Ladies and gentlemen,
A few days ago, a significant anniversary,
the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome was marked in Rome and
Berlin. We are celebrating the anniversary at the Seimas of the Republic of
Lithuania today. 50 years seems to be an extremely long period extending from
the Iron Curtain to the currently open internal borders of the European Union.
On the other hand, it is a very short time span against the background of the
European civilisation history that is almost 3000 years old.
The two treaties
signed in 1957 changed relations between the countries that signed them, led to
high quality relations and foresaw their future ideal. They gave birth to the
European Community that subsequently grew into the European Union the part of
which Lithuania today is.
Strange as it may seem, the
fifty-year-old Treaties of Rome give the impression of very modern texts. They
refer to what continues to be significant: free movement of labour and
services, common transport policy. It is very relevant to us here in Lithuania
as well as to our neighbours in Latvia and Estonia since infrastructure is not
possible without transport and we are linked with Europe by a rather narrow
corridor via Poland. Therefore, in spite of some difficulties Via Baltica and
Rail Baltica projects must be implemented as soon as possible.
The idea of energy
security turns out to be not new; it dates back to the Euratom Treaty which
provides that the Community “shall ensure that all users in the Community shall
receive a regular and equitable supply of ores and nuclear fuels”. What is
surprising now when Europe aims to ensure the supply and diversification of
energy resources is the Treaty’s insight into the future.
The building of
Europe is an ongoing process. Discussions on the future of the EU are
particularly intense now. Opinions are diverging; the European Union, however,
is as attractive as before; it continues to be the aspiration of its neighbours
and the model of welfare and justice. Why is there internal doubt and
scepticism about the future? The Berlin Declaration has shown that our main
ideals are the same. That’s what is most important.
The 21st century has
brought a need for new visions, further aspiration for welfare and justice as
well as a wish to make the European Union the most dynamic global power.
The EU economic results in recent
years show that this aspiration is quite realistic. I suppose Lithuania’s
contribution is also felt in this process. And we can pride ourselves on
Lithuania’s progress indicators.
The Berlin Declaration has
confirmed that all EU Member States have the same basic ideals. “… for us, the
individual is paramount”, the Declaration runs. I, therefore, believe that we
will definitely agree on the manner and ways to live up to these ideals.
It is also very important for our
people to have a broader outlook, to appreciate the advantages of being
citizens of the European Union, and understand that it is only the united
Europe that can secure their right to free movement, studies and work in any EU
Member State and that it is the principle of solidarity that will help to raise
the standard of living in all the EU Member States and will create attractive
conditions of life in one’s own home country.
I believe national
parliaments should play an important role there: we must work for our citizens,
disperse their doubts, and revive their trust in the European project and
support for its further development.
The European Union is a globally
unprecedented project that has united by far the largest area of the continent
on the basis of common values. Unification remains the key guarantor of the
European project success.
In Rome, Berlin and
Vilnius we will time and again stand for the principles of solidarity,
equality, transparency, and subsidiarity, as well as for the completion of the
EU single market, for the right balance between the social model and stronger
competition, for the common energy policy, and for Europe speaking in one voice
on external relations.
What happens close
to the EU border is as important. The European Neighbourhood Policy must serve
as a tool for engaging the neighbouring countries into mutually beneficial
cooperation and exemplifying the advantages of democracy and freedom. We have
learned the lessons of history and have understood how important it is for the
nation to seek its desirable goals consistently. We can now transfer our
experience to other countries with European aspirations.
I have the pleasure
to inform you that the Lithuanian Seimas is setting up the Centre for
Inter-parliamentary Relations with an aim to create favourable conditions for
parliamentary delegations from Ukraine, Moldova and Caucasus countries to meet
in Vilnius and share parliamentary experience. I am convinced it will be a
long-term and effective project as we stand for the development of security and
democracy to the East and for keeping the door open to
the countries of Europe that meet the membership criteria.
Please accept my sincere
congratulations on the occasion of the anniversary of the Rome Treaties. I wish
success to the German presidency in finding agreement on the EU constitutional
reform. And I wish us all success in working together for the welfare of our
citizens.
