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Today we proudly celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the historic event, when, to paraphrase the Cyprus Presidency publication, being linked by history we became linked by choice.

The ten member States came from different places, but all with dramatic experiences of the 20th century. All with scars of foreign invasion and struggle for self-determination.

For many decades for the captive nations that lived behind the iron curtain, Europe was a dream of peace, and freedom, and democracy, and openness and prosperity. This symbolism was powerful enough to make our countries put aside old controversies and start implementing difficult reform agendas. 

Our nations’ integration success combined with EU openness culminated in the big bang Enlargement ten years ago. The enlargement expanded the area of freedom, democracy and prosperity in Europe. Ten years of membership is completely different period of development for Lithuania and other nine states in qualitative terms. It increased living standards, reinforced democracy, human rights, rule of law – and thereby our statehood. Even in the post-economic crisis era, the dynamism and vigorous growth of our economies was one of the engines that contributed to overall recovery of European Union economy.

However, once we became EU members, we experienced that Europe was more of hard work than a dream. Hundreds of working groups and endless legislature is a complicated matter. But it has an important purpose- coordinated work produces compromise and real results for all states and European citizens. We see it from the benefits of a single market to such issues like higher standards for consumers.

Still many challenges and hard work lie ahead of us. First of all, the urgent matter of European energy security and creation of EU internal energy market. Our efforts are also aimed at economic growth, youth employment, fiscal discipline, effective functioning of the Banking Union and that of a single market. For EU to be successful on this road two principles are important- united efforts and the implementation of already agreed decisions.

The attraction of the dream has not faded with the enlargement. Member States, whose 10th membership we celebrate today, - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia contributed greatly to further building stronger and modern Europe. 6 out of 10 are in the Eurozone today. 6 out of 10 already chaired EU Council and managed to deliver solid results. Any discussion today about old and new Member States becomes relevant only among historians. We also have witnessed two subsequent enlargements- with Bulgaria and Romania and recently- Croatia joining our family.

Strengthened by enlargement, EU is playing an increasingly important global role, especially in the neighbourhood. European perspective helped to stabilize the Western Balkans and brought peace and reconciliation to the region. Cooperation with Southern neighbours not only opens great mutual opportunities, but also unites our efforts in solving the challenge of illegal migration.

The EU remains a powerful positive attraction, motivation for reforms, hope for freedom, democracy and human rights for our Eastern neighbours. Managing this power to finally build Europe, which is whole and free, and at peace is our primary task and the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s responsibility.

Recent aggression against Ukraine is a standing proof that peace and freedom shall not be taken for granted, even in Europe. Those European ideals need to be defended because they are under threat today, and that has global repercussions.   

So, is Europe a dream or hard work?

Any dream is an illusion without hard work. But hard work without a dream is meaningless.

So, is Europe, which is finally whole and at peace, where each country has a sovereign right to choose its own future, a burden or a dream for European Union?

In the last 25 years we witnessed many dreams coming true - from the twin fall of Communism and Berlin Wall to the big bang EU enlargement, that made Europe stronger and better equipped to fight challenges and crisis, and promote European values.

And we shall continue working hard and never give up on our dreams.