Lithuania Foreign Vice-Minister: we must continue to expand the area of freedom, democracy and prosperity in Europe
An event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the fifth wave of EU enlargement – the accession of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia to the EU on 1 May 2004 – took place on 13 May in Brussels.
At the event, the Lithuanian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Vytautas Leškevičius spoke on behalf of all the ten countries.
“Ten years of membership is completely different period of development for Lithuania and other nine states in qualitative terms. It increased living standards, promoted reforms, reinforced human rights and democracy,” V.Leškevičius said.
The Lithuanian Foreign Vice-Minister noted that the enlargement had strengthened Europe, which was now better prepared to deal with the issues that were important for EU citizens: to increase Europe’s energy security, strengthen its financial sector, stimulate economic growth, tackle unemployment, etc.
V.Leškevičius underlined that promoting and defending European values was one of the greatest challenges facing the European Union today.
“Recent aggression against Ukraine is a standing proof that peace and freedom shall not be taken for granted. We have to fight for those European ideals constantly,” said the Lithuanian diplomat.
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