Energy and economy issues of the baltic sea region at the top of lithuanian-finnish agenda

On 30 March, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas received Foreign Minister of Finland Alexander Stubb who was on an official visit to Lithuania. The Ministers discussed the importance of cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, issues of the European Union and energy, as well as cooperation in implementing the policy of Eastern Neighbourhood.

Lithuanian and Finnish heads of diplomacy also discussed prospects of economic cooperation, stressing the importance of innovations and information technologies.

“We have many common points with Finland: we are connected by the Baltic Sea, we cooperate successfully in the Nordic and Baltic formats, also on the issues of the Northern Dimension and in the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Lithuania and Finland are active in the creation of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region and trust in its successful implementation”, Minister V.Ušackas said.

At the meeting, Minister V.Ušackas informed his Finnish counterpart about Lithuania’s plans for the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and noted that Lithuania would mainly focus on three priorities: innovations, regional cooperation and environmental protection of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania will start its Presidency of the CBSS on 1 July.

Minister A.Stubb shared Finland’s experience of the Chairmanship at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and Minister V.Ušackas informed about Lithuania’s preparations for the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship in 2011.

On the subject of relations with neighbouring states, Minister V.Ušackas noted that it was important to aim at constructive and pragmatic relations with Russia and stressed the importance of including Belarusian civic society into the EU’s dialogue with Belarus which will become a part of Eastern Partnership initiative.

Minister V.Ušackas thanked Minister A.Stubb for the aid of 100 thousand euros that were allocated to the European Humanities University, a Belarusian university in exile based in Vilnius. Finland also intends to support the University by allocating additional 150 thousand euros.

At the meeting, Minister V.Ušackas expressed concern about the possible environmental problems of “Nord Stream” project and noted that the gas pipeline did not contribute to the integration of isolated markets, nor to the reduction of dependence on a single external energy supplier.

During his one-day official visit, head of Finland’s diplomacy was also received by President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus and Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius.

At the Institute of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University, Minister of Foreign Affairs A.Stubb delivered a lecture “Europe has to run in the 21st century”.