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Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė attends a Baltic Council of Ministers' meeting in Riga

The Heads of Government of the Baltic States: the Prime Minister of Latvia Krišjanis Karinis, the Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas and the Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė  at the traditional regular meeting of the Baltic States Council discussed the most relevant issues to the Baltic States, focusing largely on the security situation in Europe. The prime ministers exchanged views on the current situation at the European Union's (EU) external border with Belarus, the mobilization of Russian forces near Ukraine, stressing the need for close coordination between the EU and NATO, and increasing the number of allied forces in the region.

Traditionally, the prime ministers discussed the progress of the implementation of regional infrastructure projects - current issues and next steps of Rail Baltica and electricity synchronization projects with continental European electricity networks.

Taking into account the current issues, the importance of energy policy and the need to respond to rising energy prices and its consequences for the Baltic economies were emphasized. Experience in managing the Covid-19 pandemic was shared and the forthcoming national decisions in this area were coordinated.

The Prime Ministers also discussed the positions of the Baltic States in the implementation of the EU Green Agenda and signed a joint statement of the Baltic States on the subject.

The Baltic Council of Ministers is the co-ordinating body for co-operation between the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It was founded in 1994. Meetings of the Heads of Government are held twice a year.