Lithuania extends greetings to Portugal on taking over Presidency of the Council of the EU

The Head of the Lithuanian Government has extended greetings to the Prime Minister of Portugal on the start of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, and has expressed support of the Lithuanian Government in implementing the Presidency's Programme and responding to the serious challenges in the EU.

Ingrida Šimonytė has stressed the importance of the EU's solidarity and coordinated action in carrying out the joint programme of vaccination against the Covid-19 disease and ensuring the economic recovery. According to the Prime Minister, Lithuania welcomes the green and digital transformation of the EU in accordance with the Recovery plan for Europe, and will support swift decisions in the EU in this regard.

The Prime Minister has also drawn attention of the Presidency to the timeline of the synchronisation of the Baltic electricity grids with the Continental European network. Furthermore, she has stressed the necessity of securing the EU's sufficient financial support to the Rail Baltica project in 2021 to ensure its completion by 2026.

Šimonytė has thanked Portugal for its support for Lithuania regarding the unsafe nuclear power plant in Astravets, and has expressed urgency for adoption of the measures preventing electricity imports from unsafe nuclear facilities in third countries, as agreed in the European Council.