Baltic States – CIS, Energy, Estonia, Gas, Legislation, Russia

Sester said that representatives of all Baltic states that participated in the round table meeting stated that the dependence of the Baltic states from the Russian gas has to be drastically reduced because of security and economic reasons, Pro Patria and Res Publica Union (Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit) announced.

"Putin's threats that the events in Ukraine can affect gas deliveries to European Union states show again that Russia is using gas as a political weapon. In return to that, the Baltic states and the rest of Europe have to improve their energy security and reduce dependency on Russian energy channels. We have let the situation emerge that the European states are connected via a umbilical cord with Putin's gas and corruption-smelling gas contracts," said Sester.

Sester said that in twenty years energy consumption has doubled and in the next 20 years, it probably will increase about the same. Thus it is more and more important to find alternatives to Russian gas.

"The Baltic states should contribute much more into developing energy efficiency. The next step to achieve that will be the regional LNG terminal. Also energy cooperation between the three Baltic states will have to be improved," said Sester.