Baltic Prime Ministers’ meeting provides new impetus for regional cooperation projects
On May 30, Prime Ministers of the Baltic States adopted a number of decisions on the implementation of cooperation projects of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in the energy and transport sectors, Latvian Cabinet of Ministers says in its press release.
“The Baltic States share similar interests in the energy sector – enhanced energy independence from the current suppliers and provision of higher-benefit energy resources to their residents, while in the transport sector the common interests include development of transport links with Western Europe by ensuring new and more convenient tourism opportunities for the public and export routes – for businesses. By taking account of the support which we have ensured to these projects in the framework of the next EU multi-year budget we should make targeted moves towards their implementation,” emphasised Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia.
By addressing the energy sector the three heads of governments analysed the progress achieved regarding the LNG terminal project and Visagina NPP project. Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia, informed his counterparts that according to a survey conducted by the EC experts Estonia and Finland are admitted the countries most suitable for the construction of this terminal. In view of this fact both countries have asked the EC to undertake a more in-depth study in order to identify the most appropriate location of the terminal. The Prime Ministers shared the view that it is necessary to further develop gas supply diversification projects in order to ensure access of the Baltic States to the global gas markets.
Concerning Visagina NPP project, Algirdas Butkevičius, Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, informed that experts still work on an in-depth examination of project’s technical circumstances and that they will present their conclusions to the public on July 1 this year. The Prime Ministers of Latvia and Estonia re-stated that the economic viability is the most important pre-condition for the implementation of Visgaina NPP project, therefore the Prime Ministers of the three Baltic States agreed on a further analysis of project’s economic substantiation.
Concerning the progress achieved in the implementation of Rail Baltic 2 which envisages an interconnection of Helsinki, Baltic States, Poland and German capital Berlin, the Prime Ministers agreed on a joint company of the three Baltic States by stipulating that the preparation of the founding papers should be finalised not later than by the end of July 2013; the legal entity would lead Rail Baltic 2 project.
The heads of government of Estonia and Lithuania also supported the initiative of Valdis Dombrovskis to develop closer cooperation for increased energy efficiency and, to this end, establish a working group led by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Latvia. The working group would be tasked to seek the possibilities to harmonise energy efficiency requirements in area of construction and other sectors, to define common principles of measurement and levels of quality, and to agree on a coordinated financial instrument for enhanced energy efficiency in the Baltic States.
This year Latvia is the presiding State of the Baltic Council of Ministers. Meetings of the Baltic Prime Ministers take place in one of the three Baltic States. Next Baltic Prime Ministers’ meeting will take place in November, in Rīga.