Baltic presidents meeting in Palanga

It is a traditional annual meeting held to coordinate positions, at the highest level, on strategic issues for the Baltic States and agree on unified action to counter challenges facing the region, the Lithuanian presidency said.

This year, special focus will be placed on joint measures to overcome the refugee crisis, on building up defence and security and on a coordinated response to cyber, information, energy security and possible terrorist threats.

According to the Lithuanian president, the chaotic refugee crisis, aggressive neighbourhood and deadly terror attacks that hit Paris a few days ago call for the Baltic countries to be further united, join their forces and have an effective response to counter these challenges.

The meeting’s agenda will also include the progress of implementing strategic energy projects, the synchronization of Baltic electricity grids with the continental European network and the completion of an integrated gas market in the Baltic States.

The leaders of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will meet with the Mission Siberia team and see a photo exhibition specially displayed for this meeting at the Amber Museum. Mission Siberia is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. A total of 14 expeditions have already been organized to places of exile. This year, young people from Latvia and Estonia have joined Mission Siberia for the first time.

A joint press conference by the presidents of the three Baltic States is scheduled for 11:50 a.m.