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Medalinskas, Alvydas
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2 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Russia secures influence with the customs union
At the start of July Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia agreed on the start of a new customs union as of January 1, 2011. The news portal Delfi sees the move as Russia's attempt to compensate for the hitherto unsuccessful negotiations over its membership in the World Trade Organisation. "At the same time, however, the world fails (or does not want) to recognise the repercussions the tariff union project could have for the entire region, from Ukraine and the Caucasus stretching all the way to the Baltic states, which will suffer from reduced exports to the countries of the customs union. Let's not forget, the Baltic countries are members of the EU and Nato, so the large member states of Nato and the EU should put more stock in their security than in accommodating Russia. After all, the customs union could merely be a means on the part of Russian Prime Minister Putin to create an institution in the post-Soviet zone that will exert considerable influence over the entire region. The common trade area would then be no more than a means to his true end."
» full article (external link, Lithunian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Lithuania, » Russia, » Europe
Lithuania's political elite headed for EU Parliament
Unlike many other EU member states Lithuania is on the verge of sending its political elite to the European Parliament. The news portal Balsas notes that even several party leaders are running for office in Brussels: "If the expectations of all these politicians are fulfilled then political life in Lithuania will have to be completely reconstructed after the elections - which perhaps wouldn't be a bad thing considering that stagnation is still prevalent. … But what would happen to the parties if their bosses all left for the EU Parliament? It will hardly be possible for them to direct Lithuanian politics from afar, as Lenin once did from Razliv. That would create chaos here. At the same time there is also the risk that the party leaders could sink even lower in the eyes of their voters because of their past. And nor will they be able to hide away in Brussels if society and the judiciary want to call them to account here in Lithuania."
» full article (external link, Lithunian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Lithuania, » Europe
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