EU – Baltic States, Foodstuff, Lithuania, Markets and Companies

"We don't think it will say 'no'. (The measure) is in line with the key issues on the European Commission's agenda, because it involves healthy nutrition and organic foods products, as well as reducing certain exclusion and increasing the purchasing power and income," he reporters after the Cabinet's meeting. 

The plan is to allocate food coupons to families with preschool-age children at the initial stage of the scheme. 

If it proves to be successful, vouchers will be given out to all people in the future. A person will be eligible for three vouchers monthly. Each voucher will offer a discount amounting to 20 percent of its value, which will likely be 10 euros.

The prime minister said the cost of the voucher system will depend on the value of one voucher, which is yet to be set.

It is planned that people will be able to use their food vouchers, which will be largely electronic, to pay for products in small stores selling fresh agricultural produce. 

Swedbank Lithuania's chief economist Nerijus Maciulis told, however, that the food voucher system is not an instrument that will help people on low incomes, but rather a symbolic measure to encourage small-sized businesses that will not bring about any major changes. 

Many people will find the monthly discount of 6 euros too small to be worth the effort of obtaining their vouchers and going to a specific store to buy products, he added.