EU Celebrates Energy Independence Day As Baltic Countries Cut Russian Electricity Ties

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, Feb 9 (KUNA) -- The European Union celebrated on Sunday in Lithuania what it called the "energy independence" of the Baltic States from Russia.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who took part in the official ceremony, said that the EU is today "cutting the last remaining ties with Russia" and is finally "free from threats and blackmail," calling it "a historic day."
In a statement, the EU said, "As of today, the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania - are fully independent from the Russian and Belarusian electricity systems, as they successfully integrated into the EU internal energy market by joining the European continental grid via Poland."
It considered that this integration allows the Baltic States to operate their energy systems under common and transparent European rules.
The statement added that the integration of the Baltic States into the EU electricity grid is "the result of a flagship project that has been supported by the Union with unprecedented political, technical, and financial backing over the past 15 years," noting that this shift will support the inclusion of renewable energy into the electricity grid, allowing European consumers to benefit from lower energy costs.
The Baltic countries were the last three EU member states to end their reliance on the electricity networks of Russia and Belarus, where the electricity frequency was centrally controlled by Russia, "leaving them vulnerable to Russia's weaponization of energy," according to the EU statement.
The EU emphasized that, starting today, the Baltic States will have full control over their electricity networks, enhancing energy security for the Eastern Baltic Sea region and the EU as a whole. (end)
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