Upcoming conference on the energy future of the Baltic States

The Baltic Assembly, together with the Baltic Council of Ministers, is organising a conference “Energy future of the Baltic States: addressing regional challenges together”, scheduled for 16-17 May 2024 in Vilnius, Lithuania. The event will gather policymakers, experts, and stakeholders from the Baltic region, focusing on enhancing energy security and accelerating the clean energy transition.

Prior to the main conference, there will be an internal meeting of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the representatives of the Baltic Council of Ministers.

The conference will be opened by Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania; Andrius Kupčinskas, President of the Baltic Assembly; and Inga Žilienė, Vice-Minister of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania. The sessions will be moderated by Dr Reinis Āboltiņš, an Energy Market Analyst at the Public Utilities Commission of Latvia.

Session highlights

Session I: Increasing cooperation and coordination of the Baltic States

This session will delve into the Baltic States' accelerated activities in the energy sector since Russia’s war in Ukraine, discussing the strategic moves made to diversify energy supply and mitigate vulnerabilities previously exploited by geopolitical tensions. Key speakers such as Col. Thierry Segard from the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence and representatives from the Baltic energy ministries will explore essential strategies for increasing energy security and independence in the region.

Session II: Renewable energy in the Baltic States: harmonizing approaches and encouraging joint projects

The second session will focus on the pivotal role of renewable energy in tackling the climate change crisis and transitioning to clean energy. Despite significant progress, there remains a need for more active trilateral cooperation in developing renewable energy projects. The session aims to identify main challenges and outline practical steps for harmonizing efforts and fostering joint projects across the Baltic States.

The sessions of the conference will conclude with a panel discussion, allowing attendees to pose questions and engage directly with the experts. This event is a significant platform for the Baltic States to unify their efforts in addressing the pressing challenges of energy security and sustainable development.

The conference contributes to the broader regional dialogue that is important in shaping the energy future of the Baltic States. This ongoing conversation seeks to foster a resilient, secure, and sustainable energy landscape across our region.