Press release, 14 May 2014
The meeting of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs has discussed the position of the Republic of Lithuania on the Communication from the European Commission of 11 March 2014 entitled An open and secure Europe: making it happen (COM(2014) 154), which has been presented by Elvinas Jankevičius, Vice-Minister of the Interior. The Committee has approved the main provisions of the position, but stated that the document prepared by the European Commission fails to assess the changed security situation in Europe after Russias aggression against Ukraine and occupation of the part of the territory of Ukraine. The Committee notes that the new EU strategic guidelines in the area of justice and home affairs have to appropriately reflect these new challenges to the security in Europe. The Committee also observes that the aspect of information security in EU Member States is not assessed either and therefore calls for practical initiatives to fight tendentious propaganda and disinformation spread by third parties. The Committee expresses its support for the idea to set up democratic, objective and independent TV and other media channels in Russian in Eastern Europe.
Having heard the information on the Lithuanian Migration Policy Guidelines approved by the Government on 22 January 2014, the Committee has approved the provisions set out therein and called on the Government to promote cooperation among neighbouring states in effectively controlling illegal migration flows, strengthen the system of prior control of illegal migration, speed up the legislative process in connection with illegal migration, put citizens of the states of the EUs Eastern Partnership on the list of priority categories of foreigners, and promote the implementation of the policy for effective integration of foreigners.
Having considered the Draft Law Amending the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens No. XIIP-1396EU, the Committee, as an additional committee, has supported the draft law put forward by the Government, which aims to tackle illegal migration problems and to create more favourable conditions for foreigners who have higher professional qualifications, make investments in Lithuania or enter the country for studies, teaching, scientific research or experimental development. The Committee proposes to lay down in the draft law a general requirement for an appropriate dwelling with an area of at least 7 m2 for each adult (the draft law proposed 14 m2) and to provide for an exemption from this requirement for those employees whose nature of work does not require them to have a permanent place of residence. The Committee draws the attention of the principal committee that the entry into force of the law should be postponed in order to prolong the transitional period during which a residence permit issued to a foreigner on the grounds of lawful business operations would be re-issued under the conditions and in accordance with the procedure valid until the amendment of the law.
The Committee has also approved the accompanying Draft Law on the Code of Administrative Offences No. XIIP-1397, which proposes to provide for administrative responsibility of employers, heads of educational, research and higher education institutions or persons authorised by them for failure to fulfil their obligation imposed by this law to report any changes in the data of foreigners, provision of false data for the invitation of foreigners to enter the country or any other unlawful assistance for foreigners in receiving a document proving their right to stay or reside in the Republic of Lithuania.
Laura Plyniuvienė, Adviser to the Office of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, tel. +370 5 239 6802, e-mail: [email protected]
