On Wednesday 8 December, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš participated in the meeting of the Heads of Government of the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM), and together with Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė and Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas discussed a wide range of issues - the current security situation in the region, the fight against COVID-19, fast-rising electricity prices, progress towards the green and digital transition and the development of regional infrastructure projects.
As regards the security situation in the region, K. Kariņš recalled that the situation should be seen in a broader context: the hybrid attack by the Belarus regime on the Eastern border of the European Union (EU), the mobilisation of Russia’s military forces at Ukraine’s borders and the rise in energy prices are interlinked.
With regard to the concentration of Russian forces at Ukraine’s borders, K. Kariņš stressed the need to continue sending unified and strong signals from the EU and its allies to Russia that there will be serious consequences in the event of escalation of the situation.
“This year’s events have clearly demonstrated the following - when we stand together, we, the three Baltic States, are a force capable of overcoming unexpected challenges and gaining wide-ranging impact,” stressed the Prime Minister, referring to the joint efforts of the Baltic States and Poland against the hybrid attack by Belarus, in which it used irregular migrants”.
The leaders of the Baltic States agreed to continue close cooperation at all levels, by protecting the EU’s external borders with Belarus, preventing massive entry of irregular migrants into the EU’s territory.
The Prime Minister recognized the EU institutions’ support to the Baltic States to date, while noting that the current EU migration framework does not meet today’s challenges, especially the circumstances of the hybrid attack, and it needs to be changed accordingly.
During the discussion with colleagues from the Baltic States, K. Kariņš stressed that NATO remains the cornerstone for Europe’s security. A strong transatlantic link is a prerequisite for stability and security not only in the Baltic region, but also in Europe as a whole.
The Heads of Government of the Baltic States also agreed on cooperation in promoting economic development by continuing the implementation of regional infrastructure projects, establishing the Rail Baltica railway line and synchronisation of the Baltic electricity grids with the European electricity supply system in order to ensure closer integration of the Baltic States in Europe.
“The next steps that we need to take in terms of cooperation, which we also discussed today, are in the field of energy, where we are working together to achieve the synchronisation with the electricity grids of the rest of the European Union. We have large infrastructure projects that have already been implemented within the Baltic States, and in order we could do so, we are determined to continue this process until full synchronisation with the rest of Europe. The major project that unites us – the railway infrastructure project ‘Rail Baltica’, which we also discussed today. It is very important that we, each Member State, continue to work together on this project in a coordinated manner to implement it and it would serve our region as a whole, all citizens, businesses as an important stimulus to the future economy," said K. Kariņš after the meeting.
Within the framework of the BCM meeting, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Prime Minister of Lithuania I. Šimonytė for the Lithuanian Presidency of the Baltic Council of Ministers and confirmed his readiness to continue the process next year, when Latvia will take over the chairmanship of the BCM from Lithuania. K. Kariņš presented the priorities of the Latvian Presidency of the BCM in 2022: strengthening regional security and defence, fighting disinformation and hybrid threats; modernising the economy, driving the green and digital transitions, connectivity and the development of regional infrastructure projects; strengthening the strategic Eastern Partnership and support to the civil society in Belarus.
Photos of the meeting of the Heads of Government of the Baltic Council of Ministers are available at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/valstskanceleja/albums/72157720226798952
Recording of the joint press conference of the Heads of Government is available at:https://zoomtv.filemail.com/d/btxflaawjxbidjd