Editing Foreign relations of Lithuania (section)

==Lithuania's membership in the EU==
[[File:EU flag square.PNG|left|150x150px|frameless]]
On 1 May 2004, Lithuania became one of the 27 member states of the [[European Union]]. The EU activities affect different spheres of politics, from consumer rights to national defence matters. In the second half of 2013, Lithuania took presidency over the [[Council of the European Union|EU Council]]. Membership in the Union has strengthened the domestic economy, giving it access to the wide pan-European market. Foreign direct investments in Lithuania are growing. The country is poised to become energy-independent. The accession to the [[Schengen Area|Schengen space]] in 2007 has opened up possibilities for the free movement of both citizens and goods across 25 European states. Lithuania's citizens enjoy equal social guarantees while working, travelling, or studying at the Community's countries. The country now benefits from additional EU fund and programme funding in the field of education and science. As an EU citizen, every citizen of Lithuania has the guarantee of consular assistance of EU representative offices in countries where Lithuania has none.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://urm.lt/default/lt/uzsienio-politika/uzsienio-politikos-prioritetai/lietuva-europos-sajungoje/lietuvos-naryste-es| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140311004555/http://www.urm.lt/default/lt/uzsienio-politika/uzsienio-politikos-prioritetai/lietuva-europos-sajungoje/lietuvos-naryste-es| archive-date = 11 March 2014| title = Lietuvos narystė ES {{!}} Lietuva Europos Sąjungoje {{!}} Lietuva regione ir pasaulyje {{!}} Užsienio politika {{!}} Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija}}</ref>