Baltic Course: European industrialists: shale gas is opportunity for Lithuania

President of BUSINESSEUROPE Emma Marcegaglia, who is on a visit to Lithuania, says that shale gas is an opportunity for Europe which seeks to compete with the USA, where extraction and use of shale gas is highly developed, informs LETA/ELTA. After the meeting with Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius she stressed that it is necessary to build a strong European industry, which would generate 20% of GDP.

According to Marcegaglia, in Europe energy resource prices as well as the balance between the climate and energy price policy are important. For example, since 2005 energy prices have increased in Europe by 35%, while in the USA they have dropped by 4%.

President of BUSINESSEUROPE said that shale gas is an opportunity, although this question is sensitive, but it is important for Europe and Lithuania to become more independent.

According to her, Europe can build strong industry by energy policy different from the one of the USA, better financial access, having own raw material and investing European Union funds into research and transportation.  MORE