Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who is currently on an official visit in Denmark, met with Speaker of the Danish Parliament Mogens Lykketoft and Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, reported BC presidential press service.

Dalia Grybauskaite and Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Copenhagen, 22.01.2013. Photo: president.lt

The President and the Danish heads of state discussed opportunities to strengthen political and business relations, the economic situation in Europe, the importance of the Nordic-Baltic cooperation, the preparedness for negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020, and Lithuania's readiness for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The meeting with the Prime Minister of Denmark also touched upon the EU's energy security, the ending of the Baltic countries' energy isolation, the preparation for the European Council due in May which will have energy issues on its agenda.

"It is only through ensuring its energy independence and constructing power interconnections and the liquefied natural gas terminal that Lithuania will be precluded from becoming a province of Europe," the President said.

Speaking about the priorities of Lithuania's Presidency of the EU Council, Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that Lithuania, which is to hold the EU Presidency for the first time, will aim to be a reliable broker in taking decisions on the issues of major importance for the EU: the seven-year budget for 2014-2020, the single banking supervision mechanism, and instruments to deal with the consequences of the economic crisis. The President noted that the experience of Denmark's seven EU Presidencies would be extremely important for Lithuania. The President invited the Danish Prime Minister to attend the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius.

As Europe strives to overcome as soon as possible the economic recession, successful collaboration between the Baltic and Nordic countries is very important, the President noted. Lithuania and Denmark have been enjoying robust political and economic relationship for several decades. Danish Presidency of the EU Council has been marked by great progress in negotiating the EU's structural aid to the Baltic States.

"The well-being of Lithuanian and Danish people depends on the ability to adjust the measures aimed at strengthening financial discipline and boosting economic growth. It is essential to promote business cooperation and facilitate investment, with special focus on job creation and reduction of youth unemployment," the President said.

Denmark is the sixth-largest investor in Lithuania implementing 15 investment projects worth 908 million litas, mainly in the sectors of real estate, financial services, beverages, industrial equipment and textile. Major Danish investors in Lithuania include the Danske Bank financial service group, engineering consulting and design company Cowi A/S, transport companies DFDS and DSV, breweries Carlsberg and Royal Unibrew, Danspin, real estate asset manager Baltic Property Trust.

In autumn, a business delegation from Denmark plans to visit Lithuania. Lithuania is deemed an attractive country for investment due to highly qualified workforce, very favorable geographic position, well-developed infrastructure, and low operating costs. Cooperation in the sphere of innovations can be particularly beneficial to both countries.