The Presidents of Lithuania and Poland have agreed that both countries will engage more actively in shaping the common energy policy of the European Union, particularly in developing such projects of importance to both countries as electricity and gas connections.
President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė met with the President of Poland Lech Kaczynski in Vilnius. In the meeting, the Presidents discussed Lithuanian-Polish strategic partnership and energy-related issues as well as bilateral cooperation in education, science and culture.
"We have decided to seek that the construction of gas connection between Poland and Lithunia is declared a priority project of the European Union and that this project receives full European support," the President of Lithuania said after the meeting.
This EU leaders shared the views expressed by the President of Lithuania this March in Brussels that the fragmentation and lack of competition in the EU single energy market hindered economic growth in Europe and that adequate development of energy and transport infrastructure must therefore be ensured both nationally and on the Community level.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė and the President of Poland also discussed a wider context of energy-related problems.
"I and President Kaczynski share the view that Lithuania and Poland have to, and will, coordinate their actions and cooperate in addressing energy problems that we encounter in our relations with third countries, including other issues related to the Mažeikiai Oil Refinery PKN Orlen Lithuania," the President of Lithuania said.
In the meeting, the Presidents of Lithuania and Poland also discussed the issue of writing names containing non-Lithuanian characters and expressed hope the issue would be solved successfully without affecting strategic cooperation between the two countries.
"Our bilateral cooperation was very significant for the whole Europe already as early as 600 hundred years ago. I would be very happy if the strategic partnership between Lithuania and Poland benefits our countries, nations and the whole Europe. And I would also be very happy if we, and Lithuania in particular, successfully solve any problems, even the smallest ones that hinder the development of our cooperation," President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.
This is the fourth meeting of President Grybauskaitė and President Kaczynski. This coming May, the President of Lithuania will attend a meeting of Presidents of the Baltic, Central European and Balkan countries to be held on the initiative of the President of Poland. In July, the Presidents of Lithuania and Poland will meet for the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Grunwald.
Press Service of the President
09.04.2010
