Banks, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Lithuania

The economic situation and business conditions in Lithuania were discussed during the meetings. President Grybauskaitė underlined that it was greatly important to ensure the reliable work of these banks in Lithuania, reported BC Press Service of the President.

Bo Magnusson and Michael Wolf assured the President that SEB and Swedbank had long-term interests in Lithuania and promised to make every effort to secure a smooth operation of their subsidiaries in Lithuania, guaranteeing their liquidity and sufficient capital.

Today President Grybauskaitė also met with the Director General of the transmission system operator Svenska Kraftnät, Mikael Odenberg, and presented him with the Grand Cross of Commander of the Order for Merits to Lithuania. In 1991, Mikael Odenberg was elected to the Parliament of Sweden where he was an active supporter of Lithuanian independence and maintained close contacts with members of the Lithuanian Reconstituent Seimas. In 2006, when serving as Sweden's Minister of Defense, Mr. Odenberg made a great personal contribution to strengthening military cooperation between Lithuania and Sweden. In 2008, when appointed Director General of Svenska Kraftnät, he mediated in reaching an agreement between the Baltic States on creating a common electricity market and building an electricity link from Sweden to Lithuania.

Later on in the day, President Grybauskaitė will meet with Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Speaker of Parliament Per Westerberg. Among the issues to be discussed are EU priorities during Sweden's Presidency of the European Union.