Rasa Juknevičienė takes part in the Initial Conference on the Establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Energy Security

February 1, Minister of National Defence takes part in the Initial Conference on the Establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Energy Security (ENSEC COE) in Vilnius.

“I had the idea of establishing a NATO centre of excellence a couple of years ago at the General Assembly of NATO. I am very glad that the Alliance welcomed the idea just like the majority of our allies. It encouraged Lithuania to continue developing the idea and put it into practice”, said the Minister when given the opening remarks. She asserted a belief that the centre established and supported by the NATO allies could generate a unique added value for NATO and national capabilities in energy security sector.

The aim of the conference held in Vilnius is to represent the concept, principles of operation and plans of activity of establishing ENSEC COE in Vilnius for representatives from NATO countries.

Lithuania seeks for the NATO Centre of Excellence status for the Energy Security Centre operating under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vilnius. Lithuania’s Government approved the concept and action plan of the establishment of the Centre of Excellence last year.

NATO Centre of Excellence will supervise energy security-related processes, organise scientific research, expert seminars and exercises, prepare methodological material on threat response, enhance the energy crisis management capability as well as the commitment to collective defence. The centre will also accumulate scientific capabilities in energy security sector thus inducing development and application of technological innovations in military field.

The Energy Security Centre under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs operating in the quarters of the Lithuanian Military Academy in Vilnius was opened officially just a little more that two years ago, last January. Ministry of National Defence takes part actively in the Centre’s operation by contributing personnel.

NATO countries made an obligation to integrate energy security points into the NATO Agenda at the Lisbon Summit in 2010.

Photo by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs