LITHUANIA, December 7 - On 8 December, a formal meeting of the Prime Ministers of the Baltic Council of Ministers (BCM) will take place in Vilnius to discuss this year’s cooperation between the Baltic states and to outline guidelines for the cooperation next year.

In 2021, Lithuania has chaired the BCM format. Lithuania’s Presidency priorities have included strengthening of regional security and defence, fight against disinformation, the green agenda, sustainable implementation of the strategic energy and transport projects, nuclear safety, and management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė and her colleagues Prime Minister of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš and Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas will discuss security and defence, focusing on the hybrid attack by Belarus, and looking for solutions to joint action at the EU level in response to similar hybrid attacks. The Prime Ministers will also discuss Russia’s military build-up at Ukraine’s borders, the strategic electricity, gas, and transport interconnection projects, and the need to strengthen cooperation in implementing the European Green Deal, and will share experiences in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in the context of the new Omicron variant.

In 2022, Latvia takes over the Presidency of the BCM format. Latvia’s next year’s Presidency priorities will be presented at the meeting.