Lithuania’s Foreign Vice-Minister chairs Executive Committee’s meeting of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence
On 19-20 November, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Andrius Krivas chairs the 7th Executive Committee’s meeting of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE) in Vilnius.
Outcomes of the centre’s activities in 2015 were presented at the meeting. The participants discussed possibilities for the centre’s development, the strengthening of cooperation with other organizations and partners, a long-term vision of the centre’s activities and adopted an action plan in 2016.
A national Energy Security Centre was established in 2011. The NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence was accredited in 2012. Its establishing countries are the following: Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, France and Turkey. The United Kingdom joined the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence as a sponsoring nation in 2014. Georgia joined the centre as a contributing partner nation in the same year. Representatives of the Czech Republic and Canada also contribute to the centre’s activities. On 19 November, the Czech Republic announced its intentions to begin the joining process to the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence as its 8th sponsoring nation. The centre is under the leadership of Colonel Gintaras Bagdonas.
The establishment of the centre has strengthened Lithuania’s positions on energy security issues within NATO and internationally. The NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence analyses issues relating to operational energy security, efficiency and critical energy infrastructure protection. The centre also makes recommendations and gives advice on operational energy efficiency, the application of alternative energy sources for military needs, the development of environment-friendly and effective capabilities; assesses risks, identifies threats, organizes exercise and training.
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