Press Releases

Economically strong Europe is in the interest of Lithuania and Denmark

Friday, October 28, Vilnius - President Dalia Grybauskaitė met the Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, to discuss bilateral relations, the economic situation in Europe, the decisions made at the recent European Council meeting on the euro area debt crisis, ways of strengthening cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic countries, and energy security issues.

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Denmark. President Dalia Grybauskaitė thanked Denmark for being among the first countries to recognize Lithuania's independence in 1991.

Referring to the current economic situation in Europe, the President and the Prime Minister underlined that decisions important for the whole of Europe should be made by all 27 member states.

The President said that Lithuania and Denmark would soon assume the responsibility of presiding over the European Union and ensuring cooperation to overcome the debt crisis and agree on the new financial framework for 2014-2020. Denmark and Lithuania will hold EU presidency in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

"Our goal is to have a strong European Union. We need a new approach in negotiating the new financial framework. Financial assistance should be granted first of all to long-term projects that guarantee Europe's successful economic development. The debt crisis has demonstrated that Europe needs a more effective and speedy decision-making mechanism," the President said.

Speaking about the new financial framework, the President pointed out that Lithuania's priorities were focused on energy interconnections to improve Lithuanian and EU geopolitical and economic competitiveness, a more equal distribution of agricultural payments and structural support to reduce regional disparities, and an adequate funding of the decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant.

The Danish Prime Minister invited President Dalia Grybauskaitė on an official visit to Denmark.