News

President Dalia Grybauskaitė chaired the NB6 meeting which, following the Nordic-Baltic cooperation tradition, focused on discussing and reconciling the positions on the EU-related matters that were of foremost importance for the region. The participants of the meeting discussed the items on the agenda of the European Council summit: the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, the priorities of the European Union economic policy, the appointment of the European Council President, and the granting of EU candidate status to Serbia.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that although most of the Nordic-Baltic countries were not members of the euro zone, yet they expressed unanimous support for the provisions of the new European Treaty requiring to observe strict fiscal discipline, avoid financial populism, and deal with finances in responsible manner.

“Nordic-Baltic countries have no debt-related problems and are already demonstrating responsible approach to their finances. Our countries understand perfectly that a new treaty serves the interest of the whole Europe. The provisions of the treaty calling for strict fiscal discipline, when embedded in national laws, will curb the way to any irresponsible wasting as well as will help to prevent crises in the future,” the President said.

In the Nordic-Baltic region, only Finland and Estonia have adopted the euro as their currency.

According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, intensive cooperation of Nordic and Baltic countries contributes to achieving the results that are important for the whole region.

The Nordic-Baltic Six – Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia – is based on common priorities which include promoting successful economic development across the region, enhancing defence and energy security, and ensuring the wellbeing of people. Therefore, the leaders of these countries meet in traditional NB6 meetings to reconcile their interests and positions on key EU-related matters.

The Nordic-Baltic countries also cooperate actively on extended format with non-EU member states Norway and Iceland.

In 2012, Lithuania coordinates the Nordic-Baltic cooperation. The President has invited the Nordic-Baltic leaders to the summit scheduled for April in Vilnius.