Baltic PMs to sign Rail Baltica agreement, meet with President of European Council in Tallinn

RIGA - The prime ministers of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania will today meet in Tallinn to sign a trilateral agreement on implementation of the Rail Baltica project for construction of a European-gauge rail line through the three Baltic states and to meet with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers said.

Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas and Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis are expected to sign the trilateral agreement on Rail Baltica and to discuss further development of transport connections.

The Latvian government approved the draft law about the signing of the agreement between Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian governments on the development of Rail Baltica railway connection on January 24. Once the agreement is signed by the prime ministers of the three Baltic states in Tallinn, it will be forwarded to the Latvian parliament for ratification.

In Tallinn, the prime ministers of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania will also meet with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. The meeting will focus on the preparations for summits in Malta and Rome, further cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries and the European security and defense policy.

The agenda of the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting in Tallinn includes strengthening of security in the region and development of the energy market.