Delegates from Finland taking part in the meeting on observers’ rights officially expressed interest to contribute to NATO ENSEC COE work. Corresponding procedures will begin in the nearest while as Finland presented a letter of intent as soon as the meeting concluded. The first Finland’s delegate will be posted to the NATO ENSEC COE early next year. As a non-NATO country, Finland aspires for the status of a contributing partner, the same as held by Georgia.
Information regarding German and US requests to join the Centre was also updated at the meeting. Representatives of both countries are expected to sign official documents early in 2017 and first delegates will be posted in the same year.
Framework nations, i.e. Lithuania, Estonia, France, Georgia, Italy, Latvia, Turkey, and UK, reviewed NATO ENSEC COE projects completed, training programmes developed, and other activities conducted in 2016, and approved action plan and budget for 2017.
The meeting also attended by representatives from Canada, Finland, Germany, Poland and the United States of America on observers’ rights was chaired by Ambassador at Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aušra Semaškienė.
The NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius was established in July 2012 when NATO ENSEC COE framework nations endorsed the establishment documents in Allied Command Transformation (ACT) in Norfolk (U.S.A.). With the accreditation procedures completed in October 2012 the North Atlantic Council granted the NATO ENSEC COE the status of an international military organisation. The Centre is under the leadership of Colonel Gintaras Bagdonas since last August.
The NATO ENSEC COE NATO analyses the aspects of energy efficiency and security and critical energy infrastructure. NATO ENSEC COE NATO personnel also provide recommendations and advice on operational energy efficiency, application of alternative energy sources for military needs and development of environment-friendly and effective capabilities, arrange and attend exercise and training.
