Lithuania threatens to block EU-Russia agreement

Lithuanian officials, angered by Russia’s halting of oil supplies to the country, have said that they may join Poland in blocking talks on a new EU-Russia agreement.

Transneft, Russia’s state-controlled pipeline operator, shut the Druzhba link to Mazeikiu Nafta, the only refinery in the Baltic states, following a reported leak last July. There has been speculation that Russia may be using the blockage to lower the value of Mazeikiu, and in this way encourage Poland’s PKN Orlen, which beat Russian rivals to take over the plant, to abandon its acquisition of the refinery.
Deputy Foreign Minister Zygimantas Pavilionis told Reuters that he would like the issue to be discussed at the upcoming European Council meeting on 8-9 March saying, “We think that the EU should influence the process. We have asked the (EU) presidency, but nothing has happened.” He further questioned Russia’s motives: “The leak can be fixed in several weeks, but eight months have passed already and nothing has happened. It is a political act.”

Transneft told Kommersant that an examination of the pipeline is ongoing and that supplies would not be resumed earlier than March 2007. In the eventuality that the pipeline cannot be repaired, the construction of a new one might take up to two years.

EurActiv