In March a Japanese state-owned oil and gas company announced it had successfully extracted gas from methane hydrate deposits from under the seabed. Why is it important? Huge amount of gas extracted from the above sources determine radical changes in the global energy map since the Earth is rich with these resources.

According to The Economist, Europe has some kind of golden age of coal or coal renaissance. Since coal is by far the most polluting source of electricity with more greenhouse gas produced per kilowatt hour than any other fossil fuel, this is making a mockery of European environmental aspirations to reduce (compared to 1990) gas emissions of the EU Member States by 20 percent.

At the end of the last year the Centre for Geopolitical Studies organised an international conference „Nuclear Energy Triangle: Regional and Global Challenges of Nuclear Power“. The focus during the conference was given to the Lithuanian, Russian and Belarusian NPP projects, their economic feasibility and geopolitical implications.  

Several major energy projects are currently implemented in the Baltic Region. However, due to their complex nature and long implementation period the internal changes or changes in the international environment might determine long delays or even termination of project implementation.

„We are fighting. You know that today nobody uses weapons or tanks in these latitudes. The struggle is for energy, through energy and via propaganda. Remember, when Lithuania started developing Visaginas nuclear power plant (NPP) project, immediately the two new nuclear power plant projects emerged in the neighborhood of Lithuania“.

On 8 March Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy acknowledged that Europe has and will have to import more energy resources and that it is necessary to diversify energy supply and increase the effectiveness of energy consumption.

As of late August 2011, these relations are in a holding pattern, as there are several options for Ukraine on the table, and no final decision has been made which one to choose – association with the EU, involvement in the Russia-led Customs Union, or continued domestic stagnation and international isolation. Neither the European nor the Russian leaders, nor even the Ukrainian leadership, seem to be clear about the path Ukraine will take in its foreign relations, in the near future.

The meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Hannover on 19 July was an important event for further development of the Nord Stream pipeline project and first of all concerning Russia’s proposal to consider the construction of the third line on the Nord Stream pipeline.

Lithuania seems to start realizing the projects leading toward energy security and reduction of dependence on one supplier (Russia). These projects (energy connections with Poland and Sweden, a planned gas pipeline between Lithuania and Poland etc.) will be realized with the EU assistance as part of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP).

As nuclear energy becomes an integral part of Russia’s foreign policy, it is more often used for strategic purposes. The closure of Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania and rising demand for electricity in the Baltic region creates an energy deficit that provides Russia an opportunity to increase its dominance in the region by supplying electricity.

In the context of discussions and plans concerning construction of a new nuclear power plant (NPP) in Visaginas the following question arises: is Lithuania’s energy independence realistic and what measures or actions could guarantee Lithuania’s sovereignty?

During the visit in Brussels on 24 February, Vladimir Putin tried to push own energy policy model to the EU. Negotiations were indeed very difficult and parties didn’t manage to coordinate their positions. But the EU’s third internal energy market package took effect on 3 March.

Energy security is one of the most important issues within the complex national security concept. In Belarus it is directly related not only to national security but also to the stability of the ruling regime. Especially now, when Europe has again lost faith in Lukashenka.

By the end of the last year Russia and Bulgaria announced an agreement to set up a joint venture for building a stretch of the South Stream gas pipeline via Bulgaria. That was the final stage of preparatory works. The pipeline will go through the territories of Croatia, Greece, Italy, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia and Austria. Its capacity should reach 63 billion cubic meters of gas a year. According to Gazprom, construction will cost 18-24 billion USD.

Pursuant to the National Energy Strategy which came into force in 2007, Lithuania decided to build a new nuclear power plant by retaining the infrastructure of the current Ignalina NPP. It was envisaged to finalize construction of the new NPP not later than by 2015. Realization of this project could help Lithuania to become independent on energy import in case of closure of Ignalina NPP.

According to the representative of the Russian opposition Leonid Gozman, Russia may not like the Baltic States and be an uncomfortable neighbour for Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, however is inoffensive for them, because it has finally accepted the fact of their independence.

It is easier to start business in Estonia than in Latvia and Lithuania, therefore more new firms are established in our country than in other Baltic States – refer to a new study SEB analysts and entrepreneurs.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso received in Brussels representatives of the Lithuanian Government and promised to help the country to pass on to Euro in 2015.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius and the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, signed in Brussels a joint plan on combating the illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials, reported in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

This was stated by the Prime Minister of Lithuania Algirdas Butkevicius, speaking about the powers of negotiators with the Russian company "Gazprom".

Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Estonia in St. Petersburg Franek Persidski was declared persona non grata in the Russian Federation. Persidski became an undesirable person in Russia on the basis of parity - a little earlier Russians were not allowed into Estonia.

Polish President directed to finance the development of the Polish missile defence system.