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Hay & Menon: European Politics

Lithuania

After the fall of the communist regime in Lithuania, the new government was keen to apply for membership of the EC/EU due to its ability to offer both political and economic stability. Lithuania adopted a European Agreement with the EC in June 1995 and made its official application for EU membership in December 1995. It was therefore the one of the latest of the 2004 CEECs to apply for EU membership. Lithuania was also one of the second wave of applicant countries to be invited to begin accession talks at the Helsinki European Council in 1999. On 10-11 May 2003 Lithuania held a referendum on the issue of the country's accession to the EU, in which 89.9% of voters supported accession, with a turnout of 63.37%. On 1 May 2004 Latvia joined the EU. This high level of popular support for the EU continued after membership, with 59% of respondents claiming Lithuania's membership of the EU was a good thing in a Eurobarometer survey conducted in spring 2006 (compared to an EU average of 55%). Lithuanian relations have been soured somewhat, however, by the decision of the Council and European Central Bank to reject Lithuania's application for adoption of the Euro, due to inflation in Lithuania being 0.03% above the benchmark needed to secure entry.