Lithuanians Approve EU Membership and Euro Adoption

Bloomberg ^ | May 5, 2003 | James M. Gomez

[bruinbirdman]

Lithuanians approved the former Soviet Baltic state's move to join the European Union in less than a year and become one of the first former communist nations to adopt the euro.

About 89 percent of voters approved EU entry after a two-day referendum, according to preliminary results from the election commission. Lithuania, a country of 3.5 million people lying on the Baltic Sea between Poland and Belarus, is the fourth nation to pass a referendum on joining the EU on May 1, 2004, after Malta, Slovenia and Hungary.

[bruinbirdman]

Trading one form of communism for another. One would have thought the Luggens would have learned something.

[Mister Baredog]

I hope they "mind their manners"!!LOL

[1rudeboy]

It's Lugans.

[ValenB4]

That's ridiculous. 89% of the people aren't fooled. This will hopefully facilitate the entry of Russia, which has been going through a supply-side growth spurt ever since Putin took over.

[1rudeboy]

You have to admit, it takes chutzpah to suggest that Lituanians have not learned "something" from 40+ years of Soviet occupation.

[bruinbirdman]

hohoho The word is certainly archaic. I knew them as caddies from N. Chicago. Luggen is the only referrence I could find other than a name. Got another?

yitbos

[1rudeboy]

You're just gonna' have to trust me on this one. I'm Lugan.

[ValenB4]

Very true. The fact is that the EU, Eastern Europe, and Russia all need each other. I've seen reports that Western Europes birth rates will go up again due to a "temporal effect" from women delaying having kids. In the meantime, if they must have immigrants, they should shift to Eastern Europe. Spain is considering increased migrants from South America - which is a good idea. Eastern Europe and Russia being included in the economic zone is also beneficial to them. Because some elites in the EU have this antagonism to immitating the US, wouldn't it be ironic if Putin inspires them to adopt the supply-side model? Now there's a Russian Revolution we all can root for!

[1rudeboy]

Yes, but probably the largest stumbling-block to the accession of the Baltic republics, Poland, etc. to the EU was the issue of immigration. Current EU members are afraid that "economic" refugees from the East will overwhelm their infrastructure.

[Lorenb420]

I've seen reports that Western Europes birth rates will go up again due to a "temporal effect" from women delaying having kids.

I've seen reports that say Russia is in the same boat with regards to bith rates and parts of the country are de-populating.

They also have to deal with China, which might want some of that land for their billion people.

[Consort]

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Lithuanians approved the former Soviet Baltic state's move to join the European Union in less than a year and become one of the first former communist nations to adopt the euro.

You're going to be sorry. Ah, well, everyone can choose their own handbasket I suppose.

[faithincowboys]

I am positive that in a decade or so, secession from the EU will be disallowed. Once you're in, you're in. Surrendering national sovereignty to an unaccountable central bureacracy is foolish. I suspect these tiny countries will be swallowed by the bigger countries. The neo-pacifism of the Germans is nothing but a ruse, tanks will roll in any capital that decides to leave the EU.

This is a bad idea-- well the Nazis and the Soviets will get what they wanted-- not by brute force (until later) but by diplomatic deceit.

This is going to be terrible. I guess I'll just hope I'm wrong!

[1rudeboy]

Look at a map, and run-down the choices. Where did you get the silly notion that there is more than one?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

There is always a choice. Always.

[1rudeboy]

Let's see:

Union with Russia. Nope.
Maintain the status-quo. Nope.
Crack the EU market. Ding.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Like I said, there are always choices. Giving up sovereignty to join a group who didn't like me very much and never helped me would not be my choice but to each his own.

[1rudeboy]

I understand your point. But Lithuania's sovereignty will always hang in-the-balance of its neighbors. Fact of life.

[1rudeboy]

Correct that. Lithuania could kick Latvia's butt.

[bruinbirdman]

I am positive that in a decade or so, secession from the EU will be disallowed. Once you're in, you're in. Surrendering national sovereignty to an unaccountable central bureacracy is foolish. I suspect these tiny countries will be swallowed by the bigger countries.

Hmmm So that's why the Maastrich Treaty was changed to read that NATO and eventually the EuroDefense are no longer limimted to defense. The Eurocoms can now go on the offensive, as in Bosnia.

yitbos