Press release, 21 March 2014
“When implementing the National Reform Programme, Lithuania should particularly concentrate on the innovation sector and start consolidating it without delay. Accordingly, the country’s focus on innovation would make it easier to reduce social inequality and exclusion, increase youth employment, and directly or indirectly deal with other economic and social challenges,” said Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, at the meeting of the Committee on Friday, 21 March, when the National Reform Programme was presented.
The National Reform Programme is designed for implementing the Europe 2020 strategy. European Union Member States aim to facilitate the recovery after the economic and financial crisis by preparing and carrying out reform programmes in the long-term period.
Given the Government’s priorities –– increasing employment, reducing poverty and social exclusion, improving investment and business environment, ensuring financial sustainability and readiness to adopt the euro –– it is particularly important for Lithuania to carry through the social insurance reform, to continue with energy and health reforms and further improve business environment and conditions for research and innovation in 2014.
Morta Vidûnaitë, Adviser to Gediminas Kirkilas, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6278, mob. +370 612 01 121, e-mail: [email protected]
