The meeting of Lithuanian and Estonian ministers of transport: focus on the Mobility Package, the Rail Baltica project, discussions on travel restrictions in the Baltic States
Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania Marius Skuodis, speaking remotely with Taavi Aas, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure of the Republic of Estonia, expressed a desire to uphold a common position between the Baltic States and Poland on the Mobility Package, as well as to coordinate actions to ensure the necessary international connectivity and to stop the spread of COVID–19 strains.
The meeting focused on the issues regarding the implementation of the Mobility Package. Minister Skuodis stressed that the actions brought by Lithuania and 6 other countries before the Court of Justice of the EU appealed against some provisions such as returning a truck every 8 weeks to the country of registration or the restrictions on cabotage, which undermine the principles of the EU single market and the objectives of the European Green Deal.
According to Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure of the Republic of Estonia Taavi Aas, Estonia supports Lithuania's position on this issue and intends to join its appeal.
Lithuania also coordinated this issue with Poland when Skuodis spoke to its Minister of Infrastructure Andrzej Adamczyk so that Poland and the Baltic States would have a common position.
“I am pleased that our positions on many issues coincide with those of the new Estonian Government. We take a similar position with the Ministry of Infrastructure on such important issues as the Mobility Package, the Rail Baltica project, as well as the issues regarding the movement of passengers and transport in the face of the pandemic”, said Skuodis, Minister of Transport and Communications, after the meeting.
As regards Latvia's decision to suspend all flights from the United Kingdom due to the new strains of coronavirus, Estonian Minister Aas assured that Estonia, like Lithuania, does not yet plan to implement such travel restrictions. Minister Skuodis pointed out that in Lithuania the screening of all passengers at airports and the Port of Klaipėda has already been enhanced.
During the meeting, an infrastructure project of particular importance to Lithuania and the Baltic States – Rail Baltica – was highlighted, and the progress of its implementation was discussed. It was agreed to uphold a common position on EU funding for Rail Baltica, which is scheduled to be completed by 2026.
“The progress and ambitious agenda of Lithuania is welcome in the Rail Baltica project. We hope that the arguments of the Baltic States will be taken into account at the EU level”, Minister Skuodis said at the meeting.
The ministers also exchanged views on the EU Green Deal and the directive on the application of summertime arrangements. It was noted that the European Commission proposed to abolish bi-annual time switch at the EU level as early as 2018, but some EU countries oppose the decision. Lithuania aims to have this decision adopted as soon as possible.
Last updated: 08-03-2021
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