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“It is important based on what criteria both the Government and the municipalities make decisions to build in one way or another. We have not done enough here to make a common consensus on those criteria very simple and clear to the public. Finally, when funding decisions are made in one form or another, to make it very clear and transparent to the public.
So every Lithuanian citizen, seeing that road construction is financed close to home or elsewhere, could check whether it really is the most rational and efficient investment in terms of car flows, etc. Openness, advertising is very important here. I have no doubt that this would allow us to make much more effective decisions regarding the use of our funds, ”he said in an interview with Delfi on Monday.
The ministerial candidate also said he would like to see a greater role for self-government in decision-making on road financing.
“Yes, now the financing is distributed between the Government and the municipalities, but looking at the municipalities, there are no criteria. It seems that municipalities are given a certain amount, but in reality they have few, not enough freedoms, ”he said.
The new airport is not in this period
M. Skuodis is the second candidate for Minister of Transport and Communications presented to the president of the Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė Gitan Nausėda, who works in the coalition. Member of the Seimas Kasparas Adomaitis was fired on Friday.
For his part, M. Skuodis met with G. Nausėda on Sunday and discussed, among other things, the implementation of strategic projects.
“There were many questions about the development of the port, the approach to the outer port, the approach to the new airport,” said the Acting Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation.
The interlocutor stated that a possible new airport between Vilnius and Kaunas is not a matter of the mandate of this Government.
“Today’s airports have not reached their capacity limits even before the COVID situation. In addition, the pandemic hit the airline industry very hard. It will still take time for flows to reach pre-crisis levels. .
For new construction, a clear cost-benefit analysis is paramount. It’s really necessary? When necessary? For politicians all the time, the goal may be to build an object, bury a capsule, etc., but here we are talking about really high costs.
Maybe that project could be good, but without an evaluation and specific figures, without a proper environmental impact assessment, it is too early to say if it is necessary or not, “he said.
Looking for another model
Speaking of the controversial virtual airline project, M. Skuodis noted that it is a forceful name, and his model itself is not very positive.
“The most important objective is a sustainable financing model so that the State can encourage the emergence of directions that are strategically important for the economy. On the state side, we have done it (and as soon as I started working at the Ministry of Economy, I really did a lot of work with a direct flight to London City Airport). It was inspired by WHO and agreed with the Commission. I really believe in that flight and I see the results.
First of all, how much we managed to attract new investors to Lithuania due to that leakage. We need many other addresses, to the main European capitals, to some German cities, where we see a very clear return. The question is how to develop a model for airports to share risks and benefits with private carriers. In this way, we would ensure the necessary direction for Lithuania. It must be recognized that Lithuania is not always a priority for large companies when it comes to air transport.
In this place, a greater role of the State is needed so that the necessary and profitable directions for the economy appear more quickly, ”he said.
Will implement on time
Skuodis said about the Rail Baltica project that the most important thing was to implement it on time.
“The most important thing is that we have agreed on the priority. This is a strategic project for Lithuania, the region and the European Union. The biggest challenge is delivering the project on time.
Second, when it comes to Lithuania, Lithuania must have a decisive voice. As for control and everything else. That is an important aspect, “he told Delfi.
Speaking of the priorities of the so-called green agenda, M. Skuodis pointed out that transport is one of the areas that generates the most pollution.
“Both carbon dioxide and particulate matter. In Lithuania, mortality from particulate matter is the highest among all OECD countries. The green agenda is about reducing pollution.
First of all, these are issues related to car pollution. The government will need to find long-term solutions to reduce it. I would not want to anticipate events and discussions out of sight because there are different opinions on how to do it. Most importantly, there is a general consensus that pollution from cars should be reduced.
The second step is the electrification of the railways. It is necessary to continue with what is happening now, because railroads only outperform cars in terms of impact.
The third is the sustainable mobility plans in cities. We are not paying enough attention to this at the moment. I think there is a lack of competition both at the central government level and at the self-government level. We need to attract new people with a new perspective who know what to do.
We need to achieve a simple goal: that all citizens can get from point A to point B in the simplest, fastest, most convenient and environmentally friendly way. What are these methods? Expert assessments and ideas, what is needed for the development of public transport and all the rest, “he said.
Aušrinė Armonaitė, the president of the Freedom Party, referring to the candidacy of M. Skuodis, said that he was “a person close to the party.”
M. Skuodis explained that this is due to a similar approach to the role of the state in the economy.
“It just came to our knowledge then. With some we have studied even in parallel classes at school for a long time, with others we have studied at university, and with others we have had a frequent exchange of views, even before working in the Ministry of Education. Economy ”, he commented.
M. Skuodis, who has lived in Vilnius for 35 years, graduated from the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University with a BA in Political and European Studies, studied at the London School of Economics and Political Science and has a doctorate in social sciences.
Since January 2018, M. Skuodis has been working as Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation, before that he worked at the Bank of Lithuania, the Government Chancellery, the Foundation for State Studies and taught at Vilnius University.
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