President Grybauskaitė: Regional security is common interest of Germany and Baltic states

The presidents discussed the security situation in the region and ways to counter newly emerging threats, the presidential press service informs.

“Close regional co-operation between Germany and the Baltic States is especially important today. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine calls for strengthening our ties in the sphere of security and defence. We face new challenges and can respond to them only by concerted efforts. Energy and information security are the issues on which special focus should be placed now,” the president said.

According to the president, to ensure energy security it is important not only to look for alternatives to Russian gas, but also to create as quickly as possible the EU internal energy market and eliminate energy islands.

Threats to information security were also discussed during the meeting. President Grybauskaitė underlined that

Lithuania now faced increasing propaganda against it, therefore ways were sought to stop lies and disinformation.

The heads of state exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine. President Grybauskaitė noted that Lithuania strongly supported the determination of Ukrainian people to build a European state. It is important to continue providing assistance to Ukraine in order major democratic reforms are implemented in this country.

The meeting also addressed other topical EU issues. The presidents talked about measures aimed at boosting the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness as well as ways to further reduce youth unemployment in the Union.

The president underlined that Germany was one of the most important partners of Lithuania who strongly supported our membership in the EU and NATO. Our bilateral relations are strong at all levels, whether we co-operate in international organisations or develop mutual economic ties. Germany is Lithuania’s second largest partner in trade volumes and ranks third in investments in our country. Around 500 German businesses and over 1,000 enterprises with German capital participation operate in Lithuania.