Lithuania-EU political relations after dual integration
ENThe Baltic States namely Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia attained their independence from Soviet Union in 1991. Lithuania started reconceptualising its national identity and started to search the roots of national identity. The Lithuanian national reawakening made it possible to talk about its future in public forum, there began discussions about Lithuania's prospective shift towards the West. The Lithuanians had a cultural and political inclination towards west but it was predicted that the shift form Soviet Federation to European Union will not be a tranquil task. In Lithuania majority of the population accepts Lithuania's Western identity, with the exception of the small number. Lithuania's domestic as well as foreign policies from 1991-2004, followed the concept of „return to Europe‟. Geopolitically, Lithuania's location is very important. Geographically, it lies in the northern part of the Europe. In the west of Lithuania is Baltic Sea, in north of it is Latvia, in the east is Belarus and in the south is Poland and Russia's enclave Kaliningrad. It is an important actor in political and economic affairs between the East and the West. In other words, Lithuania is working as a „bridge‟ between Russia and the West. Lithuania was part of Western world from the end of the 14th century till 18th century end and 20th century beginning. When Lithuania got independence it was not unanticipated that it sought to return to the Western World. The incorporation of Lithuania into Soviet Union and later efforts of Sovietisation stopped Lithuania's close contact with the west and Europe. This created in the minds of Lithuanians a deep-seated animosity towards Russia and a strong desire to integrate with Europe and the West. Lithuania has been a witness to various uprisings earlier in 1831, 1863, 1918, 1941, or the armed rebellion of 1944-52, but in 1991 it took pro of the favourable political and social conditions.The whole mood in Europe was set up in Lithuania's favour. Thus, Lithuania's longing to separate from Russian power and amalgamate more with West and European institutions and embracing the concept of “return to Europe” has historical, geopolitical, security and economic reasons. Lithuania experienced independence and democracy during 1918-1940. It maintained worthy economic and diplomatic relations with the European Nations. Thus, the desire to create a European political identity in terms of the concept of “return to Europe” and the goal of integrating more with European institutions like gaining membership of the EU and the NATO shaped the priorities of Lithuanian external relations and foreign policy. Lithuania-EU political relations started when the former applied for EU membership in 1994. The decision of Lithuania to apply for EU membership was driven primarily by the inherent historical and cultural gravitation of the Baltic nations towards Europe's development. In addition, another driving stimulating factor to join the EU is in the time of rapid globalization the best way to express and ensure Lithuania's national interests is through the collective decision making and solidarity of the EU. The article discusses the aspects of political, cultural, economic and strategic relationship of Lithuania and European Union, including the legal foundations of Lithuania-EU Relations, e. g. bilateral negotiations, treaties, pacts etc. It attempts to explain how Lithuania has perceived the EU as serving the national interests. Thus, the general strategy adopted by the Baltic States was to join as many international and Western organizations as possible and to do so quickly, thus guaranteeing the survival of their independence by becoming embedded in the dense network of international bodies. One can recognize the same underlying logic today in such decisions as joining the Euro Area.
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