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The Baltic States, which have built their free society and current economic stability on the principle of solidarity and values of democracy, show an example for the entire EU that solidarity is a guarantee of long term sustainability and growth in political and economic terms, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis says.

On May 10 at the headquarters of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, the Minister gave a lecture “The Baltic Sea Region in the European Union”, which reviewed the political and economic development of the Baltic Sea region, its opportunities and challenges in a broader perspective of European development.

According to the Minister, the Baltic region is by no means a simple formation; it is a hub of overlapping identities, cooperation frameworks, unique challenges and unique solutions as well as overlapping frameworks of solidarity. This has helped Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to consolidate their independence, also enabled all the Northern European countries to overcome challenges in the face of the financial crisis.

“Despite differences, we share unique integration. The experts state that the NB6 countries were the most disciplined to take on the austerity measures, to stabilize the economic crisis and to start their recovery faster. It proves that sharing your experience, coordinating your decisions, good governance and expertise pays off both in the times of growth and in times of a slowdown,” Ažubalis said.

He believes that in daily life trust and solidarity is what brings complementary interests together and puts them in action for best results. 

“I do believe that the good practice that has emerged naturally in the region could be well used in broader EU context. Our region has a special role in the EU in many aspects. From Lithuanian point of view these are first of all areas of finance and economy, energy security and safety, relations with EU neighbours, judicial cooperation and European history,” the Minister noted.

He believes that the Baltic Sea region has been quite of an example in terms of rigorous public finance policy and political effort in making adjustments when necessary.  “This is clear evidence of tradition of solidarity among states, social groups and generations. It is also an example how solidarity adds to sustainability of economic development,” Ažubalis stressed.

The Minister said that there should be joint effort to tackle such key challenges in the Baltic Sea region as the irresponsible implementation of nuclear projects in the EU’s neighbourhood, the creation of a common EU energy market and the improvement of the ecological status of the Baltic Sea.

Ažubalis also emphasized that the importance of the role of Germany and Poland in achieving these goals is fundamental. “We are natural partners as we share the Baltic Sea coastline; we are also all interlinked with a complex network of bilateral and multilateral security, political and economic cooperation. We share the same view on the future of the region seeing it as a hub of security and sustainable prosperity compatible with high environmental standards; the same view on financial responsibility of governments and many other issues,” the Minister noted.

In Berlin, he also held meetings with German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group for Relations with the Baltic States Christel Happach-Kasan and Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Hans-Gert Pöttering.