The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is set to visit Lithuania on Sunday to partake in discussions, including a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda. This trip marks the inauguration of the synchronization of the Baltic States’ energy networks with the EU grid, as announced by the EC.
According to EC spokesman Stefan De Keersmaecker in Brussels, “On Sunday, President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Vilnius to deliver a speech at the event celebrating the synchronization of the Baltic interconnectors. She will also meet with President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, President of Estonia Alar Karis, and President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs.”
Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen emphasized the significance of the network synchronization, stating it has been a long-awaited milestone for 12 years. “We are delighted that the Baltic states have chosen to align their power grids with those of continental Europe through Poland. This is a priority undertaking for the Commission within the EU. After over a decade of work, this synchronization aligns perfectly with our goal to reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels,” she remarked.
The Baltic nations are the final EU members not yet linked to the Continental Europe Synchronous Area (CESA), having relied on post-Soviet energy infrastructure. The decision to transition away from this system was made over a decade ago, influenced by evolving political dynamics between the EU, the Baltic states, and Russia. The escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022 further expedited this process.
The disconnection of the Baltic states from the BRELL framework is scheduled for Saturday, followed by their synchronization with continental Europe on the following day. The switch-over will commence in Lithuania, connecting local lines to Poland, and will conclude in Estonia. (02/08/2025)
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