Energy, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Lithuania, Nuclear power plant

Jose Manuel Barroso and Dalia Grybauskaite.

"We have to look at it, I cannot say anything now. I have not seen any projects and specific applications yet," the president of the European Commission said on Lithuania's possibility of receiving financial assistance on Tuesday, informs LETA/ELTA.

Barroso also emphasises that it is a decision of a member state to have or not to have a nuclear power plant. "The European Commission does not promote a specific type of energy. It (the construction of the nuclear power plant – ELTA) is a decision of countries, we do not advise a member state to have or not to have a nuclear power plant. As you know, some European Union countries have it, some do not have it. When the project is presented, we will analyse it and consider the possibility of funding the project," Barroso said.

 Lithuania will seek that the Baltic region's energy sector would become one of the key European projects and submit applications for the new financial European Union (EU) perspective together with other Baltic States. During working breakfast on Wednesday morning, President Dalia Grybauskaite and President of the European Commission (EC) Jose Manuel Barroso discussed preparation for the European Council in mid-June. The upcoming summit will focus on the economic crisis, the financial situation and the financial perspective for 2014-2020. Grybauskaite and Barroso also touched upon the coordination of the economic policies at a level of the European Union. "Without any doubt, the main interests of Lithuania are the energy sector and its future, particularly various energy links of the Baltic region with the entire European economic area," the head of state said.

According to Grybauskaite, the Baltic region remains isolated after six years of its EU membership. The Baltic region and Lithuania pay more for energy resources, especially for gas, than other European countries. The president says that in this way we are excluded and made dependent on one source. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a single Baltic energy market and submit applications for EU financial contribution. "I have said that all Baltic States and Lithuania will submit applications for the new financial perspective so that energy issues, energy links in particular, and the Baltic region's connection to the entire European area in reality would be included in the new financial perspective and would become a key European priority. This would be a Lithuanian dimension," Grybauskaite said.

Barroso highlighted the importance of the integration of Lithuania's energy into European markets. The EC president said that Lithuania followed the right path of reforms. This is also proved by the fact that Lithuania has been allocated 6.8 billion euros from European Union structural funds up to 2014. The EC president reiterated that the consolidation of the budget and public finance must not be forgotten. "It is our key priority. (...) Priorities include the issues related to connection, energy, transport and environment. The Commission will continue supporting Lithuania. I want to thank President Dalia Grybauskaite and Lithuanian citizens for their strong commitment and support to the European Union," Barroso said.

Energy independence of the Baltic countries is a priority for Lithuania, the Baltic Sea region and the whole European Union, President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

„Despite the six years of membership in the European Union, the Baltic region is still an energy island. The Baltic countries, and Lithuania in particular, have a higher price to pay for energy resources, especially gas, than other European states. This is because we are still in energy isolation and dependent on a single source," the President of Lithuania said.

As reported, last week Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas said that Lithuania asked the EU for "financial instruments" to support the erection of the nuclear power plant in Visaginas. According to Sekmokas, the Visaginas AE project is a regional one, thus, not only Lithuania should take care of minimizing its risks, but the entire European Union. Sekmokas noted that potential investors also expected EU financial instruments.