Latvia’s Minister of Transport Atis Švinka participates in the Nordic and B9 transport ministers' meeting in Lithuania

On 27 May 2025, Minister of Transport Atis Švinka participated in the meeting of transport ministers of NATO's Eastern Flank countries, the so-called Bucharest Nine (B9) and Nordic Countries, the central topic of which was the compliance of transport infrastructure with the requirements of strategic military mobility. Ambassador Solveiga Silkalna also participated in the Latvian delegation.

Minister of Transport A. Švinka participated in the meeting of the Baltic transport ministers in Vilnius and the signing of a joint statement on the implementation of the Rail Baltica project. In it, the countries pledge in solidarity to prioritize the construction of a cross-border railway connection within the framework of the 1st phase of Rail Baltica with a target date of 2030. To achieve this goal, the ministers emphasize the need for stable and predictable financial support from the European Union (EU) from the Connecting Europe Facility or an equivalent fund in the next EU multiannual budget (2028–2034). The jointly signed statement is planned to be submitted to the EU Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, meeting on 5 June this year within the framework of the Council of Ministers of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (TTE). To get acquainted with Lithuania's achievements in the implementation of the Rail Baltica project, the Baltic and Polish ministers visited Kaunas railway station - the main railway traffic hub in Lithuania. It serves both passengers and freight flows from Northern Europe, Western Europe and Central Europe since 2015.

More information about the visit: https://www.sam.gov.lv/en/article/baltic-ministers-reaffirm-commitment-rail-baltica-call-long-term-eu-funding

Photo: Minsitry of Transport of Lithuania