Dorita Yiannakou
Energy resilience is not achieved through technology alone. It requires a long-term strategy that combines political will, institutional cooperation, investment and continuous risk assessment.
Thanks to strong political commitment, European Union support and effective coordination among all the parties involved, the Baltic states successfully synchronized their electricity grids with the European system.
At a time when Cyprus remains the only energy-isolated member state of the European Union, with high electricity costs placing a heavy burden on households and businesses, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have completed their energy independence from the electricity systems of Russia and Belarus. They are now fully integrated into the EU's internal electricity market through their connection to the continental European grid via Poland.
Lithuania's Energy Minister: Effective coordination among all stakeholders was one of the project's biggest challenges.
The project, known as the Continental Europe Synchronous Area, had been an EU priority for nearly 20 years. It was completed on February 9, 2025, following bold political decisions, the implementation of the necessary technical infrastructure and close cooperation among all stakeholders.
Costs and investment
Unlike Cyprus, where the drive for greater energy independence is largely motivated by high electricity prices, reducing energy costs was not the primary objective of Lithuania's integration into the continental European synchronized electricity grid.
According to Lithuania's electricity transmission system operator, Litgrid, electricity prices had already been relatively low while the country remained fully connected to the Russian and Belarusian power systems through the BRELL network until February 9, when it achieved energy independence.
However, Gytis Kapsevicius, a journalist with Lithuania's financial newspaper Verslo žinios, told us that after the Baltic countries synchronized their grids with the European system, consumers saw higher electricity bills than before.
Litgrid officials stressed that although most of the project was financed through European funding, Lithuania still requires significant investment to ensure the reliable operation of the new system and to meet future energy needs.
According to Litgrid officials, several regional electricity interconnection projects are already underway. These include the second overland electricity interconnector between Lithuania and Poland, Harmony Link, which is expected to be completed by 2030 at an estimated cost of around €400 million.
Another major project, EstLink 3, is scheduled for completion by 2035 and is expected to cost approximately €6 billion. Plans are also progressing for a fourth electricity interconnection between Latvia and Estonia, as well as upgrades to the Lithuania-Latvia cross-border electricity link, with both projects expected to be completed by 2035.
Overall, around 40 individual projects were carried out as part of the synchronization effort, including 20 in Lithuania alone. Total investment reached approximately €1.6 billion, of which €1.2 billion was financed through the EU's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), covering 75% of the investment costs.
A success story
The synchronization of the Baltic electricity grids with the European system was one of the most complex energy projects ever undertaken in Europe.
Its complexity stemmed not only from the technical requirements but also from the large number of stakeholders involved.
As Lithuania's Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas explained, the project involved Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Poland, requiring close coordination among transmission system operators, regulatory authorities, national governments and the European Commission.
"Effective coordination among all these stakeholders was one of the greatest challenges in ensuring this transition away from dependence on Russia," the minister told Kathimerini.
He added that the technical dimension was equally demanding, as the Baltic states had to disconnect from the electricity system they had relied on for decades and integrate into the synchronized continental European grid while ensuring the transition took place without disrupting the security of electricity supply.
The decisive political step came in 2018, when the agreement to synchronize the Baltic states with the European grid was signed and 2025 was set as the completion date.
"From that point onward, all efforts focused on implementing the necessary technical projects," he said.
One of the most important elements of the project was the installation of modern synchronous compensators, which proved essential for the successful operation of the system after synchronization, he added.
At the same time, electricity interconnections with Poland were equally critical to the project's success.
Cyprus and the challenges ahead
Although Cyprus and Lithuania face different geopolitical realities, they share one important characteristic: the resilience of their electricity systems is a matter of national security.
For Cyprus, in particular, its energy isolation makes it even more important to develop strong resilience policies, protect critical infrastructure, maintain adequate reserve capacity and plan strategically for the country's future electricity interconnection with Europe.
The experience of the Baltic states can therefore serve as a valuable guide for shaping Cyprus' energy strategy.
As Lithuanian officials repeatedly emphasized, strengthening energy security is first and foremost the result of political decisions, strategic planning and institutional cooperation, with technical implementation following afterward.
Energy resilience cannot be secured through technological solutions alone. It depends on a long-term strategy that combines political commitment, institutional cooperation, investment and continuous risk assessment.
