On 16 January, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Carl Bildt, who is paying a working visit to Lithuania, discussed region’s energy security and other important issues of international policy.

Minister V.Ušackas indicated that power link with Sweden was of key importance for guaranteeing energy security in Lithuania and in the countries of the region after the closure of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

“We have to join not the countries, but energy markets of the Baltic and Nordic countries, therefore, it is necessary to make a parallel move towards the creation of common energy market of the Baltic States and towards the implementation of the project of the link,” said V.Ušackas.

Stressing the importance of the European Commission’s initiative to prepare the Baltic energy market interconnection plan, Minister V.Ušackas expressed trust that in the nearest future decisions on speedy implementation of the link with Sweden would be successfully made.

As the Sweden’s EU Presidency and the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States is approaching, Minister’s agreed to continue coordinating actions concerning the implementation of projects on the Baltic Sea region and the Baltic Sea strategy. The Ministers emphasized that it was necessary to involve Russia, especially the neighbouring Kaliningrad Region into the regional projects more actively.

The Ministers agreed to dedicate especially a lot of attention to the development of scientific research and promotion of innovations, and in this way to increase the competitiveness of the region. According to V.Ušackas, Sweden’s experience in this area is particularly important to Lithuania.