On 8 May, Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs participated in a video conference with Foreign Ministers of the Baltic States. Their discussion centred on cooperation amongst the Baltic States in order to exchange information on lifting of COVID-19 restrictions at the borders between the three countries.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius were in agreement on the need to set common principles as a basis for establishing an area for freedom of movement amongst the Baltic States that would apply both to residents of the Baltic States and citizens of the member states of the European Union that are travelling to the Baltic States.
Edgars Rinkēvičs pointed out that at the current time the Baltic States should be working intensively so that an agreement with respect to the Baltic States internal borders can be finalised by 15 May, the date named by Prime Ministers of the Baltic States. He emphasised that care must be taken so that the resolutions reached are in line with the targeted results, avoiding unwelcome consequences.
The Baltic State Foreign Ministers agreed to gather for a meeting in Riga, and scheduled it for 15 May. During that upcoming meeting, the Ministers plan to sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation during the COVID-19 crisis and on the opening of common borders between the Baltic States, and that this opening would include transport by road, as well as transport by train, plane and ship.
This was the 2nd videoconference of Baltic State Foreign Ministers held in order to coordinate cooperation on the incremental easing of COVID-19 restrictions. This week videoconferences have also been taking place with the Prime Ministers, Ministers of Health and Ministers of Interior of the three Baltic States.