Belarus, Ecology, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Lithuania, Nuclear power plant

Lithuanian Energy Ministry Zygimantas Vaiciunas will attend the EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting and will speak about threats posed by the Astravyets NPP.

"Lithuania's position remains unchanged. Until the recommendations of the stress tests, which unveiled a wide range of drawbacks, are not implemented, we cannot consider the launch of the Astravyets NPP," told his spokeswoman Aurelija Vernickaite.

In her words, the Council will also discuss the European Union's long-term strategy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One of the issues on the agenda will be the amendments to the EU Gas Directive stipulating that European law must be applied to gas pipelines connecting the EU with third countries, including the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline under construction by Russia in the Baltic Sea.

Lithuania has been one of the most vocal critics of the nuclear power plant under construction in Belarus and says the facility is being built unsafely and in violation of international requirements, which Minsk denies.