Speeches

Welcome Address by H.E. Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic of Lithuania, to Baltic Sea Region Youth Event "B-Young"

Dear Participants, Organizers and Guests of the Youth Event,

I sincerely welcome all of you who have gathered to this youth event in Vilnius. I am delighted that young people are showing interest in the future development of the Baltic Sea region and in the problems of today. It is great to see your active contribution to building a youth-led platform for long-term cooperation and the protection youth interests.
I consider good relations with neighboring countries and regional cooperation to be a top priority in Lithuania's foreign policy.

The Baltic and Nordic countries are united by common interests. Their successful cooperation is best reflected in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. It is the first macro-regional strategy which I believe will accelerate regional development and help resolve issues of concern for the whole region. Therefore, the implementation of this strategy is and will continue to be of utmost importance to the Baltic Sea countries in the next several years. The Baltic Sea states are bound together by common economic, infrastructural, cultural, and scientific interests as well as by joint strategic projects. I am quite sure that projects are implemented better and more successfully through a network of permanent and trustworthy partners.

Such networks are created by youth and other non-governmental organizations. People who grow up in these organizations use their contacts for building the region's common future. It is not by chance that the non-governmental sector - the civil-minded people, the academic community and, of course, youth -is seen in Lithuania, like in other Baltic Sea region countries, as an active player for implementation the Baltic Sea Strategy.

I am therefore convinced that only close and effective collaboration between the government and youth organizations, based on voluntary participation as well as on the values of human rights, freedom and democracy, will give a definite momentum for the Baltic Sea region to emerge as an area of genuine trust, well-being and cooperation.

Only by working together in pursuit of common goals can we expect to achieve success for each of us, for the region and for the whole of Europe.

It gives me great pleasure to see that you are working on so many creative projects.

I highly appreciate your contribution to formulating and implementing youth policies, promoting active citizenship, empowering young people, and mainstreaming youth participation in public life.

Dear participants, let me wish you a very fruitful meeting and don't forget to enjoy your stay in Lithuania!