Press Releases

Interconnections with European networks – guarantee of energy security for the Baltics

Thursday, December 1, Estonia - President Dalia Grybauskaitė attended the meeting of Presidents of the Baltic States in Estonia. Discussing the goals and new challenges of the Baltic States the Presidents underlined that energy security and the ending of energy isolation of the region was currently a key priority for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Baltic States have been integrated in the European Union politically and economically for seven years already, however their energy system is still dependent on Russia. Therefore, she said, the Baltic States should stand together in their aspiration to achieve the ending of energy isolation just like they did in striving for their independence or membership in the EU and NATO.

"There is only one way to protect the people of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from monopolistic energy prices and this way is integration into the European energy networks. Power and gas interconnections with Western networks, the liquefied gas terminal - these are immediate steps that will ensure economic independence in the region and a more secure life to our people," the President emphasized.

Dalia Grybauskaitė said that appropriate funding of energy interconnections was among common goals of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in developing the EU financial framework for the period 2014 - 2020. The Presidents also discussed the positions they would keep in negotiating the farmer payments and distribution of structural funds.

The Latvian and Estonian leaders expressed their strong political support for the Visaginas nuclear power plant project. The three Presidents also agreed to have the same position in respect of the nuclear power plants planned in Kaliningrad and Astravets.

Among the topics featured at the tripartite meeting was the promotion of cooperation with Nordic countries. President Dalia Grybauskaitė invited the heads of Estonia and Latvia to the Nordic-Baltic Summit that will be held in April next year in Vilnius.

Tomorrow, the Presidents will discuss other regional security issues and the cooperation in implementing the transport projects. The EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas will present the railway project "Rail Baltica". At noon the Presidents will hold a joint press conference.

Press Service of the President