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On 12-14 September in Vilnius, during the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Special Expert Meeting on Assessing the OSCE’s Future Contribution to International Energy Security Cooperation, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis stressed that energy security was one of today’s major problems, and that the OSCE had to play a greater role in facing energy security challenges. According to Minister A.Ažubalis, Lithuania’s incoming OSCE chairmanship in 2011 suggests to dedicate more attention to energy security as an OSCE activity. The Minister said that this was important to many OSCE countries, especially to those in the Baltic region.

“The Baltic Sea region has long been dependent on imported energy. Therefore, we understand the necessity to jointly develop common principles in energy field, aiming for transparency, infrastructure projects’ development and efficient usage of energy resources,” Minister A.Ažubalis said.

Lithuania supports the EU’s energy policy and believes that it has to be based on the following principles: competitiveness, interconnectivity and security of energy resources’ supply.

“In this light, the implementation of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) that was approved by the EU becomes a top priority,” the Minister emphasized.

According to the Minister, the Baltic States have already made their first steps into liberalization of their energy markets.  

“Big energy challenges in our region, such as closing nuclear power plant, creation of a completely new, open and transparent climate in the energy sector, enables us to share this unique experience with the OSCE,” the Minister said.

Minister A.Ažubalis highlighted that Lithuania was very active in the field of energy security also within other international organizations. Lithuania actively promotes a more structured energy agenda within NATO. When implementing the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan, Lithuania aims for a better integrated energy system in the EU itself.

At the same time, the Minister stressed the importance of environment protection: “Undoubtedly, nuclear energy and renewables will play an important part in global energy security architecture. We consider nuclear energy to be an important tool to cope with the challenges of energy security policy and climate change. However, it has to be done according to international nuclear safety and radiological standards”.

According to the Minister, a need to formulate tasks for energy security appeared not accidentally. When aiming to make important changes, the OSCE as an organization has an ability to raise adequate political support and consensus.