Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas: both countries agreed to strengthen the important relations between Lithuania and Poland on bilateral and regional level

Press release, 26 September 2017

Address of Marek Kuchciński, Marshal of the Polish Sejm, at the sitting of the Seimas.

Photo of the Office of the Seimas (author Džoja Gunda Barysaitė)  

At the invitation of Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, Marek Kuchciński, Marshal of the Polish Sejm, visited Vilnius. The two Speakers attended the sitting of the Seimas, where Mr Kuchciński addressed Members of the Lithuanian Parliament. A bilateral meeting of the two parliamentary leaders was subsequently held focussing on Lithuanian and Polish common interests in such areas as security, cooperation within NATO, energy, infrastructure, the Eastern Partnership countries and the future of the EU.

“The Russian military exercise Zapad 2017 has just ended. Paradoxically, the aggressive actions of Russia in Ukraine and demonstration of its military might united the countries of our region and our societies”, said Mr Pranckietis. He noted that Lithuania is a full-fledged member of the Alliance and that it sets an example in prioritising defence and security. The Speaker of the Seimas emphasised the fact that defence spending in Lithuania is set to reach 2.07 % of GDP in 2018.

“Cooperation with Poland plays an important role in strengthening energy security of the whole region, Poland being one of the key strategic partners in regional security and defence,” said Viktoras Pranckietis after the meeting. He added that the meeting also discussed joint infrastructure projects, including synchronisation of electricity networks as well as Rail Baltica and Via Carpathia.

Photo of the Office of the Seimas (author Olga Posaškova)

The parliamentary leaders noted that Lithuania and Poland have interest in the European integration of the Eastern Partnership countries and have shared views on relations with Russia. Respective joint initiatives were also discussed during the meeting.

“Parliamentary cooperation in various formats between our countries is intensifying. Both countries agreed to strengthen the relations that are important for both Lithuania and Poland at bilateral and regional level,” said the Speaker of the Seimas.

Photo of the Office of the Seimas (author Džoja Gunda Barysaitė)  

Later in the evening, the Marshal of the Polish Sejm, together with the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, participated in the solemn opening of the exhibition dedicated to the 630th anniversary of Lithuania’s baptism featuring Vojciech Gerson’s painting Baptism of Lithuania.

Dalia Vencevičienė, Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel.+370 5 239 6016,  

mob. +370 698 42 071, e-mail: [email protected]