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A meeting of the Steering Committee of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence was held in Vilnius. The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs E. Meilūnas, who presided over the meeting, pointed out that in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine and confrontation with the Western world, the activities of the Centre operating in Vilnius and the topic of energy security acquire a qualitatively new meaning. Vice Minister emphasized that "military attacks against Ukraine's energy infrastructure are integrated into Russia's war strategy - a war not only against Ukraine but also against the international order based on democratic principles and rules."

During the meeting, the participants congratulated an active supporter of the Centre - Poland, which is acquiring a status of a Sponsoring Nation, since all the authorized representatives of the Centre's Sponsoring Nations have signed the Note of Joining at the NATO Headquarters in Norfolk, USA. 

The meeting also discussed the new opportunities and challenges of the Centre's activities, reviewed the projects for 2022-2023, new initiatives for strengthening the security of NATO members and partners in the field of energy, and measures for further improvement of activities. 

The NATO ENSECCOE, initiated by Lithuania and established in Vilnius in July 2012, analyzes the aspects of operational energy as well as the protection and resilience of the critical energy infrastructure of NATO Allies and Partners, provides recommendations and suggestions regarding the enhancement of reliable energy supplies, the application of innovative energy technologies in the military, organizes exercises aimed at strengthening energy security and participates in them. 

The Centre was founded by six states - Lithuania, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, France, and Turkey. In 2014, the United Kingdom and Georgia joined the Centre, in 2017 - the US and Germany, in 2018 - Finland, and in 2021 – Ukraine.