Lietuva in brief - 2012-03-08

President Dalia Grybauskaite chaired the NB6 meeting which, following the Nordic-Baltic cooperation tradition, focused on discussing and reconciling positions on EU-related matters that were of foremost importance for the region, reports ELTA. 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 European Union economic policy, the appointment of the European Council President, and the granting of EU candidate status to Serbia. Grybauskaite underlined that although most of the Nordic-Baltic countries were not members of the eurozone, yet they expressed unanimous support for the provisions of the new European Treaty requiring the observation of strict fiscal discipline, avoid financial populism, and deal with finances in a responsible manner. “Nordic-Baltic countries have no debt-related problems and are already demonstrating a responsible approach to their finances. Our countries understand perfectly that a new treaty serves the interest of the whole Europe,” the president said. According to Grybauskaite, 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 defense and energy security, and ensuring the well-being 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 a summit scheduled for April in Vilnius.

Emergency crews in Lithuania rescued around 200 fishermen stranded on an ice floe in a lagoon shared with Russia, reports ELTA. Two border patrol boats and a military helicopter were used in the operation last Friday, and rescue coordinator Antanas Brencius said no one was injured. Brencius says a crack in the ice in the Curonian Lagoon was widened by the northern winds, to the extent that the fishermen could not cross it and return to shore. The freshwater lagoon is a popular fishing and holiday resort on the Baltic Sea.