2024-06-04 07:28:46
His efforts had been topped by Lithuania’s accession to the EU in 2004, and since 2014, the politician has been elected to the European Parliament (EP), holding the place of vice-chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) faction. This 12 months, P. Auštrevičius was once more on the prime of the checklist of candidates for the EP of the Liberal Motion.
A widely known politician in Europe agreed to share beforehand unheard particulars of what was taking place within the corridors of Brussels when Lithuania was knocking on the door of the EU.
– If you grew to become the chief negotiator within the negotiations on Lithuania’s membership within the European Union, had been there any doubts that the method may not go so shortly and easily?
– At the moment we had no different alternate options. The prevailing perspective was that we needed to be fortunate, we needed to get the job performed on time and to the top, as a result of different alternatives may need to attend a really very long time for the window to open once more.
The competitors was very robust, as a result of on the identical time 12 different nations had been negotiating for EU membership. There has by no means been such a giant growth wave within the EU and doubtless there will not be. It was a singular stage within the growth of the EU.
All of the firewood was placed on that pile to hit the EU with the primary wave. Our campfire glowed very brightly as a result of we knew that we couldn’t make one other campfire in any respect.
– How do you now assess Lithuania’s positions at the moment – had been they robust sufficient? Which nations appeared even higher?
– Politically, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary had very severe godfathers in Western Europe. These states had been icebreakers. Lithuania might be categorised as a medium nation. Lithuania couldn’t boast of being a state of decisive reforms, Estonia tried to current this function extra as an exception.
We did not have any large benefits. Quite the opposite – we had extra questions – the destiny of the Ignalina nuclear energy plant, the transit of the Kaliningrad area (Russia).
For the leaders of the European Union, Lithuania posed extra difficulties slightly than benefits. Distinctive options had been required, which made the negotiation course of extra advanced.
– Did the outdated EU states all the time solely benevolently assess Lithuania’s aspirations?
– We weren’t wealthy, however we had been positively formidable and we had been the individuals who destroyed the Soviet Union. Europeans noticed our severe ambition and readiness to be totally different.
There was nothing to argue about, we had been working from the bear.
Lithuania and different Baltic nations had been helped by the truth that they’re small nations. Our monetary issues appeared very small towards the background of Poland or Hungary.
We appeared very unique to Westerners – we had been the primary of 15 classes to flee from the focus camp. We did not go beneath the foundations, we simply turned them over.
One of many largest benefits is the flexibility to not waver in any democratic course of. Though we had some large challenges, we dealt with ourselves very properly and saved the bar excessive.
– To what extent was the success of growth decided by your private contacts with high-ranking EU officers, casual conversations and conferences?
– Good relations all the time assist, however they’re based mostly on the understanding that we are going to do what we promised. Now we have been trusted companions and this label has been very useful. After we spoke the language of argument, we had been constructive companions who might be trusted. From this viewpoint, we didn’t create any explicit issues for EU leaders.
All the membership course of could be very clearly technically constructed. Should you begin to get caught at one time, lots of different work routinely comes up. Nobody can affect anybody. There have been many conversations, we maintained very pleasant relations with the heads of the event directorate – Günter Verheugen and his workforce.
– Most individuals in Lithuania in all probability had a tough time imagining how life would change after the nation joined the EU. Did you your self see an correct and clear image, or did the truth correspond to what you imagined?
– It should be admitted – we realized to swim in an empty pool. Then again, I’ve seen different nations that weren’t distinctive in any means, and so they managed to swim in that pool fairly efficiently.
We practiced and believed by seeing examples. I labored as Lithuania’s ambassador to Finland simply on the time when the nation joined the EU. I noticed how the Finns grew wings, how the nation started to alter, to be extra assured in its capabilities.
Seeing the success of different nations, I believed that Lithuania would additionally succeed. We believed we had been heading in the right direction as a result of we did not even think about some other alternate options.
– Twenty years in the past, the EU summits themselves in all probability selected fully totally different points than these days?
– The final twenty years within the EU is a interval of very robust modifications and never solely attributable to growth.
At the moment, the euro was nonetheless new, the Schengen settlement had not too long ago entered into drive, and one of many largest issues was agriculture, which accounted for greater than half of the EU funds.
Later, different issues emerged – the need to be aggressive on a world scale, new initiatives for aggressive investments in trade and science.
From a bigger city, the EU has turn out to be a metropolis, a severe participant in overseas and safety coverage with rising obligations and rights.
20 years in the past, becoming a member of the EU was a lot simpler than it’s now, and in 20 years will probably be much more tough than now.
Lithuania managed to search out itself on this neighborhood at a really appropriate time, as a result of Western Europe nonetheless lived in an excellent temper after the nice modifications within the East.
– Let’s unleash the creativeness – what is going to the EU appear to be in one other 20 years?
– There will certainly be much less variations within the high quality of life, particularly between the jap and western areas.
We may have a way more severe European safety system.
I actually hope that the EU will stay the style dictator on a world scale in science, innovation and training. With out treasured pure assets, we have now to invent all the things, make higher use of it by utilizing our mental talents.
– Do not you’re feeling the hazard that there could also be extra individuals who wish to depart the EU, how lifelike is it that this might occur?
– Brexit has offered an instance of such a risk that can’t be denied. There’ll all the time be political forces that can speculate on the problem, attempt to pollute the minds of Europeans by providing false fruit.
The case of the UK solely satisfied that it was a giant shock for the nation, for which it was not ready. Options don’t exist in lots of areas, they must be developed on a case-by-case foundation and are very costly. I feel the British mistake might be a security web for different nations.
Solely an individual who goes to work along with his head at dwelling can assault such ignorance.
Political promoting was paid for from the PK account of the Liberal motion. Order no. 4AVIL-626
2024-06-04 07:28:46