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The head of state said this after returning to Vilnius from the European Council on Tuesday after more than four days of negotiations,
“We are happy throughout the EU. There were questions, doubts about whether the EU would be able to make decisions quickly and effectively in the face of such a serious crisis. Perhaps at the same time there were fears that those decisions would not be made, but this time it prevailed the strength and unity of Europe, “G. Nausėda told journalists at the Vilnius airport.
According to him, the solution was reached because the states have shown flexibility in the last hours.
“Perhaps in the last hours before the crucial moment, we have all shown the necessary flexibility, perhaps we gave up some personal goals that are too focused on the state and we realized that the decision itself is the most important and that all other things can be reconciled, “he said.
According to G. Nausėda, with the approval of the new long-term EU budget and the Recovery Fund, Lithuania will have excellent opportunities to finance green economy and digitization projects, which the President identifies as a priority for the next seven years.
“Lithuania will have excellent opportunities to finance green economy and digitization projects, which will be a priority of our activities for the next seven years,” said the president.
Mr Nausėda stressed that EU funds would have to be used according to clear priorities.
“I know what is happening in Lithuania, it already happens that a year and a half ago there was a discussion that EU funds will stop, how we will continue to live.” Various apocalyptic scenarios were drawn. Today, almost the same people sometimes say what we are going to do now, as much money as we will use on purpose. Perhaps we will not get bogged down in the extremes and be happy with what we have accomplished, “said G. Nausėda at the Vilnius airport on Tuesday.
“Of course, the work will start soon, because this money will have to be used according to clear priorities. The most important thing is to use it with all the necessary controls to avoid abuse,” added the president.
Greater support for farmers.
President Gitanas Nausėda says that the fact that the European Council (EVS) has managed to negotiate higher direct payments to farmers is a great achievement, because, according to the President, the problem has not been solved for a long time.
We took advantage of the right situation in the negotiations and the leaders of all the Baltic States, the Prime Ministers of Estonia and Latvia, decided that we needed to raise this issue decisively and that there was an opportunity to change the course of the negotiations for the benefit of our farmers .
Gypsies Nausėda
“It just came to our attention then. I don’t really associate it with myself, but it’s a great achievement, considering how perpetual the freeze was on this issue and how many years there was a reluctance to put this issue on the agenda and address it,” said G. Naused journalists on Tuesday.
Mr. Nausėda said that closer support to agriculture with Latvia and Estonia had helped ensure greater support for agriculture.
“We have taken advantage of the correct situation during the negotiations and the leaders of all the Baltic states, the prime ministers of Estonia and Latvia, have decided that this issue must be decidedly resolved and there is an opportunity to change the course of negotiations for our farmers, “he said.
“This is what happened and the next day we received a favorable offer, which means that our farmers will receive around 400 million in direct payments in seven years.”
Outgoing President Dalia Grybauskaitė said Tuesday that the increase in direct payments is a step forward, but the gap with the European Union average continues to narrow slowly.
According to BNS, the leaders of the European Union approved on Tuesday the European Union budget for 2021-2027 and the economic recovery fund after the coronavir crisis.
The total amount of European support for Lithuania in the new financial perspective amounts to 14.5 billion. euros That’s 1.7 billion. more than in 2014-2020.
On the basis of documents and information from Lithuanian institutions, the BNS news agency presented the most relevant indicators for Lithuania:
1. Recovery fund. The new fund will be established with the European Commission borrowing € 750 billion from the markets. Euros Of this, 390 billion will be provided as non-reimbursable support to the states. the rest will be provided in the form of loans. 2.4 billion is planned for Lithuania. The country may borrow € 3 billion from the fund. euros After negotiations between the Member States, the amounts are lower than those proposed by the European Commission in May.
2. Agriculture. Direct payments to Lithuanian farmers will increase from the current € 177 per hectare to € 200 in 2022. Thereafter, profits are expected to increase slightly each year according to a complex formula that approximates the EU average. There is a condition that in 2027 the minimum payment will be 215 euros per hectare.
3. Cohesion support. The so-called cohesion support allocated to Lithuania to reduce the backwardness of the poorest regions is decreasing as economic indicators get closer to the EU average. The essential provisions did not change during the management negotiations:
* A fuse is provided so that the reduction cannot exceed 24%.
* Emigration compensation remains, which can be used by Lithuania and Latvia. For Lithuania, it should reach about 180 million. euros
* Up to 85% of EU funding will be available. project quantities This provision would apply to one of the two regions of Lithuania, the one with the lowest economic indicators and not including Vilnius. In the Vilnius region, EU funds could cover up to 40%. project quantities
4. Dismantling of the Ignalina nuclear power plant. In 2021-2027, 490 million euros are foreseen for the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant. Lithuania would have to contribute 14 percent. your budget.
5. Königsberg Transit. The EU will allocate 189 million LTL to Lithuania. to implement the so-called Special Transit Scheme, which is used by Russian citizens traveling through Lithuania between the main part of Russia and the Königsberg region.
Other important provisions:
* the budget is still a reference to the Rail Baltica railway project
* 1,500 million euros for military mobility to manage roads and bridges for military logistics.
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