The EU Narrative in Lithuania: Membership as a Geopolitical Miracle and a Mission to Wake Up the EU to the Defence of Its Values

This chapter examinesLithuania the evolution of LithuaniaLithuania’s official European narrative since the early 1990s, when the ‘return to Europe’ was the dominant theme for the double aim of preparing for EU accession and seeking membership of NATO. The narrative continues to present a positive image of the EU, reflecting the benefits of membership to Lithuania’s economic modernisation, Lithuania’s integration alongside other Baltic States in common policies such as energy, and the EU’s presence as a force for stability within the eastern neighbourhood, especially in the face of the increasingly aggressive policies pursued by Moscow. Although some parties and commentators have been critical of the adoption of the euro and the EU’s response to the influx of refugees, and despite the impact of the eurozone crisis, unlike elsewhere Lithuania’s national EU narrative remained unaffected.