ABSTRACT
Small countries in the EU can achieve quite good results in defending their interests, but for this they have to be flexible in forming coalitions. For a long time, Lithuania had been quite passive in the EU, known as a ‘one-question’ state, that is, concerned only about Russia. During her presidency, Grybauskaitė sought to make Lithuania a ‘more European’ state, which could contribute to the EU agenda. This was determined by Grybauskaitė’s pro-European orientation and willingness to show solidarity with other EU members. Although Grybauskaite initially tried to strengthen ties with the Nordic countries, this did not develop into a new strategic partnership of quality. On the other hand, her confidence in German Chancellor Angela Merkel can be considered as a significant change in Lithuanian EU policy. Germany, which had been treated with caution for a long time in Lithuania, became a significant strategic partner during Grybauskaitė’s term.
