Seminar over de impact van energiezekerheid op de Europese defensiesector (en)

On 12-13 September Ministry of National Defence of Lithuania will held in Vilnius an international seminar on energy security.

The seminar will conduct a debate on how European Union’s (EU) member states and EU institutions could engage in closer cooperation in order to be better prepared for respond to the challenges of global energy consumption in defence sector.

The seminar is expected to address the role various European policies (EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and Energy Policy) play in providing response to energy security challenges in defence sector. The state of the existing CSDP energy security initiatives as well as the need for new initiatives is also expected to be discussed at the international event.

The seminar will also look into the impact that energy consumption and dependence on energy supply have on operations and into the possibility for European armed forces to employ renewable energy resources.

Juozas Olekas, Lithuanian Minister of National Defence will conduct a formal opening of the seminar on 12 September where keynote addressed will be delivered by Dr. Aleksandras Spruogis, Lithuanian Vice Minister of Energy, and Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti, Foreign Secretary's Special Representative for Climate Change, United Kingdom. The seminar will be attended by delegates of the Lithuanian Ministries of National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Energy and Agriculture, Lithuanian Armed Forces, European External Action Service, European Defence Agency, European Commission, EU Military Staff, NATO, NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (operating in Lithuania), Lithuanian Energy Institute, as well as of other Lithuanian and foreign institutions.

Energy security is on the priority list of Lithuania’s EU Presidency in the second semester of this year. Lithuania seeks to contribute to the enhancement of the CSDP by strengthening the EU’s capacity to respond to emerging security challenges, including those of energy security. To that end Lithuania seeks to win more attention for energy security aspects within the CSDP.

Lithuania’s proposals regarding closer cooperation among the EU member states in energy security sector are reflected in the non-paper by Lithuania “Energy security in the EU CSDP - way forward”.

Lithuania invites the European Council which will sit in December to adopt political guidance for providing an EU response to the emerging security challenges, including in the energy security area. A military energy efficiency strategy presenting clearly the key steps for enhancing the immunity of defence sector from energy security related challenges is proposed to be adopted.

The Lithuanian non-paper also suggests carrying out EU crisis management exercises using scenarios with the focus on energy security on a regular basis, to support research and technology projects aimed at enhancing military energy efficiency, to harmonise NATO-EU cooperation in energy security area.

The seminar to be held in Vilnius is one of the series of preparatory events in the run-up for the December European Council where European security will be discussed after a long break. Various-levels meetings of representatives of EU member states and institutions that have taken place prior to this seminar have also addressed issues and rendered proposals related to the discussions and deliverables to be possibly adopted by the European Council this December.

After the seminar, there will be a possibility for the media to interview representatives of the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence on Friday, 13 September, 10.30-11.00 hrs. at the Hotel Holiday Inn (Šeimyniškių Str. 1). Those willing for such an opportunity, are kindly asked to register at Public Affairs Department Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence by email: vis@kam.lt or telephone +370 698 11 340.