August 27, 1991
The European Community recognizes the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which were part of the Soviet Union.
Brussels, Belgium | European Community
On August 27, 1991, the European Community (EC), which later evolved into the European Union, officially recognized the independence of the Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This recognition marked a significant milestone in the Baltic states’ secession from the Soviet Union, symbolizing a major step in their reintegration into the international community as sovereign nations.
The Baltics had been occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union during World War II in 1940, an action that was never recognized by several Western countries, which held that these states were illegally occupied. Despite decades under Soviet control, nationalist and independence movements simmered beneath the surface in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
By the late 1980s, with the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), nationalist movements gained momentum. In 1990, all three Baltic republics declared the restoration of their independence, a move initially met with resistance from the Soviet Union.
In August 1991, as the Soviet Union faced an internal crisis due to a failed coup attempt by hardline communists against Gorbachev, the momentum for Baltic independence accelerated. The failure of the coup weakened Soviet control and emboldened pro-independence movements.
The European Community’s recognition on August 27, 1991, was a pivotal moment affirming the legitimacy of the Baltic states’ declarations of independence. This act signaled the international acceptance of their sovereignty and encouraged other nations to follow suit.
Following the EC’s recognition, numerous countries around the world quickly extended diplomatic recognition to the Baltic states. This international support helped solidify their positions as independent entities on the global stage. Subsequently, the Soviet Union recognized their independence on September 6, 1991.
The Baltic states worked rapidly to establish independent governments, pursue economic reforms, and shift away from Soviet systems. In 2004, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined both the European Union and NATO, marking their full integration into Western political and economic structures.
This recognition by the European Community played a crucial role in the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union which followed in December 1991, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of Europe and heralding a new era for the Baltic region.
Source: www.britannica.com