Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis, Prime Minister of Estonia Jüri Ratas and Prime Minister of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš attended a remote meeting of the Prime Ministers’ Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers.
The meeting discussed practical cooperation among the three Baltic states in the face of COVID-19 crisis as well as coordination of ideas and practical steps in relaxation of the containment measures.
Saulius Skvernelis thanked the Prime Ministers for the cooperation in the context of COVID-19 on the transit of goods and persons, repatriation of citizens and coordination of decisions related to the coronavirus.
It was emphasized that goods and cargo could move freely across the borders, and that there were no queues at the Lithuanian-Polish and Lithuanian-Latvian border.
More than 400 European Union citizens from Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Germany, Spain and Denmark have returned from Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam by repatriation flights organized by Lithuania. Lithuania has also helped Latvian and Estonian citizens return from the United Kingdom, the Canary Islands, France, the Netherlands and Poland. It has been noted that after Lithuania had ensured operation of the regular ferry line Kiel-Klaipėda, it remains possible for the Baltic citizens to travel in transit to their countries.
According to the Prime Minister, active coordination of the three Baltic states in taking decisions on the confinement and relaxing of its measures is important on both the political and expert level. The Baltic citizens are highly looking forward to these decisions.
Skvernelis informed the Prime Ministers that on Wednesday the Lithuanian Government decided to extend the confinement period until 11 May, while at the same time relaxing certain requirements for business. The Lithuanian government took the first step in relaxing restrictions on trade and services back on 15 April. Other decisions will be taken at a later stage, depending on the epidemiological situation.
It was also noted that Lithuania welcomed the Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures. Only this exit strategy has to be gradual, coordinated and based on clear criteria.
‘The Baltic Ministers of Foreign Affairs have been tasked with coordinating joint actions on the opening of borders, partial resumption of movement, intensification of trade and other measures, involving Ministers of Health and other responsible institutions in this process’, said Prime Minister Skvernelis.
It was agreed to hold regular videoconference meetings in the near future. They will focus on the implementation of projects of common interest – Rail Baltica and synchronization of electricity networks – and on the proposal of Lithuania and the European Commission on non-purchase of electricity from third countries.