“Our meeting today proves that Poland and Lithuania are friends and partners,” said Minister Czaputowicz. He went on to say: “Over the recent 25 years we have worked out a stable basis for a mutually beneficial cooperation.”

The ministers stressed that Poland and Lithuania concur on many European issues. They agreed on the need to continue cooperating closely in the European Union. “We welcome the fact that Lithuania has a similar view on the shape of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. We want it to be ambitious and focused on the Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy,” emphasized Minister Czaputowicz. 

Jacek Czaputowicz and Linas Linkevičius discussed key challenges to security in the region and the situation in the EU’s eastern neighbourhood. In this context, they highlighted the importance of the Eastern Partnership for the efforts to bring stability and growth to the countries it addresses, and for enhancing Eastern Europe’s security. They jointly pointed to the need to develop a specific vision of the EP’s future.

The ministers talked about the situation in Ukraine and Russia. They stressed the need to lend Kyiv steadfast support and to cooperate closely with Ukraine’s new president Volodymyr Zelensky and its new government. Minister Czaputowicz and his Lithuanian counterpart agreed that there is a need to keep the EU’s sanctions imposed on Moscow until it changes its destructive policy in the region.

The meeting focused on achievements and challenges in bilateral relations. The ministers praised the thriving energy cooperation. “Energy and electricity synchronization of the Baltic states with continental Europe strengthens Lithuania’s energy security,” said Minister Czaputowicz. The officials stressed the importance of carrying out joint strategic infrastructural projects (Poland-Lithuania gas pipeline, Via Carpathia, Via Baltica, Rail Baltica).

Another item on the agenda was the implementation of the rights of national minorities in both countries. Minister Czaputowicz recalled that Warsaw expects Lithuania to solve sensitive issues concerning education, name writing and adoption on law on the protection of national minorities. Minister Jacek Czaputowicz welcomed the fact the Lithuania expressed its will to allow textbooks published in Poland to be used in schools with Polish as a lecturing language until Lithuania prepares new textbooks. 

Linas Linkevičius took part in Ambassadors’ Conference, joining the panel on cooperation in the Central European region.

MFA Press Office

 

photo Sebastian Indra / MFA