Economics, EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Technology

During the spring session, the Seimas focused on matters related, but not limited, to finance, economy, social affairs and health, law enforcement, environment, agriculture, and foreign affairs. The most important works of this session included setting up the framework for compensation for old-age pensions and disability benefits; putting legislation in place to govern the preparation to adopt the euro, exchange of the national currency (the litas) to the euro, conversion of values denominated in litas to values denominated in euro after the euro adoption in Lithuania and withdrawal of the litas from circulation. The Seimas endorsed direct mayor elections and increased the funding for the national defence. The Lithuanian parliament introduced additional safeguards against the sale of agricultural land to foreigners in order to avoid abuses and to protect the interests of farmers, agricultural companies and cooperatives employed in agriculture for years.

During the spring session, the Seimas adopted decisions on very important and relevant financial and economic matters. The Seimas curtailed the operations of credit unions; granted a state guarantee to the Nordic Investment Bank Seimas against a loan to be taken by AB Klaipedos Nafta to finance the Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal project in Lithuania; and adopted amendments to the Law on Investment, which are aimed at attracting investment in a bid to implement regional production and service projects and boost employment.

In order to ensure protection of the rights of tourists and consumers, the Seimas passed amendments to the Law on Tourism to address the issues of responsibility of tour operators, travel agencies and travel agents.

The Seimas also decided that in future political parties will have to announce tenders and comply with all the procedures provided for in the Law on Public Procurement when purchasing goods, services or works. The only exception will remain in place for the political parties to purchasing services for advertising campaigns, video-tape and propaganda film production in the context of political campaigns.

In the area of social security and labour, the Seimas regulated the procedure for compensating beneficiaries of old-age pensions and disability benefits, whose pensions and benefits were cut in 2010-2011. Old-age pensions and disability benefits will be compensated for as of the fourth quarter of the year 2014.

The amendments to the Law on Support for Employment, which provide for young people aged 16-29 to conclude voluntary internship contracts with employers, are of particular importance. It is expected that this will facilitate integration of young people into the labour market.

Upon the decision of the Seimas, the rescuers of Jews during the Holocaust were granted freedom fighter status. Pursuant to the effective legislation, this status will entitle the rescuers to either first or second degree state pensions of the Republic of Lithuania.

As usual, law enforcement matters took up the bulk of the Seimas agenda. The parliament increased punishment for sexual exploitation of children; introduced a ban on conducting a search in the presence of minors; and tightened restrictions on disclosing the source of information.

The session also commissioned the courts to ensure conduct of criminal proceedings with the least possible delay. The Seimas decided to simplify the liquidation process of inactive legal persons; to amend the provisions governing legal regulation of ancient arms, and to provide for a possibility to record the nationality of the passport holder in the passport. The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Road Traffic Safety under which some drivers will be considered drunk if their blood alcohol content exceeds zero permille.

The Seimas also enforced longer lasting suspension times for suspicious monetary operations and transactions. The parliament adopted amendments to improve legal regulation on prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing.

During the session, the Seimas started deliberations concerning the draft legislation on spelling of names and surnames in documents and will continue the work in the autumn session. The Seimas also intends to adopt the draft Law on Ethnic Minorities in the autumn session. The parliament has begun deliberation on the constitutional amendment providing for compulsory education for persons under the age of 18.

National defence was also among the priorities of the Seimas. In 2014, the Seimas approved the amendments to the 2014 state budget with a view to increasing allocations for national defence by additional LTL 130 million this year. The parliament also approved the principal structure of the army in 2015 and the guidelines for planning for the six-year period. In 2015, the key focus will be on funding and modernising the army and on moderate increase in the number of servicemen.

In the area of healthcare, the Seimas approved the Lithuanian Health Programme 2014-2025, endorsing the strategic aim of having a healthier population, increasing life expectancy and reducing health inequalities by 2025. Besides, the Seimas introduced a ban on selling, buying or otherwise transferring energy drinks to persons under 18 as of 1 November 2014.

Foreign affairs were particularly high on the Seimas agenda. The Seimas adopted a few resolutions on the situation in Ukraine and strongly condemned the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and occupation of a part of the Ukrainian territory.

Moreover, the Lithuanian parliament almost unanimously ratified the Association Agreements between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova, of the other part.

During the spring session, the Seimas commemorated the tenth anniversary of Lithuania's membership of the European Union and discussed the results of the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.