Effective interconnection of the Baltic Sea region was identified as one of the six priority energy infrastructure projects in the Second Strategic Energy Review adopted by the Commission in November 2008. The Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan was launched at the initiative of Commission President Barroso at the 2008 autumn European Council.

The two main goals of the BEMIP initiative, within the context of the EU's 20/20/20 objectives are:

• the full integration of the three Baltic States into the European energy market, through
• the strengthening of interconnections with their EU neighbouring countries.

A High Level Group has been set up with the participation of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and, as an observer Norway. The Group, chaired by the Commission, started to meet in November 2008 and delivered an action plan by June 2009. Working groups on electricity and gas, as well as external consultants supported the work.

The BEMIP also forms part - as two flagship projects on market integration and infrastructure development, respectively - of the "EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region". Monitoring of the implementation of the BEMIP has been contributed to the Commission; first progress report will be presented to the High Level Group in December 2009. Work on the gas aspects will continue during the coming months.

Working group reports

• Hydroplan study: Implementation of an Entry/Exit Model for the East-Baltic Gas Market [922 KB]
• Report CESI - Working Group Electricity Market Integration: Assessment of the electric markets in the Baltic region [102 KB]
• Report CESI - Working Group Electricity Market Integration: Market design, Present regulatory and legal framework, existing barriers in the Baltic Member States - Roadmap towards an integrated power market between the Baltic Member States and the Nordic Countries [266 KB]
• Report CESI - Working Group Electricity Interconnections - Phase I: present status of the electricity sector in the EU Member States surrounding the Baltic Sea; main gaps and bottlenecks, qualitative assessment of new interconnection projects [2 MB]
• Report CESI - Working Group Electricity Interconnections - Phase II: methodology for the assessment of new infrastructures and application to the assessment of the interconnection projects already identified in the Baltic area [949 KB]
• Report Ramboll - Future development of the energy gas market in the Baltic Sea region [942 KB]