NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence Steering Committee holds second meeting in Vilnius

The Steering Committee meeting of NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (NATO ENSEC COE) held its second meeting in Vilnius – the first since the Centre was designated as an international military organization on October 12, 2012 and began operating as a NATO-accredited COE on January 1, 2013. Participants of the meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation with non-governmental organizations and partners, future activities and areas of research, communication guidelines and approved the NATO ENSEC COE programme of activities for 2013.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Rolandas Kriščiūnas.

All sponsoring nations of the NATO ENSEC COE, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, France and Turkey, participated in the Steering Committee meeting. In addition, representatives from Sweden, the United Kingdom and United States attended as observers - countries which are interested in joining the NATO ENSEC COE at a future date.

The Centre is located at the General Jonas Zemaitis Lithuanian Military Academy. International staff consists of representatives from each of the sponsoring nations.,  Colonel Romualdas Petkevičius, a delegate from the framework nation Lithuania, will serve as Director of NATO ENSEC COE.

The mission of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence is to assist NATO, NATO nations, Partners and other bodies by supporting NATO`s capability development process, mission effectiveness and interoperability by providing comprehensive and timely expertise on aspects of energy security.