Essay on the Baltic transitions and European integration

Résumé du document

On the aftermaths of the second Word War, the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) were deprived of their independence by being absorbed by the CCPR. After being occupied by the German troops, the countries were freed by the Red Army and the loss of independence was not complicated to accomplish for the Soviet block. Then, the Cold War began and the Baltic countries were a part of the Eastern block. In 1990 and 1991, the three Republics proclaimed their independence from Moscow. The consequence of independence for such small countries, both by inhabitants and size, was the need for security. However Russia recognized the independence and this didn't mean the end of the influence of this powerful bordering neighbor. Russia remained as a major power, both at the international level and within the Baltic region. So the main purpose of the three states was to find security alliances in the West, without provoking Russia which aimed at controlling the region. At that time, the European Union was one of the options to guarantee security and prosperity.

Extraits

[...] Thus, the only solution to achieve this goal was to get closer from the West, on the one hand by integrating the European Union, and on the other hand, to ensure the so-called “hard security”, by integrating the NATO. Soon, this aspiration to a rapid integration in western alliances will turn to be complicated. Indeed, the still powerful Russia is not likely to easily let the NATO (that is to say western states including the US) take influence at its borders. Hence, the Baltic States path towards NATO will pass by several points of contention. [...]

[...] Therefore this new program can be regarded as a way to delay the examination of the application and to avoid the Russian anger. Here, the focus was more on actual cooperation and especially in military ways. It led for example to the Baltic countries involvement in the IFOR[6], a peacekeeping mission in Serbia. Furthermore, the real cooperation enabled the Baltic countries to improve themselves and to get closer from the requirements of the NATO in the military and defence matters. [...]

[...] Besides, those 2OO km located on the Baltic sea represented one, not to say the most, of the Russian windows on Europe. For instance, harbours like Tallinn and Riga represent a great asset for Russian exportations. A rapprochement of Estonia and Latvia with the west, and weaker ties with Russia would lead to harder conditions for Russia to use those ports. And the Russian economy cannot only rely on St-Petersburg and Kaliningrad to send its goods and raw materials toward the western world. [...]

[...] This need to prove some capacities and stability will enable an enhanced co-operation among the Baltic countries in strategic matters and their acceptance and active participation in some NATO programs. II) The Baltic cooperation and the first steps in the NATO framework Right after independence, the Baltic States became members of the UN as well as the CSCE[5]. But this was obviously not enough to secure this independence. Despite the conclusions of the Charter of Paris in 1990 that seemed to limit the extension of the NATO, and the renewed statements of western powers against a rapid integration of the Baltic States in the organization, the door never seemed totally closed for those countries eager to find defensive and military alliances. [...]

[...] Essay on the Baltic transitions and European integration On the aftermaths of the second Word War, the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) were deprived of there independence by being absorbed by the CCPR. After being occupied by the German troops, the countries were freed by the red army and the loss of independence was not that complicated to accomplish for the Soviet block. Then, the Cold War began and the Baltic countries were part of the Eastern block. When it collapsed, the path to regain the independence enjoyed between the two World Wars started. [...]