Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius characterized the Nord Stream pipeline as a threat to Baltic security. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh.

VILNIUS — Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius threw official support Friday behind Estonia’s stand against the construction of the Nord Stream pipeline in the Baltic Sea.

The Estonian parliament recently voted to officially denounce the environmental impact study done by the Russian government, saying that the Nordic countries whose waters the pipe will run through have an obligation to recheck how safe the project is.

Kubilius said the government doesn’t support the pipeline and wants the Scandinavian countries to take a serious look at the project before giving it the green light.

“Our government has a negative opinion on this project, but unfortunately we have no legal rights to veto the project. We will still give our voice for the environmental aspect,” Kubilius said at the meeting of the three Baltic prime ministers in Vilnius on Friday. Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis did not comment on Nord Stream at the conference.

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said the Estonians had done as much as possible and now the ball is in the Scandinavians’ court.

“We don’t want to have the unnecessary risk associated with Nord Stream and we have to trust our Swedish and Finnish partners to look at these risks,” Ansip said.

“It’s impossible to say in a context where rule of law is an accepted policy that you have to give permission to this pipeline because ‘we had a deal.’ This is impossible,” Ansip said adding that the matter might have to go to court.

“We have to trust our Scandinavian partners and we have to give our recommendations to those countries where they will have direct control on the permissions and construction works, but to be absolutely honest, I don’t like this project,” the Estonian prime minister added.

The Finnish foreign minister acknowledged Estonia’s decision this week, saying that his country would look into the matter.

Currently pipelines to Western Europe run through parts of Eastern Europe formerly controlled by the Soviet Union. By building the pipeline in the Baltic sea, it would allow Russia to negate any power small intermediary states hold because pipelines crossing their territory.

Kubilius asserted that energy security was very important for the country at the moment.

“We want to increase energy security in our region — that is why we not only discuss integration into European networks, but also plans how to have alternative possibilities to have gas supplies in our region,” Kubilius said.

Kubilius told Baltic Reports that there is no set deadline yet for the floating liquid natural gas import terminal that would allow Lithuania to import gas from ships coming from Northern Africa with gas.

Next year the timetable for the platform will be concluded, he said.