The President: Baltic energy independence is a priority for the whole European Union

President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė met with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, who is currently visiting Lithuania.

Topics discussed during the working breakfast included the preparation for the Brussels European Council in June, the economic and financial crisis in the EU, the EU's Strategy 2020, and measures to promote sustainable economic growth in the EU.

Energy independence of the Baltic countries is a priority for Lithuania, the Baltic Sea region and the whole European Union, President Dalia Grybauskaitė said.

“Despite the six years of membership in the European Union, the Baltic region is still an energy island. The Baltic countries, and Lithuania in particular, have a higher price to pay for energy resources, especially gas, than other European states. This is because we are still in energy isolation and dependent on a single source,” the President of Lithuania said.

President Dalia Grybauskaitė underlined that all Baltic countries, including Lithuania, would seek that financial allocations were provided for in the EU's forthcoming financial perspective for energy projects vital for the region.

“Lithuania and other Baltic countries will seek that energy grids and electricity connections as well as integration of the Baltic region into the European economic area were included in the next financial perspective and among the most important interests of the whole European Union,” the President of Lithuania said.