Baltic states want energy cooperation with Nordic Countries
Intense week of Nordic cooperation begins in Copenhagen
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The efforts of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia to become independent of energy supplied by Russia came up again on Monday, when the prime ministers of the three former Soviet states met their Nordic colleagues in Copenhagen.
"We want to break away from our isolation in energy matters. We are investigating the possibilities of building power lines to Europe - including one below the sea to Sweden", said Lithuania's Prime Minister Gediminas Kirkilas. He was echoed by Latvia's Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis.
"We would feel more comfortable, independent, and secure, if the Baltic energy system could be better integrated into Europe. The Nordic Countries can help us a great deal in this", Kalvitis said.
Dependence on Russian energy was a focus of attention when Moscow put pressure on Ukraine by decreasing gas supplies. The issue is also a hot topic of discussion in the Baltic countries and in the whole EU.
The Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian leaders praised the actions of the EU during the Finnish Presidency.
"At the summit in Lahti the EU spoke with one voice, but Russia did not speak the same language. The picture of the situation is clearer than before", said Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. "This year the electricity network of the Baltic countries will be linked with the Finnish grid through the Estlink cable. It is the first good piece of news about real cooperation in this field", Ansip said.
According to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, there are already plans to upgrade Estlink.
"There have also been ideas of building a natural gas link between Finland and the Baltic countries. In it, Finland would mainly be interested in Latvia's natural gas resources, which would improve the maintenance of supplies", Vanhanen said.
The summit between the Baltic States and the Nordic Countries kicked off a week of Nordic cooperation. Today, Tuesday, the annual session of the Nordic Council includes a number of meetings of four Nordic Parliamentarians. At the same time, the Nordic governments will meet in a number of different contexts.
The Nordic Council, composed of 87 Parliamentarians from Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, as well as from representative bodies of a number of autonomous areas in the region, does not have formal decision-making power on anything. It is nevertheless a popular discussion forum supported by all of its members. Finland is sending as many as nine ministers to government level meetings during the session, while Sweden is sending seven.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 31.10.2006 - TODAY |
 Baltic states want energy cooperation with Nordic Countries |
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