Energy security of the Baltic region lies within close relations with Russia (1 Viewer)

[puesto]

You know, countries in the Baltic region like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland started to complain about their low energy security which happens to be the result of their dependence from a single energy sources supplier - OPEC and Russia. In this connection prime-ministers of these states even signed an address to European Commission with a demand to help solve their difficulties in order to ring-fence them from certain risks. According to them, EU must have a heavy hand on energy suppliers using such bargaining tools like the WTO and G-8 to achieve transparent deliveries of energy products and liberalization of the market.

I wonder if these people ever heard about a certain initiative named Northern Dimension Partnership program which is a EU initiative aimed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the EU and its member states, the northern countries associated with the EU under the European Economic Area and Russia. Besides, the Northern Dimension is intended to promote security and stability in the region. So Poland and Baltic states should better not waste time repining at unhappy lot, but join it like Germany and Finland has done already as they've set a course for good relationships with Russia. The energy supplies infrastructure is still under development so if Poland and others get a move on it they can catch the leaving train.

 

[Volker]

You know, countries in the Baltic region like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland started to complain about their low energy security which happens to be the result of their dependence from a single energy sources supplier - OPEC and Russia.

OPEC and Russia - these are two. There are more possibilities. Germany gets oil from Russia, UK, Norway and Libya to name the most important. All the countries you talked about have harbors and they can negotiate with who they want. There are electrical energy networks from Siberia to Portugal.

In this connection prime-ministers of these states even signed an address to European Commission with a demand to help solve their difficulties in order to ring-fence them from certain risks. According to them, EU must have a heavy hand on energy suppliers using such bargaining tools like the WTO and G-8 to achieve transparent deliveries of energy products and liberalization of the market.

I wonder if these people ever heard about a certain initiative named Northern Dimension Partnership program which is a EU initiative aimed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the EU and its member states, the northern countries associated with the EU under the European Economic Area and Russia. Besides, the Northern Dimension is intended to promote security and stability in the region. So Poland and Baltic states should better not waste time repining at unhappy lot, but join it like Germany and Finland has done already as they've set a course for good relationships with Russia. The energy supplies infrastructure is still under development so if Poland and others get a move on it they can catch the leaving train.

Poland and the Baltic States have been part of the Northern Dimension since 2004.