BRUSSELS, January 22 (Itar-Tass) - Russia has suggested the CIS and the European Union synchronize their electricity supply systems, said Russia's Permanent Representative at the EU, Vladimir Chizhov.

“This would give a strong impetus to electricity trade,” he said in an interview to Russian journalists in Brussels. Negotiations about a unified energy system of Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are stalled “for solely political reasons”, he believes.

The Baltic countries that have been members of the EU for already ten years also remain part of the united CIS electricity system, Chizhov added.

“During this period they were keen to switch to the EU’s electricity system,” he said. “According to our sources, they have ordered a feasibility study at an independent company.” The company, however, calculated an “astronomical” price of this step, and the countries turned to the EU for financial aid. However, the European Commission is not going to pay, and, according to Chizhov, now shares Russia’s view of this problem recommending synchronization rather than “separation and cutover of the Baltic region”.

Chizhov believes Russia’s construction of the Baltic nuclear power plant in Kaliningrad Region would be another step ahead with this project since generation at this plant would more than twice exceed the region’s needs, thus providing opportunities for energy export to the neighboring EU states.