civic responsibility

The year 2025 was decisive for Lithuania – not only geopolitically, but economically. Defence spending increased significantly, while tax and pension reforms reshaped the policy landscape. Yet beneath these headline decisions lies a deeper question, one that extends far beyond Lithuania: are we strengthening the foundations of long-term prosperity, or shifting responsibility ever further towards the state?

On December 18, 2025, the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) invited Lithuania’s education community to discuss why ethical judgment matters in a fast-changing, digital world—and why ethics and civic responsibility are essential. The conversation took place during the awards ceremony for Lithuania’s national ethics competition for 7th–8th graders, “Beside Me: Another Person”, hosted by Vytautas Magnus University (VDU).