34th Session on 19-20 November 2015 in Vilnius

Baltic parliamentarians convened in Vilnius for the 34^th Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 21^st of the Baltic Council. The 34^th Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 21^st of the Baltic Council was held on 19 – 20 November 2015 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

On the agenda of the 34^th Session of the Baltic Assembly the following issues were discussed: 1) cooperation of the Baltic States; 2) development of joint transport and infrastructure projects the Baltic region; 3) cooperation of the Baltic States in cyber security and cyber defence; 4) joint healthcare projects and defence and security cooperation.

President of the Baltic Assembly Giedrė Purvaneckienė opened the 34^th Session and invited participants to held a minute of silence to honour the victims of the terror acts in Paris. The Session was continued by welcome speeches by Speakers of the Baltic parliaments – Speaker of the Seimas Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Saeima Ināra Mūrniece and President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor.

Within the framework of the Session, the cooperation platform between parliaments and governments of the Baltic States - the 21^st Baltic Council - was held. During the Baltic Council, Chairman of the Cooperation Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia Marina Kaljurand discussed the cooperation of the Baltic States.

President of the Baltic Assembly Giedrė Purvaneckienė noted: "The Baltic Council of Ministers had been successful in implementing the recommendations of the Baltic Assembly in 85–90% of the cases, but even more could be achieved. There are fields, such as security and defence, where our cooperation is very active. However, in some other sectors cooperation is still hindered by mutual competition. In sectors such as research, education, economy, and the social sector, competition gains an upper hand over cooperation. Only through close coordination and intense networking between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers will we be able to promote well-being and economic growth in our region. Only with joint efforts, we will be able to make our voice heard internationally."

During the Session, the Baltic Assembly also awarded its prizes for Literature, the Arts and Science, the Baltic Innovation Prize as well as Medals for strengthening the unity of the Baltic States. This year, the Prize for Literature was awarded to Māris Bērziņš from Latvia, the Prize for the Arts – to Modestas Pitrėnas from Lithuania, and the Prize for Science - to Eva-Clarita Pettai and Professor Vello Pettai from Estonia. The Baltic Innovation Prize 2015 was awarded to Elinta, JSC from Lithuania. Diplomas were awarded to BIKE-ID from Estonia and DPA from Latvia.

Programme of the Session here

Documents adopted during the Session

Final Document	(download)
Resolution	(download)
Joint Statement of the 21st Baltic Council	(download)

Report of the 34th Session of the Baltic Assembly here

Family photo during the 34^th Session of the Baltic Assembly and the 21^st of the Baltic Council

Chairs of national delegations of the Baltic Assembly

Foreign ministers of the Baltic States during the 34^th Session of the Baltic Assembly

Linas Linkevičius and Giedrė Purvaneckienė Signing of the Joint Statement of the 21^st Baltic Council

Jānis Vucāns, Giedrė Purvaneckienė and Aadu Must after signing of the FINAL DOCUMENT of the 34^th Session