Merkel, Grybauskaite to discuss bilateral, EU-Russia cooperation

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite will discuss bilateral economic cooperation and European Union's relations with Russia and Belarus during Merkel's visit to Vilnius on Monday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite will discuss bilateral economic cooperation and European Union's relations with Russia and Belarus during Merkel's visit to Vilnius on Monday.

"Cooperation with Germany in implementing strategic energy projects in the region and strengthening the Baltic states' energy independence is very important for Lithuania," Grybauskaite said on the eve of the talks.

The Lithuanian authorities intend to create a diversified gas market in the country by 2020, which would eliminate Russia's monopoly on gas supplies to the Baltic state.

The Lithuanian president said she was going to discuss with Merkel the possibility of increasing EU investment in the Baltic region and including regional strategic projects in a European priority list.

Germany is one of Lithuania's most important partners within NATO and the EU, Grybauskaite said.

Germany is Lithuania's major trade partner. According to the Lithuanian statistics department, trade turnover between the countries exceeded 5.3 billion Lithuanian litai (almost $2 billion) in the first half of 2010.