President Valdas Adamkus is attending the meeting of the European Council in Brussels. During the first day, the European Council discussed the issues of urgent importance to Europe, including the Lisbon Treaty, the current economic and financial crisis, energy security, and climate change.

President Valdas Adamkus is attending the meeting of the European Council in Brussels. During the first day, the European Council discussed the issues of urgent importance to Europe, including the Lisbon Treaty, the current economic and financial crisis, energy security, and climate change.

Speaking about the need to overcome the financial crisis, President Adamkus highlighted the complicated situation expected to emerge in Lithuania and the Baltic region after the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant. “We have to make a concerted effort to avoid yet another bankruptcy, this time in the energy sector,” Mr. Adamkus said.

He pointed out that Lithuania does not have vitally important power connections to the West. “The Baltic States, having no interconnections with the EU, cannot in practical terms avail themselves of their partner’s solidarity,” Mr. Adamkus told the EU leaders.  

President Adamkus underlined that the unfortunate experience with Russia’s Druzhba pipeline and additional expenditures for imported energy resources demonstrated that the price to be paid for total energy dependence on the eastern neighbor would be extremely high. “Are we going to give one billion euros to the monopolist, instead of investing this sum of money to strengthen Lithuania’s energy independence?” Mr. Adamkus asked.  

President Adamkus thanked the European Commission for its significant contribution to drawing up a concrete action plan to strengthen Lithuania’s and the region’s energy security. “It is greatly important in our search for a rational response. We share common commitments, therefore we have to make responsible decisions jointly, taking into consideration all of the circumstances,” Mr. Adamkus said. “For Lithuania, it is important to encourage the European Commission to present an assessment of these circumstances at the next European Council meeting this coming December.”

With respect to climate change, President Adamkus pointed out that account should be taken of such exceptional circumstances as a major increase of emissions after Ignalina’s decommissioning. “This has to be evaluated when making the final decision on sharing the burden of pollution among EU member states,” Mr. Adamkus said.