TALLINN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of the three Baltic countries met with European Council President Donald Tusk in Tallinn on Tuesday, with upcoming EU summits, the bloc's future after the Brexit referendum and security featuring high on the meeting's agenda.
Tusk had arrived in the Estonian capital as the honorary guest of the Baltic Council of Ministers meeting, which brought together Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas, Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis and Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis.
Both Tusk and the Baltic prime ministers agreed during their meeting that NATO remains the cornerstone of the region's security, even though it is still too early to judge how the Alliance will be affected by the recent change of the U.S. administration. Meanwhile, work has to continue on boosting member states' defense capabilities.
Baltic News Service reported citing Latvian prime minister's spokesman Andrejs Vaivars that as far as the EU's forthcoming March summit in Rome is concerned, Latvia believes its participants have to adopt a brief and clear declaration, conveying three messages: that people's concerns about their physical and social security have been heard, that EU member states have a joint action plan and that the bloc is united and committed to the European project.
In the future, the EU should concentrate on developing those areas that ensure economic growth and facilitate convergence among member states, as well as reinforce the bloc's internal and external security, Latvian Prime Minister Kucinskis said during the meeting with his Baltic counterparts and the European Council president.
It was also pointed out at the meeting that it is essential to maintain the Eastern Partnership initiative as the EU's foreign policy priority. The countries involved in the Eastern Partnership project have to be encouraged to develop mutual cooperation, for instance, by enhancing their trade and business contacts.
