Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the European Commission signed a declaration aimed at accelerating the process of the systems of the Baltic countries with Russia.
The declaration was signed on Tuesday in Brussels, reports on Wednesday, December 20, the Estonia National Broadcasting Company Estonia Err.
It was previously assumed that the disconnection will occur at the end of 2025, but this can happen almost a year earlier than previously planned.
A new route for the Harmony Link electric cable between Poland and Lithuania was also agreed at a meeting in Brussels. Earlier it was planned that it would be laid along the seabed, later they decided to launch it parallel to the Rail Baltic railway canvas.
“The Harmony Link project was discussed at the highest level between the countries. Technical activity and design are still ahead. But the most important thing is the principle that we are talking about: we no longer discuss the fact that the cable will go by sea. In fact, it will be laid along the Rail Baltic corridor, which is much safer, more economically and technically more quickly faster, ”said Climate Minister Estonia Kristen Michal.
It is assumed that the lightschronization will allow the Baltic countries to completely control their own power networks.
In early August, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – the last three EU countries that are still synchronized with the Russian power grid.
The Prime Ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania signed a declaration of the steps necessary to accelerate the accession to the power grid of continental Europe on Thursday and the terms of their implementation.
“Estonia will disconnect from the Russian electric system almost a year earlier than previously planned,” said Estonian Prime Minister Kai Callas.
According to her, the Baltic countries are working to finally get rid of dependence on Russian energy. She called the “stay in the Russian power grid” with a risk for Estonian consumers.
The accession of the Baltic countries to the power grid of continental Europe was agreed by the European Commission, Poland and three Baltic states in 2019.