Editor's note

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Tuesday, 19.03.2024, 07:08

Baltic States 25th anniversary: facing new challenges

Eugene Eteris, European Studies Faculty, RSU, BC International Editor, Copenhagen, 23.08.2016.Print version

In August 1991, the three Baltic States –Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania- regained independence followed by their international recognition. Since then, these states made impressive and active steps in global community through participation in e.g. EU, NATO, OECD, WTO, etc. And quality of life here increased significantly…

No doubt, that without the Nordic countries’ substantial economic and political assistance, as well as that of the European Union, to the Baltic States things would not be so wonderful. For example, a couple of years before regained independence, Danish government helped to establish Baltic States’ offices in Copenhagen with the assistance from  the Nordic Council of Ministers in order to promote the new states’ vision in the world.


Suffice it to say that the very first countries to recognize Baltic States’ independence have been the Nordic countries, e.g. Island and Denmark…


And all that was not in vain: the Baltic States have a lot to offer in terms of talent, skills, innovation and entrepreneurship. 

 

Short history and different “augusts”


Initially, the Baltic States acquired their “original” independent status quite differently. For example, in Estonia the “autonomy” from the previous “conquerors” was first declared in spring 1917; the spring that year just after the 1st World War was, actually a “common declaration date” for all three new republics except Latvia, where it was late in 1918. Then, Estonian independence was officially declared in February 1918, which was recognized globally in 1920. Hence, Estonia restored independence on 20 August 1991.


Slightly different “story” was in Lithuania: initial steps were the same: original independence was declared on 16 February 1918. But then, slightly before the 2nd World War it was occupied by the Soviet Union (as was the case with other two republics) and subsequently restored on 11 March 1990. Quite specifically, Lithuania “asked the permission” from the former conqueror and on 6 September 1991 the country’s independence was recognized by the former Soviet Union, which was soon dismantled. 


In Latvia, initial independence was declared on 18 November 1918 (it is celebrated presently as a national day), which was globally recognized on 26 January 1921. Then the country “announced” a new independence on 4 May 1990 and “officially restored” it on 21 August 1991. Latvia’s independence was officially proclaimed on 18th of November 1991 (hence, so-called double national day with a difference of 73 years!).


Thus, the “wave of restored independence” was quite different: two Baltic States (Estonia and Latvia) have had it in August, while in Lithuania, in September. But that doesn’t make big difference: the mood during the whole 1991 was so high in all the three…    

 

Challenges ahead


Festive activities do not have to shed away the new challenging facing the Baltic States, as well as all other EU members.


Most probably, during the coming decade, the EU (as a “union”) will be replaced by EC (as a “cooperation”) or even ES (as a “solidarity”). These key words are going to be crucial for the present “union” of already 27 member states. The changes are inevitable; the question is how far these changes will proceed and what “interests” would still bind those residing in European “project”. 


Discussions in various “ranks & files” around Brexit and Europe’s future during last two months have shown that most probably the EU integration in the present form could hardly survive the next ten years or so. 


So, the changes are in the air, as they say; no doubt about it! Even the not-so-old division of competence between the EU institutions and the member states that has been fixed in the Lisbon Treaty (the present EU basic law; in effect from December 2009) could hardly satisfy the euro-skeptics on all EU states’ levels. This “division” was originally expected to make the needed background for a federal EU; discussions abound...


But the reality of “Brussels’ expansion” has overstretched all possible induced limitations!


The flow of rules and regulations from Brussels has been visibly reduced since the new Commission: to a large extent due to extensive efforts of Commission first vice-president Frans Timmermans, responsible for so-called “better regulation” (as if the rules could be meant for worse!). But the interference shall go on; and it seems always will… 


However, the directives/recommendations’ flow from Brussels is not, actually, a big problem. The member states, when joining the Union agreed to limit their sovereignty in some way and in certain fields, as the Community court of justice postulated about 50 years ago.


Officially, so-to-say, exclusive EU competences cover just 6 six spheres of member states’ “sovereignty”:  customs union; establishing competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market; monetary policy for states in euro-zone; conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy; common commercial policy; and conclusion of international agreements (see art. 3 TFEU).


However, in reality, as politicians know quite well, the interference goes much deeper: suffice it to mention the European Semester (most active from the fall of 2013), with its country specific recommendations. No national economic plans can be adopted without a “helping hand” from the Commission. 


The Commission has taken already some important decisions intended to strengthen economic and budgetary coordination in the EU and the euro area in particular. “As a result, the Commission argued, the EU’s interdependent economies will be better placed to chart a path to growth and job creation”. But don’t the member states know how to “chart a path to growth”? 


http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/assistance_eu_ms/index_en.htm

      

Special Baltic Development Forum event in Copenhagen


Festive activities will be held in the Danish capital on 29th of August. Latvian Ambassador, Kaspars Ozoliņš, will welcome the participants on behalf of Embassies of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.


Then, the “founding father” and Honorary Chairman of Baltic Development Forum Uffe Ellemann-Jensen would reflect on these days 25 years ago, when he was the Danish Foreign Affairs Minister and wholeheartedly supporter of the Baltic States independence. 


Secretary-General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten will extend congratulations. Helge Pedersen, Group Chief Economist, Nordea Bank would talk on economic growth and prosperity in the Baltic States. 


Then, reports will follow on the so-called “Baltic Stars” with presentations from all 3 republics: Kristaps Dambis, Project Director, Drive eO, Latvia; Linnar Viik, Co-founder of Pocopay, Estonia, and Ilja Laurs, Founder of GetJar and Nextury Ventures, Lithuania.

 

A panel discussion on “Supporting entrepreneurial success” will follow with representative from the 3 Baltic States: from Latvia: Jekaterina Novicka, Chairwoman of the Board of Latvian Start-up Association; from Estonia: Tobias Stone, Founder of Identit.ee and CEO of Newsquare.io.

Lithuania: Ph.D; and from Lithuania: Austėja Landsbergienė, CEO and Founder Vaikystes sodasl, educational consultant to the Lithuanian government.

In the conclusion, Lene Espersen, Chairman of Baltic Development Forum will explore social-economic perspectives for the Baltic States.

 

 

 





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