Lithuania Considers the Risks of Eurozone Membership

Lithuania has reaffirmed its intention to apply for eurozone membership in 2014 even though its accession could very well be delayed by the currency union's ongoing problems or by its own failures to meet EU-mandated financial targets. Clearly some EU countries still want to join the eurozone despite the risks that membership entails. For Vilnius, the rewards of membership may outweigh the risks if stronger orientation to Western Europe distances Lithuania from its longtime adversary, Russia.