(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 14 DEC - Two new electricity interconnections linking Lithuania to Poland and Sweden are officially inaugurated in Vilnius. The LitPol Link connects Alytus in Lithuania with Elk in Poland and the Nordbalt links up Nybro in Sweden and Klaipeda in Lithuania bringing together, for the first time, the electricity networks of the Baltic States with those of Sweden and Poland. "In the Energy Union there is no room for energy islands.

Electricity has to be able to flow freely across borders" the EU Commissioner for Energy, Miguel Arias Canete, said. "These two new electricity links mark an important milestone in integrating the Baltic States and Poland with the rest of the European electricity market" the EU Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis added. The new interconnections will increase the interconnection level of Poland and of the three Baltics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Prior to LitPol and Nordbalt, both Poland and the Baltic countries did not meet the minimum EU 10% interconnection target. LitPol is a 'Project of EU Common Interest' which received over 27 million euros of EU support for works in Lithuania. LitPol also benefitted from the EU's structural funds for construction works carried out in Poland, a loan from the European Investment Bank of 55 million euros and a Nordic Investment Bank loan of 50 million euros. (ANSA)