Mr Skuodis to discuss financing and development of strategic transport links with Central European and Baltic colleagues in Prague

Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, is travelling to Prague on Thursday to discuss the implementation of joint transport infrastructure projects with the transport ministers of Central Europe and the Baltic States. In order to further improve connectivity across the region and strengthen military mobility links, the ministers intend to sign a joint declaration on strategic transport infrastructure development and financing.

During the meeting organised by the Czech Republic, which is currently holding the Presidency of the Višegrad Group, the transport ministers of Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland and Slovakia will discuss the importance of the North-South transport corridor, the progress of the ongoing strategic Rail Baltica and Via Carpathia projects, also the development of transport links with Ukraine.

The ministers will focus on the construction of new high-speed rail links and the modernisation of existing rail lines in Central and Eastern Europe. The meeting will also address the need to strengthen regional cooperation and increase European funding, and possible additional financial sources and instruments for projects that improve dual-purpose military and civilian mobility links with Europe.

So far, Lithuania has secured €126.7 million in EU funding to improve military mobility links with Europe. These investments are earmarked for the construction of the Via Baltica trunk road to the Polish border, for Kaunas Airport and other major road and rail infrastructure projects.

The new Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) already envisages an additional North-Baltic corridor link, providing the shortest route between Lithuania, the other Baltic countries and Ukraine. On a proposal from Lithuania, new TEN-T network has been supplemented with a European gauge railway line to Klaipėda and provides for new military mobility links between Lithuania and Poland, running from Bialystok via Augustow, Lazdijai and Alytus to Vilnius.

The European standard lines of Rail Baltica in Lithuania and Poland are scheduled to be connected in 2028.