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Today Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius, together with Prime Minister of Latvia Laimdota Straujuma and Prime Minister of Estonia Taavi Rõivas, has met with President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, who has presented the three Prime Ministers with the Partnership Agreements with the Baltic States, adopted by the European Commission, for the European Union Structural and Investment Funds.

In the meeting, Heads of Government of the Baltic States have thanked the President of the European Commission for efficient cooperation in negotiations on the Partnership Agreements for the EU Structural and Investment Funds. On Friday, the European Commission adopted agreements with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, setting down the strategy for the use of European Structural and Investment Funds in 2014-2020. Over this period, 8.351 billion euros will be invested in Lithuania out of five EU funds.

“We are glad that the European Commission has adopted Partnership Agreements with all the three Baltic states. It is an important decision, which will help create new jobs and boost competitiveness of the Baltic Region. The EU funding will enable the Baltic states to better coordinate implementation of the key regional projects, especially in the fields of transport and energy”, emphasized Prime Minister Butkevičius in the meeting. According to the Lithuanian Prime Minister, the major part of the EU investment is to be allocated for the competitiveness of the small and medium-sized business, employment, fight against poverty, energy, and transport.

In the meeting Heads of Government of the three Baltic States have delivered an official letter to President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, whereby they addressed the European Commission on energy projects.

“We are grateful for your commitment towards ending the isolation of the Baltic energy markets and integration of our countries into the EU’s internal energy market. However, current geopolitical circumstances demonstrate that we must quickly build a full-fledged internal energy market and reduce our energy dependency. Therefore we count on the continuous support by the European Commission in the implementation of joint energy projects of regional importance “, said the Lithuanian Prime Minister.

According to the Head of the Lithuanian Government, the liquefied natural gas terminal, which will start operation in Klaipėda this year, will reduce Lithuania’s dependence on the Russian gas. “The LNG terminal will be also available for the Latvian and Estonian companies”, said the Prime Minister, and encouraged the neighbouring Baltic states to make use of the opportunity to diversify their gas supplies as well.

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