Decisions taken at the spring session of the Seimas will contribute to the security of the country and the population

Press release, 18 July 2024

The Seimas concluded its penultimate eighth (spring) session, which lasted from 10 March to 18 July 2024. During this period, the Lithuanian Parliament held 60 sittings and adopted 487 legal acts, including 373 laws.

According to Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, Speaker of the Seimas, although this session, like previous ones, was marked by sharp discussions and intense emotions – elements intrinsic to parliamentary activity – it ultimately culminated in the most crucial decisions requiring collective focus.

‘Certainly, I am referring to agreements on state defence. Despite many doubts about whether these could be achieved during the electoral period, our joint efforts have allowed us to lay the foundations and create the conditions for further advancements in the physical, social and emotional security of the entire state and every individual. This enables us to confidently assert that the spring session was a success,’ said the Speaker.

Summarising the work of the eighth session of the Seimas, the Speaker noted that Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine and other geopolitical challenges necessitated that the primary focus of the spring session be on ensuring national security.

Focus on strengthening national security 

During the spring session, the Seimas focused on the national security agenda, adopting several key decisions aimed at enhancing national security and defence.

Underlining the increased need for necessary and urgent measures to strengthen national security over the recent years, the Seimas approved the Defence Fund package, which will increase the national defence spending to 3 % of GDP, and decided to establish the State Defence Fund, operational from 1 October 2024. The State Defence Fund will be financed by a solidarity contribution from banks extended for an additional year, an increase in both ordinary and preferential corporate tax, as well as excise duties on fuel, tobacco, and alcohol.

The National Defence Enhancement and Development Programme updated and approved by the Seimas is aimed at having in place the Host Nation Support infrastructure to host the German Brigade; forming a national division; and implementing the principle of universal defence by 2027.

In order to ensure effective national defence and proper regulation of military service, the Seimas updated the Law on Military Conscription. The new legislation requires young males to begin their military service immediately after finishing school. The updated law will allow to consistently increase the number of servicemen in initial mandatory military service, to accelerate the formation of the reserve of active military personnel, to strengthen the attractiveness of mandatory military service, as well as to prepare a larger number of junior commanders and specialists who are lacking in the Lithuanian Armed Forces. In addition, from 1 July 2024, Lithuanian citizens enrolled in higher education institutions will have the option to combine their studies with initial mandatory military service. They can also choose to take academic leave at any point during their studies to complete their initial mandatory military service.

The Seimas approved changes in the structure of the Armed Forces. As a result, a unit of the infantry division has been established, a tank battalion will be formed, and the number of conscripts has been increased.

The Seimas has also denounced the Convention on Cluster Munitions. After withdrawal from the Convention, Lithuania will no longer be prohibited from acquiring, stockpiling and, if necessary, using cluster munitions. This will increase the effectiveness of Lithuania’s territorial defence and serve as an additional deterrent to the potential aggressor.

The Law on Arms and Ammunition Control, amended during the spring session, will benefit Lithuanian riflemen. The amendments allow not only the sale or lease of weapons, but also their use in economic activities.

Amendments to the Law on Investments and accompanying legislation will facilitate implementation of large-scale projects that meet urgent state security and defence needs. Simplified procedures related to spatial planning, land plot formation and construction will be applicable to major projects aimed at meeting urgent state security and defence needs. The aim is to create the conditions for the said defence industry activities to begin within the shortest possible time.

The newly adopted Law on the Defence and Security Industry aims to promote innovation and investment in the defence and security industry, increase its competitiveness, and create favourable conditions for the supply of strategic goods or products intended for defence and public security purposes to the national defence system and institutions ensuring public security. The new law also enshrines industrial cooperation, allowing Lithuanian manufacturers to participate in the priority acquisition of military equipment and armaments by national defence institutions.

The Seimas has decided to apply stricter rules for the selection of participants in NATO tenders. The law requires a security clearance confirming that a legal entity or associated persons wishing to participate in NATO tenders have not been subject to international sanctions or restrictive measures in the past three years. This clearance must be verified not only by court decisions, but also by decisions of other state institutions.

The Seimas has extended the ban on rebroadcasting and online distribution of Russian and Belarusian radio and television programmes in Lithuania. The ban will remain in place as long as the National Security Strategy identifies Russia and Belarus as a threat and danger to national security.

The session approved the Civil Protection Strengthening and Development Programme, which sets out the main guidelines and measures for civil protection development by 2030. The EU Directive on Security of Network and Information Systems was transposed into the new Law on Cyber Security. This will enable the strengthening of national cyber security.

The Seimas has decided to denounce the Agreement with Russia on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters, signed in Vilnius on 21 July 1992 and ratified by a resolution of the Supreme Council. This will prevent closer legal cooperation with the aggressor state.

The Seimas has also approved the appointment of Brigadier General Raimundas Vaikšnoras as Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and authorised the organisation of joint multinational military exercise Baltic Operation 2024 in Lithuania in June with the participation of Lithuanian, NATO and EU Member States’ military units.

Continued support for Ukraine 

At the beginning of the spring session, the Seimas confirmed its continued support for Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor and adopted a resolution calling on the international community to urgently and substantially increase their political, economic, financial, military, technical and humanitarian support and assistance to Ukraine.

The Seimas has decided to supplement the restrictive measures aimed at safeguarding Lithuania’s national security interests. Among other things, the revised law imposes more restrictions on Belarusian and Russian citizens and prohibits the import of agricultural products and animal feed into Lithuania from Russia or Belarus.

The Seimas has called on the European Commission to urgently draft legislation on banning the import of grain of Russian and Belarusian origin into the territory of the European Union and to ensure cooperation and coordination between EU Member States in order to implement this ban effectively and uniformly throughout the EU.

Proactive targets in the energy sector

The Seimas has approved the updated National Energy Independence Strategy, which established even more proactive energy goals for Lithuania. The aim is for Lithuania to become an exporter of sources of energy sources and to generate sufficient energy to meet its own needs, while ensuring that all domestic energy production is climate-neutral. In order for Lithuania to become a climate-neutral economy by 2050, its energy sector will need to undergo a fundamental transformation. One of the main ways to achieve this is replacing fossil fuels, in particular oil and natural gas, with clean electricity. Simultaneously, the goal is to ensure the availability of energy resources for consumers, establish a secure and reliable energy infrastructure, and develop a new energy industry in Lithuania. 

The Seimas has granted the National Energy Regulatory Council greater flexibility and frequency in changing the prices of electricity, natural gas and centrally supplied LPG for household consumers. Due to large fluctuations in the energy resource markets, the prices of electricity, natural gas and centrally supplied LPG for consumers will be recalculated every three months. These changes will make it possible to react more quickly to falling prices for energy products on the markets and will benefit household consumers. 

The session also agreed to recognise the Northwest and East electricity transmission interconnection project as a project of national importance.

Strengthened prevention of sexual violence against children

At the end of the spring session, the Seimas approved amendments to the Law on Fundamentals of Protection of the Rights of the Child, aiming to prevent sexual violence against children. Starting with 1 November 2024, persons intending to work with children will need to obtain a QR code certifying their eligibility for work with children. Employers will be obliged to verify the presence of that QR code in their employees, and relevant authorities will be responsible for overseeing employer compliance. 

The Seimas has agreed to change the housing assistance model to be applied from 2025 and to establish a more targeted financial incentive for young families purchasing their first home. Under the new scheme, the subsidy will vary based on the number of children in the family, with a maximum housing value applied. Additionally, restrictions on preferential access to housing will be implemented.

The Seimas has approved measures to improve activity in the labour market. The adopted amendments will increase the involvement of social partners in the decision-making process on active labour market policy measures, ensure more rational use of allocated funds, promote the return and reintegration of indebted individuals into the labour market, and strengthen the protection of borrowers’ primary residences.

Amendments to the Law on Social Assistance Pensions have been introduced to take effect on 1 September 2024. These amendments will allow the payment of social assistance disability pensions to residents whose disability was established at age 24 or later, even if they are currently engaged in active employment. Additionally, they will enable the payment of social assistance old-age pensions to all eligible individuals regardless of whether they are still employed. The new regulation will create equal opportunities for all recipients of social assistance pensions to work without losing the right to social assistance benefit, and promote the integration of persons with disabilities into the labour market. The Seimas has also decided to also grant, starting from 2025, social assistance disability pensions to persons who have been recognised as having lost 45–55 per cent of their work capacity after having reached the age of 24.

The Seimas has approved the proposal to improve the procedure of collection of local parking fees to better meet the rights of persons with disabilities. The adopted amendments will help municipalities to automate parking supervision and will allow people with disabilities to park in closed parking areas.

Adopted amendments to the Law on Food should help reduce food waste and promote safe transfer of food for charity and support purposes. As of 1 November 2024, supermarket chains will be obliged to conclude contracts with charity organisations distributing food.

The Seimas has made the provision permanent, allowing residents applying for compensations to allocate them for the entire heating season. Additionally, the Seimas has decided to increase state support for independence defenders and their family members when renovating or modernizing multi-apartment buildings.

The Parliament has approved the first phase of the public pension reform, which includes nearly doubling the pensions for victims of occupation, deportation, political imprisonment, life in ghettos and other victims, effective as of 1 July 2024.

From 2026, the amended Framework Law on Youth Policy will legalise the profession of youth worker, which was previously unregulated.

The Seimas has created the legal conditions for the Government to appoint a single reception agency responsible for ensuring material reception conditions for all foreigners, including detained foreigners, whose reception needs must be met. This agency will manage or administer all temporary accommodation for foreigners and will be under the authority of the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.

The Seimas has also approved the introduction of quotas for workers from third countries. The amount of the quota for a calendar year may not exceed 1.4% of the amount of the permanent population of Lithuania published by the State Data Agency on 1 July of the previous year. The amendments are aimed at regulating labour immigration flows more effectively by addressing the labour force problem and ensuring that immigration creates value for Lithuania, while taking into account national security interests.

Greater convenience for investing in financial products

The Seimas has decided to change the tax treatment of income from financial investments and create conditions for residents to invest more conveniently in various products distributed on financial markets. The amendments to the relevant law introduce a new measure from 2025, i.e. an investment account, which will enable permanent residents of Lithuania to make continuous investments in certain securities distributed on stock exchanges or other specified investment instruments, by paying the personal income tax only on the investment return used for other purposes than reinvestment.

The amendments adopted by the Seimas will make the basic banking services cheaper. The adopted amendments to the Law on Payments will reduce the price of basic account services by one third from 2025.

Amendments to the Law on Real Estate Related Credit will oblige credit institutions from 1 May 2025 to ensure that every real estate borrower has a real possibility to choose the type of interest.

Decisions adopted by the Seimas will mandate that, starting from 1 May 2025, the total amount payable in cash for goods or services must be rounded to the nearest 0, 5, or 10 cents.

The Seimas has harmonised the conditions for entrepreneurs selling alcoholic beverages at fairs, exhibitions and mass events. Under the newly adopted amendments, entrepreneurs will be permitted to sell alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of up to 15 % at fairs, exhibitions, and large events.

The amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing will impose stricter requirements on businesses, including those in gambling, currency exchange, tax consulting, real estate, and accounting. To enhance the fight against money laundering, the Seimas has empowered the supervisory authority to suspend the activities of violators and involve more individuals and companies in anti-money laundering efforts.

Amendments to the Law on the Control of the Circulation of Civil Pyrotechnic Equipment will impose stricter regulations on trade in fireworks. Notably, the age limit for purchasing category F2 fireworks, commonly known as ‘small bombs,’ will be raised to 18.

The Seimas has also tightened up on the operation of taxis and transporters. According to the adopted amendments, from 2025, eligibility to engage in taxi and transporter services in Lithuania will be limited to drivers with a valid certificate issued in an EU Member State, a country of the European Economic Area or NATO, Switzerland and Ukraine. 

Amendments to the Law on Lottery and Gaming Tax have increased the rate of gambling tax as of 2025. Under the amendments, the tax rate for lotteries and gambling, including slot machines, table games, bingo, sweepstakes, betting, and remote gambling, will be increased to 22 % from the previous rate of 20 %.

Other relevant decisions include the approval of faster implementation of projects as part of the trans-European transport network; the increase in the maximum value of the simplified procurement contracts for orally concluded contracts; the legalisation of the unlimited terms of office of the heads of tourist information centres; and the strengthening of the supervision of crypto-currency companies and the legalisation of their licensing. The Competition Council has been designated to oversee online intermediation services. Additionally, a state guarantee has been granted to the Nordic Investment Bank for a €100 million loan to UAB LTG Link, valid until 31 December 2032, at the interest rate set by the bank, to finance the investment project ‘Acquisition of Electric Trains.’

Enhanced safety for medical staff

To ensure greater safety for medical staff, the Seimas has allowed them, starting next year, to refuse provision of services to aggressive patients who humiliate the honour and dignity of medical staff by inappropriate and disrespectful behaviour.

The session has also adopted amendments to the Law on Pharmacy, aimed at improving the availability of innovative treatments and medication for patients with very rare diseases. This will be achieved through the enhanced procedure for setting up the Commission for the Compensation of the Costs of Treatment of Very Rare Human Health Conditions.

The amendments to the Law on Health Insurance have created the legal conditions for the consolidation of health insurance funds from 1 July 2025. Under the new provisions, the National Health Insurance Fund and the Territorial Health Insurance Funds will be merged into a single legal entity.

In addition, the Seimas has established administrative liability for violations regarding medicinal products.

Changes in the application of criminal liability

The Seimas has enacted systemic changes to the application of criminal liability. Under the new amendments to the Criminal Code, the average penalty rule will be abolished. Instead, emphasis will be placed on imposing fair and proportionate penalties by considering all the circumstances of each case. The revised Code grants greater discretion to the courts, allowing judges to tailor penalties more precisely to the specifics of the offense. This approach ensures that the law provides courts with the flexibility to deliver just penalties, taking into account the full context of the case and the individual circumstances of the offender.

The amendments to the Criminal Code will also enable the establishment of proportionate penalties for the most severe crimes that threaten Lithuania’s constitutional foundations. The initiators of these amendments argue that these changes are necessary due to evolving current realities, including the emergence of new geopolitical threats, the intensification of the existing ones, and insights gained from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

During the session, the Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Mediation to enhance the resolution of issues and strengthen the coordination of mediator activities. Starting in 2025, these amendments will designate the Lithuanian Chamber of Mediators as the body responsible for the self-regulation of mediators.

Through the adopted Constitutional Law on the Citizens’ Legislative Initiative, the Seimas decided to more clearly and consistently regulate the procedure for implementing the right of initiative. The law clarifies the requirements for registering an initiative group and the necessary accompanying documents. The new provisions will allow the initiative group to remedy any identified shortcomings in their application.

Other important decisions include the approval of the conclusions of the temporary commission of inquiry on possible interference in the 2019 presidential election of the Republic of Lithuania, and the strengthening of the accountability for undertakings providing administrative services, addressing failures to perform or improper performance of administrative duties.

Creating a seamless sports model

The Seimas has adopted a revised draft of the Law on Physical Culture and Sport, which establishes a comprehensive sports model that spans from basic physical activity to top-performance sports. The new law provides for the allocation of funding to sports federations to support the development and promotion of individual sports. It also mandates the creation of specialized sports classes in general education schools, ensuring that student-athletes can balance their academic and athletic pursuits effectively within the general education school environment. 

The Seimas has ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, joining the European and global fight against the manipulation of sports competitions.

The Seimas has approved the proposal to complement the Law on Education with an exhaustive list of the reasons for dismissal of the head of an educational institution, excluding higher education institutions. The updated Law will also allow for more flexible training of subject teachers and expand the scope of professional studies, excluding postgraduate training. Additionally, it was decided that, in classrooms, not only teachers but also other specialists will be permitted to assist children with special needs.

The Seimas has adopted a resolution defining the principles of the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the public sector.

Future cultural policy to enhance cultural rights

The Seimas has adopted the new Law on the Fundamentals of Cultural Policy, which further consolidates culture not as a separate domain, but as a cross-cutting horizontal asset. This will help to solve the problems and challenges of other sectors as well. The updated law will help the future cultural policy to better ensure human cultural rights, guarantee even provision of cultural services throughout Lithuania, as well as strengthen the cooperation between state and municipal institutions and agencies and culture stakeholders.

The adopted amendments to the Law on Libraries will permit libraries to distribute written-off books before assigning them for disposal. Libraries will be able to transfer the written-off books to individuals and organisations free of charge.

Stricter environmental requirements

The Seimas has approved the solutions discussed and refined in the framework of work on the National Forest Agreement, which provide long-term directions for forest policy. The Seimas resolution confirmed that the National Forest Agreement was reached on the topics listed therein and that forest policy and its formulation must be based on the agreements achieved. Forest policy issues for which no consensus was found during the agreement drafting process will be addressed during the discussion and adoption of the new version of the Law on Forests.

The Seimas has approved the tightening of environmental regulations. The amendments expand the powers of municipal authorities to oversee and influence residents’ decisions regarding domestic heating and wastewater treatment equipment. Municipal institutions now have broader discretion to set higher standards than the national ones. Additionally, municipal administrations are authorised to ensure that hazardous and polluting fuels are not burned in private residential homes.

The Seimas has increased the penalties for harming protected species and wild animals, as well as for damaging, destroying, or exploiting protected species, wild plants, and fungi. Stricter penalties are now in place for failing to comply with forest restoration obligations and for using invasive species. The Parliament has also established accountability for legal entities that illegally keep wild animals and has enhanced liability for violations of fishing rules and commercial fishing regulations.

On the last day of the spring session, the Seimas agreed to prohibit, starting 1 May 2025, the distribution of single-use plastic products for food and beverages free of charge in catering outlets. In catering facilities, reusable packaging, non-plastic single-use packaging or tableware will have to be provided as an alternative to single-use packages. Both distribution free of charge and selling of single-use plastic products to consumers at mass events and mass catering facilities on beaches will be prohibited.

The Seimas has relaxed the regulations regarding road pollution caused by cars, stipulating that a warning should be issued initially before imposing penalties.

The amendments to the Law on Land will restrict the temporary initial use of free state-owned land, both in rural and urban areas, to farmers or companies that utilised it until the end of 2023.

Other relevant matters

The Seimas commemorated the 20th anniversary of Lithuania’s membership of NATO and the EU, marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Council of Europe, and held a sitting dedicated to the inauguration of President Gitanas Nausėda.

Having regard to the decree of the President of the Republic, after the Government reinstated his powers subject to the oath of office, the Seimas approved the candidacy of Ingrida Šimonytė for the post of Prime Minister. 

During the session, newly appointed ministers – Laurynas Kasčiūnas, Minister of National Defence; Radvilė Morkūnaitė-Mikulėnienė, Minister of Education, Science and Sport; and Vytautas Šilinskas, Minister of Social Security and Labour – officially took office after being sworn in. Additionally, Jekaterina Rojaka, a new Member of the Seimas, also took the oath of office.

In 2024, the Seimas awarded the Seimas Prize – the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star – to Irena Degutienė, a long-standing Member of the Seimas and former Speaker of the Seimas and, posthumously, to Sister Felicija Nijolė Sadūnaitė, democracy defender and dissident.

The Seimas has approved the appointment of Giedrė Čėsnienė as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Lithuania; the nomination of Irmantas Jarukaitis as a candidate for the post of Judge of the Court of Justice of the European Union (for another term of office); and the nomination of Rimvydas Norkus as a candidate for the post of Advocate-General of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Reda Cimmperman was appointed Ombudsman for Academic Ethics and Procedures of the Republic of Lithuania. 

The Seimas meets every year for two regular spring and autumn sessions. The spring session begins on 10 March and ends on 30 June. The autumn session begins on 10 September and ends on 23 December. If necessary, the Seimas may extend the sessions. 

On 10 September, the Seimas will meet for the last (ninth) session of this legislature.

Rimas Rudaitis, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 209 6132, e-mail: [email protected]