Baltic States – CIS, Energy, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Legislation, Lithuania

"I appreciate the proposal very positively. Lithuania pays the highest price for gas in Europe. This would be a huge step. We could participate in the European market," said Butkevicius after the meeting with Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Brussels.

According to the head of the Lithuania's Government, the European energy links were planned in Lithuania and the liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal was to help to implement the creation of the common energy market.

"There is a need for the energy union in Europe. This will help to increase the energy independence as well as the political independence from Russia and Gazprom," said Tusk.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Saturday the European Union should form an energy union to bolster its energy security and lessen its dependence on key gas supplier Russia whose annexation of Crimea has caused a tense stand-off with the West. Russia, which provides around one third of the EU's oil and gas, sent shockwaves through the international community with its military intervention and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula two weeks ago.

"I hope that these proposals will be taken into consideration in the Commission's report speaking about the Europe's energy independence in the meeting of the European Council in June," said Tusk.