Government of Republic of Lithuania : Prime Ministers of Lithuania and Finland agree to strengthen cooperation on COVID-19, economic recovery, and other key areas

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė has had a remote conversation with Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Mirella Marin, and has discussed the situation related to COVID-19 in both countries, as well as decisions at the national and European Union level regarding vaccination of the people against the pandemic, while stressing the importance of accelerating the process at the European and national level.

'The most important challenge facing our countries is to control the spread of the pandemic and to return to normal life as soon as possible. The key challenge here is to speed up the process of vaccinating the population against the virus in all possible ways. Therefore, we have agreed on even closer coordination both with each other, and with a view to finding solutions at the European Union level as quickly as possible,' said Prime Minister Šimonytė.
The Prime Ministers have also discussed topical matters on the EU and regional agenda, measures for economic recovery and stimulus, the green agenda, and digitalisation.

According to Prime Minister Šimonytė, 'Lithuania's and Finland's priorities coincide in many areas on the EU agenda. An important driver of economic recovery and further transformation will be the green agenda and digitalisation, where Lithuania could benefit from the experience gained by Finland, while significant funds from the European Union are planned for its implementation.'

The Prime Ministers have emphasised the special importance of cooperation in the Nordic-Baltic format, which Finland chairs this year. This year, the format will focus on climate change, green transformation, gender equality, and other topics. And Lithuania holds the chairmanship of the Baltic cooperation this year.

During the conversation, the Prime Ministers have discussed the situation in Belarus, where the two have emphasised the importance of support to the democratic aspirations of the Belarusian people. The Prime Minister of Finland has thanked Lithuania for its leadership in advocating for democracy and support for the people of Belarus; the importance of sanctions to the regime has been emphasised, and views on the unsafe nuclear power plant in Astravyets have been exchanged.

'In the conversation with the Prime Minister of Finland, I have emphasised the importance of action at the level of the European Union, namely, unconditionally ensuring that electricity generated by an unsafe nuclear power plant does not enter the European Union market. First of all, we have in mind implementation of the decisions taken at the level of the European Heads of State and Government, because the unsafe nuclear power plant near our borders is not only a problem for Lithuania, but also for the region and the European Union,' said the Prime Minister.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Finland.