hidden europe 40

The Caucasus dimension

by hidden europe

Summary

Georgians have high hopes for the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union - a six-month term that started this month. Georgia, like Lithuania, slipped out of the Soviet Union in 1991. The hopes in Tbilisi are that Lithania will open European doors for other ex-Soviet states.

Spirits are up in Georgia this month — as they are, too, in neighbouring Armenia. For Lithuania has just assumed the Presidency of the EU or, more formally, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is the first time a state which was part of the Soviet Union holds the rotating presidency. Latvia will get its chance in 2015 and Estonia in 2018. The presidency pushes Lithuania into the limelight and gives the Vilnius government the upper hand in agenda setting for the EU.

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