News

On 8 January in Prague at the informal meeting of the European Union’s General Affairs Council, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas met with EU Commissioner responsible for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner and discussed Lithuania’s energy security situation.

During the meeting, Minister V.Ušackas indicated that a speedy implementation of the Baltic Interconnection Plan was the main way to reduce Lithuania’s energy dependence, especially having in mind the perspective of closure of Ignalina’s Nuclear Power Plant.

The plans of Belarus to build a new nuclear power plant near the border with Lithuania were also discussed at the meeting. Minister of Foreign Affairs V.Ušackas indicated that the issue of nuclear safety and impact on the environment of this nuclear power plant raised the greatest concern to Lithuanian politicians and the society.

V.Ušackas suggested organising special consultations between the European Commission and Belarus. During these consultations, the issue of compliance with the requirements of international conventions on nuclear safety would be raised, as well as the issue of guaranteeing a process of transparent and public assessment of the impact on the environment.

The EU has emphasized more than once that further development of its relations with Belarus would depend on the fulfilment of international obligations that were undertaken by Belarus.