Regional security – common interest of Lithuania and Sweden
Thursday, April 10, Stockholm - President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who is in Stockholm for an official visit, discussed topical bilateral and regional issues with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden. During the meeting, the Lithuania-Sweden maritime boundary agreement was solemnly signed. According to the President, this agreement is an important symbolic step for Lithuania as it finalizes the international legitimation of Lithuania's all boundaries, the process which has taken even 24 years since re-establishment of independence of our country.
Special focus at the meeting was on regional security and defence issues. The President and the Prime Minister discussed the situation in Ukraine, militarization of Kaliningrad, and unacceptable demonstration of military power by Russia near the borders of the Baltic and Scandinavian countries.
The 450 km long power link with Sweden and the LitPol Link interconnection with Poland will complete the regional power market of the Nordic countries, Nord Pool Spot, while Lithuania will be secured electricity supplies at a lower price.
At the present moment, almost 70 percent of Lithuania's electricity imports are from Russia, which makes our country vulnerable in economic and energy terms.
During the meeting, support was declared to the EU's Eastern Partnership policy and to the countries' European integration aspirations. The heads of state and government of Lithuania and Sweden strongly condemned the unlawful annexation of Crimea and underlined the need to sign the remaining provisions of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement soon. The signature of the EU Association Agreements with Georgia and Moldova is also foreseen in the near future.
Press Service of the President
