Possibilities to use Lithuania’s membership in the international organizations as an instrument in neutralizing the threats to state’s energy security

Abstract

Lithuania‘s legal framework indicate that the membership in international organizations is perceived as an instrument to be used for the enhancement of state’s energy security. The main condition for such an enhancement is the neutralization of state’s major energy security threats – the likelihood of energy supply disruption, and uncontrollable price fluctuations. However, Lithuania’s official documents and contemporary scientific literature does not distinguish concrete means to eliminate them in relation to Lithuania’s membership in OSCE, NATO, WTO, and the UN. Therefore, the article aims to determine the extent of possibilities for Lithuania to utilize its membership in the already mentioned organizations as a subsidiary instrument in neutralizing the most relevant threats to Lithuania’s energy security. The possibilities are determined by analyzing legal frameworks of Lithuania, OSCE, NATO, WTO, and the UN. The application of such a method defines energy security threats as they are understood by state’s energy policy makers, and determines the concrete scope of possibilities for Lithuania to utilize its membership in the analyzed organizations for tackling the determined threats. The results of the research indicate that membership in these organizations cannot directly benefit Lithuania’s struggle in removing energy security threats. However, few indirect benefits are identified. First of all, membership in the aforementioned organizations serve as platform for informing the international community about Lithuania’s energy security threats, and their sources. Furthermore, the research has shown that decision making procedures in OSCE, and NATO enables Lithuania to block any kind of legislation which could be harmful to the energy security of Lithuania. Moreover, the establishment of NATO’s Energy Security Centre of Excellence creates conditions for Lithuania’s vision of energy security to be included into NATO’s legal framewo