OREANDA-NEWS. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, the Prime Minister of Latvia, Laimdota Straujuma, and the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Algirdas Butkevicius, will meet in Tallinn on Monday, 3 February.

The Rail Baltic project, which connects the Baltic States and the Western Europe, and the co-operation in using the digital signatures will be discussed at the meeting. The Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, will also join the Baltic Prime Ministers to discuss co-operation issues.

The Rail Baltic is an important transport infrastructure project, ensuring better opportunities for the development and competitiveness of the region through faster passenger and freight connection. The main topics are, thus, the agreement between the countries and the creation of a joint venture to carry out the project. Future steps for better involvement of Poland in the Rail Baltic planning and development activities will be also discussed at the meeting of the Baltic and Polish Prime Ministers.

Co-operation in the field of IT is another essential discussion topic. The Prime Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania will discuss the activity plan on how to reach mutual recognition and cross-border usage of digital signatures between the Baltic States.

The situation in Ukraine, the European Union climate and energy policy, and common energy projects will be discussed at the meeting of the Baltic and Polish Prime Ministers. Last week, the European Commission published a Communication, providing a framework for the European energy and climate policy until 2030. Among other things, it includes proposals for setting the EU-wide target levels in terms of reducing greenhouse gases and increasing the share of renewable energy. The package also included an analysis of the impact of energy prices on the European Union’s competitiveness and an initiative for shale gas exploration and production.

The informal meeting of the Baltic Prime Ministers will take place within the framework of the Baltic Council of Ministers. The Baltic co-operation presidency changes at the beginning of each calendar year and the Presidency co-ordinates the co-operation of all levels. Estonia will be the Presidency this year.

The meeting will be preceded by a meeting between Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and the Prime Minister of Latvia, Laimdota Straujuma, taking place in Stenbock House.

Next, the Baltic Prime Ministers will meet in the Kadriorg Art Museum, where the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Algirdas Butkevicius, joins his Estonian and Latvian colleagues.

Before noon, the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, will join the Baltic Prime Ministers.

The Baltic and Polish Prime Ministers’ meeting will be followed by a joint press conference in the Art Museum of Estonia, Kumu.