Minister Taminskas: Baltic states will cooperate on advancing autonomous transport
Juras Taminskas, Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania, together with his counterparts from Latvia and Estonia, today signed a memorandum in Tallinn to strengthen regional cooperation in the development of autonomous vehicles and related services.
“Autonomous transport is advancing rapidly at the global level; therefore, our objective is to keep pace with these developments and be among the leaders in this field. In cooperation with neighbouring countries, we aim to promote the exchange of expertise and the testing of innovations in real-world conditions,” said Minister Taminskas.
According to the Minister, the signing of the memorandum will enable stronger cooperation among the Baltic countries in creating a cross-border testbed for the deployment of autonomous vehicles under real-world conditions, as well as the exchange of best practices and safety-related data.
The agreement is expected to contribute to the gradual development of consistent and investment-friendly regulation for autonomous mobility, promote innovation, and increase the competitiveness of Lithuania’s transport sector.
Minister Taminskas, together with Mr Kuldar Leis, Estonia’s Minister of Infrastructure, and Mr Atis Švinka, Latvia’s Minister of Transport, also discussed the progress of the European standard-gauge railway project Rail Baltica, the development of the Via Baltica motorway towards Latvia and Estonia, as well as other joint projects.
“As projects of strategic importance, Rail Baltica and Via Baltica call for close coordination among the Baltic states. Together, we can unlock greater opportunities for passenger and freight transport, strengthen dual-use infrastructure, and secure long-term EU funding, thereby contributing to enhanced regional security and resilience,” said Mr Taminskas.
Lithuania is actively pursuing increased European funding for strategic transport projects aimed at accelerating integration into the European transport network and enhancing military mobility links with Europe.
Lithuania’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in 2027 is expected to serve as an important impetus for strengthening the Baltic states’ voice in negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034).
Construction of the European standard-gauge Rail Baltica line is currently underway along a 114 km section between Kaunas and Panevėžys in Lithuania, with works in the Kaunas and Panevėžys regions expected to accelerate in the coming years.
Following the reconstruction of a 40 km section of the Via Baltica motorway from Marijampolė to the Polish border, the upgrade of the remaining section from Kaunas to the Latvian border is planned to commence in 2030, subject to securing additional EU funding.
Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Estonia
Last updated: 19-05-2026
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