News

On 30 September, during the meeting of Nordic and Baltic countries’ (NB6) ministers for European Affairs’ in Helsinki, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaroslav Neverovič discussed issues of energy security of the Baltic Sea states, the European Union’s Baltic Sea strategy and economy cooperation.

While speaking about the regional cooperation of the Baltic Sea states, the significance of the European Union’s Baltic Sea strategy was highlighted. The EU’s Baltic Sea strategy is expected to become one of the priority issues during the Swedish EU Presidency in the second half-year of 2009.

Participants of the meeting dedicated a lot of attention to the issue of regional energy security. Ministers of the Baltic States expressed their concern and urged countries of the region to take a more active role in establishing energy links.

‘Only by deepening regional integration – i.e., by developing infrastructure, energy and transport links – we will promote economic growth in the region, will enhance the competitiveness and welfare of the region. We think that one of the most important tasks of the policy of the region and the EU’s Baltic Sea strategy is to reduce energy isolation of the Baltic States,’ J.Neverovič emphasized during the meeting.

Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs J.Neverovič presented the position of Lithuania regarding the energy policy, construction of the new nuclear power plant and the power links with Poland and Sweden.

Participants of the meeting also exchanged opinions on further process of ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon, and discussed the issues of climate change. While speaking about the economy cooperation of countries in the region, attention was drawn to the issue of free movement of labour within the EU and the necessity for improvement of the transport infrastructure.