The European Union plans to help transform a Lithuanian port into a strategic hub for NATO as part of a project worth more than €200 million aimed at developing defence and energy infrastructure in the Baltic region.
TVP World reported this, citing a statement by the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The EU-owned financial institution said on Tuesday, September 15, that the €201 million project will include upgrading a terminal at the port of Klaipėda to accommodate NATO vessels.
The works will also include infrastructure to provide ships with shore-side electricity, as well as facilities related to green hydrogen and offshore wind energy.
According to the report, the project will both improve military mobility and strengthen the region’s role in clean energy.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of next year. It will be partly financed through a €100 million EIB loan, with the remaining funding coming from the European Union, national sources and other institutions, the bank said.
The EIB noted that parts of the port’s civilian cruise terminal will be adapted to NATO requirements to provide “more efficient logistical support for Allied naval vessels”.
“This dual-use approach strengthens military mobility while preserving the infrastructure’s value for civilian transport and the local economy,” the EIB added.
