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Energy security, diversification of supply, better interconnection and creation of markets are high not only on the agenda of the Governments of the region, but also in the EU agenda. Resolution of the isolation of the Baltic States energy markets has become a priority of the EU energy discussions.
I think we can be proud today that the three Baltic States have joined their forces together in order to build up our energy security and to agree on exact steps and deadlines towards a harmonised electricity market in the Baltic States.
Here, I would like to thank also the European Commission for their active involvement in raising the issue of energy islands high on the EU agenda.
Special thanks also to our Scandinavian and Polish partners for showing full cooperation and being ready to come forward with solutions and to discuss the issues in various foras.
By signing the Joint Declaration we have arrived at a good common ground. In parallel with the development of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan, it will serve as a valid political reinforcement of the same basic goals and principles.
One of the key elements of this plan is the road map towards a functioning Baltic electricity market.
Clearly, we need a strong political will to jointly implement this road map. The signature of the document is not an end of the road – it is only a start. Only real, functioning electricity market, integrated with Nordic electricity market is a genuine benchmark of the progress achieved. Therefore, I encourage all of us to remain alert on the barriers to be removed and to work hard jointly towards an open market of the Nordic-Baltic region.
By removing barriers in the Baltic electricity market we achieve several goals at the same time:
First, we move closer to adoption of the European aquis in the field of electricity market regulation
Second, we create stronger motivation and foster attraction of investments in interconnections
Third, through healthy competition among power producers we move towards fair price of energy for the consumers.
Ladies and gentlemen,
While I would like to praise our determination in the area of creation of electricity market and interconnections, some areas are still obviously lagging behind. We could wish for more dynamic development in the field of power generation projects. There should be no doubt that in medium and long term our region will need additional generation capacities. Without additional generation capacities we put at risk the issue of energy security, as we have to increase our imports from non-EU countries.
The Trakai Declaration signed in 2006 and the following memorandum of understanding among the power companies provided common principles for cooperation. I think that the partners of the Visaginas nuclear plant should move forward more actively taking into account the agreements reached so far.
The interconnection between Poland and Lithuania has been identified as a priority infrastructure projects from both economic and social benefit perspective. Keeping in mind that energy market developments in the Baltic region are interlinked, I urge for the beginning of construction of the interconnection as soon as possible.
Integration into the UCTE system remains one of our strategic goals according to the Prime Ministers’ communiqué signed in 2007. There is full political support of Latvian side to further explore the technical aspects of the system integration.
Dear colleagues,
The agreement we are reaching today is one of the turning points for the energy markets of the Nordic-Baltic region. I believe that it will give substantial impulse to foster economic competitiveness and to strengthen energy security around the Baltic Sea.
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