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Mr Chairman, Dear Ministers,

First of all, allow me to thank Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Ambassador Dag Briseid for the excellent Norwegian Presidency. Norway has chosen ambitious priorities for its Presidency, and achieved its goals.

Today we continue to discuss the topic most important to all of us, which is the future of the Baltic Sea Region. Vilnius Declaration “A Vision for the Baltic Sea Region by 2020”, adopted by our Prime Ministers during their meeting in Vilnius last year provided us with a clear outlook on our basic values and concrete goals to be achieved. The question is: what is the role of the CBSS in making the above mentioned goals a reality. The strength of the CBSS is in having a deep understanding and experience in the challenges faced by the region. Its most obvious weakness is in the absence of meaningful funds to support the implementation of the projects even at an early stage. The CBSS should exploit its strength in cases where its potential could be adequately used to allocate appropriate financial resources. Therefore it would be highly recommendable that the CBSS now makes good use of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. We welcome the fact that the organization has already started involving itself into the implementation of the Strategy through its many instruments.

This also means that there should be even tighter continuity of most of the priorities selected by each incoming Presidency. Some part of the priorities of the previous Presidency should be secured and taken up by the next one in order to ensure successful implementation of some selected regionally important tasks.

Dear Colleagues,

There are many challenges in our region, but allow me today to single out the issue of energy security.  We all agree that our common goal, according to Vilnius Declaration, is to ensure that the Baltic Sea region becomes one of the most prosperous, innovative and competitive regions in the world, functioning successfully and enhancing the well-being of its citizens. A well functioning energy market is one of the most important instruments to achieve this goal. It is a precondition for ensuring security of supply at reasonable and stable prices, which maintains our competitiveness, and thus enables sustainable regional growth.

In this context, an issue of utmost importance is nuclear safety. The 25th anniversary of Chernobyl accident and the catastrophic events in Japan reconfirmed once again that nuclear energy might be developed only and exceptionally in conformity of the highest nuclear safety standards, moreover – they should be internationally revised, strengthened, and even more – legally binding. This is the reason why Lithuania especially welcomes European Union commitment to extend the so-called stress-tests not only to the European Union nuclear power plants and projects, but also to the neighboring countries. We are convinced that national efforts, combined with regional policies and actions could help to make the Baltic Sea Region a truly “green” region.  Threats such as climate change, coastal development, and industrial activities should be addressed on the regional basis. One more issue of special importance that deserves our joint attention is an issue of dumped munitions, mines and chemical weapons that pose a real threat for the environment and are a natural obstacle for infrastructural projects. 

Dear Colleagues,

Our main goal today is to get united in cooperation in selected priority fields that would require our increased attention and resources. The CBSS together with its partners should continue to be an important tool in the implementation of our vision.

I wish to pass the torch of good hope to Germany, and then on to Russia with my best wishes for the promising future for all of us around the Baltic Sea and beyond.

Thank you for your attention.