OREANDA-NEWS  On 19 February was announced, that Mr. Jaroslav Neverovic, Chairman of the Management Board of LitPol Link, a company which is in charge of the project concerning the interconnection of Lithuanian and Polish power systems, and Mr. Michal Kielsznia, Head of the Polish General Environmental Protection Directorate (GEPD), met with Mr. Ramunas Kalvaitis, Lithuanian Minister of Environment, in Warsaw to discuss the main issues of the environmental impact assessment of the electricity link.

“It is of paramount importance for us to ensure proper investment in the process of environmental impact assessment (EIA) because the project will be implemented in an environmentally unique territory of both Lithuania and Poland. It is also a key question to bear in mind when applying for the European Union funding of the project. Therefore, along with the plan, which forms the basis for the electricity link, it is also important to submit an approved strategy report of environmental impact assessment in both Lithuania and Poland,” said Mr. Neverovic, Chairman of the Management Board of LitPolLink.

The meeting focused on the agreement signed by the governments of both parties on May 27, 2004 on the Implementation of the Espoo Convention of Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo Convention). This agreement allows facilitation of the EIA procedures in a transboundary context when dealing with organisational issues acceptable to both parties.

The heads of the Lithuanian Ministry of Environment, the Polish General Environmental Protection Directorate and LitPol Link agreed to seek implementation of the information procedures by ensuring an exchange of information between the ministries of environment of both countries about the EIA actions performed with respect to this strategic investment. Moreover, it was decided that this information would be released to citizens of both countries. In this way, time is supposed to be saved in the EIA process and a lengthy procedure of international consultations and examinations to be avoided.