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Lithuanians trapped in the UK, along with Latvian and Estonian nationals, were to be transferred back to Riga airport on December 28. Lithuanians were allocated 48 places and it was only possible to return due to serious health problems.
In the “Monetary Affairs” program, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Marius Skuodis, stated that all these places were occupied by Lithuanians. The Ministry of Transport and Communications will arrange for the return of those who have returned to Riga to Lithuania, and several buses will be organized.
According to him, flights should resume on the first day of January, but strict requirements must be met.
“Due to flight restrictions, we are coordinating between the Baltic States, we are in constant contact about the possibility of renewing them from the first day of January, as agreed by the Baltic States, but it is equally important to note that there is a return indirect to Lithuania, has already resumed flights.
Based on all the information I have now. This is definitely the first day of January. I would like to emphasize that we are coordinating with neighboring countries and, as my colleague Gabrielius Landsbergis just reported, Latvia tends to renew on January 1, and Estonians should perhaps express their position today. I know from my conversation with the Polish Minister of Transport before Christmas that they plan to apply the restrictions for now until January 6. However, we are coordinating between the three Baltic States, a renewal is expected, but we will still have to reconcile with the health care requirements. They would be similar in all countries, ”said M. Skuodis.
According to him, more stringent requirements have been set for Lithuanians from the UK.
“We had a ministerial meeting at the emergency commission meeting. There are stricter requirements for all Lithuanians coming from the UK, that is, to test negative or to isolate themselves on arrival and then take the test. These are the requirements that apply. (…) We, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport, always want this movement to be as free as possible. Of course, despite all the health requirements that are negotiated equally at the of the EU.
The common position of the Government does not change if there is an opportunity not to move in any way, and it should not be done, because we also have restrictions within the country. We are already talking here about movements between countries. But we are well aware that there are certain exceptional circumstances. If necessary, it is important to comply with all the health protection requirements here, ”said M. Skuodis on the program.
When asked who will ensure that Lithuanians coming from the UK are even more isolated through other countries, M. Skuodis emphasized that NVSC specialists are on duty at the airport.
“We just realized that everything had been done in this place. In terms of perspective, especially next year, I hope that the testing capacity will be increased, we will talk about the results of a completely different level of state tests, and then Any citizen will be able to take the test upon arrival at the airport. In the same way, we are talking with the airports to make this possible. And depending on that, there will be additional decisions from the Government, “said M. Skuodis.
On the show, the Transport Minister also acknowledged that it was disappointing that the mistakes made in the spring had not been avoided and that truck drivers had to get stuck at the UK-French border.
“We are talking about the movement of goods and cargo. This is one of the fundamental freedoms of the European Union. After the first quarantine, everyone in the EU said that we must not repeat the mistakes that were made in the spring. I remember constantly raising the issue between ministers from different EU councils, all ministers beating their chests in the same way and repeating that it is not possible to repeat the mistakes that were made in the spring. They regretted that exactly the same mistakes were made as a result of the introduction of the restriction.
We speak mainly with neighboring countries and our representatives in Brussels constantly raise these issues. The movement of goods must be guaranteed, in all circumstances. These are essential foods to eventually travel with vaccines. I am glad that, at least when speaking with neighboring countries, the Polish Minister for Transport, the Latvian Minister and other ministers, they are all taking that position. Unfortunately, those limitations still exist. It is particularly disappointing that they are being introduced unilaterally, without coordination, without consulting with other states. So we have a situation like we had when we had about a thousand Lithuanian trucks counting on both sides of the border between France and the UK at the same time, ”said M. Skuodis.
Delphi recalls that the government’s decision to ban UK passenger planes due to the spread of the coronavirus strain in the country came into effect on 23 December.
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