“Our shared history is naturally much longer than the hundred years that has passed since we mutually recognised each other de iure. We have operated together here at the coast of the Baltic Sea as two close nations for thousands of years. Each nation has its stories, which are tightly packed in the framework of history and form our culture and traditions. We share many of these stories, but there are some that are different,” said President Kaljulaid at the joint press conference of the heads of state and added that the latest story – the coronavirus and its impact – is a shared and a very difficult situation. The Head of State also offered her condolences to all of the Lithuanian people who have lost their loved ones in the crisis.
The discussion of one of the main topics – energy policy and security – was mostly focused on the common goals of the three Baltic States and the implementation of green transition. “It is important that we work together to ensure that the cross-border taxation of electricity is implemented as quickly as possible in the European Union so that the competition rules established in Europe to create a market for green energy indeed ensure the creation of this market. Today, Estonia does not purchase electricity directly from Russia, yet this electricity is available on the Nordpool market, in which we participate,” explained the Estonian Head of State and pointed out that even though Estonia has reduced the production of carbon-intensive electricity, it has not actually replaced it with green energy. “This should be done as quickly as possible to provide investors with the certainty that investments in green energy work on this market,” the President of the Republic added and admitted that the problem will be ultimately resolved once the Baltic electricity grid is synchronised with the Central European electricity grid.
Secondly, the heads of state discussed in detail the developments in the European Eastern Partnership countries. “The developments in Belarus, which is only a few dozen kilometres away from here, are not democratic. We cannot tell the Belarusian people and state which direction to follow, but we firmly stand for every nation’s right to choose the path themselves by democratic means. This is our moral obligation,” said President Kaljulaid. The heads of state also confirmed during the meeting that they have followed the developments in Georgia and Moldova in the recent weeks and the course of the Ukrainian reform process very closely and with concern.
The presidents also shared the view that agreements must be honoured and Rail Baltica must receive financial support from the EU in the agreed amount. The discussion touched upon both the bilateral and trilateral cooperation between the Baltic States and the joint infrastructure projects and security policy in addition to matters related to the European Union and the Three Seas Initiative.
The Estonian Head of State also met with Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen and Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė in Vilnius. Additionally, the Head of State laid a wreath at the memorial for those who fought for Lithuanian independence, visited Estonian company Enefit Green and the European Humanities University in Vilnius and discussed international relations with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis at a seminar dedicated to the centenary of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Lithuania.
The President’s working visit to Lithuania was prompted by the celebrations of the centenary of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Lithuania. President Kaljulaid last visited Lithuania in August last year. The President of the Republic will return to Estonia this evening.
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