Baltic states sign energy synchronisation agreement with EU
Ratas - Grybauskaite - Juncker - Photo EC
(BRUSSELS) - The heads of state or government of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland signed a roadmap Thursday for synchronising the Baltic States' electricity grid with the continental European network by 2025.
For historical reasons, however, the Baltic States' electricity grid is still operated in a synchronous mode with the Russian and Belarusian systems.
The desynchronisation of the Baltic States' electricity grid from these systems and the synchronisation with the continental European network (CEN) is an essential political priority for the achievement of the Energy Union.
The synchronisation project will allow the three Baltic States to gain full control of their electricity networks and to strengthen their energy security, allowing their systems to operate under common and transparent European rules to the benefit of consumers in the Baltic States.
"Today we are witnessing a project where we decided to work together and in sync towards a common goal," said the Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker: "With patience, hard work and a spirit of compromise we managed to find European solutions that are built on solidarity and strengthen our Union."
Whilst formerly an 'energy island', the Baltic States region is now connected with European partners through recently established electricity lines with Poland (LitPol Link), Sweden (NordBalt) and Finland (Estlink 1 and Estlink 2). These projects were made possible and built with EU support. For historical reasons, however, the Baltic States' electricity grid is still operated in a synchronous mode with the Russian and Belarusian systems.
The Political Roadmap signed by the leaders sets the scene for practical implementation by presenting a clear timetable of actions.
The first such action is the launch this September of the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) procedure as a first technical step for extending the Continental European Network to the Baltic States. This project is a cornerstone and one of the most emblematic projects of the Energy Union and a concrete expression of solidarity in energy security.
The synchronisation process is seen as crucial to the unity and energy security of the European Union and loosening energy dependance on Russia.
Under the Roadmap, on the green light from the high-level group on Baltic Energy Market Integration Plan in September 2018, the Polish and Baltic States' Transmission System Operators (TSOs) will launch a formal procedure that will be managed by the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E).
Synchronisation of Baltic States' electricity networks with the continental European network (CEN) - background guide