A Decade of Lithuania in the EU












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            * A Decade of Lithuania in the EU
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            This informative talk on the past decade of Lithuania’s membership in the European Union g

            Mindaugas Stanys, the Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the 
            was an intimate affair with the people in attendance clearly very interested in the topic 
            We were first treated to a brief history of the beginning of Lithuania’s European life. Wi

            independence in the early 1990’s came a desire to distance themselves from their previous 
            connections and join rather with the “European family” as Mr Stanys put it. This desire su
            to their application to join the European Union in 1998 and their eventual joining in 2004

            number of other countries including the Czech Republic.
            The countries opinion as to the value of their new union changed quite a bit over time as 

            the stages which I feel most EU countries have probably gone through during their membersh
            public opinion in favour of the union was high with 60% agreeing with it. This fell dramat
            their first 5 years in the union to 35% due to unrealistic expectations as to what benefit

            gained from their membership as well as fears about losing their culture and heritage, com
            all those other, completely logical, fears that all new members go through. However 10 yea
            membership and public opinion in favour of the membership is back up to 50%, with expectat

            realistic and much of their fears abating.
            The high support for the membership can be easily justified when you look at the benefits 
            has experienced in the last decade. In 2004 the GDP was 50% of the European average, now t

            it is 72% of the European average. With trade and travel opportunities opening doors that 
            closed you can see why many of the average citizens would approve of the union. With bette
            practices being brought in from the EU one of the biggest changes for the people of Lithua

            the standard of living.
            From a political standpoint the big changes have been an opportunity to be part of the dec
            process to shape EU policies alongside the biggest nations and to be allowed to mature as 

            have been tested with the presidency last year and more than rose to the occasion showing 
            a nation and their desire for growing unity and sharing of social and economic benefits wi
            Speaking from a purely personal standpoint Mr Stanys was of the opinion that their members

            an openness which, of course, has both positive and negative consequences. While an open m
            cultures is always important, there is often the fear that by adopting traditions and cult
            many places you can sometimes loose some of your own. He was very complimentary of the opp

            has brought to the youth of Lithuania which wouldn’t have been available even in his time,
            wonderful opportunity of an Erasmus year which is a truly once in a lifetime experience wh
            taken for granted. Like many countries in this modern age Mr Stanys has noticed an increas

            from Lithuania, not a negative reflection on the country, simply a much easier time to tra
            communication age where leaving home no longer has to mean leaving your loved ones behind.
            While there have certainly been some negative consequences and problems for Lithuania with

            membership, it seems that they are still very much happy members of the union who want to 
            the European bond. They are set to join the Euro zone as of the 1st of January 2015 and sh
            slowing their active membership and desire to be part of the “European Family.”