On 17 October, at Vilnius City Hall, EPP-CoR President Sari Rautio and Arnoldas Abramavičius, EPP-CoR Coordinator in the CIVEX Commission, met with Valdas Benkunskas, Mayor of Vilnius for an exchange on regional leadership, European security, and cooperation between Baltic and Nordic partners.
The discussion touched on Lithuania’s preparedness and resilience measures, including civil protection and shelter systems, and shared challenges faced by Lithuania and Finland regarding border security with Belarus and Russia. The meeting also explored EU defence cooperation, including the potential for joint production and procurement initiatives.
Mayor Benkunskas underlined Lithuania’s strong public support for the European Union and ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation with the national government. President Rautio emphasised the importance of solidarity and local engagement in building a safer and more resilient Europe.