Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Railways, Transport

Photo: transp.lt

“I consider this confirmation as a commitment to implement the project in time by putting all the necessary efforts and arranging formalities in time. During the meeting, we discussed the most important elements of the project. As a result, I am pleased that both sides agreed on the key issues i.e. the establishment of the joint venture and joint application to the European Commission for the funding of the project cannot be delayed anymore.” – Rimantas Sinkevicius, the Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania said. According to the Minister, a date to sign the contract will be determined in the near future.

All the general formalities for the establishment of the company were already settled in June in Tallinn during the negotiations between the representatives of the Baltic States.

Furthermore, in September 2013, the declaration on the establishment of a joint venture and strengthening of the cooperation was signed between the Transport Ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland in Vilnius.

The declaration became a foundation to establish a joint venture for the Rail Baltica project. The signing parties committed improving the communication among the EU and Baltic Countries, consistently expand passenger and freight mobility and, while maintaining the status of the transit countries, introduce environmental protection measures by using one of the most environment-friendly means of transport i.e. railway.

The European gauge railway will connect Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Kaunas, Vilnius and Warsaw with an extension to Berlin. It is planned that the EC will assign up to 85% of the necessary funds.