Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have fully disconnected from Russian and Belarusian electricity networks, completing their integration into the European continental grid via Poland, officials said on Saturday.
The move marks a major step in the Baltic region’s energy independence, allowing the three nations to operate their power systems under common European regulations. The synchronisation enhances the EU’s energy security while supporting the integration of renewable energy sources, which could help lower consumer costs.
EU-Backed Transition
The synchronisation project, a flagship EU initiative, has received strong political, technical, and financial support over the past 15 years. The European Commission has provided €1.23 billion in grants from the Connecting Europe Facility, covering 75% of investment costs. Additional funding has been allocated under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to strengthen electricity infrastructure in Latvia and Lithuania.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen, and Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius attended the ‘Energy Independence Day’ ceremony in Lithuania on Saturday, alongside Baltic and Polish leaders.
Until now, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania had remained part of the Russian-controlled electricity network, a legacy of the Soviet era. By disconnecting, they eliminate their reliance on Moscow for power grid stability, a vulnerability that has raised concerns amid heightened geopolitical tensions.
Accelerated Timeline
The Baltic States had initially planned to complete synchronisation by late 2025 but accelerated the transition by 10 months. The success of the project reflects collaboration between EU Member States, transmission system operators, investors, and businesses, officials said.
“Today history is being made: the Baltic States are switching on energy independence,” von der Leyen said. “The last electricity grids in Europe still linked to Russia are now fully integrated into Europe’s internal energy market. The last remaining power lines with Russia and Belarus will be dismantled. This is freedom – freedom from threats and blackmail.”
Looking ahead, the EU will continue to support infrastructure improvements, including the planned 700 MW Harmony Link interconnector between Lithuania and Poland, expected to be completed by 2030.
The project is part of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) and has been facilitated through 40 investment projects under the EU’s Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) regulation. It has been coordinated by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) alongside national grid operators.
On February 8, 2025, the Baltic States officially de-synchronised from the Russian and Belarusian frequency area. The next day, they successfully linked to the European grid, marking their full integration into the EU’s internal energy market. /BV
