The recent several months increased the doubts of Eastern European states (members of NATO) on the Alliance’s readiness to defend them from external threats.

The interest of citizens of Lithuania and other EU Member States in the elections to the European Parliament (EP) is quite low, although it was the first time when new European political parties nominated their candidates. They run for campaigns in the EU Parliament in several EU Member States simultaneously, but are not involved in politics. These parties prepared programs for the EU reforms, but they don’t speak about the role and place of specific countries in Europe.

During the North Atlantic Council session on 2-3 December 2008, the decision was made to develop an annual national program for Ukraine instead of the Membership Action Plan (MAP).  What role will this program play in promoting Ukraine‘s integration to NATO, and will it serve as a MAP so far applied for the new members?

The meeting of foreign ministers of the Atlantic Alliance, held on 2-3 December 2008, did not make any significant decisions concerning advancement of Georgia‘s integration in NATO. The decision was made to develop the Georgian National Program instead of the Membership Action Plan (MAP).

Helplessness or rather its appearance is the actual power of the Western diplomacy, since the West, i.e. the homeland of dialectics, knows all the secrets of diplomacy.

There are assumptions that one of the consequences of the military conflict between Russia and Georgia is possible Sweden and Finland’s membership in NATO. Such an impression is only partially truthful, although membership in NATO is not a new issue in the agenda of foreign policy of Sweden and Finland.

Invasion of Russia to Georgia has revealed the problems of foreign policy of the EU. Certain politicians of the EU Member States have also acknowledged „the disability“ of the EU to form a common position and take joint actions in the critical situation, whereas political observers stated that ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon could change the situation.

Mr. President, Colleagues,

While talking, debating, and approaching essential common position on valuation of crimes of totalitarian regimes in Europe, the one obstacle is most evident as a barrier for a faster moral and legislative success.

After the recent growing political tension, a European Union-Russia summit in Samara should become a release, which might acquire both positive and negative aspects. Certain tenseness between the EU and Russia has been developing for several years.

On 29 2004 Lithuania has de jure become a member of NATO and finally received actual security guarantees. However, there will always be politicians talking about too high costs of membership in the Alliance, appealing to unfulfilled former promises of America to protect Lithuania or even expressing their sentiments to Russia.

After Germany has taken over the presidency of the EU, one of the strategic tasks specified by the chancellor A.Merkel was the desire to renew the Treaty on the EU Constitution with a view to defining a new development trend of the EU. Such a high level political statement could mean that it is not enough to have operating agreements for the existence of the EU.

On 25 March the European Union celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The beginning of the history of the European Union should be related to three European Communities: the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951 in Paris, and the European Atomic Energy and European Economic Community established in Rome in 1957.

Euroskepticism cannot be identified as an apparent indiscrete ideology, since the rhetoric of Euroskeptics and ideas in various countries are different. This skepticism is mostly related to the pursuit of sustainability of the national state sovereignty.

The United Kingdom, which refused to introduce single currency Euro and become one of the parties of the Shengen Treaty, is also attributed to the „major Euroskeptics“.

After the new enlargement of the EU, stories on the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy goals have ceased, since with the lagging behind Bulgaria and Romania for the EU it will be even more difficult to realize its major strategy goal - to overtake the United States in economic competition. We must not also forget, that the member states newly accepted to the EU in 2004, are not „economic giants“ as well.

Establishment and enlargement of the European Union was related to welfare and assurance of political stability, however, more and more citizens are currently expressing their skepticism in terms of the EU, and the popularity of forces criticizing EU institutions is increasing.

Sweden joined the EU only in 1995, although the issue of membership was discussed back in 7th decade of 20th century.

For effective complex defence of Latvia, the establishment of a permanent division of the National Armed Forces has started in Latgale, reported the official website of the Ministry of Defence.

On 13 January a concert "Together to the victory" was held in Lithuania, where the audience decided to support Ukraine's defence and donated 110 thousand Euros.

Alexander Lukashenko on 9 January signed a decree № 8 "On the establishment of visa-free entry and exit of foreign nationals." The document establishes visa-free entry to Belarus for a period not exceeding 5 days at the entrance through the checkpoint "National Airport Minsk" for citizens of 80 countries, - reported the press service of the President of Belarus.