In the Lithuanian parliamentary election held in October 2012, the Social Democratic Party and Labor Party emerged victorious. The economic growth in Lithuania is expected to slow down in 2012. As a member state of both the EU and the NATO, the international status of Lithuania has been enhanced. As a member state of the European Union, Lithuania is greatly concerned with the euro zone crisis and has signed the fiscal compact, although it has not yet joined the euro zone. Lithuania advocates developing pragmatic relations with Russia, but keeps vigilant over Gazprom's misuse of its monopoly position in the EU market. <<