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On 8 May the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania ratified the Treaty of Lisbon. Lithuania is thirteenth of 27 EU Member States, which ratified the Treaty. On 8 May the Treaty has also been ratified by Latvia.

“This is very significant decision, showing one more time that Lithuania wishes for strong and united European Union. The truth is obvious: the more united and stronger Europe will be, the better Lithuania’s interests will be represented in the world,” Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petras Vaitiekūnas said.

According to P. Vaitiekūnas, by ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon the Seimas showed that we are not and do not want to be backwoods of Europe. We want to be constructive and respectable,  but also principled partner in taking decisions important for the whole EU.

The Minister underlined that the Treaty of Lisbon does not infringe upon sovereignty or national identity of Lithuania. Conversely it provides better preconditions for protecting security and wellbeing interests of Lithuanian state and its citizens and seeking for decisions beneficial to all citizens of the EU.

“We have to join our efforts to make the society understand better the matter and the novelties of this Treaty and work actively so that the Treaty’s decisions favorable to Lithuania, first of all energy solidarity, would be successfully implemented,”  P. Vaitiekūnas said.

The Treaty of Lisbon was signed by the heads of the EU Member States and governments in December 2007. It should come into force in the beginning of 2009, if it is ratified by all EU Member States.