There were also discussions on foreign affairs, energy, transport, home affairs, economic and financial affairs, justice, health, education, science and sport, employment and social affairs, culture and digitalisation. The meeting ended with the adoption of a joint declaration marking the Third Polish-Lithuanian intergovernmental consultations. During the visit, the head of the Polish Government also met with President Gitanas Nausėda.

"After February 24 this year, we know perfectly well that Russia's aggressive policy poses a threat to the whole of Europe and to the whole world," said the Prime Minister.

Polish-Lithuanian partnership and action for Ukraine

„Russia must and can be stopped – this is what theUkrainians are doing on the battlefield – but the Lithuanian and Polish governments are also helping to achieve this aim by explaining to the European forum what this policy should look like, so as never to be the subject of Russian blackmail again”, stressed the Head of the Polish Government. He pointed out that Russia was experiencing an increasingly damaging crisis because of sanctions, which Poland and Lithuania have been striving for from the very beginning. Our countries will continue to ensure that Europe does not give up this fight, because today we are fighting for our common security.

Poland and Lithuania belong to a group of European Union countries that are well aware of how dangerous it is to downplay aggression from the East. The unequivocal attitude of Warsaw and Vilnius and all like-minded countries is the Western Alliance’s only possible response to Putin's policy.

From the very beginning of the Russian aggression, Poland and Lithuania have been supporting Ukraine and organising aid for Ukrainians who, as a result of hostilities, were forced to leave their homes. Both countries are in favour of further increasing international support for Ukraine, including EU financial support. They also support all efforts to admit Ukraine to the European Union.

The energy transition must go hand in hand with energy security

"Today we are facing the huge geopolitical challenge of rebuilding the architecture of physical, internal and external security, energy and economic security. We have devoted a huge part of our meetings to these issues", said the Prime Minister, summing up today's talks.

He also thanked Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and President Gitanas Nausėda for the fact that – despite some differences – our countries are able to look further and develop a common mechanism for fighting for a new security architecture, which is a great opportunity for healthy development.

High energy prices should be countered by regulatory solutions at European Union level. Poland and Lithuania agree that too ambitious climate policy, especially in the current war conditions, will ultimately aggravate the problem of insufficient energy, which will lead to an increase in energy prices. The EU's current energy policy model needs restructuring. Poland suggests a reform of the ETS system, which aims to reduce energy prices. We also propose a limit to the price of gas imported into the EU in order to reduce heat and electricity bills and relieve consumers, while at the same time reducing inflationary pressure on our economies.   

The Prime Minister also referred to further Polish-Lithuanian cooperation in the field of infrastructure and energy. Projects such as Via Carpatia, Rail Baltica, Via Baltica, GIPL gas connection and Harmony Link, all of which are already underway, are helping to increase security in the region, ensuring its smooth development.

Declaration on the occasion of the Third Polish-Lithuanian Intergovernmental Consultations

"In the face of the ongoing war on our continent, the stable strategic partnership of the governments of Polish and Lithuania has taken on a new meaning. The security of our countries and our region has become the main point of bilateral cooperation this year", we read in the declaration adopted during the meeting.

We strongly condemn Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion and its brutal warfare against Ukraine, which has shaken both the European and global security structures. War crimes, including attacks on civilians, countless suffering, immense destruction, nuclear terrorism and the struggle carried out through energy and food policies – both these and other actions carried out by the Russian Federation pose a challenge to the entire democratic world and a threat to the order based on international law. "This is a time when free and democratic nations must show unity and perseverance by acting against the aggressor," the document said.

In the declaration, both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the external border of the European Union and the Schengen area and ensuring a high level of security for citizens.