As part of the first ministerial meeting of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation in Houston, Texas, on March 14 there was a meeting between senior officials of the United States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, including the State Secretary of the Ministry of Economics Ēriks Eglītis, the United States Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, the Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kadri Simson and the Lithuanian Minister for Energy Zygimantas Vaiciunas.
The officials discussed comprehensive extended cooperation in energy matters between the Baltic States and the United States, including the efforts of the Baltic States to move towards desynchronization and achieving synchronisation with European electricity networks, as well as cooperation on cybersecurity, the use of renewable energy sources and good practices, as well as the creation of a single market for natural gas in the region.
The officials agreed on the importance of close cooperation within the framework of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation in the form of the 3+1 Forum. This cooperation forum will provide an opportunity to test innovative ideas related to the energy market that could create unique opportunities for a wider European energy network, particularly in the fields of natural gas and liquefied gas.
The United States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been expanding economic cooperation opportunities in the last decade, particularly in the energy sector, and the senior officials hope to further advance and expand such examples of transatlantic cooperation.
In order to promote these shared goals, the senior officials agreed to meet again as soon as possible in 2019.