ATHENS - A decision by Azerbaijan to build the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to route Caspian natural gas to Europe through Greece and Italy will boost the European Union’s energy independence since it is a new source of gas, Lithuania’s Ambassador in Athens told New Europe on 5 June, five days after Lithuania began its six-month EU presidency.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by the European Parliament office in Athens, Alfonsas Eidintas, said Azerbaijan can help Europe since it is an important energy exporter.
“Every country with energy resources is in our interests because we’re dependent on one source,” he said, referring to Lithuania, which is anxious to keep Russia at bay - but remains almost entirely dependent on it for energy.
“We’re not blaming that one source, but we’re dependent. Any country that shows interest in the EU with pipelines, with modern LNG tankers, interests us. We’re building a liquefied natural gas terminal. We’re interested in any delivery, in any source of gas, to have some competition between companies. We want to have the possibility to negotiate the price of gas. We’re paying 15% more than Germany pays. You can imagine our salaries and the German salaries and how such high price of gas badly influences our economy,” Eidintas said.
Lithuania’s Energy Minister Jaroslav Neverovic has said that his country is 80% reliant on Russia for energy: almost 100% for gas and 60% for electricity.
The Lithuanian ambassador said his country’s 100% gas dependence on Russia is a problem. He added that Lithuania is also facing electricity challenges since it closed down its nuclear power station. “If the prices are so high and we don’t have any, any instrument to lower them, the conclusion is to gather competitors,” he told new Europe.
Eidintas said Lithuania will work very hard to push for increasing Europe’s energy independence. He noted that at least the EU is already talking with one voice about the energy problem and creating a common energy market, “which is a big achievement already because single countries cannot solve this problem”.
“We’re an island of energy in the EU. Of course, there is an electrical cable planned with Sweden. We’re talking about nuclear power plant and some connections but the closest plan is the Klaipeda liquefied natural terminal,” which is currently under construction, he said.
Eidintas also said Lithuania, which took over the presidency after Ireland's six-month term and will hand over to Greece on 1 January 2014, will also focus on the economy and plans to work with the Greek government.
“The biggest thinkers will be in Brussels and in Vilnius in the summit. Everybody already is convinced that those questions are very important and EU member states cannot be islands of non-growth or islands of energy,” he said, adding that the lack of energy sources, the single market and banking will be key issues that will be addressed.
Asked about his faith in the single European currency, Eidintas said there will be no problems. He added that Lithuania is keen to join the eurozone in 2015 and is working on that goal. “I think we’re following this and hopefully, if we will be lucky, we’ll join the eurozone in 2015,” he said.
Asked if he thinks Greece would still be in the eurozone then, he replied: “Definitely, yes. Now, the worse time passed already”.
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