Lithuania

After having examined the draft Labour Code and submitting comments and proposals to relevant decision-making bodies, LFMI has concluded that the project is a huge step towards flexible labour relations and will significantly contribute to advancing job creation in Lithuania.

May 1, 2014 – A new recast of the Law on the Acquisition of Agricultural Land in the Republic of Lithuania1 (hereinafter referred to as “LAAL”), also known as the land “safeguards” law, has taken effect. The law stipulates provisions that limit the right to freely operate in the agricultural market by restricting agricultural land purchase and sale transactions.

While the European Union is pursuing regulation and centralisation and European economies continue to grapple with the crisis, on May 7, the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) hosted an international conference “Austerity without reforms – economies without growth” in Vilnius, Lithuania. The conference was organised in cooperation with the Austrian Economic Center and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation as a part of the Free Market Road Show 2015.

We have the pleasure the present you the second of the series of our policy papers that we will be publishing in the near future. The publication discusses the issue of Gold-plating - the process where an EU directive is given additional powers when being transposed into the national laws of member states. Enjoy your reading!

From 2012 to 2014 Lithuania increased its minimum monthly wage by almost one third (from 800 Litas in 2012 to 1,035 Litas in 2014). There are suggestions to increase the minimum wage in 2015 even more the supporters of the idea claim that companies would adapt. But is it all that simple? According to the survey conducted by LFMI, minimum wage increases come at a cost and they eventually bring several negative consequences.

After a long negotiation between milk producers, processors and sellers, the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture has proposed a new bill that would severely tighten the regulation of the Lithuanian dairy market. The authors of the bill claim that their intention is to protect Lithuanian producers, bring confidence to the market and boost the consumption of milk products. But […]

This year the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) has launched a new initiative “Let’s Agree” which is aimed at promoting a better-informed, constructive dialogue and peaceful agreement within local communities on issues relating to investment promotion and environment protection in Lithuania.

Former LFMI\'s President and long-time fellow Remigijus Simasius won the Vilnius City mayor’s post in Lithuania’s first direct mayoral elections, beating incumbent Mayor Arturas Zuokas in the March 15th run-off thus securing 61% of the vote.

These local elections are historically the most successful, 9 city and district Mayors from Vilnius to Klaipėda will be liberals, – says The Chairman of Liberal Movement Eligijus Masiulis. Nine elected Mayors will govern Lithuanian cities and districts of municipalities in which, according to Department of Statistics, is located almost 883,500 of the population.

A survey conducted by the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) shows that a rise in the minimum wage negatively affects Lithuania’s businesses and hurts workers. Of the 181 companies questioned, every third said that the 2012 and 2013 increases in the minimum wage had a negative impact on their businesses