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For the Baltic Sea region it is now most important to solve the issues of energy security and nuclear safety, Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Egidijus Meilūnas said at the 16th Ministerial Session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) on 7 June in Oslo.

At the Ministerial Session, representatives from the Baltic and Nordic states, Poland, Russia and Germany discussed the organization’s future and long-term goals.

“The region needs a reliable and well-functioning energy market that would ensure fair and stable energy prices,” Foreign Vice-Minister of Lithuania said at the Ministerial Session.

He stressed that it was especially significant for the region to comply with strict criteria of supervision of nuclear safety, therefore, we should welcome the European Union’s decision to conduct nuclear safety “stress tests” on nuclear reactors in the EU and its neighbouring countries, as well as on planned nuclear power plants.

Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas also stressed environmental challenges. He said that one of the main problems was the fate of chemical weapons dumped at the Baltic Sea after the Second World War. According to the Vice-Minister, CBSS, as an organization which is particularly well-aware of region-specific issues should use this advantage to implement joint projects with the EU.

Participants of the meeting also listened to a report of the Norwegian Presidency of this organization, got acquainted with the priorities of the incoming German Presidency and discussed perspectives of the region’s development and its challenges.

Participants of the meeting also discussed the implementation of the Vilnius Declaration “A Vision for the Baltic Sea Region by 2020” that was adopted by Heads of Government of the Baltic Sea States in 2010, increasing the efficiency of the activity of the CBSS and application of other instruments of regional cooperation. Participants exchanged opinions on what should be done to make the Baltic Sea region one of the richest, most innovative and competent among all regions around the world.

Germany will take over the Presidency of the CBSS from Norway on 1 July. The main priority of the Presidency will be further integration of the Baltic Sea region.

On 8 June, Vice-Minister E.Meilūnas will participate in the celebration marking the 20th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and Norway.