EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Funds, Lithuania, Railways, Transport

In an interview to BNS, Sankovskis said there should be no fears that the European Commission would cease support to the Rail Baltica project.

"So far, there are no major grounds for worrying, as the European Commission is earmarking big money for the project, which it lists as the flagship of the infrastructure. Europe grants as much as it can, I would not want to guess what happens after 2020, however, with the priority the project has and the support from the commission, I believe that the European Commission will find ways of supporting the project financially," he said.

In his words, it is possible that the current 85 percent of EU support could transform into a different number in the future. Nevertheless, Sankovskis does not think there is a threat of losing financing in general: "We must show progress, as the European Commission usually views things this way: those who build need money, while those who wander can wait."

Sankovskis said one of the largest challenges in Lithuania was the need to change the Rail Baltica stretch between the Polish border and Kaunas, which cost nearly EUR 400 million but falls short of project requirements. However, he could not specify the costs of straightening the tracks.

Currently, passenger trains can pass the stretch at 120 kmh instead of 240 kmh, as stipulated in Rail Baltica requirements.

RB Rail, a joint company of the Baltic states, signed a contract with Spain's Ardanuy Ingenieria on a feasibility study of reconstruction of the stretch, and the study should be completed in December.

The stretch between Poland and Kaunas was completed in October of 2015, however, trains routes were not opened until June of 2016.

According to the latest data, construction of Rail Baltica, including the stretch between Kaunas and Vilnius, will cost EUR 5.8 billion.