Brussels, 06/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - Lithuania's Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius shares the view of European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger on the need for a single gas price for Europe, but he doubts that an agreement between Europeans on this issue will be found quickly. This is what Butkevicius stated in an interview on Lithuania's national radio station TLR on Tuesday 6 May.
“Yes, that proposal from Commissioner Oettinger is very good and, as far as I remember, he has been working on this issue for some time already. I would definitely be in favour of such an idea. We supported this idea during our meeting [with Oettinger] and will definitely support it. However, I think it will take more time since each country is keen on protecting its interests. In this particular case, the decision should be taken by the European Commission”, Butkevicius stated.
Ahead of the European Council in June, which will partly focus on the theme of energy security - against the backdrop of the Ukrainian crisis and the tension with Russia - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk is promoting the idea of an energy union in Europe, based in particular on joint purchases of gas in order to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian energy (see EUROPE 11065). Tusk and Oettinger - whose services are working on measures to strengthen the EU's security of supply - showed very close views on the concept of energy union during a meeting in Warsaw on 2 May (see EUROPE 11071). The two men agreed on the need to set up a group of experts to discuss the legal, logistical, financial and organisational aspects of a possible European pool for joint purchases of gas. Oettinger also argued for the prices of Russian gas to be the same for all the EU member states, Ukraine, Georgia and the Balkan countries.
During a visit to Vilnius on 5 May, European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union Algirdas Semeta, from Lithuania, said he shared the idea promoted by Tusk. Semeta called for action - “We have the word and now we need actions”. “Energy must stop being a factor restricting Lithuania's and the European Union's foreign policy, especially for the protection of fundamental values”, he said. (EH)