In commemoration of the 9th anniversary of the referendum on Lithuania's membership in the European Union (EU), on May XNUMX, Europe Day, the exhibition "Lithuanian Road to the EU: Historical Decision" was solemnly opened in Vilnius City Hall. It contains unique archival footage that captures not only the moments of the signing of the most important contracts, but also the large number of people voting in the referendum: from young people who have just acquired the right to vote to older people who have accumulated life experience.
"Today, Lithuania is an active member of the European Union and a creator of the future. We can be proud of our contribution to European politics, ensuring the security of all Europeans, creating peace and prosperity on the continent. Today, we also have the task of helping Ukraine fighting against the aggressor and completing the process of European unification that began more than thirty years ago. This is our path and our contribution to the future of the European Union", said the President of the Republic of Lithuania after opening the exhibition Gitanas Nauseda.
20 years ago, in 2003 On May 10-11, Lithuanian residents unanimously decided in a referendum to become part of the EU family and to base the further development of the state on common EU values. As many as 91,07 percent were in favor of Lithuania's membership in the EU. of those who voted.
"The last twenty years in the life of Lithuania have marked a lot - we joined the European Union, NATO and we became part of the free democratic world. Was it easy to achieve? And yes and no. A lot of documents and contracts were waiting, but everyone wanted a different life. We happily said - we can! Let's not be afraid to say it to ourselves today. Because we really can", congratulated the President Valdas Adamkus.
"In 2003, when the referendum on EU membership was held in Lithuania, the world counted on the six-decade-old lie about Lithuania's supposedly voluntary accession to the union in the east. Therefore, the referendum itself should be understood more broadly than a part of the membership process. After all, it was during the referendum that the entire Lithuanian society clearly told the world: we see ourselves as part of the European family - there can be no doubt about that," says Virginijus Sinkevičius, a member of the European Commission.
Today, as many as 8 out of 10 Lithuanians feel like EU citizens, and about the same number are optimistic about the EU's future, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. Lithuania continues the 2003 European tour started. Its axis is the values that unite Europeans: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, human rights and solidarity.
"Membership in the European Union has given Lithuania security, mobilized partners and given self-confidence. This is a real crown for Lithuania's statehood," said Petras Auštrevičius, a member of the European Parliament and chief negotiator for Lithuania's membership in the European Union.
An opportunity to see posters from that time
Visitors to the exhibition "Lithuania's Road to the EU: Historical Decision" organized by the Representation of the European Commission in Lithuania will be able to remember or find out which historical personalities accompanied Lithuania on the way to the EU, which agreements had to be signed in order for Lithuania to become an equal member of the EU. There will also be an opportunity to see preserved original posters that invited Lithuanian citizens to participate in the referendum and support Lithuania's decision to join the EU.
"Twenty years ago, the residents of Lithuania, who unanimously advocated for membership in the European Union, expressed their desire to be part of the European peace project and foster the values of democracy. The exhibition of posters and photos initiated by the representation of the European Commission in Lithuania reminds us of important moments in the history of Lithuania: what path we took to become EU members, and what our country did that day, how each of us felt when expressing our choice, how we waited for Lithuania's decision in the referendum. Going back twenty years should be interesting for both those who could vote at that time and those who did not yet have the right to vote," said Marius Vaščega, head of the European Commission's representation in Lithuania.
The exhibition "Lithuania's path to the EU: historical decision" until May 20. (inclusive) will be exhibited in Vilnius City Hall (Didžioji st. 31, Vilnius). The exhibition can be viewed on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 19 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m.
From May 21 the exhibition will begin its journey to other Lithuanian cities.
The Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania and other state institutions, the Central State Archive of Lithuania, and press photographers helped the European Commission's representative office in Lithuania to organize the exhibition.
