Baltic States – CIS, Energy, EU – Baltic States

Andris Piebalgs.

''EU members are very concerned of this, like for example my country – Latvia, whose only energy supplier is Russia. This issue should be taken seriously, even though I believe Russia will continue to be a dependable energy supplier,'' said Piebalgs.

Piebalgs also believes that, at the moment, it is necessary to diversify energy suppliers. In relation to this, the commissioner mentioned the import of gas from countries of the Caspian Sea region, as well as from Iraq and Nigeria.

The commissioner also once again emphasized the necessity to implement the ''Nabucco'' gas pipeline project, to reduce the dependency from Russia.

''I hope that construction work will begin in 2010, so that by 2013, the first gas supplies will flow through the pipeline. However, there are still several things that need to be solved, like, for example, the cost of transit through Turkey,'' Piebalgs explained.

The EU energy commissioner also pointed out that disturbing the construction of the ''Nabucco'' project and the EU's energy policy, is the fact that several EU members are involved in the competing Russian project – the Nord Stream pipeline.

''The EU's lack of unity is a strategic weakness. It is necessary for us to have a common domestic energy policy,'' Piebalgs emphasized.