EU pledges support to synchronization of Baltic and European power systems

“Preventing inadequate interconnections of member-states with the European gas and electricity networks and ensuring synchronous operation of member-states within the European Continental Networks as foreseen in the European Energy Security Strategy will also remain a priority after 2020,” reads the conclusion.

According to the document published on Friday, the priority will continue to be given to the Baltic states, Portugal and Spain, as “they have not yet attained a minimum level of integration in the internal energy market.”

Currently, power systems of the three Baltic states are still operating in sync in a single system with Russia. In an effort to liberate from the Moscow influence in the field of energy, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia aim to become part of the European electricity system.

With support from the EU, the three countries are conducting feasibility studies to analyse whether Lithuania’s Visaginas nuclear facility is needed for the synchronization with the continental European grid. Lithuania’s government says the synchronization will also require a second power link with Poland.

In diplomats’ words, the conclusions drawn by EU leaders will help Lithuania seek support to its projects after the EU’s new financial perspective is launched in 2020.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who represents Lithuania at the EU summit, said in comment of the conclusion that the synchronization of the Baltic states with continental Europe would be “the final step in integrating Lithuania and other Baltic states into the European energy area”.

“This will provide us with energy security, [security of] supplies and even political independence,” Grybauskaitė told Brussels journalists.