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On 8 May, Lithuania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vygaudas Ušackas took part in the conference “Five Years of Lithuania’s Membership in the European Union” that was organised by the Committee on European Affairs of the Seimas (Parliament), the Office of the President and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At the conference, Minister V.Ušackas spoke about an increased impact of globalisation on Lithuania after its EU accession and made suggestions how Lithuania could meet the challenges of globalisation and reap its benefits.

“We are united by the vision of Lithuania in Europe – as a strong, open, competitive and influential state, a country which nobody wishes to leave, so that those Lithuanians, who have left it, would want to come back,” said V.Ušackas.

According to the Minister, if we wish to be strong in Europe, we have to be strong inside the country; therefore, we should strengthen European and Christian values and advocate the Lithuanian identity within the society. 

Minister V.Ušackas stressed that globalisation and fostering of national identity did not contradict one another and named the short term goals that would help to create a strong and open Lithuania and would allow us to benefit from the possibilities of globalisation.

“Aiming at organising Lithuanians around the world and fostering the Lithuanian national identity, we ought to encourage not just the participation in election of Lithuanians abroad, but also their appropriate representation in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania,” said V.Ušackas.

Head of the Lithuanian diplomacy invited members of the Seimas to pass amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens that were proposed by President Valdas Adamkus on 18 June 2008 and that would create more favourable conditions for the intellectuals and talents from abroad to work in Lithuania.

According to the Minister, Lithuania’s capacity to compete in a global environment and to be among the winners, will depend on a successful implementation of priority goals of Lithuania’s European policy: the Euro adoption, securing energy security increasing the competitiveness of economy, creating a safe and predictable geopolitical environment and a successful Lithuania’s EU Presidency in 2013.

“We have to focus on a common endeavour and strive for Lithuania to become a shareholder of EU’s political, economic and intellectual property. We should not just take over knowledge and technologies or block decisions, but we also have to make them. We have to become aware of Lithuania’s national interest - to create a safe and prosperous Lithuania - and also to take gradual steps towards it,” said Minister V.Ušackas concluding his speech.