This week, 1 May, marks 20 years of the rapid expansion of the EU with the accession of many former Soviet satellite states. Dr. Laima Andrikiené reflects on her role in the history of Lithuania's transformation and its current geopolitical challenges within the EU. While a well renowned Lithuanian choir are coming to Luxembourg. 20 years ago, the European Union grew bigger as, on 1 May 2004, the citizens of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia became citizens of the EU. Laima Liucija Andrikiené is an ex-politician, now working at the European Court of Auditors. She was instrumental to the independence of Lithuania, as a signatory of the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania. In this conversation, Dr Andrikiené talks about the Lithuania of her youth, of her parents youth and how the hope for independence never dimmed. Laima poignantly describes her parents meeting in Siberia, when they were both sent to the Gulag amongst many other family members. Her Grandmother always believed that her children and grandchildren would live to see a free Europe. They were right. Dr. Andrikiené remembers the day the last Soviet Troops pulled out of Lithuania and the work that had to be done then: starting an economy from scratch, giving people property back, opening up and processing tenders for foreign investment. Given the proximity to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, we also talk in depth about what is happening in Russia / Ukraine right now. Laima has a strong message for Russian people - they also hold responsibility for what is happening and can act. For Lithuania, being a part of the European Union has meant 20 years of peace, security and financial aid- almost 30 billion euros of financial aid to build infrastructure, schools and hospitals. Life in Lithuania is now incomparable to the past under Soviet rule. Lithuanian youth recently ranked number one for happiness across the EU. It is a dynamic and competitive country . Vilnius Choir To mark 20 years of being part of the EU, a cultural delegation from Lithuania has come to Luxembourg, including Maestro Artūras Dambrauskas, the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Vilnius Choir, along with Gitana Krikščiūnaitė, Concert Activity Manager. Vilnius Choir was founded in 1970 and is recognised as a curator and ambassador of Lithuanian choral music. Professor Artūras Dambrauskas, Head of the Department of Music Theory and Pedagogy at the Kaunas Vytautas Magnum University, also conducts the Lithuanian Song Festivals, is a member of the Jury of the Lithuanian and International choral competitions, and is the Artistic Director of the International St James Festival. The Lithuanian Song Festival (also known as The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations) celebrates 100-years this summer. The Baltic Song and Dance Celebrations is included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2008. You can hear their music at the end of the show and find out more here. http://en.chorasvilnius.lt/