Energy Union: Synchronisation of the Baltic States' electricity network

European Commission - Statement

Energy Union: Synchronisation of the Baltic States' electricity network with the European system will strengthen solidarity and regional security of supply.

Brussels, 22 March 2018

Joint Statement

The Heads of State or Government of the Baltic States and of Poland met with President Juncker to reaffirm their strong commitment to synchronising the Baltic States' electricity grid with the continental European System by 2025. The Heads of State or Government called for utmost efforts to maintain the working schedule of the Ministers, of system operators and of experts. They agreed to meet again in summer, to conclude a political agreement on the preferred way of synchronising the Baltic States with the continental European network.

Today, 22 March 2018, at a meeting held in the European Commission premises, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker together with the President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Prime Minister of Estonia Jüri Ratas, the Prime Minister of Latvia Māris Kučinskis and the Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki stressed the importance of the synchronisation process as a key element to physically integrate the Baltic States with the Continental European energy system and offering a major contribution to the unity and energy security of the European Union. They stressed that this is one of the most emblematic projects of the Energy Union and a concrete expression of solidarity in energy security.

They agreed that 2018 will be a decisive year and expressed their commitment to conclude by June 2018 a political agreement on the preferred way of synchronising the Baltic States with the continental European network. In order to successfully realise the project the support from Connecting Europe Facility funds will be crucial.

The Heads of State or Government welcomed the good progress of the preparatory work, conducted by Ministers of Energy of the respective countries in cooperation with Vice-President for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete.

STATEMENT/18/21