Positively double negative about LEO LT

  • 2008-07-11
  • By Mike Collier
VILNIUS - In one of the tricksiest press statements issued for months, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is encouraged that the European Commission is "not negative" about the status of LEO LT, the controversial 'national champion' entity established to take care of the country's future energy supply.

The statement, issued July 11, says the ministry "appreciates the attention of the European Commission (EC) given to the integration of Lithuania and other Baltic States into the common European Union energy market. This goal is one of the priorities of the EC. The support of the European Commission for international linking of electricity grids and for the implementation of other energy projects, which would contribute to the removal of energy isolation of the Baltic States and to the reduction of their dependence on one single external energy supplier, is important to Lithuania."

"The new nuclear power plant is a big regional project, the implementation of which has a strategic significance for the energy security not only in Lithuania, but also in other countries of the region. The European Commission follows the implementation of this project, because Lithuania's energy security is an integral part of the EU energy policy.

"Considering the significance of the project for the energy security in the region and in the entire EU, Lithuania and the EC are steadily exchanging information on practical and legal aspects of the implementation of the new nuclear power plant and other energy projects. It is standard practice of cooperation between the EU Member States and the European Commission. However, the European Commission has not presented any formal conclusions that the establishment of the LEO LT contradicted the EU law."

That's all true - though to wrap the statement up in another double negative, neither has the EC presented any formal conclusions that the establishment of LEO LT did not contradict EU law. The EC's investigation continues, and isn't expected to result in anything substantial for another month or so.