr Jan Erstborn, Deputy Speaker of the Riksdag; Ms Karin Enström, Minister for Defence; Ms Birgitta Ohlsson, Minister for EU Affairs; and members of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Baltic Network of the Riksdag. The meetings focussed on the Eastern Partnership, energy security, security of the Baltic region and other issues.
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Mr Vydas Gedvilas, Speaker of the Seimas; Mr Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs; and Mr Andrius Kubilius, Leader of the Opposition, visited Stockholm (Sweden) on 5–6 March 2013 at the invitation of the Speaker of the Riksdag.
Public Relations Unit
