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www.alfa.lt:  Europe should help Lithuania and Poland build their strategic energy projects because it would help the entire European economy, Gunther Oettinger, the European Commissioner for Energy said.

Oettinger told Lithuanian Energy Minister Arvydas Sekmokas his opinion at a conference on European energy infrastructure in Madrid on Friday. The meeting was focused on the integration of the Baltic countries into Europe. Lithuania in particular has energy supply issues because it is connected to Russian networks only, which leave it vulnerable to political incidents.

The commissioner was very interested in the country's new nuclear plant.

"Oettinger was interested in what support instruments are needed for the new nuclear power plant to ensure as rapid implementation of this important regional project as possible," Sekmokas said in Madrid.

Sekmokas underlined that pipelines and undersea cables were helpful, but that the country needed to find new ways to generate energy.

Oettinger confirmed support for Lithuania, saying that although its energy projects are costly, it is a sound investment for the EU.

"The Lithuanian-Polish gas pipeline. It costs a lot. However, it is necessary for European solidarity, competition, the single market and the security of supply," he said.