Not long ago our country, Lithuania, has joined the EU. A lot of things have changed.
          Roads have become better, cities – cleaner and nicer; big beautiful stores have appeared, new dust carts can be seen in the streets, janitors have been given new smart uniforms; even our elementary school has got new computers, bus stops have been changed into glass ones which are illuminated at night. The canteen and the bathrooms in our school were repaired anew.
           The EU has opened up many possibilities for us to cooperate with children from other countries. I have been to Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and Italy. I am good at football and it would be nice to meet somebody else to play with. I also study English and I could converse in it with kids from other countries.
           Here is my contact information: Lithuania, Visaginas, Taikos St. 40 – 10

Aleks

          Lithuania has joined the UE not long ago. To do this our country had to meet some conditions:  to reduce the degrees of inflation and unemployment, to strengthen the bank system, to increase people’s income, subsidies for agriculture and to close down the INPP by the year of 2010. As soon as Lithuania became a member of the EU new laws came in power bringing with them changes in the life of the state and its people. Positive changes consist of free entry to many countries and even the right to work in some of them.
           Many young people can go now to European countries and study at universities there. Lithuanian drivers have got European driving licenses and began building many roads.
           On the downside, there is an uprise in the cost of many products and medicines.  It’s harder now to visit Russia or Belarus. But the saddest thing is that they have to close down the INPP where lots of people from Visaginas work.
           Next year Lithuania is awaiting an important event – the change of its currency into euro.

Aleksey

          Lithuania joined the EU in May 2004. It gave us the possibility to communicate with other countries. I can tell my peers from abroad about my country. It is very beautiful in Lithuania. There are many woods, lakes and nice cities here. I can also tell about my town, school, class and my friends.

Ania

          Lithuania joined the UE in May, 2004. There are 25 countries in it now.
           How do I feel this change in my life and in the life of my family?
           In the summer 2005 my dad has been travelling through Europe by bike. He has visited Germany, France, Austria, Italy and Croatia. The entry was free and all the tourists were very welcome. I wish I would have the same trip.
           There is another change I’ve noticed. One more flag turned up near the White House – there are two flags now: of Lithuania and of the EU. The EU insists on closing down the INPP what means a lot of reductions for many people and my parents as well.
           There are still no tangible changes which will apparently appear in the future.

Viktoriya

          I think Lithuania has joined the EU to get rid of the borders. When there are no borders you can travel easily. All the European countries have one common currency.
           When children finish school they can continue studying in any European country.
           I’d like to find friends abroad and to invite some of them to visit my place. We could go camping to a forest or go fishing. I am learning English so that would be interesting to talk to them in English.

Vadim

          Recently Lithuania has joined the EU. It was the wish of the biggest part of citizens of Lithuania. We can communicate with people from other EU countries nevertheless Lithuania is our motherland.
           Help and cooperation with stronger countries are important for Lithuania. The most important thing is that Lithuania found a lot of new friends.

Roman

          Lithuania has recently joined the EU, in 2004.
           Our roads have been improved, cities are cleaner now. There appeared large department stores. Bus stops have been changed into modern and festive ones. The EU has opened new possibilities of cooperation with other countries. Everybody loves sport, it can be ski or football, but I like rowing best. It would be great to take part in competitions with children from abroad.
           It is good to live in the EU!

Mikhail

          How do we live in the Europe Union?
           Recently our country Lithuania has  joined the Europe Union. It was in 2004. A lot of things have changed in our towns:  new bus stops were installed, towns became better, and a lot of shops were built. This is very good, but it is not the most important thing. The EU gave us a lot of benefits like traveling. I have been to Latvia already. I would like to take part in different competitions with kids from other countries. The most important thing is living in peace without terrorists. If we are in peace with other countries of the EU we will save peace. Only together we will make something.

Igor

          I am a citizen of Lithuania. Recently Lithuania has joined the European Union. To be stronger and bigger, that is why it joined the EU. As a result citizens of our country can easily travel to different countries.
           Our country can be proud of its historical sights, architecture and rich nature.
           I very much want Lithuania to be a famous and become a respected member of the European Union.

Daniel

          Lithuania has recently joined the European Union, it was in 2004.
           Our roads have been improved, big beautiful department stores offering more goods have been built. Especially I enjoyed a janitor’s uniform: it’s bright and smart. But there came more important changes.
           The EU has opened up many opportunities for us to communicate with children from other countries. As I’m keen on dances and tennis I’d like to see how they dance Lindy-hop in Poland and play tennis in Denmark and Poland.
           Along with good changes came bad ones. The EU demands that Lithuania would close  the INPP. But I don’t want it because my parents will lose their jobs then.

Daniil

Our wold is as complicated and as wounded as the web.
           Touch one web and the rest will start trembling too.
           And we not just simply touch the web, we leave
           seen holes in it.
           Gerald Durrell

                      Partnership, assistance, cooperation are the words so needed in our world. These words should unite people of all countries and nationalities. Lately we have heard about catastrophies, accidents, disasters happening in the World. Faces of suffering people are shown in the news, and it is so terrible to see the eyes of crying children.
           At this moment I would like to help these people very much. It is very hard to cope with trouble alone. And suddenly help comes from all parts of the World. People send the most necessary things, medicines, food for those who suffer. Partnership makes closer and helps in solving difficult problems. Only together we can keep and protect the World we live in from terrorism. All countries of the World have to take part in this uneasy struggle.
           The protection of environment is also one of the most important tasks. While working together we will keep safe life on our Green Planet. It is said: one head is good, but two are better. A lot of discoveries are made in science by people who work together.
           Together and only together we will cope with any problem.

Nicol

          Our Lithuania has joined the EU. And we can go abroad without visas. And also we can go to Austria, France, England, Germany, Poland and Greece. Almost everywhere in the EU we can go to work and to study. Moreover, other people from the EU can come here to Lithuania. I can share our language with children from other countries.

Dima

          Not long ago, in 2004, Lithuania joined the EU.
           After Lithuania has joined the EU the roads became better, the streets cleaner, there appeared more different big shops, the clothes became more beautiful, appeared new bus stations, appeared good petrol, but it is not the most important. Now we can easily go to different EU countries. Also the EU has opened opportunities to meet other children. We can show and teach them new things, and they can teach us. If we are friends, then this friendship will last for a long time and we will escape war in the future. For example, I’m keen on biathlon and I would like to compete with children from other countries in this kind of sport.
           I would like all children to learn foreign languages as the problem of languages prevents from communication and meeting new friends. And I want that into the curriculum will be introduced sport: in summer, spring and autumn – race, and in winter – skiing. Also I very much want that government doesn’t close our Ignalina NPP, as if it is closed then half of Visaginas will lose job and my dad as well.

Aleksandr

          Two years ago our country joined to EU. From this time on we’ve had some changes in our country and in our own town, too. There appeared big shops where you can find anything you need. But it is sad that we can’t buy all of this. Workers in shops have beautiful uniforms now. We can also see in our town more flowers and new bus stations.
           But this all is not important at all. The main thing is that we can meet new friends from other countries. If any of us hasn’t got a job we can travel to other European countries to find it there. I really don’t want the government to close down the INPP.
           I would like to meet new friends from other countries, to talk to them, to learn about their interests.
           It would be great if our  facilities improved.

Nurov

                      On the  1st  of May, 2004 Lithuania opened a new page in its history: it became the part of Europe when it entered the European Union.
                       Borders and visas went to the past, London and Paris, Roma and Kioln became closer.
                       The European Union opened for us a lot of possibilities for the partnership with children from other countries. We can now easily travel through all countries of the European Union and communicate with our peers.
                        I have already been to Germany and Italy. I liked the good will of people, culture, national traditions, careful attitude towards animals and nature there. I think that we can learn a lot from them.
                       As when children meet and become friends there is no place for the language barrier and misunderstanding.

Tatyana

          Last century some of the European countries created the EU. In the beginning the head of the countries wanted to unite them so that people of these countries could travel without visas, trade, improve relationship with each other. From this time the EU has grown up. In 2004 May 1st some of the Baltic countries, such as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia also joined the  EU. The EU  is a new ability for us to travel to other countries, work and live there.
 I go to the swimming pool every day and I want to be a perfect swimmer. Also I think that in the future I will have a chance to meet swimmers from other European countries.

Sofja