Estonia and Lithuania

Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations between Estonia and Lithuania are very good. Their excellent relations are based on similar foreign policy priorities, as a result of which close co-operation and active communication occur between Estonia and Lithuania on various levels. Many meetings take place regionally in the framework of Baltic (Baltic Council of Ministers, Baltic Assembly, Baltic Council) and Nordic-Baltic (NB8) co-operation.

Following the occupation, Lithuania re-recognised Estonia on 22 August 1991. Estonia’s first ambassador to Lithuania following the restoration of independence, Valvi Strikatiene, presented credentials on 2 June 1992. Lithuanian Ambassador Neilas Tankevičius presented his credentials to the President of the Republic on 23 November 2012.

The year 2011 marked 20 years since the re-recognising and restoration of diplomatic relations between Estonia and Latvia and 90 years since diplomatic relations were first established. In honour of these anniversaries the Lithuanian Embassy in Tallinn organised a conference on 5 October 2011. The Estonian Embassy in Vilnius celebrated with an exhibit that covered the activities of the Estonian embassy and diplomats from 1921-1940 in Kaunas, which was the capital at the time. In addition, a summertime Victory Day reception was organised in Vilnius together with the Latvian Embassy.

The Estonian ambassador to Lithuania as of 19 September 2012 is Toomas Kukk. Since April 2003, the honorary consul of the Republic of Lithuania in Estonia covering the consular area of Tartu and Tartu County is Tartu University professor and chairman of the Estonian Language Council Birute Klaas-Lang. Since May 2008 the Estonian honorary consul in Lithuania, covering the consular area of Klaipėda, Telšiai and Tauragė counties, is Virginijus Biskys.

Visits

Agreements

• Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income and Capital and the Prevention of Tax Evasion (08.02.06);
• Air Services Agreement (came into force 05.09.95);
• Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments (came into force 20.06.96);
• Agreement on the Mutual Protection of Classified Information (came into force 15.11.00).

Economic Relations

Economic contacts between Estonia and Lithuania have developed rapidly. Lithuania, due to its geographic proximity and its large developing market, offers opportunities in several sectors. Lithuania continues to be Estonia's good economic and trade partner.

TRADE

According to consolidated 2012 data, trade with Lithuania makes up 7.1% of Estonia’s total trade, making Lithuania Estonia’s 6^th trade partner.

In 2012 Estonian export to Lithuania totalled 675.3 million euros in value, with annual growth of 126 million euros. This placed Lithuania in fifth place among Estonia’s export partners (5.4% of total export). In imports Lithuania was also in fifth place (8.6% of total imports). Lithuanian import to Estonia totalled 1.2 billion euros, with an annual growth of 144 million euros.

Estonia-Lithuania trade 2005-2013 (million euros)

Main export articles to Lithuania in 2012 (% of total export to Lithuania):

• Mineral products – 17.9%
• Machinery and appliances – 14.4%
• Transport vehicles, other vehicles – 10.6%
• Animal products – 8.8%

Main import articles from Lithuania in 2012 (% of total imports from Lithuania):

• Mineral products – 47.1%
• Machinery and appliances – 10.7%
• Chemical products – 9.4%

Main export articles to Lithuania in the first quarter of 2013:

• Mineral products – 21.9%
• Machinery and appliances – 12.9%
• Animal products – 10.6%
• Transport vehicles, other vehicles – 9.6%

Main import articles from Lithuania in the first quarter of 2013:

• Mineral products – 42.4%
• Machinery and appliances – 11.8%
• Chemical products – 11.2%

All economic figures originate from the Statistical Office of Estonia

INVESTMENTS

Estonian investments in Lithuania

Lithuania is a very important destination for Estonian direct investments. As of the end of 2012, investments made in Lithuania totalled 867.8 million euros, or 19.8% of all direct investments. This means that Lithuania received the second most investments by volume after Cyprus.

The most investments were made in professional, research and technical activity, financial and insurance activity, and the real estate sector.

Lithuanian investments in Estonia

Lithuania’s direct investments in Estonia as of 31 December 2012 totalled 440.5 million euros, which makes up 3.1% of all foreign direct investments in Estonia. Lithuania ranked in sixth place among countries investing in Estonia. Lithuanian entrepreneurs made the most investments in financial and insurance activity, wholesale and retail trade, and professional, research and technical activity .

In April 2009 the Estonian Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania (EKKL www.estcham.lt) was founded with the goal of ensuring better information exchange among Estonian companies in Lithuania and representing and protecting the interests of its members. The EKKL offers many services such as market research, help in finding partners, etc. The Chamber also organises meetings with Lithuanian entrepreneurs and seminars for companies. The Chamber was officially registered on 6 February 2009.

Defence Co-operation

Active defence co-operation among Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania began on 12 February 1995, when the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania concluded a trilateral defence-related co-operation agreement. Trilaterally several joint projects have been initiated, of which some have survived until the present and some have been terminated upon the achievement of their goals (BALTBAT, BALTSEA).

Currently the following co-operation projects can be highlighted:

BALTDEFCOL (the Baltic Defence College) is the joint military education institution established in 1998 for the training of senior staff officers in compliance with NATO standards. Of the high-level courses at BALTDEFCOL, some worth mentioning are the third-level course for staff officers Joint Command and General Staff Course (JCGSC), which is the only course of its level offered in English in all of continental Europe, and the Higher Command Studies Course (HCSC), which provides education on a strategic level. For civil servants there is also a Civil Service Course (CSC), which aims to provide in-depth knowledge of defence and security policy planning and implementation in the Baltic states and NATO.

BALTNET (Baltic Airspace Surveillance Network) is a joint air surveillance system established in 1998. Its main task is to identify, monitor and control air traffic in the Baltic airspace and supply guidance to the NATO aircraft performing air policing in the Baltics. Officers and NCOs from all three Baltic countries serve at the tactical Air Command and Control Centre in Karmelava, Lithuania.

BALTRON (Baltic Naval Squadron) is a naval force with mine countermeasure capabilities established in 1998 for the purpose of reducing the risks posed by naval mines and other underwater explosives left in Baltic territorial waters after the two World Wars and for participating in international training exercises on the Baltic Sea. BALTRON consists of the joint naval staff of the three Baltic states located in Tallinn and ships of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian navies.

More than ever, the defence forces of the Baltic countries strive to take advantage of training and exercise opportunities in their neighbouring countries. For example, Estonian units attend exercises in Adazi, Latvia. In recent years Baltic defence co-operation has also included the organisation of larger joint exercises, for example Baltic Host, Baltic Regional Training Event, Sabre Strike, BALTOPS, etc. The ally aircraft that carry out NATO air policing over the Baltic states are based in Šiauliai, Lithuania.

Cultural Co-operation

Cultural relations between the two nations also continue to develop. The embassies in Vilnius and Tallinn actively help to introduce the culture of their nations to others. Lithuanian and Estonian artists engage in close co-operation, and working contacts exist between musicians as well.

From 23-28 October 2011 the Estonia Opera gave guest performances at the National Opera in Vilnius. The guest performers brought with them Puccini’s “Tosca” and “La Boheme”, Prokofiev’s opera “The Love for Three Oranges”, Nixon’s ballet “The Three Musketeers”, and MacMillan’s ballet “Manon”. The Estonian Embassy organised a reception for the Estonia Opera cast and crew and the diplomatic corps following the premiere. While Estonia was performing in Vilnius, the Lithuanian National Opera was giving performances in Tallinn. They brought four different productions: Verdi’s opera “Othello”, Halévy’s opera “La Juive”, Prokofiev’s ballet “Romeo and Juliet”, and Eifman’s ballet “Red Giselle”.

On 27 September 2011 the Vanemuine Theatre also gave a successful performance of the ballet “Casanova” in Vilnius.

The most popular concert by Estonian artists in Lithuania in 2011 was once again that of the Arsis Handbell Ensemble, which gave Christmas concerts in Klaipeda and Vilnius for the fourth year in a row.

In 2011 an exhibit of Estonian artist Priit Pajos’s paintings travelled to Vilnius, Kaunas and Kelmes. Other exhibits worth mentioning are the exhibit of Estonian textile artists in display at the Kaunas Textile Biennial, the exhibit of Tanel Veere’s conceptual jewellery entitled “Paradise Lost”, and Tõnis Saadoja and Flo Kasearu’s exhibit of installations on deportation and personal freedom at the Modern Art Centre.

From 22-28 August 2011 the now-traditional “Baltijos banga” film festival took place in Nida, where the newest art and documentary films from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were screened. The prime ministers of all three countries sent their greetings to the festival. Estonia was represented by the films “The Snow Queen”, “Red Mercury”, “Pit No. 8”, and “A Friend of Mine”. In addition to the film screenings a seminar also took place, and the festival wrapped up with an animated film made from the drawings produced in the children’s workshop.

In Lithuania there is also the active Estonian Community in Lithuania, which aims to preserve Estonian traditions, introduce Estonian culture, and celebrate important Estonian holidays together. The community places a lot of emphasis on preserving the Estonian language and ties with the homeland. There is also a Sunday school where children can learn the Estonian language and culture. On 5 May 2011 the Estonian Community in Lithuania organised, in co-operation with the Estonian Embassy in Vilnius, an evening of Raimond Valgre’s songs at the Vilnius hotel Narutis. R. Valgre’s beloved songs were performed by Helin-Mari Arder (vocals), Tõnu Kilgas (vocals), Vambo Pikknurm (bass) and Jaak Lutsoja (accordion).

On 30 March 2012 a Latvian and Lithuanian auditorium and library were opened in the Tartu University Language Centre. The opening was attended by the ambassadors of Latvia and Lithuania in Estonia and representatives of the Latvian State Language Agency, Lithuanian Ministry of Education and Research, Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Vilnius University, and other organisations.

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