Speaker of the Seimas: “We highly value transatlantic cooperation and stronger trade relations with the US”

Press release, 28 June 2018

On 27 June 2018, in Washington D.C., USA, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, met with Paul Ryan, Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

During his visit to Washington D.C., the Speaker of the Seimas, jointly with Andiry Parubiy, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia; Adrian Candu, President of the Parliament of Moldova; and Adam Bielan, Deputy Marshal of the Senate of the Republic of Poland, met with Paul Ryan, Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

At the meeting, Viktoras Pranckietis highlighted the importance of the transatlantic relations and Lithuania’s long term consistent stance on the need for a strengthened regional security and joint efforts in response to new security challenges.

According to the Speaker of the Seimas, the focus on Eastern Partnership countries needs to be maintained.

“Lithuania consistently supports Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova as the Eastern Partnership countries that have signed association treaties with the EU. It is very important for us to attract additional attention from the United States to the challenges of the region,” he said.

Mr Pranckietis also pointed out to the need to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation and highlighted the importance of developing trade relations.

The meeting also discussed strengthening the energy security and resilience of the region’s economies through the development of transport and energy infrastructure in the Baltic and Central European countries. Mr Pranckietis advocated in favour of using the Klaipeda LNG for exporting American gas to the countries of the Baltic Sea region.

Prior to the meeting in the US Congress, the Speaker of the Seimas participated in a working breakfast with the American-Lithuanian Business Council. The participants discussed matters related to economic cooperation and attracting investment to Lithuania. The meeting was attended by representatives of businesses investing in Lithuania, including PMI Global Services, Oshkoh Defence, Parsons, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Strategic Staffing, and other companies.

The Speaker of the Seimas, together with the Heads of Parliaments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, paid an official visit to the US on 25–28 June 2018. The purpose of the visit was to draw the US’ attention to security challenges in the countries neighbouring the EU and NATO.

Photos of the Secretariat of the Speaker of the Seimas

Karolina Frolovienė, Spokesperson to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel: +370 5 239 6016,

e-mail: [email protected]