Today Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis and Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki have discussed in a videoconference the opening of borders between the two countries, synchronization, and non-purchase of electricity from the unsafe nuclear power plant in Astravyets.
Saulius Skvernelis has informed his Polish colleague about the decisions taken to relax the quarantine conditions in Lithuania, as well as about the extremely close coordination among the three Baltic states, which allowed to reopen the borders, and as of 1 June, to remove border controls. It has been agreed that free movement between the Baltic states and Poland will be restored next week. Responsible ministries of both countries have been tasked with the coordination of the matter as a matter of urgency.
‘I am glad that next week, our strategic partner Poland will join Lithuania and the Baltic countries, who have successfully managed the coronavirus pandemic. This is important to our entire region and to Europe, because we continue to demonstrate by our example, how we can successfully tackle serious challenges and at the same time set an example for others,’ says the Head of Government.
Prime Minister Morawiecki has reaffirmed Poland’s support for Lithuania’s position on the urgent implementation of the synchronization project and the non-purchase of electricity from the unsafe nuclear power plant in Astravyets. According to him, Poland is interested in electricity produced in unsafe power plants in third countries not entering the market; therefore, it supports Lithuania’s position on the signing of a political declaration among the Baltic states.
Since 11 May, Lithuania and Poland had already opened their borders to people travelling for work, business, or study. Trade between the two countries has been taking place as usual since the beginning of the quarantine.
On 26 May, for the first time, all four countries – Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia – jointly submitted an application to the European Commission regarding the financing of the second phase of synchronization with a total value of EUR 1.2 billion, for which maximum financial support from the European Union is sought.