Lithuanian and Latvian transport ministers have signed a joint application to European Commission on behalf of all three Baltic States to receive funding for the Rail Baltic Project, connecting Helsinki and Warsaw through the Baltic capitals.
Lithuanian and Latvian transport ministers have signed a joint application to European Commission on behalf of all three Baltic States to receive funding for the Rail Baltic Project, connecting Helsinki and Warsaw through the Baltic capitals.
Rail Baltic will be a European standard-gauge railway running across the Baltic States, connecting Helsinki and Warsaw, with an extension to Berlin. The part from Polish-Lithuanian border to Tallinn is planned to be completed by 2024, with actual construction work planned to begin in 2019.
The application was signed by Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications Rimantas Sinkevičius and Latvian Minister of Transport Anrijs Matiss. Estonian minister will sign the letter later.
The deadline for submitting the application to the European Commission is 26 February. It is planned that the Commission will assign up to 85 per cent of the necessary funds.
Lithuanian transport minister said that Lithuania's share in the project will amount to around 190 million Euros. A similar share is expected from Estonia, while Latvians will contribute to a slightly greater extent. In total, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will apply for about 620 million Euros from the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility program.
Lithuania will make a double application, one together with the Baltic States, and the rest separately by Lithuanian Railways, because of local peculiarities regulations for land purchasing for public needs should be implemented.
Latvia does not object that, with its transport minister saying that it is important to show that Lithuania is taking part in the project as a serious partner.
SHOTLIST
Lithuanian and Latvian ministers sign a letter
Soundbite (Lithuanian)
RIMANTAS SINKEVIČIUS, Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications:
There will be two applicants from the Lithuanian side: the joint venture will apply for around 30 million euros, for the rest application will be handled by the Lithuanian Railways on behalf of the Lithuanian state. (Closer shot) It will cover works of the project and costs of land purchasing for public needs.
Soundbite (English)
