Lithuania

Abstract

2010 saw a swing in the political sympathies of the Lithuanian electorate, as opposition parties won local elections and now lead opinion polls before the 2012 parliamentary elections. The right-of-centre government continued austere economic and budgetary policies. The country’s economy proved to be resilient and stands on the path to rapid recovery. Increasing emigration, swelling public debt and increasing energy prices occupy the thoughts of policy makers and the citizenry. Foreign policy became less ambitious, more pragmatic, and Nordic oriented, whereas relations with Poland soured. Energy security remains a hot issue on the political agenda. In turn, Lithuanian connections to the Baltic Sea region remain fi rm, but modest. Lithuania coordinates a number of priority areas and fl agship projects in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, but feels more attached to the Nordic-Baltic region.