Baltic States – CIS, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Forum, Legislation, Lithuania

At the conference experts from the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) pointed out that during Lithuanian Presidency important steps may be expected towards closer EU relations not only with Ukraine, but also with Moldova, Georgia and Armenia. President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite who opened the conference was of the same opinion. According to her, Lithuanian Presidency should be regarded as successful if the Association Agreement with Ukraine and Initial Association Agreements with Armenia and Moldova are signed.

In the recommendations for Lithuanian Presidency TEPSA representatives stressed the obligation to guarantee further smooth solutions of the EU economic problems. Political scientists said that Lithuania should devote considerable attention towards restoring stability of the euro and could speed up the development of the Economic and Monetary Union, especially confidence in the policy and compliance with the rules.

The experts and Lithuanian officials agreed that European energy sector remains overly fragmented, it lacks variety of supply sources and competition. TEPSA energy experts do not think that much change will come during current Presidency due to the slow EU energy sector regulation renewal, differing EU state energy policies and the forthcoming elections to the German parliament which might change Germany's position on energy.