Baltic, Nordic, Visegrad countries unite in support of EU Energy Union

During a sitting in Slovakia, foreign ministers and deputy foreign ministers of Nordic, Baltic, and Visegrad Group's countries expressed their support to the idea of creating an Energy Union for the EU. 

According to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, events in Ukraine have revealed the EU's dependency and vulnerability in relation to energy, and this could allow other countries to abuse their monopoly situation with regards to Europe's fragmented energy market.

"In the light of the situation in Ukraine we can clearly see how important energy security is. Therefore, we welcome the European Commission's initiative to create an EU Energy Union which will allow EU investment in infrastructure projects with the aim of increasing energy security,'' said the minister. He also stressed that the liquefied natural gas terminal in Klaipeda, constructed by Lithuania alone, is currently the only gas supply alternative in the entire region.

Last month, the European Commission issued proposals for the Energy Union, which envisages reducing reliance on single suppliers to increase security against disruptions, promoting the free flow of energy across borders and a transition to a low-carbon economy.

Maros Sefcovic, the Vice-President responsible for the Energy Union, said that it would be most ambitious project in Europe since the Coal and Steel Community - the predecessor to the EU - and went on to describe the union as "a project that will integrate our 28 European energy markets into one Energy Union, make Europe less energy dependent and give the predictability that investors so badly need to create jobs and growth. Today, we set in motion a fundamental transition towards a low-carbon and climate-friendly economy, towards an Energy Union that puts citizens first, by offering them more affordable, secure, and sustainable energy."

Ministers agreed to seek better economic integration with Eastern partners and stronger cooperation with the EU during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga this May.