Speaker of the Seimas: the Baltic States must stand united in ensuring national security, supporting Ukraine, and completing the Rail Baltica project

Press release, 3 December 2024 (News ● Photos ● Broadcasts and videos)

On his first foreign visit as Speaker of the Seimas to the neighbouring Latvia, Saulius Skvernelis met with Latvian leadership, namely Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Saeima; Edgars Rinkevičs, President of the Republic of Latvia; and Evika Siliņa, Prime Minister.

The meetings were mostly focused on matters of national security.

‘In the current geopolitical context, the three Baltic States must stand united. While all three countries are facing budgetary challenges, Lithuania, however, is planning to allocate 3.5 % of its GDP to defence next year. Demonstrating that we are investing heavily in security sends a good message to the new US administration,’ Mr Skvernelis said during the meeting with Ms Mieriņa.

Another topic that was given particular attention during the visit was the Rail Baltica project. Both sides agreed that it has now grown beyond the scope of an economic project and has become a key infrastructure project for enhancing military mobility; therefore, efforts must be made to complete the Rail Baltica project by 2030.

Referring to the agreement of the Baltic States to synchronise their electricity grids with the continental European network on 9 February 2025, Mr Skvernelis welcomed the fact that on that day, the last connecting thread to the Soviet past would be cut off and we would take a decisive step towards full energy independence.

During the discussions on the Eastern Partnership, the Speaker of the Seimas and the President of Latvia mutually agreed that the Baltic States need to commit to maintaining EU’s focus and increasing their own role in ensuring that Georgia, Moldova, and Armenia continue their reforms and further work towards the consolidation of democracy, the rule of law, and shared European values.

‘The developments in Georgia are particularly concerning. We support the will of the Georgian people to continue the country’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures and condemn the use of violence against the protesters,’ Mr Skvernelis said.

Ramunė Muzikevičiūtė-Narmontienė, Communications Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 209 6019, mob. tel. +370 620 73009, e-mail: [email protected]