Economics, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania

Nerijus Maciulis, Swedbank Lithuania's chief economist, does not expect any changes in Lithuanian-Polish relations after the presidential election in the neighboring country.

"The outcome of the election has a greater impact on Polish-EU relations, rather than on Lithuanian-Polish ties, because if Duda's opponent (Rafal Trzaskowski) won, we could expect smoother cooperation with EU institutions," Maciulis told BNS.

"The status quo that is not very good is maintained," he said, adding that it may become even more difficult to implement common EU agreements and projects, and negotiation processes may become even more complicated.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Monday congratulated Polish President Andrzej Duda on his re-election for a second term, emphasizing the importance of bilateral cooperation in defense and infrastructure projects.

"Congratulations to my friend Andrzej Duda on winning the Polish presidential election for the second term!," Nauseda tweeted. 

"I wish you strength and success. Looking forward to continuing close cooperation in security, defense and implementing regional infrastructure projects."

"In the past year, I've worked really intensively with the Polish president and, of course, with the prime minister," the Lithuanian president said, commenting on the outcome of Poland's presidential election.

"What's very important is that we find agreement on many issues", including on infrastructure projects and economic relations, he said.   

According to Nauseda, it is not correct to assume that Duda is more focused on cooperation with the United States than the European Union.  "One shouldn't try to paint a black-and-white picture, because Poland actually wants to cooperate with the United States and is an active member of the EU, too," he said. 

After a strained period, Lithuanian-Polish relations have become close and intensive again in the past few years. Nauseda chose Poland for his first foreign visit after his inauguration last year. 

A major breakthrough in ties between Vilnius and Warsaw came in 2017 with the signing of a deal between the state railway company Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways) and Poland's Orlen, the owner of the Mazeikiai crude refinery.  

Warsaw also seeks support from Vilnius in its row with the European Union over its controversial judicial reform. Some observers say that bilateral ties benefit from the Polish government’s ambition to take the role of a regional leader in the Central European region. 

Nauseda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis are scheduled to meet with Duda as part of their visit to the neighboring country this week to mark the 610th anniversary of the Battle of Zalgiris (Grunwald).

The incumbent won a narrow victory over Warsaw's liberal Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski in Sunday's run-off presidential election.   

Preliminary results released on Monday show that the incumbent president won a very narrow victory over Warsaw's liberal mayor in Sunday's run-off.