Eastern Baltic States: Small Countries at the Cutting Edge of Gas Market Liberalisation in Europe

摘要

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are small countries on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, totalling only just below seven million in combined population. However, recent years have seen the countries take some policy decisions, which, in a certain sense, made them leaders of the European natural gas market development. It appeared that the European market opening initiatives were well suited for the situation of the three countries. This encouraged the countries to take bold moves to implement the EU legislation, which are proving to be a real test of such legislation's effectiveness. What is more, the tiny countries became the centre of changes and movements in the energy market structure, which has challenged long established positions of dominant suppliers and, according to some, will continue to make impact in other countries for many years to come.