3218) 25th Anniversary of becoming a NATO member & joining the European Union (EU), Lithuania: The Lithuanian Mint has issued 20 Euro Silver Coin celebrating the milestone: Date of Coin issue: First Quarter of 2024:
This year Lithuania marks the 25th Anniversary of becoming a member of NATO as well as having joined the European Union.
After the restoration of independence from Soviet occupation of this Baltic Nation in 1990.
Lithuania's successive governments sought greater economic and civil cooperation with countries in the West. Democratic principles and a market economy were soon restored which resulted in an almost complete overhaul of the country's neglected and antiquated infrastructure. This was primarily achieved through international investment from neighbouring European countries and the USA through the Lithuanian diaspora.
These efforts resulted in a much higher standard of living within a short period of time, which soon became parallel with many other European countries.
As such, Lithuania was granted candidate status to join the European Union in December 1998, the first step to eventual full membership. Soon after and in an effort to safeguard continued Lithuanian sovereignty most especially from future Russian aggression and occupation. Lithuania was invited to apply for full membership. in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - NATO - during the Alliance's summit in Prague in November 2002.
Ultimately, the first of Lithuania's natiomnal objectives were achieved on 29.03.2004, when NATO announced together with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia they would become full members of the alliance. With the addition of these seven European nations expanded to 26 countries and resulted in the largest wave of enlargement in NATOs then 55 years history.
This was considered an important achievement for Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia who were formerly part of the now-defunct Soviet Union. For Lithuanians, NATO membership ensured not only moilitary strength and homeland protection, but also a continuance of foreign investments which saw this step as a guarantee of stability and economic security.
In May 2003, Lithuania held a national referendum for its citizens to have theie say on membership of the European Union. Of the more than 2.6 million votes cast over ninety percent supported Lithuania joining the EU. The EU council announced the day of accession as 01.05.2004 for Lithuania and the other candidate member countries whose membership was also approved.
The Coins:
The Silver Proof and Colour Coins haved neen minted by the Mint of Lithuania at their facilities in Vilnius on behalf of the Bank of Lithuania and designed by Antanas Pocevicius.
The design benefits from an innovative uneven surface along with incused insignias and lettering.
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