Logo Polskiego Radia

Polish PM in Vilnius hails Lithuania as strategic partner

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 09.03.2018 13:30
Lithuania is a "strategic partner" for Poland amid many historical, geographical and defence ties between the two neighbouring nations, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Friday.
Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki (right) and his Lithuanian counterpart Saulius Skvernelis (left) meet in Vilnius on Friday. Photo: PAP/Rafał GuzPolish PM Mateusz Morawiecki (right) and his Lithuanian counterpart Saulius Skvernelis (left) meet in Vilnius on Friday. Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

He was speaking in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius after meeting his counterpart Saulius Skvernelis.

“We support Lithuania in protecting its skies, and we also try to develop joint energy projects, very specific ones that lead to the synchronisation of power systems and those that will increase our trade in terms of gas transport,” Morawiecki said.

Meanwhile, Lithuania’s Skvernelis described Poland as a “particularly important partner for Lithuania" and said he hoped Morawiecki’s visit would help “further step up bilateral relations.”

Skvernelis referred to shared Polish-Lithuanian historical experience and close business cooperation.

He also said that Poland was the third-largest business partner for his country and the second-largest export market for Lithuanian companies.

The two prime ministers watched as officials from both countries signed agreements including one to launch a ferry connection between the northwestern Polish port of Szczecin and Lithuania’s Klaipeda.

While in Vilnius on Friday, Poland's prime minister was also scheduled to talk with his counterparts from the two other Baltic states, Latvia and Estonia.

Vilnius ready to mediate between Brussels and Warsaw: Lithuanian PM

In an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio, Lithuania’s Skvernelis has said that his country, a fellow member of the European Union, could play the role of a mediator between the EU's executive arm, the European Commission in Brussels, and the government in Warsaw in a dispute over legal changes in Poland.

At the end of last year, the European Commission took the unprecedented step of triggering Article 7 of the EU Treaty against Poland, stepping up pressure on Warsaw over controversial changes to the judicial system by the country’s ruling conservatives.

While the move could ultimately result in sanctions against Poland, these would require unanimity among all other EU member states.

Skvernelis said he believed that Poland would find a compromise with Brussels that would make it possible to avoid sanctions. "However, if this doesn’t happen ... our parliament, government and president will be guided by the fact that Poland is our strategic partner,” he said.

“We will certainly support Poland," he declared.

In late February, the Hungarian parliament adopted a resolution to support Poland over a dispute with the European Commission caused by controversial judicial changes.

(gs/pk)

Source: IAR/PAP

Print
Copyright © Polskie Radio S.A About Us Contact Us