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At the informal meeting of the European Union’s General Affairs Council on 8 January in Prague, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas together with his colleagues from other EU countries discussed priorities of the Czech EU Presidency, paying particular attention to the issue of strengthening European energy security.

The Minister indicated that the dispute between Ukraine and Russia regarding the provision of gas had once again revealed vulnerabilities of the European energy sector.

“When energy suppliers sneeze, Europe catches a cold”, Minister V.Ušackas said.

“The commercial dispute between Ukraine and Russia has clear political implications, therefore, when such a sore point for all European countries is touched upon, the EU cannot remain just an observer,” the Minister noted, reminding that Lithuania was among the first countries that urged the EU to get involved into the dispute between Ukraine and Russia regarding gas provision.

The Minister expressed satisfaction at the fact that the EU had taken into account Lithuania’s call for mediation in the dispute between Ukraine and Russia regarding gas provision, and the first official meeting between representatives of the EU and “Gazprom” gas concern is scheduled today in Brussels.

Minister V.Ušackas also highlighted that similar disputes would be often avoided, if there were principles of transparent business established in the energy sector, especially among the producers of energy sources and the countries which guarantee its transit. This could be best achieved by implementing the Energy Charter.

The Minister encouraged the EU to act in solidarity while solving energy security issues.

According to Minister V.Ušackas, the dispute between Ukraine and Russia is just a small part of a bigger problem, which is especially important to the Baltic States, and which once again proves the significance of creating a common EU internal energy market and the importance of diversification of energy supply sources.

“Tackling the energy isolation of Lithuania and the other Baltic States is a priority issue for the EU and it should be solved immediately. As the European Council concluded in December 2008, there should be an additional EU financing allotted to the projects of infrastructure that are important for the Baltic region, such as the electricity grid between Lithuania and Sweden,” indicated head of Lithuania’s diplomacy.

The Minister also stressed that it was necessary to continue shaping external European energy policy, to decisively implement projects regarding the provision of alternative energy resources to Europe and renewable energy, as well as to create mechanisms of reacting to energy crises.