Work programme of the autumn session presented to the Seimas

Press release, 10 September 2017

Photos of the Office of the Seimas (author Olga Posaškova)

 

On 10 September 2017, members of the Seimas convened for the 3rd regular (autumn) session. Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, read out the congratulatory letter by Dalia Grybauskaitė, President of the Republic.

 

During the first sitting, Viktoras Pranckietis presented the major tasks for the session, while Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis informed of draft laws submitted by the Government.

 

Welcoming the beginning work of the session, the Speaker of the Seimas reminded that the session started against the challenging backdrop of the Zapad military exercises in the Lithuanian neighbourhood, strengthening hostile propaganda and likelihood of different provocations.

 

 

“We must be prepared; our unity is particularly necessary and it must be visible to all the people of Lithuania,” said Mr Pranckietis calling for joint work.

 

While referring to the tasks for the beginning session, the Speaker of the Seimas said that the particularly important draft Law on the Approval of Financial Indicators of the State Budget and Municipal Budgets for 2018 and the accompanying legislation would be considered along with the draft laws aimed at social welfare.

 

“This year, we must complete one of the principal tasks of the session, that is, to adopt legislation enabling an increase in personal income, a reduction of social exclusion, a better situation for workers, and a fight against corruption,” stressed Mr Pranckietis.

 

Agreeing with the Speaker of the Seimas, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said the following: “An increase in personal income is the key objective of the Government, and it is clearly reflected in legislative proposals: the suggestion is to allocate over EUR 600 million for fighting poverty, supporting families, increasing pensions, and reducing social exclusion. It is a record amount to be earmarked for the sectors that have been long forgotten.”

 

The session will strongly focus on state security, and the Seimas will prioritize the long-term development of the national defence system, ensuring of cyber security, implementation of the National Energy Independence Strategy, and defining of the energy policy goals and guidelines 2050.

 

The Seimas will seek quality and efficiency in the areas of education, culture and science. Therefore, special attention will be paid to vocational training and its reform.

 

Mr Skvernelis said that, commissioned by the Seimas, the Government should draft, by December this year, laws to further ensure the implementation of the higher education reform. As regards secondary education, the intention remains, from 1 September 2018, to provide for the remuneration calculated on the basis of full-time employment; the funds have already been earmarked to this end.

 

The work programme of the autumn session is drawn up in view of the proposals from the Government, committees and political groups of the Seimas, and Seimas members. The registered draft programme No XIIIP-1088 contains almost 530 draft laws (excluding the accompanying legislation), out of which 150 are proposed by the Government, 7 by President Dalia Grybauskaitė, and almost 250 (excluding the accompanying legislation) by members of the Seimas (political groups).

 

The draft work programme was approved* by 85 votes in favour, none against and 24 abstentions. The discussion on the draft in the plenary is scheduled for 14 September 2017, following the consideration of the draft by the committees and political groups of the Seimas.

 

*On 14 September 2017, the Seimas adopted the Work programme of the autumn session.

 

Saulė Eglė Trembo, Chief Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 239 6203, e-mail: [email protected]