NordenBladet — Yesterday, Prime Minister Ratas held a telephone conversation with his Lithuanian colleague, Ingrida Šimonytė, to discuss bilateral relations, Baltic cooperation and the COVID-19 crisis.
‘Lithuania is a great friend and a strategic partner for Estonia, with whom we share common interests and goals. For us, it is important to jointly overcome the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged us this year, in a manner that would support all those who have suffered the most. Preparations for vaccination are underway everywhere, but we need one last effort to reduce infections and support the economy’, said the Prime Minister. ‘I wish all the best to Lithuania in their efforts to contain the pandemic’.
Ratas confirmed that cooperation with the new Head of Government of Lithuania will certainly be close and productive. ‘We have clear common goals: we must vigorously continue with the major projects that we have jointly led. During the European Council meeting, held in July, we received confirmation of additional funding for Rail Baltic. Now, we must swiftly put these funds to use, to be able to finish the route connecting the three Baltic States on time. In the field of energy, our main aim is to quickly continue the synchronisation of Baltic energy grids with Central Europe, for which the European Union allocated EUR 720 million’, the Prime Minister added.
In addition, Ratas and Šimonytė discussed the plans of the new Lithuanian Government.
This year, Estonia is the holder of the Presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers and the leader of Baltic cooperation. A video meeting of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Prime Ministers, to summarises this year’s events, will be held on 21 December.
Source: Estonian Government