Adamkus: EU takes responsibility for Ignalina issues

Oct 17, 2008
TBT Staff in cooperation with BNS

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus has said that the European Union will assume joint responsibility for problems that may arise after the scheduled closure of the country’s nuclear power at Ignalina.

Conclusions adopted by the European Council call for solidarity in the case of an energy crisis, the president’s press service said after Adamkus spoke at a EC session on Thursday.

"This solidarity is especially important for Lithuania and the whole Baltic region," said Adamkus in a press release.

According to the press release, the Lithuanian president thanked the EU's presiding country France, European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso and leaders of EU countries for their commitment to work out an action plan for the Baltic states.

The president had previously said that the country would face “energy bankruptcy” following the closure of the plant if it was not able to secure energy links with Swedenand Poland.

“We have to make a concerted effort to avoid yet another bankruptcy, this time in the energy sector,” he said.

"The Baltic States, having no interconnections with the EU, cannot in practical terms avail themselves of their partner's solidarity", Adamkus said in the European Council session Wednesday.

The Lithuanian head-of-state thanked the EC for its substantial contribution in preparing a plan of action for enhancing energy security in Lithuaniaand the entire region.

Though the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in 2009 was one of the stipulations for Lithuaniato join the EU, the country had repeatedly tried to get the power plant’s lifespan extended. In a meeting with Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas, however, EC head Jose Manuel Barroso said that the EU would not allow the plant to stay open passed its scheduled closure.

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