The head of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University said EU members would refrain from big promises to London which announced earlier on Wednesday it wants to renegotiate EU membership and plans to hold an in-out referendum.
Vilpišauskas told BNS one could understand from British Prime Minister David Cameron's speech that "further membership in the EU means membership under new renegotiated conditions and not the old ones."
"I believe the initial reactions will be that the importance of Britain's EU membership will be reiterated but at the same time not so much will be promised to Britain in terms of specific exceptions. I think we'll see general reflections as the British government itself has no specific proposals as to what it would want to renegotiate among existing EU legal acts" Vilpišauskas said.
He also noted that it's common in the EU to seek exceptions while negotiating new legal acts or treaties but not through the renegotiation of existing agreements, therefore, questions might arise as to whether all EU members states can demand exceptions.
The Lithuanian political scientist stressed that Britain's EU withdrawal would mean "losing the voice" and that is politically important for the entire Community, including Lithuania.
"The British usually take constructive participation in discussions in EU institutions, have founded positions, and what's important for Lithuania, they can sometimes be important for Lithuania, the Baltic or Nordic partners. In my opinion, keeping Britain's EU membership is of interest for Lithuania," Vilpišauskas said.
