Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have officially completed their integration into the European continental electricity grid, marking a historic step towards energy independence. The three Baltic States have successfully disconnected from Russian and Belarusian power networks, joining the European electricity system via Poland. This milestone enhances the security of energy supply across the EU and supports the integration of renewable energy sources, ultimately benefiting consumers with lower energy costs.

A long-awaited achievement

The Baltic Synchronisation Project has been a high-priority initiative under the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) High-Level Group. It has benefited from EU investments in over 40 energy infrastructure projects and additional measures to ensure regional energy autonomy and security of supply. The European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E), in collaboration with Continental Transmission System Operators (TSOs), coordinated the project.

On February 8, 2025, the Baltic States officially de-synchronised from the Russian and Belarusian frequency area. The following day, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania successfully synchronised with the European frequency area, marking their full integration into the EU’s internal energy market.

The synchronisation of the Baltic electricity networks with the European system is a flagship EU project, backed by 15 years of political, technical, and financial support from the European Commission. The initiative has received over €1.23 billion in grants from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, covering 75% of investment costs, along with additional funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility for Latvia and Lithuania to strengthen electricity infrastructure.

Energy independence day celebrations

To mark the occasion, an official ceremony titled Energy Independence Day took place in Lithuania. The event was attended by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, and political leaders from the Baltic States, Poland, and other key stakeholders.

“This is a historic day for the Baltic States,” President von der Leyen stated. “With this move, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are switching on energy independence. The last remaining electricity connections with Russia and Belarus will now be dismantled. This marks the end of an era of energy vulnerability and the beginning of true freedom from threats and blackmail.”

Strengthening EU energy security

The Baltic States were the last EU members still operating within the Russian-controlled electricity system, making them vulnerable to potential energy coercion. Synchronising their grids with the EU not only grants them full control over their electricity networks but also strengthens the energy security of the Eastern Baltic Sea region and the EU as a whole.

The success of the synchronisation project was made possible through the collaboration of the three Baltic States, Poland, businesses, investors, and transmission system operators. Their joint efforts allowed the project to be completed 10 months ahead of schedule.

Future developments

Moving forward, the European Coordinator for the Baltic Synchronisation project, Catharina Sikow-Magny, will continue working with EU Member States in the region to implement the remaining aspects of the initiative. One key future project is the construction of the 700 MW Harmony Link Interconnector between Lithuania and Poland, scheduled for completion in 2030.

This historic achievement signifies the Baltic States’ transition towards a more resilient and independent energy future, setting a precedent for energy security and cooperation within the European Union.

Today we connect the Baltic states to the continental European electricity grid.

We’re cutting the last remaining links with Russia.

Freedom from threats and blackmail, at last.

This is a historic day ↓ https://t.co/t67PwrgbPn

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) February 9, 2025