2013-05-10 10:41

Lithuanian Energy Minister sees EU presidency as opportunity to discuss Russian and Belarusian nuclear power projects

Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovič sees Lithuania's upcoming EU presidency as a good opportunity to have a discussion with EU member states about energy projects that are being carried out by non-member states close to the EU external borders.
Jaroslavas Neverovičius
Jaroslav Neverovič / Irmanto Gelūno / BNS nuotr.

"Speaking about relations with third countries, it will be very useful for us to speak with our partners in the European Union what our common positions on third-country projects can be. I think that during our presidency, we will find an opportunity to discuss this issue with our EU colleagues," he told LRT Radio on Friday.

Neverovič said that during their meeting in Vilnius, EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger had reiterated his assurances that the EU would support Lithuania in its negotiations with Russia's Gazprom on lower gas prices and on the implementation of the Third Energy Package.

"We were told, once again, about the Commission's commitment to support us in talks with our partners in implementing the Third Energy Package and that the Commission would continue its active participation in consultations and talks with Gazprom's representatives," he said.

Two nuclear power plants are being built close to Lithuania's border: in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, and in Astravets, in Belarus' Grodno region, some 50 kilometers away from Vilnius.

Lithuania says that the Kaliningrad and Belarusian projects raise doubts as to their environmental impact and that they do not comply with international conventions.

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