Prime Ministers of Baltic States in Lithuania coordinate positions on energy issues

Today, February 27, delegations headed by Aigars Kalvītis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, and Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia, arrived in Lithuania on a working visit.

The meeting of Prime Ministers of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania took place in the town of Trakai, and the main focus was on discussing the positions of the Baltic States on energy issues in preparation for the meeting of European Union (EU) heads of state and government, which will be held on 23-24 March in Brussels.  The delegations discussed development of national energy strategies, as well as other EU and foreign policy issues.

During the meeting the Prime Ministers signed two documents âÀ“ a joint Communiqué on construction of a new nuclear power plant, development of gas storage capacities and possible construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal in the Baltic States, as well as a Declaration on the need for a common European energy policy and security of energy supply in the Baltic States.

The Communiqué provides for preparation of a common energy strategy of the Baltic States by the end of 2006 and making common efforts necessary to fully integrate the Baltic electricity market by 2009.

Agreement was reached on constructing a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania by inviting the Baltic energy companies Lietuvos energija, Latvenergo and Eesti Energia as the participating parties on equal terms to invest in the preparation and implementation of the project.

In the joint Declaration, the Prime Ministers expressed support to the development of a common European energy policy and stated that energy security problem of the Baltic States should be addressed at the EU level. The Prime Ministers consider that there is a need to integrate the EU energy and foreign and security policies.

In the press conference Aigars Kalvītis said that today the heads of governments of the three Baltic States agreed on historic documents, which will strengthen the energy independence of the Baltic Sates and promote security of energy supply.

The Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas stressed that it is necessary to develop a stronger EU energy policy and noted that EU Member States and institutions do not fully understand the energy supply problems of the Baltic States.

COMMUNIQUÉ of the Prime Ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and  Lithuania

DECLARATION of the Prime Ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia on security of supply in the Baltic States and common European  energy policy