Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion for 2007–2013
Vilnius, July 5, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. ANALYSIS OF CURRENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITION IN LITHUANIA AND
DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES .......................................................................................................6
1.1 LOCAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL................................................................6
1.1.1 Social-economic situation of the regions of the country ................................................................... 6
1.1.2 Social-economic situation of rural areas ......................................................................................... 12
1.1.3. Cultural heritage and tourism ......................................................................................................... 16
1.2 QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC SERVICES .......................................................22
1.2.1 Health care services......................................................................................................................... 22
1.2.2 Education services........................................................................................................................... 27
1.2.3 Services provided by vocational training institutions, institutions implementing state employment
policy, out-patient social services and services to the disabled ................................................................................. 35
1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY .....................................................................................................44
1.3.1 Water protection and implementation of water management means ............................................... 44
1.3.2 Waste management ......................................................................................................................... 45
1.3.3 Air quality ....................................................................................................................................... 47
1.3.4 Protection of biodiversity and landscape......................................................................................... 49
1.3.5. Increase of energy production and use as well as use of renewable resources ............................... 51
1.3.6 Institutional environmental quality management ............................................................................ 52
1.3.7 Informing society, participating in making decision-making and education................................... 53
1.4 STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS ANALYSIS..................54
2. STRATEGY OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME ..............................................................59
2.1 VISION AND AIMS ..........................................................................................................................59
2.1.1 Vision .............................................................................................................................................. 59
2.1.2 First aim of the operational programme – to provide all prerequisites necessary for strengthening
and revealing local development potential ................................................................................................................. 60
2.1.3 Second aim of the operational programme – to ensure available and high-quality essential public
services of health care, education, institutions implementing state employment policy, out-patient social services
and services to the disabled ........................................................................................................................................ 63
2.1.4 Third aim of the operational programme – to pursue better environmental quality by giving special
attention to increasing efficiency of using energy ..................................................................................................... 65
2.2 PRIORITY 1. LOCAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL
HERITAGE AND PROTECTION OF NATURE AND ITS ADAPTATION TO DEVELOPMENT
OF TOURISM ..........................................................................................................................................67
2.3 PRIORITY 2. QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC SERVICES: HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE ...........................................................................83
2.4 PRIORITY 3. ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ............................101
2.5 PRIORITY 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING OPERATIONAL
PROGRAMME FOR PROMOTION OF COHESION ....................................................................106
2.6 COMPLIANCE WITH HORIZONTAL THEMES AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION ......109
3. SUBSIDIZATION PLAN ..................................................................................................................113
4. EXPRESSION OF TASKS IN NUMBERS .....................................................................................114
5. PREPARING OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME...........................................................................124
5.1 PARTNERSHIP ...............................................................................................................................124
2
5.2 EX-ANTE EVALUATION .............................................................................................................127
5.3 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ...................................................................129
6. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS .............................................................................................132
APPENDIX .............................................................................................................................................144
APPENDIX I: DISTRIBUTION OF EXPENSES ACCORDING TO CATEGORIES ..................144
APPENDIX II. LIST OF PROJECTS OF HIGH VALUE ................................................................145
APPENDIX III. FINANCIAL FLOWS ...............................................................................................146
APPENDIX IV. EX-ANTE RECOMMENDATIONS – OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR
PROMOTION OF COHESION ...........................................................................................................147
APPENDIX V. COMPATIBILITY OF SUPPORT WITH OTHER OPERATIONAL
PROGRAMMES AND OTHER EU FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS ..............................................151
APPENDIX VI. STATE AID STIPULATION ...................................................................................158
APPENDIX VII. PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ....................................................................................159
APPENDIX VIII. INITIATIVE “REGIONS FOR ECONOMIC CHANGES” ..............................160
APPENDIX IX. COOPERATION WITH BALTIC STATES ..........................................................161
APPENDIX X. RECOMMENDATIONS OF STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
FOR OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR PROMOTION OFCOHESION ..............................162
3
LIST OF PICTURES
Picture 1. Average annual unemployment level, in percent. ................................................................7
Picture 2. Gross Domestic Product per one resident in comparison with Lithuanian average . Error!
Bookmark not defined.
Picture 3. Guests from the most important foreign markets accommodated in Lithuanian
accommodation enterprises, guests in thousands .............................................................................. 17
Picture 4. Employment of Lithuanian hotels rooms in 2004–2005, in percent ............................. 20
Picture 5. Number of beds per 10 000 residents ................................................................................ 23
Picture 6. Hospitalization per 1000 residents .................................................................................... 24
Picture 7. Death rate per 100 000 residents ....................................................................................... 24
Picture 9. Children’s education in institutions in accordance with their age in 2003, in percent. ... 28
Picture 11. Changes in emission of main pollutants to the air .......................................................... 44
Picture 12. Changes in the area of protected territories (percent of total are of the country) .......... 45
Picture 13. Administration scheme of Operational programme for Promotion of Cohesion ........ 131
4
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. The most significant differences in social-economic field of the EU and Lithuanian
regions ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Table 2. The most significant differences in social-economic field of the EU and Lithuanian rural
districts ................................................................................................................................................ 15
Table 3. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian cultural heritage
and tourism ......................................................................................................................................... 21
Table 4. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian health care services
............................................................................................................................................................. 26
Table 5. Percentage of teaching and studies institutions graduates who registered in Labour
exchange of the country before September 1, 2005 .......................................................................... 31
Table 6. Percentage of teaching and studies institutions graduates who are employed in accordance
with their professional qualification among all employed graduates................................................ 31
Table 7. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian education services
............................................................................................................................................................. 33
Table 8. The most significant differences in the EU and Lithuanian labour market, education and
social fields ......................................................................................................................................... 40
Table 9. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian water protection . 43
Table 10. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian waste
management ........................................................................................................................................ 45
Table 11. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian improvement of
air quality ............................................................................................................................................ 46
Table 12. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian environmental
protection ............................................................................................................................................ 48
Table 13. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian use of renewable
energy sources..................................................................................................................................... 50
Table 14. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis ............................................... 52
Table 15. Predicted distribution of expenses of the first priority according to the categories ........ 79
Table 16. Predicted distribution of expenses of the second priority according to the categories .... 96
Table 17. Predicted distribution of expenses of the third priority according to the
categories...................... .................................................................................................................... 101
Table 18. Predicted distribution of expenses of the fouth priority according to the categories ..... 104
Table 19. Subsidization plan of Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion according to
the funds and year. ............................................................................................................................ 109
Table 20. Subsidization plan of Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion according to
the
priorities
and
subsidization
sources.................................................................................................................109
5
1. ANALYSIS OF CURRENT SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
CONDITION IN LITHUANIA AND DEVELOPMENT
PERSPECTIVES
1.1 LOCAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
1.1.1 Social-economic situation of the regions of the country
Main statements:
While Lithuanian economy is developing rapidly, social, economic and territorial
differences are growing; however, evenly situated Lithuanian towns provide favourable conditions
for sustainable growth of economy and the whole country. Regional policy of Lithuania is based on
development of regional economic growth centres (Alytus, Marijampolė, Mažeikiai, Tauragė,
Telšiai, Utena and Visaginas) and additional support to distinguished problematic territories.
Insufficient competitiveness of Lithuanian regional economic growth centres and
attractiveness of investment and residential environment is caused by, besides other factors, poor
condition of urban environment, transport and community infrastructure as well as quite often – its
lack.
Non-decreasing social, economic and territorial differences between different Lithuanian
regions as well as between urban and rural areas cause unequal opportunities to keep, maintain
properly and renew available housing; therefore, physical degradation of residential environment
and residential buildings as well as lack of social housing in noticed in certain areas of the country
(especially problematic territories).
While Lithuanian economy is developing rapidly and Gross Domestic Product
(hereinafter – GDP) is increasing on an average of 6.7 percent per year (during the period from
2000 to 2004), social, economic and territorial differences between Lithuanian regions and within
them are not decreasing.
Regional policy strategy of Lithuania until 2013 states that main problem of national
regional policy during the period until 2013 is great social and economic differences between
Lithuanian regions and within them, and their main reason is insufficiently even territorial
economic growth.
Territorial social cohesion is measured by evaluating territorial differences between its
main components – residents’ income and unemployment level (or occupation) in the country.
Therefore, territorial social cohesion in Lithuanian is evaluated on the basis of income from wage
labour per one member of a household per year and average annual unemployment level.
Income from wage labour (hereinafter – IWL) amounts to about 60 percent of all
income of households. Statistics shows that IWL was lower than the state average (3238 Litas).
even in 7 from 10 counties in 2004. Only Vilnius county (4417 Litas), Klaipėda county (3672 Litas)
and Kaunas county (3410 Litas) exceeded the state average. Residents’ of Tauragė county (which is
the smallest one in the country) IWL did not even amount to a half of the rate of Vilnius county
(which is the biggest one in the country) and was over 1.5 times lower than the state average. IWL
was almost 25 percent lower than the state average in half of the counties (Alytus, Marijampolė,
Panevėžys, Tauragė and Utena).
Dynamics of another indicator of the residents’ income – average gross monthly wage
– according to the counties in 2000–2004 also shows stability of considerably great territorial
differentiation and increase of differences between the regions of Lithuania.
Average annual unemployment level in Lithuania amounted to 11.4 percent in 2004.
Territorial differentiation in Lithuania in the aforementioned year was quite great. Average annual
unemployment level lower than the state average was in Marijampolė (6.9 percent), Tauragė (8.9
percent), Kaunas (10.3 percent), Telšiai (10.3 percent) and Vilnius (11,1 percent) counties. In the
6
rest 5 counties, unemployment level was higher than the state average (12.3–12.7 percent).
Difference between the counties where the indicator was the highest (Klaipėda county) and the
lowest (Marijampolė county) was 1.8 times, while territorial differentiation according to this
indicator was much lower in 2000 and difference between the counties where the indicator was the
highest and the lowest was only 1.5 times. This indicated increasing territorial differentiation.
1 picture. Average annual unemployment level, in percent.
Average of Lithuania
18,0
Alytus county
16,0
Kaunas county
Klaipėda county
14,0
Marijampolė county
Panevėžys county
12,0
Šiauliai county
10,0
Tauragė county
Telšiai county
8,0
Utena county
Vilnius county
6,0
2000
2001
2002
2003
Source: Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
During the period from 2004 to 2006, both average annual unemployment level of the
country (in 2005, it amounted to 8.5 percent in the country) and territorial differences of this
indicator between the regions were decreasing. Similar tendency was typical in case of the indicator
of proportion of registered unemployed residents and residents of employable age. However, these
seemingly positive changes did not determine greater territorial and social cohesion of the regions
of the country. Decreasing unemployment level and number of the unemployed was, first of all,
strongly determined by residents’ emigration from the country induced by admission of Lithuania
into the EU and residents’ movement to the cities of the country. In 2004-2005, over 30 thousand
people left the country. Residents’ migration within the country amounted to over 130 thousand
people during the aforementioned period. It is likely that the majority of the people who left the
country are residents of employable age (e.g. according to the data obtained by the Institute for
Social Research, about 75 percent of people who leave Lithuania are labour migrants) who aim to
emigrate to other areas of the country or abroad because of unfavourable social, economic and
territorial living conditions.
Territorial differentiation of the indicator defining situation in labour market –
proportion of registered unemployed residents and residents of employable age – changed as well,
which also shows non-decreasing territorial differences. In 2004, the average of Lithuania according
to this indicator amounted to 6.8 percent. Territorial differentiation is also bound to increase, and in
2004, the indicator of Tauragė county (the highest one in Lithuania) was more than 2 times higher
than the indicator of Kaunas county (the lowest one in Lithuania).
Dynamics of unemployment level and proportion of registered unemployed residents
and residents of employable age in 2000–2004 shows stability of considerably great territorial
differentiation and absence of features of cohesion. It is likely that predicted tendencies of
specialization and concentration of agriculture in Lithuania will increase exclusion of the counties
where the percentage of residents engaged in agriculture is the greatest one and which fall behind
according to the aforementioned indicators even more.
Assessing the fact that regions (counties) in Lithuania are characterized by nonincreasing territorial social cohesion, main direction of regional policy until 2013 will be increasing
territorial social cohesion between regions by not increasing territorial, social and economic
differentiation within the regions.
7
Picture 2. Gross Domestic Product per one resident in comparison with Lithuanian
average
50%
40%
2000
30%
20%
2001
10%
2002
0%
-10%
2003
-20%
2004
-30%
-40%
-50%
Alytus county Klaipėda county Panevėžys county
Utena county
Telšiai county
Šiauliai county
Kaunas county
Vilnius county
Marijampolė county
Tauragė county
Source: Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
Lithuania is characterized by considerably great and still-increasing differences
between economic growth of different regions. The gap between Vilnius county which is
developed the most and Tauragė county which is the poorest one according to GDP per one resident
(hereinafter – GDP/resident) in 2004 was approximately 2.7 times (this difference increased by 1.2
times during the period from 2000 to 2004). That is to say, GDP/resident was even 44 percent
higher than the average of Lithuania in Vilnius county in 2004, and in Tauragė county it amounted
to only 53.5 percent of the average of Lithuania. Whereas in 2000, GDP/resident was only 33.4
percent higher than the average of Lithuania in Vilnius county, and in Tauragė county it amounted
to 61.7 percent of the average of Lithuania. This shows increasing economic differentiation between
separate regions.
GDP of Lithuania is predicted to increase rapidly in the nearest future as well.
Predicted decrease of the number of residents of Lithuania should also increase GDP growth in the
future. In spite of that, differences of this indicator between developed and non-developed regions
of the country are bound to increase.
Assessing the fact that great and non-decreasing territorial, social and economic
differences between the regions and within them, national regional policy is implemented and
territorial cohesion is promoted in two directions. The first direction covers promotion of long-term
growth of economy of the country and increase of social cohesion between the regions by
complexely developing infrastructure of regional economy development centres. The second one is
directed towards improvement of quality of life in problematic territories in this way promoting
regional cohesion within the regions.
Regional economic growth centres and problematic territories
In modern economy, the majority of GDP is created and growth takes place in urban
territories. However, not all urban territories attract investment and, at the same time, promotion of
growth of economy because of different reasons equally. Usually, a network of evenly distributed
towns ensures a more even development of the country; besides, it is the basis of increase of social
8
and economic cohesion. There is a network of sufficiently evenly distributed towns in Lithuania
which should allow the country to develop further. However, the majority of investment is attracted
to the cities of Lithuania – Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys. Possibilities of other
Lithuanian towns – regional centres possessing economic growth potential – are used
insufficiently. Due to poor investment attractiveness and factors of agglomeration economies local
and regional economic growth centres are insufficiently competitive in comparison with the cities;
however, during the period from 2000 to 2004, percentage of direct foreign investment in more
developed areas decreased from 95.1 to 89.5 percent.
Additional state intervention measures intended to increase attractiveness of
investment and residential environment must be implemented in regional economy development
centres. Following regional policy strategy of Lithuania until 2013 Alytus, Marijampolė, Mažeikiai,
Tauragė, Telšiai, Utena ir Visaginas are attributed to such towns – regional economy development
centres. These regional economic growth centres are distinguished regarding the fact that Alytus,
Marijampolė, Tauragė and Telšiai are regional economic growth centres provided for in the general
plan of the territory of the Republic of Lithuania which carry out administrative functions and are
located in the counties which fall behind the most according to social condition; Utena is a regional
economy development centre, located near the region of Ignalina atomic power plant of the
Republic of Lithuania, economic potential of which will especially contribute to solving future
social problems of this region; Mažeikiai and Visaginas are regional economic growth centres
possessing economic potential located near regional economic growth centres which are proposed
to be developed (respectively Telšiai and Utena), their added potential (when constituting axes of
growth of economy together with regional economy development centres) creates preconditions of
more rapid economic growth of these regions.
Following the Regional Development Law, a part of the territory of the country where
specific social and economic problems exist is called a problematic territory. On the basis of data of
2005, 14 municipalities meet the criteria of distinguishing problematic territories. The majority of
municipalities which meet determined criteria of distinguishing problematic territories are in the
outskirts of Lithuania, further away from regional economy development centres. These
municipalities are characterized by high unemployment level, labour force of low qualification,
rapid decrease of the number of residents and their ageing, low attractiveness of residential
environment, poor social infrastructure, high level of social exclusion and weak level of pendulum
labour migration of residents. Due to these reasons problematic territories are also characterized by
low competitiveness and poor investment attractiveness. Aiming to solve both these and
demographic problems, it is necessary to implement intervention measures intended to improve
environment and quality of life by giving most attention to modernization of public infrastructure in
those territories.
Aiming to increase competitiveness and attractiveness of investment and residential
environment of regional economic growth centres and distinguished problematic territories, it is
necessary to solve present problems complexely by preparing and implementing programs of
development of respective regional economic growth centres and their integration in surrounding (at
the radius of 50-70 km) territories.
Urban infrastructure of smaller towns of the country
Regional policy strategy of Lithuania until 2013 states that competitiveness and
investment attractiveness of distinguished regional economic growth centres is determined by,
besides other factors, poor condition of infrastructure and quite often – a lack of it. Due to poor
condition of urban environment, transport and community infrastructure or a lack of it environment
favourable to business is not created as well as suitable environment and quality of life is not
ensured for residents. The latter ones, especially qualified residents of employable age, leave the
regions and move to other towns of the country or other countries.
9
According to preliminary data of 2005, over 15 thousand residents left the country;
natural annual movement of residents in the counties and municipalities amounted to almost 60
thousand people, the majority of which (almost 24 percent) moved to Vilnius. The majority of all
residents who left their residences were from Alytus (2.6 percent), Telšiai (2.5 percent), Šiauliai
(2.3 percent), Klaipėda, Tauragė and Utena (2.2. percent) counties, while the state average
amounted to 2 percent. Statistics about migration of qualified labour force is not presented;
however, it is likely that a considerable part of residents who left their residences are highly
qualified. Migration of qualified labour force induced not only by low wage level present in
regional economic growth centres but also low attractiveness of their labour environment.
While analyzing infrastructure of regional economy development centres, poor
condition of urban environment must be distinguished. A lot of industrial and other areas including
buildings in the towns of regional economic growth centres are abandoned, unexploited and spoil
the view of the town as well as often endanger environment. Such towns also lack infrastructure of
urban environment important to business such as commercial centres, business incubators etc.
Low competitiveness and investment attractiveness of regional economic growth
centres is also determined by low level of pendulum labour migration of residents caused by
insufficiently developed transport infrastructure and low level of mobility of residents.
In 2005, over 1.79 million road vehicles were registered in Lithuania. Since 1990, road
vehicle park grew by 2.7 time and intensity of traffic grew by 48 percent. These tendencies present
challenges for ensuring transport mobility in towns. Currently, regional economic growth centres
especially lack access roads and car parks, infrastructure of pedestrian, cycling paths and other
alternative or “soft” vehicles is still insufficiently developed, means of traffic safety are not
developed. The need for public transport is also increasing in the country: during the period from
2000 to 2004, the number of passengers transported by internal public transport increased from
424.7 to 479,8 thousand or almost by 13 percent. However, the condition of public transport is poor
as does not satisfy today’s requirements in the country, especially in smaller towns. Therefore,
while improving transport of regional economy development centres, it is necessary to develop and
modernize network of access roads and car parks, develop means of traffic safety, develop
pedestrian, cycling paths and other necessary infrastructure of alternative types of vehicles, develop
infrastructure of public transport and increase its availability.
Community infrastructure of regional economic growth centres is divided into
infrastructure of centres of attraction and culture.
Development of territories located in centres of attraction covers renewal or creation
of infrastructure of recreation, leisure time and sport. Towns lack qualitatively constructed zones of
recreation and leisure time parks, gardens, squares, mini-parks, promenades, passages etc. Lack of
modern sports infrastructure is also relevant in regional economy development centres. Present
condition of sports bases and their number does not satisfy the needs of residents of Lithuania and
highly skilled sportsmen. There is a lack both of modern specialized sports bases where highly
skilled sportsmen could prepare for various competitions according to modern requirements and
modern common sports bases (stadiums, swimming pools, gyms, various playing-fields, manages,
water and other routes etc) which would be used not only for professional but also for active and
passive relaxation.
The condition of infrastructure of culture in smaller towns is very different from the
one in the cities. Conclusions of sociologic research carried out by the Institute for Social Research
in 2004 show that material condition of museums, libraries, culture centres located in small towns
and rural areas is rather difficult. The research also showed that the smaller the a residential area is,
the less culture institutions, infrastructure of which is developed the worst in the regions, are
attended. As supply is insufficient in small towns and rural areas, the needs of attending these
culture institutions are not formed as well. This may cause decrease of the need of cultural services
and decline of the society’s intellectual and creative potential.
During the last decade, not enough funds were allotted for constructing, reconstructing
and repairing the buildings of culture institutions. The majority of culture institutions are funded by
10
the budgets of municipalities; however, funds are allotted only for maintaining staff and buildings.
Programs of development of regional culture, development of ethnic culture, modernization of
libraries prepared by the Government and programs of modernization of culture centres 2007-2017
and modernization of museums currently being prepared provide favourable conditions for
modernization and development of these cultural objects.
Poor condition of community infrastructure or a lack of it negatively influences safety
of residents. Environment which is not orderly and not equipped properly, lack of ways to spend
one’s leisure time causes higher criminality, especially among youths. Statistics shows that relative
percentage of suspected (prosecuted) minors is often greater in regional economic growth centres
than in the big cities of the countries (Vilnius and Kaunas). Renewal and creation of community
infrastructure of regional economic growth centres may strongly help prevention of criminality in
these areas.
Infrastructure of public health care, social and education services and its availability is
also important to attractiveness of investment and residential environment. It is to be noted that the
condition of infrastructure of the majority of institutions providing public services is unsatisfactory.
Poor condition of buildings of the institutions encumbers the activity of the majority of institutions
providing public services: the majority of buildings of institutions providing health care, social and
education services were built several decades ago and do not meet the norms of sanitary hygiene
anymore; besides, major repairs of some buildings have been carried out several decades ago. There
is a lack of infrastructure of some services (e.g. nursery education), especially in smaller towns and
rural areas of the country. Even though it is necessary to optimize infrastructure of institutions
providing public services, this must be carried out aiming to ensure sufficient availability of
infrastructure of public services in order not to worsen the quality of life in separate regions.
As informational and cultural policy of Lithuania has changed and as political and
economic changes occur, new needs of residents emerge as well as new requirements for urban
development, activity of business, relaxation, sports and culture. Scientists, businessmen, disabled
people, youths wish for new services in institutions. Only a modern state-of-the-art infrastructure
can satisfy the aforementioned needs.
Housing conditions
The majority of the residents of Lithuania (66 percent) live in blocks of flats built in
1961–1990. The majority of these buildings are physically worn: their thermoinsulation features do
not meet today’s requirements, heating systems of building are not efficient and use a lot of thermal
energy. Due to the aforementioned actions not only the need to renew these building grows but also,
as the prices of energy rise, a lot of households encounter problems of keeping housing. Hostel-type
blocks of flats are attributed to especially problematic buildings. According to data available to
municipalities, there are 750 hostel-type blocks of flats in Lithuania housing about 45 thousand
families (households).
After the change of the form of ownership of the leased housing fund and privatization
of the majority of housing (about 97 percent of the whole housing fund belong to residents by the
right of private ownership) the burden of keeping and renewing housing falls to its owners. The
aforementioned social, economic and territorial differences between the regions of the country
cause unequal opportunities of households to keep, properly maintain and renew available housing.
Physical degradation of residential buildings of individual problematic territories is noticed. This
tendency is especially noticeable in towns where poverty and unemployment level is high,
demographic tendencies are risky and level of economic growth is low. Residents who receive low
income and are socially excluded who are unable to renew and properly maintain their housings as
well as to keep them mainly live in low-quality buildings.
Some of the residents of Lithuania (about 7 percent of all households) have not got
proper housing. Comparative percentage of social housing amounts only to 3 percent of the housing
fund of the country, while in the EU member states it is greater by, on an average, five times.
11
Problematic territories of the country especially lack cheap permanent or leased social housing. In
the beginning of 2006, about 13 thousand households claimed social housing. It is planned to
increase comparative percentage of this fund to 4-5 percent until 2020. Social housing fund is
developed not only by constructing new residential buildings but also by adapting present buildings.
Hostel-type blocks of flats are attributed to such buildings. People who receive low income and are
socially vulnerable and who are unable to ensure proper maintenance of their housing mainly live in
such houses. Some residential premises in these houses belong to municipalities and are used as
social housing. However, municipalities are financially incapable to renew, maintain present
premises or purchase new ones for development of social housing as well.
While implementing the aims of the housing strategy of Lithuania, the Government
approved the programs of modernization of blocks of flats and development of social housing fund
in 2004. However, subsidization of these programs is not adequate to the needs and endangers the
aims of the strategy of housing. Therefore, due to limited possibilities of housings and state
subsidization, renewing blocks of flats following new technical requirement and creating housings
meeting minimal standards in hostel-type houses as well as ensuring supply of social housing to the
households lacking it is unsuccessful.
Table 1. The most significant differences in social-economic field of the EU and Lithuanian regions
EU
Indicator of difference
Year Lithuania*
Evaluation
average**
Gross Domestic Product per one resident
comparison with the EU average, in percent
in
2004 47,8
100
High
2004 61,2
63,3
Low
Employment level of employees aged 55–64, in
2004 47,1
percent
41,0
Low
Unemployment level, in percent
2004 11,4
9,0
Low
Long-term unemployment level, in percent
2004 5,8
4,1
Average
Housing (m² per one resident)
2004 ~22
30–40
Average
People residing in blocks of flats, in percent
2004 66
50
High
Thermal energy used in residential buildings, kwh/m²
2004 250
160
High
Employment level, in percent
Comparative percentage of social housing in the
2004 3,0
15
High
housing fund of the country, in percent
Sources: *Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
** EUROSTAT.
1.1.2 Social-economic situation of rural areas
Main statements:
Insufficient availability of health care and education services, negative changes of
employment, undeveloped infrastructure causes poor demographic, economic and social condition
of villages in comparison with towns.
High dependence on economic activity of agriculture predominates in villages – in 2004,
about half of all residents employed in villages worked in the sectors of agriculture, forestry,
hunting and fishing.
Due to decreasing number of residents employed in the sector of agriculture and danger of
increase of unemployment level in villages development of alternative economic activity in rural
areas becomes extremely relevant.
Undeveloped public infrastructure of villages is considered to be a serious obstacle for
12
ensuring development of business as well as residential environment and its quality in these areas.
Demographic situation of Lithuanian villages, employment and unemployment
One third of all residents lived in Lithuanian villages in 2004. During 2000–2004, this
number decreased by 1 percent. Decrease of the number of residents living in villages is caused by
lower birth rate and higher death rate typical to villages. Migration of young residents aged 25-29
(especially women) to towns is also to be noted. Other demographic tendency of villages is ageing
of residents – percentage of children under 15 is decreasing and percentage of residents aged 60 and
older is increasing. Such poor demographic condition of villages is mainly caused by insufficient
availability of health care and education services, negative changes of employment, poor condition
of infrastructure.
Education level of residents of villages is lower than that of residents of towns. This
shows that people residing in rural areas are less prepared for various business activity,
development of competitive farms or work related to other economic activities. Participation of
residents of villages in lifelong learning system is lower than that of residents of towns. About 30
percent of the unemployed in villages have no qualification whatsoever.
In 2004, 15.8 percent of all employed people worked in the sectors of agriculture,
forestry, hunting and fishing in Lithuania, while this percent was 5 in 25 the EU member states.
High dependence on economic activity of primary agricultural production prevails in villages: in
2004, 87.3 of all employees of sectors of agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing worked in
villages, which makes up about 48 percent of all employed residents of villages.
The number of employed people lower than in towns and still-decreasing as well as
relatively high unemployment level among youths is typical to villages. During 1999–2004, the
number of employed people in villages decreased by over 6 percent. In 2004, employment level of
residents of villages amounted to 59 percent of all people aged 15-64 residing in villages (62
percent in towns), unemployment level amounted to 10 percent (about 12 percent in towns).
Unemployment level of youths under 25 amounted to 20.3 percent (22.5 percent in the country on
an average).
Lower activity and employment of residents of villages determines lower net income
disposed by these households in comparison with the households of residents of towns. Net income
disposed by households in villages was by 24.7 percent lower than that of residents of towns in
2004. Low income of residents of villages determine the structure of their expenses – they spend the
majority (54 percent) of their income for food, while residents of towns spend only 34 percent of
their income for food.
The abovementioned and other data reveal several weaknesses of rural areas of the
country. First of all, high dependence on one source of income – primary agricultural production is
typical to villages. Second, high unemployment level among youths exists in rural areas. Third,
increasing demographic, economic and social differences between towns and villages are
noticeable.
The number of employed people who directly work in the sectors of agriculture,
forestry, hunting and fishing is predicted to decrease in the future because of which unemployment
level among residents of rural areas may increase substantially. Therefore, residents of villages who
loose their jobs must be provided favourable possibilities to develop new agricultural traditions and
get involved in other economic activities.
Alternative economic activity in rural areas of the country
During recent years, important changes of economic activity have been taking place in
villages: as total number of employed residents of villages decreased, their percentage in the sphere
of services and industry increased by 2 percent and the number of people employed in the sectors of
agriculture, hunting and forestry decreased by 5 percent. Even though more and more small farms
13
undertake unconventional agricultural activity (engage in rural tourism, raise rare birds and animals,
grow medicinal plants and spices, unusual berries, snails, plants for production of biofuel etc),
according to data obtained during general census of agriculture in 2003, only 4514 farms, i.e. 1.7
percent of all operating farms pursued additional economic activity besides farming.
As the number of residents employed in agricultural sector decreases, development of
the sector of small and medium business becomes extremely important in rural areas. Even though
the number of small and medium businesses (hereinafter SM businesses) increased in the villages of
Lithuania in 2001–2005, it increased in the towns of the country which are more attractive to
development of business the most rapidly. Incorporation of SM businesses in villages takes place
very slowly. In 2005, 7 SM businesses fell to 1000 residents of villages, while in 25 the EU member
states this indicator amounted to 24. According to data available to the Department of Statistics of
Lithuania, on the 1st of January, 2006, 7548 SM businesses were operating in villages. SM
businesses operating in villages are mostly engaged in trade (39 percent of all SM businesses
operating in rural areas of Lithuania); there is a slightly lower number of businesses operating in the
fields of industry and construction (25 percent) and services (23 percent) in villages. About 15
percent of SM businesses incorporated in villages are engaged in activity related to agricultural
sector. Slow development of small and medium business is closely related to low purchasing power
of residents of villages. That is why positive changes of net income disposed by residents of
villages are important condition of development of such business. Growing need of recreational
services and development of tourism also promotes development of other services in rural areas.
During recent years, rural tourism is being successfully developed in rural areas less
suitable for agricultural activity and characterized by natural landscapes; this activity is considered
to be one of the main alternative economic activities in villages. Demand of rural tourism services
exceeds their supply. The number of rural tourism homesteads increased from 203 homesteads
registered in 2001 to 493 203 homesteads registered in the end of 2005. Development of rural
tourism is prevented by insufficient managing skills of residents involved in this activity, their poor
knowledge of foreign languages as well as insufficient infrastructure of villages (access roads, water
supply, treatment of waste water, access to the Internet etc). Due to increasing foreign tourists’
interest in rural tourism marketing of rural tourism should also be strengthened: in 2003, foreign
tourists amounted to 3 percent of all visitors of rural tourism homesteads, in 2004 – 10 percent.
Handicrafts is an important part of ethnoculture of the country as well as another
significant alternative economic activity of villages demonstrating great revival during recent years.
Lithuania possesses deep traditions of handicrafts related to production of household goods,
traditional national clothes and other handmade items. According to data obtained during general
census of agriculture in 2003, only 164 farmers practiced handicrafts as an additional activity. The
majority of residents of villages practicing handicrafts lack knowledge of enterprise and
management, their production is of small scope and the majority of the production does not even
make its way to the market. As rural tourism is developing in the country, demand of various
handmade objects is growing; therefore, the need to strengthen this alternative economic activity is
felt. In such a way, not only economic activity of residents of villages would be diversified but
Lithuanian ethnocultural values would also be developed.
In comparison with businessmen of towns, businessmen of villages are less active
while establishing their own business because business environment in rural areas is not so
attractive as in towns. Investment power of residents of villages in remote regions is often
inadequate to the needs of diversification and modernization of economic activity. In comparison
with towns, distinct discrepancy between supply and demand of labour force, insufficient economic
activity of labour force, limited mobility of residents, lower education level of residents of villages,
lack of knowledge of enterprise and experience (especially in the fields of management and
marketing), undeveloped physical infrastructure of business is observed in villages. These factors
limit investment attractiveness of villages as well.
Therefore, aiming to ensure growth of employment and income as well as
improvement of quality of life in villages, it is necessary to promote initiatives, the aim of which is
14
diversification of economic activity, creation of alternative economic activity in villages. Aiming
for maximum result, it is also necessary to develop local abilities in the fields of employment and
diversification of activity, to promote local self-government, local residents’ initiatives while
solving arising problems self-dependently. Aiming to increase attractiveness of rural areas, it is
necessary to expand the sector of services, improve infrastructure of these areas.
Public infrastructure of rural areas
The condition of infrastructure is poorer in villages than in towns. Undeveloped
infrastructure of villages is considered to be a significant obstacle while aiming to ensure
development of business and as well as residential environment and its quality in these areas. Even
though there are no rural areas without electricity, great differences in the fields of transport,
telecommunications and energy, business, community and other infrastructures exist between
villages and towns.
Although there is a well-developed network of local roads in Lithuania, the condition of
both these and regional roads is poor – a lot of roads of local importance are gravel roads. Electricity
supply is developed well; however, newly settling residents of villages or residents who reform their
farms encounter problems when they need to connect electricity to homesteads of farms or buildings
of other purpose or to construct access roads.
Rural areas of the country especially lack public infrastructure necessary for
development of business. In such areas, there often are no conditions to establish business incubators
of local importance: there is a lack of new premises for providing business consultations and other
related services, development of small business; present premises are often not suitable for carrying
out these activities; therefore, they should be reconstructed.
The condition of community infrastructure is insufficient in villages as well. It is
necessary to manage residential environment: to manage rural recreational zones, to establish
recreational zones and sports grounds. Rural communities also lack culture infrastructure suitable to
public needs: infrastructure of culture centres, museums and libraries located in rural areas is very
poor and quite often – it is not enough to ensure community integration.
Villages also lack infrastructure designed for developing computer literacy. Lithuania,
just like other new the EU member states, is characterized by low level of availability of
informational technologies and Internet: only 24 percent of residents of villages have got computers at
home and only 18 percent of them use Internet. There are no technical possibilities to use broadband
Internet in the majority of rural areas; besides, its use is also limited by relatively high price of
services.
There is at least one shop providing residents with main food products and other goods,
a café or a bar in almost all larger rural areas. People who live in remote rural areas are serviced with
the help of transport. Banking, postal, medical and other services are usually provided in larger rural
areas, which causes inconveniences to persons living in remoter places.
Improvement and development of infrastructure in rural areas, management of public
spaces is essential while aiming to create better conditions for life, work and establishment of
business structures in villages.
Table 2. The most significant differences in social-economic field of the EU and Lithuanian rural
areas
EU
Indicator of difference
Year Lithuania*
Evaluation
average**
Percentage of people employed in
the sectors of agriculture, forestry, 2004 15,8 percent
5 percent
High
hunting and fishing
Number of SM businesses per 1000
2005 7
24
High
residents of villages
15
1.7 percent of the
Will
be
number of all operating
presented
farms
Percentage of farmers aged 62 and
Will
be
2004 44
over 62
presented
Sources: *Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
** EUROSTAT.
Farmers pursuing
generating income
other
activity
2003
1.1.3. Cultural heritage and tourism
Main statements:
The sector of tourism of Lithuania has great possibilities to develop, as Lithuania has high
cultural and natural tourism potential consisting of original and rich cultural heritage including
UNESCO heritage objects, natural littoral complex, internal water bodies, national and regional
parks as well as forests covering 32 percent of the territory of the country. However, natural and
cultural tourism potential is used very extensively mostly due to lack of public tourism
infrastructure in the regions and insufficient application of protected territories as well as natural
and cultural objects to massive visiting.
While developing tourism services and public tourism infrastructure, during the period from
2004 to 2006, it was aimed to create infrastructure oriented at the activities of active recreation,
wellness, cultural tourism, business (conferences) tourism, ecologic (cognitive) tourism in
preserved territories. If present potential is to be used better and growth of the sector of tourism is to
be ensured, it is necessary to continue developing this infrastructure.
Obstacles for further development of tourism in Lithuania are related to seasonality, low
supply of routes of active ecologic (cognitive) tourism, insufficient application of cultural heritage
and natural territories, including protected territories, for visiting and too low variety of leisure time
activities and their diversification according to exclusiveness (level of tourists’ income), supply of
services of health improvement, insufficiently developed sector of accommodation services,
insufficient spread of tourism information and marketing.
Present infrastructure of recreation, including sports and entertainment, does not satisfy
tourists’ needs.
One of the most important aims of developing the sector of tourism is to promote
incoming and local tourism by creating more favourable conditions for active recreation, cultural
and conference tourism. Development of tourism in such areas of the country which are especially
characterized by natural and cultural resources provides possibilities for more efficient and use and
sustainable development of these regions, opens possibilities to adapt and use objects of cultural
heritage and protected territories for satisfying local and foreign tourists’ needs. Besides,
development of the sector of tourism promotes international cooperation, presents possibilities to
deal with the issues of increasing residents’, especially youths’, income and employment, creation
of new business niches, attracting private investment and economic and social development of
regions.
Tourism is acknowledged to be one of the most important branches of economy in the
majority of the countries of the world. On the basis of analysis carried out by World Tourism
Organization, tourism is one of five main sectors generating income in 83 percent of the countries
of the world, and in 38 percent of the countries of the world, it is main source of foreign currency.
The importance of the sector of tourism to the economy of Lithuania is gradually
increasing. During several last consecutive years, income from incoming tourism has been
exceeding expenses of outgoing tourism in Lithuania (in 2005, the balance of travels was 494.3
million Lt). During the period of the three last years, income from incoming tourism increased by
51 percent and amounted to the following sums: in 2003 – 1.7 milliard Lt; in 2004 – 2.273 milliard
Lt; in 2005 – 2.562 milliard Lt. Lithuania becomes more and more attractive to incoming and local
16
tourists. This is reflected in dynamics of tourism in 2004–2005 and allows to expect a considerable
flow of foreign tourists in the future. During 2005, 2080.4 thousand people visited Lithuania, i.e. 3
percent more than in 2004. Local tourism also grew – in 2005, local tourists amounted to 48.6
percent of all guests in collective accommodation enterprises; there were 21.8 % more local tourists
accommodated in comparison with 2004. In 2005, 137 thousand holidaymakers from Lithuania and
about 18 thousand foreigners visited rural tourism homesteads, and in 2004 – respectively 90
thousand and 12.7 thousand. Over 50 percent of all rural tourists visited rural tourism homesteads in
Vilnius county and about 20 percent – rural tourism homesteads in Utena county. This shows that
Lithuania is attractive as it meets criteria which are important when choosing a journey to a
particular country and in it: it is quite quickly accessed and the majority of residents of the
European Union have not yet been here, it is characterized by attractive nature and landscape, rich
cultural heritage and plentiful recreational resources.
Picture 3. Guests from the most important foreign markets accommodated in Lithuanian
accommodation enterprises, guests in thousands
Number of guests from the most important foreign
markets in Lithuanian accommodation enterprises
Thousands
in 2001-2005
150
140
130
120
110
Germany
100
Poland
90
80
Russia
70
60
Latvia
50
Finland
40
30
20
10
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Preliminary data of 2005
Source: „Tourism in Lithuania, 2005“,Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
Limited development of infrastructure of active recreation, leisure time and health
improvement, rather high influence of seasonality to the sector of tourism, insufficient quality of
tourism services and entertainment as well as their limited variety, low competitiveness of these
services are hindrances, elimination of which will help to ensure further even increase of income
from the sector of tourism.
Lithuania has a large natural potential of tourism consisting of natural littoral complex,
internal water bodies (there are 2850 lakes and 760 rivers in Lithuania) as well as forests covering
32 percent of the territory of the country. 5 national and 30 regional parks jointly covering 7.5 of
the territory of the country as well as some reservations are being gradually adapted to cultural,
ecologic and conference tourism as well as active recreation by developing public infrastructure of
tourism. A lot of objects of ethnocultural heritage are included in the network of protected
territories. Still, recreational potential of Lithuania is not fully used for tourism needs yet.
Aukštaitija region of, Middle Lithuania region and Žemaitija region, North East Aukštaitija and
Žemaitija regions, Nemunas valley and areas surrounding it, some regions of Middle Lithuania have
especially large potential of resources which could be adapted to tourism; this potential may be
integrated while forming tourism routes. North East Aukštaitija region has unique possibilities of
17
developing water tourism, as 70 percent of the lakes of the country, picturesque hills overgrown
with trees, villages remembering old times are located there. Žemaitija region has preserved unique
cultural heritage, the largest groups of lakes and wooded areas are also located there which provides
excellent conditions for active tourism, especially for bicycle and water routes. There are over 50
percent of the castles of Lithuania, a number of mounds, historic towns, resorts, 1 national and 5
regional parks are located in Nemunas valley; the conditions are suitable for traveling by water,
cars, bicycles here. The lower reaches of Nemunas is the gate to the Seaboard region.
A separate part of tourism resources consists of plentiful curative resources of resorts
able to satisfy immense needs of wellness and development of resorts and characterized by
traditions of long-year activity (dating beck to the 17th century). The status of a resort is granted to 4
Lithuanian towns – Birštonas, Druskininkai, Neringa and Palanga. Lithuanian resorts have got
explored resources of mineral water and curative peat which are plentiful and sufficient for
development. Altogether resources of 11 types of curative drinking water and 8 types of curative
water are explored in Lithuania. At the moment, not all types of mineral water are used in Lithuania
yet; therefore, sanatoriums of the resorts have possibilities to expand their services by using mineral
water of new types. Curative peat, which will suffice to satisfy curative needs for years, are
extracted in Pilaitė, Mašnyčia and Tenžė deposits located near Birštonas, Druskininkai and Palanga.
Natural resources of all resorts are enough for developing more intensive recreational activity: in
Druskininkai and Birštonas, the basis of these resources is inner waters and recreational forests; in
Palanga – the Baltic sea, its beaches, recreational forests, unique botanical park; in Neringa – the
Baltic sea, Curonian Bay, beaches and dunes, recreational forests. Natural resources of the resorts
are supplemented by cultural heritage. Besides, potential of development of tourism in the resorts is
also increased by the fact that Birštonas resort is in the territory of Nemunas loops regional park;
Neringa – in the territory of Kursiu Nerija national park; national park of Dzūkija is located near
Druskininkai and Žemaitija national park is 50 kilometers away from Palanga. Infrastructure of
accommodation services in the resorts was intensively developed during the Soviet period and is
extremely out-of-date as well as does not satisfy today’s needs. At the moment both local and
foreign guests more and more visit the resorts which have experienced the period of recession
several years ago; therefore, development of the resorts during recent years was characterized by
renewal of infrastructure of tourism services, improvement of quality of services and great increase
in the demand of such services. Because of these reasons the number of foreign tourists who spend
a part of their holidays in Lithuanian resorts is increasing. The number of foreign guests in
Lithuanian resorts increased by 45 percent from January to September of 2005, in comparison with
the same period in 2004.
World practice shows that possibility of resorts to compete in the markets is mostly
determined by the image of state tourism, the image of the resort itself and infrastructure of various
high-quality services of resort treatment, health improvement, tourism and entertainment. However,
available natural, infrastructural and human potential of the resorts is not used efficiently enough
yet. State investment to infrastructure of Lithuanian resorts has been insufficient to date and
expenses of municipalities of the resorts for wellness (sports), recreation and culture were
noticeably different: in Birštonas they amounted to 13.3 percent, in Neringa – 10 percent, in
Druskininkai – 4.4 percent, in Palanga – 3.6 percent of all yearly expenses of the budget of the
municipality. The quality of physical infrastructure of Birštonas, Druskininkai, Neringa and Palanga
is determined by the lack of funds, moderate use of available potential, extremely worn equipment.
Palanga resort insufficiently uses the potential of littoral forests for development of recreation and
ecologic tourism. Attractiveness of Palanga and Neringa resorts may be limited by decline of
beaches in the future. Physical (public environment) of the resorts, local transport and its
infrastructure are not suitable for the disabled enough, the variety of services of spending one’s
leisure time is insufficient. Unexploited, abandoned buildings have been spoiling general image of
the resorts for several years already.
Lithuanian cultural heritage is plentiful and original. Main mission of the state is to
preserve it and pass it on to the future generations as the guarantee of survival of the nation’s self18
identity, integral part of landscape and means of forming the image of Lithuania. Another part of
the mission is to allow the society to know cultural heritage and use it by forming centres of
attraction, around which services provided by private business are developing, workplaces are
created and in this way local economic and social development is promoted. There are
approximately 25000 objects of cultural heritage registered in the register of cultural heritage, over
7300 protected objects of cultural heritage in Lithuania. Over 800 archeological objects, 70 historic
towns and boroughs, about 700 manor homesteads remain to the present day, 300 parks are
identified, 48 ethnographic villages still remain. Wooden heritage of manor houses and
ethnographic villages is an original and special phenomenon not only in the cultural space of
Lithuania but also that of Europe. Such unique heritage objects of ethnic culture can still be found
in only a few European countries. Unique heritage objects adapted for tourism would attract more
than one incoming and local tourist. At the moment, ethnographic villages are declining due to
present social economic relations, unemployment and other negative social phenomena prevail
there. Wooden manor homesteads are in a similar situation; if such homesteads were managed,
conditions to use them for tourism would be provided.
Not only the need to adapt cultural heritage or natural resources for tourism but also
the need for modern life, various exhibitions and cultural events is a large potential for development
of cultural tourism. Appropriate public infrastructure of tourism is necessary for such events. The
majority of heritage objects are in a poor or even emergency condition; they are not adapted to
public needs and tourism. Only about 7 percent of over 7000 protected objects of cultural heritage
are used for tourism. Application of cultural heritage for tourism and public needs allows to
organize activities of cultural tourism, business tourism and recreation as well as promoted regional
development. Objects of cultural heritage adapted for tourism create centres of tourism attraction,
provide conditions for passing one’s leisure time, events organized in these centres increase tourism
attraction of Lithuania and form flows of tourists. Thus these tourism resources are one of the most
important competitive advantages while aiming to attract tourists and increase economic benefit of
tourism. Restoration of objects of cultural heritage and their application for tourism by creating a
variety of tourism services there would increase attendance of the objects, allow to prolong tourism
season, decrease the influence of seasonality and additionally attract more tourists generating
income to the country. Tourists who spend more would choose Lithuania more often if services
meeting their needs were offered to them; first of, all objects of cultural heritage and other
infrastructure of tourism must be adapted for that purpose.
Lithuania, using its favourable geographic location and the needs of “tourism in the
nature” rapidly growing in Europe, should orient itself to the development of one of the most
rapidly developing types of tourism – ecologic tourism – in the regions of the country by more
actively adapting protected territories and cultural heritage for visiting. By actively adapting
recreational potential and administrative possibilities of the network of protected territories which
has almost been finished during the last 10 years, a system of original tourism routes attractive to
those who enjoy ecologic (cognitive) tourism may be created in the regions of the country. Creation
of public infrastructure would also determine quicker investment of private capital in the regions of
the country and would improve local residents’ business possibilities.
During the period from 2004-2005, while developing public infrastructure of tourism,
it was aimed to create an infrastructure oriented to the activities of active recreation, wellness,
cultural tourism, conference tourism and cognitive tourism in protected territories. Even though
natural and cultural potential of the country is used for the needs of tourism increasingly better, the
lack of public infrastructure (routes of water and bicycle tourism, beaches, quays, recreation areas,
campings, other leisure time and entertainment infrastructure) as well as the fact that objects of
cultural heritage are not adapted for visiting and not integrated into tourism routes (courses) is still a
relevant problem while developing tourism in separate regions and still-forming centres of tourism
attraction. The lack of necessary infrastructure has become an obvious problem for more rapid
development of services of yacht tourism, active winter recreation, ecologic (cognitive) tourism and
balanced use of recreational potential of protected territories. Such possibilities of tourism business
19
as SPA or business (conference) tourism is not completely used and potential of development of
golf is not used at all. Development of the abovementioned services would allow to attract more
tourists incurring greater expenses. The need of complex combination of all potential sources of
tourism and their use for tourism as well as integrated marketing of developed tourism
infrastructure persists while aiming for efficient sector of tourism and balanced development of the
regions.
Services of catering and accommodation constitute the majority of the value of the
tourism product. Even though lag of Lithuania according to the number of places of accommodation
in hotels per 1000 residents of the country from the EU average has decreased from 10 to 5 times
during the last four years, it still remains significant. In 2005, there were 42.8 thousand places in
hotels and other accommodation enterprises. 1.3. million guests stayed in Lithuanian hotels and
other accommodation enterprises in 2005, which is 18 percent more in comparison with the year
2004.
About 90 percent of all tourists who come to Lithuania to spend their leisure time or
holidays are aged under 30 or over 65. These tourists’ income is average or lower; therefore, they
need cheaper accommodation services, especially youths’ hostels, campings, economy class hotels.
The greatest change of the number of local tourists in 2005 occurred in campings: 135.8 percent
more tourists than in 2004 stayed there. This was influenced by increasing popularity of campings
in Lithuania, especially among tourists who travel by cars. On the 30th of January, 2006, there were
13 campings in Lithuania. Thus Lithuania does not universally use its possibilities in respect of
particular markets of tourism as it can not offer cheap accommodation services.
Lithuanian travel organizers of incoming tourism serviced approximately 20 percent of
all foreign guests who stayed in collective accommodation enterprises in 2005. This shows that the
majority of incoming tourists consists of individual tourists. A pressing problem still is the lack of
economy class accommodation enterprises (the number of 1-2 stars hotel rooms amounts only to 22
percent of the whole number of hotel rooms), and this stops the flow of tourists who travel
individually.
A considerable hindrance to further development of tourism is seasonality determined
by geographic location of Lithuania and significant temperature fluctuations. This phenomenon
forces to put more efforts aiming to use present natural and cultural resources, potential of services
and human resources more intensively. Seasonality also considerably influences operation of
accommodation enterprises – the greatest flow of tourists is in April – September; during the rest of
the time, main clients of hotels are people who travel on business. Total occupation of hotels and
guesthouses of the country amounted to 40.8 percent in 2005 and was 5 percent higher than in 2004.
Usually, in other countries this indicator exceeds 60 percent – this shows that we must use available
capacities more efficiently. Occupation of Lithuanian hotel rooms in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter
of 2004 respectively was: 29.1 percent, 45 percent, 52.6 percent and 34.8 percent, i.e. occupation
during summer and winter tourist seasons differs almost twice.
Picture 4. Occupation of Lithuanian hotel rooms in 2004–2005, in percent
20
Occupation of rooms in Lithuanian hotels
100%
80%
60%
2004
2005
40%
20%
0%
1st quarter 2nd quarter 3rd quarter 4th quarter
Source: „Tourism in Lithuania, 2005“,Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
This difference is even greater in resort hotels: Occupation of hotel rooms in Neringa
in the 1st quarter of 2005 was only 2.4 percent and in the 3rd quarter – 44.9 percent. Obviously, this
resort comes to life only in summer. Unevenness of development of services in the regions is
illustrated by the fact that, for example, in the 3rd quarter of 2005, occupation of hotel rooms in
Vilnius was especially great – even 65.3 percent of all rooms. Therefore, while reducing the
influence of seasonality, it is necessary to improve infrastructure of entertainment and leisure time,
to provide new entertainment designed for autumn and winter periods and attractive advertising
strategy, in this way promoting flows of tourists who can incur larger expenses.
Intensive development of infrastructure of active recreation and entertainment,
including sports, may also help to reduce the influence of seasonality. Present condition of
multifunctional sports objects and their number does not satisfy the needs of incoming and local
tourists. There is a lack of universal arenas and multifunctional sports complexes where various
international cultural, entertaining, sports events as well as exhibitions, fairs etc could take place.
Growing tourists’ needs of high-quality entertainment, wellness services and safety as
well as competition of foreign markets require to increase competitiveness and development of the
sector of tourism in the regions characterized by recreational resources and national tourism routes
(courses) and position the three Baltic states as one attractive region for marketing.
Recently, the activity of spread of tourism information and tourism marketing has
noticeably intensified. Efforts to advertise possibilities of Lithuanian tourism, increasing supply of
tourism information to mass media and Internet, membership in the European Union allowed to
increase the number of tourists from European countries by 68 percent during the last four years.
More and more incoming and local tourists are interested in possibilities to spend their leisure time
in Lithuania: in comparison with the year 2004, total number of visitors of Lithuanian tourism
information centres increased by 15.6 percent – 178.1 thousand residents of Lithuanian, which is
19.4 percent more than in 2004, and 162.6 thousand foreigners, which is also 19.4 percent more
than in 2004, visited them. Even though the number of tourists increased, it is difficult to orient
oneself while traveling in Lithuania because there is a lack of tourist information on the roads
(stands, directions, traffic signs, informational terminals); therefore, more than one municipality has
identified such need and applied for assistance from structural funds of the EU.
It is also necessary to implement means allowing to increase the flow of tourists who
earn large income. As main incoming tourists are individual tourists, it is necessary to spread
tourism information more intensively, to supply tourism information centres with essential
publications, to develop and improve National tourism information system helping to find
accommodation, entertainment, active recreation, events that are going on etc individually.
Aiming to improve tourism image of Lithuania further, the need for support for spread
of tourism information and activity of tourism marketing is obvious. According to the data of
21
Lithuanian tourism marketing strategy (ECODES, 2004), Lithuania is still a country without a clear
tourism image.
During the period from 2009 to 2013, Lithuania will celebrate its Millennium, Vilnius
will become European capital of culture, in 2011, final stage of the 37th European Men’s Basketball
Championship, in 2013, Lithuania will take over chairmanship of the European Union for half a
year. During the aforementioned events, a lot of guests will visit Vilnius, Song Festival, World
Lithuanian Games, international conferences, exhibitions, other massive events will take place, the
number of cultural and sports events will grow. Due to that the number of incoming tourists and
guests will significantly increase. However, up to date, Lithuania has got no places meeting the
needs and modern requirements for organizing massive events such as a national stadium meeting
international standards, a conference centre suitable for international conferences etc.
One of the phenomena determining the flow of tourists and average duration of time
tourists spend in the country as well as income from incoming tourism is competitiveness of offered
tourism products; therefore, aiming to strengthen competitiveness of the sector of tourism, it is
necessary to develop public infrastructure of tourism, improve services of active recreation, leisure
time and entertainment as well as to attract investment to this sector.
Table 3. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian cultural heritage and
tourism
EU
Indicator of difference
Year Lithuania*
Evaluation
average**
Number of places in hotels per 1000 residents
2004
5,5
23.6
High
Number of nights spent by tourists (incoming
2004
476.5
3402
High
and local) in hotels per 1000 residents
(in 2002)
Number of people employed in hotels and
2003
8.6
17.4
Low
restaurants per 1000 residents
Turnover of hotels and restaurants per one
2003
8.8
46.6
High
employed person, 1000 Euros
(in 2002)
*Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
** EUROSTAT.
1.2 QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC SERVICES
Conclusions of the meeting of the Council of the European Union in Lisbon on the
23 -24 of March, 2000, directly relate further economic and social progress of the European
Union with investment in people: “People are Europe’s main asset and should be the focal point of
the Union’s policies. Investing in people and developing an active and dynamic welfare state will
be crucial both to Europe’s place in the knowledge economy and for ensuring that the emergence of
this new economy does not compound the existing social problems of unemployment, social
exclusion and poverty”. Aiming for economic growth, increase of employment and implementation
of the aims of Lisbon, one of the three priorities of Lithuania is to promote employment and
investment in human capital. This is understood as investment in people’s education, health, social
protection; therefore, further improvement of the quality and availability of health care, education
and social services is necessary.
rd
th
1.2.1 Health care services
Main aims:
Investment in development of infrastructure of health care and prophylaxis of main noninfectious diseases are necessary in order to maintain a healthy, employable and safe society, improve
the quality of life as well as to increase competitiveness of economy.
22
Indicators of health care in Lithuania are improving, mortality rate of babies is decreasing,
average life expectancy is becoming longer but is shorter than in the old EU member states.
Insufficient preparation for quick reaction to hazards to the residents’ health.
Percentage of in-patient health care services is too big in comparison with ambulatory services.
Qualification of medical personnel is high and it is constantly improved; however, administrative
and managing of the sector are still insufficient.
Insufficient attention is given to prophylaxis of diseases and health strengthening.
As the society is ageing, the issue of health care and social services aimed to help people to
integrate in the society and approach the community becomes more and more sore.
The condition of the society’s health directly determines the quality of life, scope of
labour resources and their productivity, while morbidity and mortality rate of middle-aged people
means loss of human capital. Improvement of the health of residents of Lithuania and ensuring
proper health care is an important condition of economic growth of the country.
The number of residents of Lithuania is constantly decreasing mainly because of
emigration and negative natural increase. In 1996, birth rate per 1000 residents was 10.8 and in
2004 – only 8.8. Natural increase of residents has been negative since 1994: in 1994, it was -1.0 per
1000 residents, and in 2005 – already -3.9 per 1000 residents.
One of the main elements of reform of health care system which is being implemented
during the last decade is restructurization of health care system by improving and renewing the
network of health care institutions and optimizing the structure of provided health care services and
in this way ensuring better satisfaction of the needs of residents’ health care, better quality of
services, availability and more rational use of resources. Until 2003, the number of health care
institutions changed insignificantly (in the end of 2003, health care system (excluding private
institutions) consisted of 181 institutions providing in-patient and 445 institutions providing
ambulatory services). While implementing the first stage (2003-2005) of the restructurization
strategy of health care institutions approved by the order No. 335 of the Government of the
Republic of Lithuania on the 18th of March, 2003 (Zin., 2003, No. 28-1147), the network of health
care institutions was reduced by 22 hospitals (they were joined with larger treatment centres).
During the last decade, the number of beds for in-patients was reduced by over 13 thousand (from
41267 beds in the end of 1994 to 27685 beds in the end of 2005). Average duration of
hospitalization keeps decreasing (from 10 days in 2002 to 8 days in 2005); indicator of
hospitalization per 100 residents is also decreasing (from 23.2 residents in 2003 to 20.2 residents
treated in hospitals in 2005 m.).
The results of the first stage of restructurization of health care institutions show that
the structure of provided health care services, the network of institutions and use of resources has
become more rational; however, aiming to improve the quality and availability of health care
services, it is necessary to further improve the ratio of in-patient and ambulatory services. It is
necessary to develop ambulatory services, scope and quality of which is insufficient at the moment:
primary health care is partially developed, ambulatory help and ambulatory rehabilitation services
are partially specialized. Health care system still provides too many in-patient services, the structure
of which does not meet the residents’ needs, available resources are used ineffectively, working
conditions of the employees are poor, services of day in-patient departments/ surgery are poorly
developed, the quality of laboratory tests is not guaranteed. In such a way, availability of health care
is not ensured sufficiently. As probable average life expectancy of residents is becoming longer, the
need for nursing and supporting treatment, which is not completely met in Lithuania (1 bed per
1000 residents), is growing; the majority of nursing departments are not integrated in multiprofile
hospitals and nursing services day in-patient departments are not developed. In such a way,
continuity of health care services and proper treatment is not always ensured. This makes health
care system insufficiently efficient in health improvement, economic, social and justice aspects.
Society health care services are provided by Society health care centres which also
carry out public administration functions in the municipalities. Services of society health care,
23
prophylaxis and control of diseases, health monitoring and strengthening, implementation of
various health strengthening programs are provided. Suitable working conditions are not provided,
there is a lack of technologies and human resources. Society health care is still not a priority in the
municipalities. There is a lack of institutions providing society health care services in the
municipalities as well as skills to assess factors which determine health.
Technical provision, which is insufficient at the moment, of health care institutions of
Lithuania also influences the quality and availability of services greatly. Difficulties occur because
of poor condition of the buildings and equipment of health care institutions. Relatively big expenses
of paying for expensive in-patient services decrease investment of capital in this equipment, modern
technologies, new treatment methods and other services. Besides, the need for increasing funds in
the future will be determined by the process of ageing of residents due to greater need of health care
services, rising prices of medicines and treatment means, increasing need for funds for renovation
of health care institutions and renewal of their equipment, necessity to increase people’s employed
in health care system wages.
Picture 5. Number of beds per 10 000 residents
Number of beds per 10 000 residents
120,00
100,00
80,00
60,00
40,00
20,00
0,00
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Source: Lithuanian Health Information Centre
Picture 6. Hospitalization per 1000 residents
Hospitalization per 1000residents
260
255
250
245
240
235
230
225
220
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Source: Lithuanian Health Information Centre
General indicators of health care in Lithuania are improving, probable average life
expectancy in Lithuania is becoming longer and approached the average of Middle and East
Europe, but is shorter than in the old EU member states (in 2005, probable average life expectancy
in Lithuania was 71.32 years).
24
According to the data of World Health Organization of 2002, average men’s healthy life
expectancy in Lithuanian is 58.9 years, women’s – 67.7 years. According to this indicator,
Lithuania is 64th among all countries of the world.
The structure of causes of death in Lithuania is similar to that in the majority of
developed countries. In 2005, 85.5 percent of causes of death consisted of the following three
causes: cardiovascular diseases, malignant tumours and external causes of death (traumas,
poisoning etc). However, some indicators of morbidity and mortality rate of the residents of the
country exceed the EU average.
Cardiovascular diseases were and are the main cause of death in Lithuania just as in all
Europe. In 2005, 54.4 percent of all cases of death were deaths because of cardiovascular diseases.
Almost twice as many residents die from cardiovascular diseases in Lithuania than in the old EU
member states on an average. This indicator amounts even to 67.1 percent among people over 64. In
2004, cardiovascular diseases were the reason of disability determined for the first time in 29.3
percent of all cases. Picture 7. Death rate per 100 000 residents
Mortality per 100 000 residents
800
Diseases of blood circulation
700
600
Malignant tumours
500
400
External causes of death (including suicides
and traffic accidents)
300
200
Transport accidents
100
0
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Source: Lithuanian Health Information Centre, Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of
Lithuania
Mortality because of malignant tumours constituted 18.4 percent of all cases of death
in 2005 and was in the second place in the general structure of mortality. The greatest percent of
mortality because of oncological diseases (22.9 percent) is among people aged 45-64, i.e. among
people of employable age.
Increasing tendency of morbidity with malignant tumours persists in Lithuania; during
recent years, we also observe increasing tendency of mortality because of malignant tumours:
morbidity increased by 78.7 percent from 1990, mortality – by 31.9 percent. General indicator of
morbidity with malignant tumours amounted to 464.1 per 100000 residents in 2004.
Deaths because of external causes are in the third place in the structure of causes of
mortality in Lithuania. Mortality because of accidents and traumas tends to decrease in all Europe,
but in Lithuania and other Baltic states, it still exceeds the indicators of the old EU member states.
2.5 times more unnatural deaths are registered in Lithuanian than in the old EU member states
(respectively 12.7 and 4 percent). Usually, young people die because of traumas and other external
causes. External causes of death are in the first place of all causes of death among people aged 1564 (53.8 percent). It is to be noted that traumas one of the main reasons of prolonged temporary
disability. As the number of automobiles increases and infrastructure of roads develops, the number
of traffic accidents as well as the number of dead and injured people grows.
Diseases of blood circulation, connective tissue and skeleton-muscles system,
malignant tumours, traumas, poisoning and consequences of other external causes as well as mental
25
and behavioural disorders currently prevail in the structure of disability of people of employable
age. These causes amount to 70 percent of all cases of disability.
Problems of psychic health, including suicides, determine a considerable percentage of
cases of death and disability. During recent years, morbidity with mental diseases increased in
Lithuania. In 1990, there were 3928.8 per 100000 people with psychic disorders and treated by
specialists, while in 2004 their number reached 4715.2 per 100 000 residents (see picture 8).
Picture 8. Total number of people with psychic disorders per 100 000 residents
Total number of people with psychic disorders per 100 000 residents
4800
4700
4600
4500
4400
4300
4200
4100
4000
2000
People with psychic
disorders
2001
2002
2003
2004
Source: Lithuanian Health Information Centre
One of the factors reflecting the society’s psychic health is the number of people who
committed suicide or tried to do that. In 1991, Lithuania was the first one among Baltic states
according to the number of suicides and in 1994, when it overtook Hungary, Lithuania became the
first one in Europe (45.8 per 100 000 residents). During recent years, the number of suicides
stabilized and even decreasing tendency is observed; however, this number is still very high – in
2005, it was 38.6 per 100 000 residents. Poor psychic health of children is also worrying –
indicators of children’s and youths’ suicides and particular cases of abuse (for instance, taunting at
schools) are still high.
The need for health care and social care services as well as expenses to compensate for
such services is increasing in the ageing society, health condition of people of employable age
determining the scope and efficiency of labour force becomes very important.
Scientific research shows that healthy lifestyle and prophylaxis of diseases help to
decrease residents’ morbidity and mortality. Residents’ of Lithuania knowledge about healthy
lifestyle and prophylaxis of diseases is insufficient.
Health care is acknowledged to be one of the most important strategic aims (priorities)
of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania while drawing up state budget of the Republic of
Lithuania for the years 2006–2008 and preparing appropriate programs (priority 1.6 “To ensure
development of improvement of national culture and health”). Health policy is planned and
coordinated with national and international strategic documents, it is formed and implemented with
regard to the guidelines of priority fields (health care, regional development, social policy etc)
implemented by the EU.
Growth of economy will determine better collection of taxes, which will positively
influence subsidization of the sector of health care.
26
Growth of economy and increase of residents’ income will enable residents to allot
bigger part of their income to maintain and strengthen of health (for healthy lifestyle, prophylaxis of
diseases and treatment).
Development of public infrastructure and transport will cause increase pollution of
environment and noise which will negatively influence people’s health. According to the data of
“Regitra”, the number of passenger cars increased by 58.5 thousand in 2004 in comparison with the
year 2003, and in 2005 – by even 139.4 thousand more in comparison with the year 2004. In 2004,
6383 traffic accidents were registered in our country. 749 people died and 7895 persons were
injured. In comparison with the same period in 2003, the number of traffic accidents, dead and
injured people respectively increased by 7, 5.6 and 8.7 percent. As the number of automobiles
increases every year, the number of traffic accidents, dead and injured people per 1 million vehicles
decreases, but these indicators increase per 1 million residents. Average number of dead people per
one million residents is twice lower in the member states of the European union.
Increasing consumption of alcohol, spread of drug-addiction in the society, especially
among youths, may rebound on the future generations’ health, Increase the number of psychic
disorders and suicides.
Increase of the need for funds in the future will be determined by the process of the
ageing of residents, rising prices of medicines and treatment means, increasing need for funds for
renovation of health care institutions and renewal of their equipment, necessity to increase people’s
employed in health care system wages.
It is necessary to improve prophylaxis and prevention of diseases, availability and
quality of services, to optimize present network of health care institutions, to develop activity of
health improvement, to reduce morbidity with main non-infectious diseases.
Intensity of the work of health care institutions will increase in the future, and, having
renewed medical and laboratory equipment, the quality of services and efficiency of use of
resources will improve.
Table 4. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian health care services
EU
Indicator of difference
Year
Lithuania
Evaluation
average*
Mortality rate per 1000
2004 (LT), 2003 (EU)
12.0
9.76
High
residents
Birth rate per 1000 residents
2004 (LT), 2003 (EU)
8.8
10.3
Average
Probable average life
2004 (LT), 2003 (EU)
72.06
79.1
Average
expectancy
Number of beds per 100000
2004 (LT); 2004 (EU)
843.30
591.60
High
Expenses for health care, in
2004 (LT); 2003 (EU)
6.03
9.21
High
percent of GDP (jointly for
state and private sector)
Number of hospitals per
2004 (LT); 2004 (EU)
5.27
3.11
High
100000
* The average of 15 old EU member states, data base of WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2006
(http://data.euro.who.int), data of State Patients’ Fund, data of Lithuanian Health Information Centre
1.2.2 Education services
Main statements:
The system of general education is being reorganized. In the long period of time, it should
improve economic life of the system and allow to allot more resources for improvement of services;
however, the lack of investment stops reorganization.
The quality of education services is improving in the majority of institutions; however, the
lack of investment to the resources of teaching and studies stops this process. The level of school
27
students’ of the country achievements in the field of Mathematics and Natural sciences is not high
enough.
Even though the first steps were taken while solving the problems of availability of
education services, geographic availability of education services (especially those of nursery
education) is much poorer in villages than in towns. Sufficient availability of education services for
people with special needs and those who experience social exclusion is not ensured in all levels of
education. The problems of informational availability stop more active participation in lifelong
learning system.
Tasks set for the quality and availability of education services
Priority “to increase investment in human capital through better education and skills”
is consolidated in the guidelines “More and better workplaces” of the European Commission. This
priority requests to ensure sufficient supply of attractive, available and high-quality education
services in all levels of education, whereas priority to promote employment and investment in
human capital is consolidated in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy.
While implementing this priority, it is aimed to increase the quality of education services. This
should determine higher qualification of employed people and those who get into labour market,
which will ensure higher level of employment, increase of efficiency of work (as well as wages)
and development of the economy of the country. These factors will greatly influence better quality
of life and cohesion. The aims of the Bologna process, in which Lithuania takes part as well, also
provide for promotion of competitiveness and attractiveness of education system and preparation of
highly qualified specialists for labour market.
It is consolidated in the provisions of state education strategy 2003-2012 that
education system must help a person and the society to respond to the need for democracy and
development of the market, globalization and constant learning as well as to use new possibilities.
Substantial changes helping to increase efficiency of the education system of Lithuania, developing
availability of education system and ensuring the quality of education system satisfying the needs of
modern society are necessary for that.
A national system and instruments for qualification improvement will be created; they
will help citizens – both adults and youths – to present their qualification and competence
comprehensibly in every EU member state.
The quality and availability of education services is analyzed in this chapter. The
analysis is structured according to the levels of education: the problems of availability and quality
of services in nursery education, general education, vocational training institutions, colleges and
universities are discussed separately. Several horizontal themes are also analyzed: cooperation
while using resources of the system of vocational training and the problem of informational
availability. As the quality and availability of education services greatly depends on the quality of
available resources, most attention is given to the latter. Ways to use available resources more
optimally and areas to be invested in are proposed first of all.
Availability of services provided by nursery education institutions
Analysis of international school students’ achievements allows us to conclude that one
of the factors of successful learing is the beginning of the start of learning. Education of children is
started much later in Lithuania than in EU member states (see picture 9).
28
Picture 9. Children’s education in institutions in accordance with their age in 2003, in percent
120
100
80
91,5
86,3
68,2
87,4
60
40
20
99,5
46,3
53,1
3 m.
4 years
100,8
98,7
65,3
0
5 years
State of Lithuania
6 years
7 years
EU average
Source: Ministry of Education and Science, 2005
In 2003, only 53.1 percent of children aged 4 attended edicational institutions in
Lithuania and this percentage almost does not change. Indicators of learning of older children
change a little bit quicker: the number of five-year-olds who attend education institutions increased
from 56.5 to 65.3 percent in 2000–2003, and the number of six-year-olds increased from 72.8 to
87.4 percent. According to the education law of the Republic of Lithuania, it is mandatory to learn
from 7 years of age, while in the majority of other EU member countries teaching is begun earlier.
The number of nursery education institutions is decreasing in the country. In 2000,
there were 714 of the, and in 2005 – only 656. Services of this education are not available to all
who wish them. Rural areas especially lack services of nursery education. From 2000 to 2005, the
number of nursery education institutions was reduced only by ten, and in rural areas – even by
forty-eight institutions. Therefore, there were only 136 places per 1000 pre-school age children
living in rural areas (591 place in towns). This shows poor availability of nursery education services
in rural areas. It is likely that latar beginning of the start of learning of children from villages may
negatively influence their further learning. Besides, insufficient availability of nursery education
services in rural areas also prevents parents who look after the children from returning to labour
market. This problem could be solved by promoting establishment of universal centres providing
the services of nursery, additional and special education, informal education of adults etc in rural
areas.
Quality and availability of services provided by general education
In 1998, the Ministry of Science and Education announced the quality of education to
be one of the most important priorities of education. During this period, formation of new content
of general education was fundamentally finished, it was moved over to a 6-year duration general
education, profiled teaching and state examinations were introduced, the most important documents
of audit of schools and monitoring of the condition of education were prepared, documents of
modernization of school libraries were started to be prepared, the strategy of computerization of
education was creation etc. However, there still are great problems of the quality of education in
general education schools and these problems must be solved immediately.
According to TIMSS research carried out by IEA organization in 1995, the average of
achievements of eighth-grade school students in the field of Mathematics and Natural sciences was
equal to the average of seventh-grade school students of Europe (European Report on Quality of
School Education. – European Commission, 2000). According to TIMSS-R research in 1999, the
result of Lithuania improved noticeably and is now close to the average of the countries that
participated in the research. But 10 strong European countries did not participate in this research
anymore. In order to be equal to those countries, it is necessary to improve the activity of schools
more resolutely.
29
One of the priorities should be strengthening of teaching base of technologies and
natural sciences. Up to date, investment to this field were especially low. Classrooms of natural
sciences (Chemistry, Physics, Biology) and technologies (their specific furniture, electrical
installation, draft cupboards etc) have not been renewed since 1990. During the last 16 years, only
400 Litas was allotted as investment to this field. Modern equipment for teaching natural sciences
and technologies as well as a base for experiments is a prerequisite for renewal of teaching
programs, development of the most important competencies of this field and reduction of the lag of
the level of school students’ achievements from the EU member countries.
Infrastructure of other general education institutions require big investment as well. A
lot of school buildings built several decades ago do not meet sanitary hygiene norms anymore;
besides, major repairs has been carried only in 1975–1985 in most places. Sanitary hygiene
condition of schools is poor, the premises are cold. Because of that school children get ill more
often, do not attend school and this rebounds on learning results. There are almost no schools
adapted to the disabled. It is being invested in school buildings only for several years and only on a
considerably low scale. Not more than 20 percent of general education schools of Lithuania are new
or have been renovated during the last 10 years.
The founders of schools have not organized the network of schools equally efficiently.
Small schools predominate in the majority of the municipalities; the state average is only 361
school student in one school. Only the averages of school size exceed the state average in 14 of 60
municipalities, in all other municipalities schools are smaller. The biggest schools (approximately
600-7000 school students on an average) are only in 8 municipalities: Alytus, Panevėžys, Kaunas,
Vilnius, Visaginas and Šiauliai. In all other municipalities, their size does not exceed 420. This
shows essential differences between urban and non-urban territories as well as peculiarity of
problems. Tendencies of residents moving from villages to towns show that the problem of
institutions of non-optimal size will become more pressing in the future.
While optimizing the network of education – mainly general education – institutions,
economically lifeless institutions of formal education are closed in rural areas because of decreasing
number of school-age children. Because of this, level of geographic availability of services
provided by general education institutions decreases.
The problem of geographic availability is solved by implementing the program
“yellow bus” designed for supplying rural schools with vehicles. The program received good
evaluation because it not only helps to solve the problem of geographic availability but also
facilitates restructurization of the network of general education institutions, which should ensure
better economic life of the system and higher quality of services in the long period of time.
Other way to solve the problem of geographic availability is to establish the
aforementioned universal centres in closed general education institutions in rural places; these
centres would provide the services of nursery, additional and special education as well as formal
and informal education of adults. Establishment of such institutions not only would satisfy vital
needs of rural communities but also would facilitate restructurization of the network of schools
which is often painful but necessary in order to use resources of education system more efficiently.
While analyzing availability of general education services, availability of services
provided by general education institutions for children and youths with special needs and those who
experience social exclusion is none the less important. Lithuania aims to teach increasingly bigger
percentage of these children and youths together with others: during the school-year 2004–2005, 6.5
thousand children with special needs learned in special schools, i.e. almost 1 thousand less than in
2001–2002. Besides, 54323 school students with special needs learned in classes of general
education in, 2003-2004. They amounted to 9.6 percent of all school students of the country (in
2002–2003 – 8.8 percent) and 88.5 percent of all school students with special needs.
However, education system is poorly prepared for such integrated teaching; therefore,
school students with special needs and those who experience social exclusion who are integrated in
learning in general education and vocational training systems often change schools or simply do not
graduate from them. While solving these problems, it is necessary to strengthen the system of
30
support to these persons. The program of provision of special education services, besides other
means, provides for the following: to induce special schools to carry out the functions of
methodological centres (by strengthening their material base), to adapt schools for persons with
special needs (the disabled), to develop complex special pedagogical, psychological, socialpedagogical, special help to be timely provided to persons with special needs.
While solving the problems of early dropping out and integration of children with
special needs and those who experience social exclusion, it is also necessary to strengthen the
network of youth schools. The latter functions as a “life net” for children and youths who have not
adapted, lack motivation to learn or do not attend general education schools because of other socialeconomic reasons. In 2004–2005, 2200 school students learned at youth schools; 8 percent of these
school students never learned anywhere else and had not acquired principal education before
entering youth schools, 18 percent of them were left to repeat the course for the second year, 3.2
percent were left to repeat the course for the third year. 18 percent of youth school students are
recorded in the records of the Inspectorate of Minors’ Affairs, 9 percent have been tried. Aiming for
more efficient activity of youth schools, investment for renewal and development of their material
base are necessary with regard to the provisions of the concept of youth schools (approved by the
order No. ĮSAK-2549of the Minister of Science and Education on the 12th of December, 2005).
Cooperation while using resources of vocational training aiming to ensure the quality and
availability of services
The guidelines and strategies of the EU provide for the fact that education system
should prepare specialists meeting the requirements of labour market, whereas surveys of
employers show that graduates of vocational and high schools most of all lack practical skills. This
is mainly caused by the lack of qualification of pedagogical personnel and the condition of
equipment designed for practical training. A study carried out by Public Policy and Management
Institute shows that obsolete equipment designed for practical training is used in the teaching
process (according to the employers, students are taught “history of technologies”); therefore,
graduates of the system can not apply the skills they acquired in practice.
While solving this problem, it is necessary to allot big investments for modernization
of equipment designed for practical training; however, investment in infrastructure of vocational
training must be coordinated with further plans of reorganization of the network of institutions.
During the reorganization, vocational training institutions will be further integrated on regional
principle aiming to optimize use of resources and increase economic life of institutions; therefore,
while solving the problems of renewal of infrastructure of teaching and studies as well as their
optimal use, it is necessary to search for ways and forms of close cooperation of education
institutions of the same or even different level. Cooperation would allow to achieve economies of
scale enabling to reduce costs of maintaining infrastructure of vocational training institutions. This
would also help to solve some problems concerning the lack and surplus of premises, and saved
funds could be invested in improvement of teaching base. As the experts who carried out
preliminary assessment note, such reform should improve the quality of services provided by
vocational education institutions and ensure economic life of institutions.
Equipment purchased for the needs of vocational training should be concentrated in
sectoral centres of practical training. They should be established following the example of already
operating mechatronics centre in Panevėžys. Sectoral centres of practical training should be
designed to meet not only practical training needs of one vocational training institution but also the
needs of school students a number of other institutions as well as students of high schools and
employees of business companies in one or several related sectors of economy. Therefore, several
such centres could be established in different places of Lithuania for bigger sectors, and smaller
sectors would suffice one centre operating near to the place where the greatest concentration of
companies of that sector exists.
31
A typical centre is an independent legal person, a public institution, participants of
which could be education institutions of various level, employers and public administration
institutions. Main activity of the centre would be helping to supply sharers of the centre with
laboratory equipment, helping to use it in the teaching process and coordinating the plans of its
common use and renewal, organizing general provision of services of qualification improvement
etc. The centres would be established in the base of already operating vocational training
institutions which can provide the best conditions for establishment of such a centre, and conditions
for school students, students and pedagogical personnel of other institutions to come and use
infrastructure of the centre for practical training purposes would be provided. Expediently
concentrated funds for infrastructure of vocational training would have a much greater effect than
their distribution in small portions to a lot of small individual vocational training institutions.
Quality of studies
Development of knowledge society, expansion of the sectors of production and
services which create high added value and which are receptive to knowledge and growth of
qualification level of labour force determines the need to improve the quality of studies constantly.
The aim to increase efficiency of high education and improve supply of the highest qualification
specialists meeting the needs of modern industry and business is consolidated in the National
Lisbon implementation program. Both positive and negative sides must be distinguished while
assessing the quality of studies in Lithuania.
The network of high schools of Lithuania is extremely expanded. 15 state and 6 nonstate universities as well as 16 state and 12 non-state colleges are operating. The number of students
of the high schools of the country increased extremely rapidly during the last decade. In 1995, 19.2
thousand students entered the universities of the country, and in 2004 – already 42.7 thousand.
During the first years of operation of the colleges (2000), 3.4 thousand students were admitted, and
in 2004 – already 23.9 thousand (Department of Statistics under the Government of Lithuania,
2005). That is why Lithuania receives good evaluation according to percentage of persons pursuing
high education in the society: the EU average is already reached and, with regard to increasing
numbers of admitted students, this indicator will improve in the future.
Increasing number of students forces to pay more and more attention to the quality of
studies. The latter is partially reflected by indicators of integration of graduates to labour market.
Indicators of employment of university-type high schools graduates are good (table 5). Universitytype high schools graduates of Lithuania searched for jobs in Labour Exchange the least often, even
though their absolute number was not much smaller than the number of students of vocational
schools. Percentage of college or vocational training institutions graduates registered in Labour
exchange was approximately twice bigger than percentage of university graduates, but
approximately twice smaller than percentage of high schools or higher study programs graduates.
Table 5. Percentage of teaching and studies institutions graduates who registered in Labour
exchange of the country before September 1, 2005
Registered in Labour exchange until
September 1, 2005
Number of
Types of institutions
graduates in
Number of
Percent of
2005
graduates
graduates
University-type high schools
28089
609
2,2
Colleges
11173
548
4.9
Higher schools
2178
197
9.0
Vocational training institutions
12980
685
5.3
Source: Ministry of Science and Education 2005.; Lithuanian Labour Exchange, 2005
While interpreting data on employment we should also consider the fact that university
graduates who can not find a job according to their qualification often displace college of vocational
32
schools graduates in labour market. Over 20 percent of university graduates maintain that they are
employed not in accordance with their professional qualification (table 6). This means that they do
jobs requiring lower qualification than their education. Research carried out in foreign countries
determined that persons who are employed not in accordance with their qualification earn
considerably lower wages than those who are employed in accordance with their qualification.
Attention should be paid to the fact that college graduates were the ones to get best employments
according to acquired qualificatio in 2004, but vocational training institutions graduates have made
an extremely great progress during a year and almost caught up with college graduates in 2005.
Table 6. Percentage of teaching and studies institutions graduates who are employed in accordance
with their professional qualification among all employed graduates
Year
Vocational schools*
Colleges*
Universities**
N/A
N/A
67
2002
66.6
78.3
75
2004
81.8
82.7
N/A
2005
* Source: A study of Public Policy and Management Institute “Preparation for optimal development of infrastructure of
vocational training” (2005).
** Source: Report of Institute of Labour and Social Research “Competitiveness of high schools graduates in labour
market in the context of supply and demand of labour force” (2004).
The quality of studies and results of employment are greatly influenced by programs
too little oriented to labour market. There are a lot of study programs of too narrow specialization or
doubled study programs in high schools, sometimes their content does not meet the direction of
studies or is not oriented to practical skills, communicativeness, responsibility, further improvement
of skills and active public spirit enough – this hinders professional career of graduates and decreases
adaptation to the changing labour market. Students are too little oriented to acquiring such skills
which would enable them to select and assess special knowledge by themselves as well as to use
acquired knowledge and skill self-dependently by learning all life. According to the data of surveys
of university graduates and employers carried out by the Institute of Labour and Social Research,
what university graduates lacked the most was not business competences but practical preparation
(picture 23). The lack of practical preparation could be interpreted as the lack of the following
competences: the lack of skills to work self-dependently (according to the data of the
aforementioned study carried out by the Institute of Labour and Social Research, 37.2 percent of
employers indicated this lack), the lack of skills of teamwork 25.7 percent) and insufficient critical
and analytical thinking (21.7 percent).
During recent years, increasingly more funds were spent for high education –
percentage of GDP amounted to 1.3 percent (this percentage is higher than that of neighbouring
countries according to data of EUROSTAT of 2001: Latvia – 0.9 percent, Estonia and Poland – 1.07
percent). Main source of subsidization of studies in state high schools is the state budget. Although
more and more funds are allotted to high education, they are not enough because of rapidly
increasing number of persons studying on the account of the state budget.
Investment in infrastructure, besides other actions, should help to achieve higher
quality of the results of study system. Results of the assessment carried out by local and foreign
experts show that science and teaching base (especially that of studies of physical and technological
sciences) of the majority of high schools is obsolete. Renewal of infrastructure designed for studies
(auditoriums, libraries and laboratories), especially renewal of infrastructure which does not meet
standards requires large investment.
The quality of available infrastructure of SRTD (Scientific Research and
Technological Development) (i.e. equipment for scientific research, informational communication
means, libraries etc), with rare exceptions, does not satisfy today’s needs. Therefore, it is difficult to
carry out scientific research meeting business needs, participate in international research projects,
attract scientists and lecturers of highest qualification, prepare specialists of highest qualification.
33
Teaching, science and research institutions of Lithuania are connected by the computer
network of science and studies of Lithuania LITNET. Total number of institutions connected to
LITNET amounts to 900, and the number of users – to 200 thousand. Since 2000, LITNET has been
a participant of the project of European academic network GEANT (GEANT-2 since October,
2004) and takes part in creation of general space of high education and research in Europe. Science
and studies information system (LieMSIS) is created the aim of which is to qualitatively reorganize,
standardize and integrate information systems of science and studies institutions, institutions which
regulate and evaluate science and studies and other organizations.
While investing in modernization and development of the infrastructure of study
system, it is necessary to consider the need to concentrate funds by granting the majority of them to
priority fields. It is also necessary to closely coordinate investment intended for studies and science.
Aiming for higher quality of studies and science, it is also necessary to strengthen
expert institutions. Resources available to them are inadequate when regulating the high education
system on the state level as well as prevent from determining and implementing active policy
meeting the needs of the state and society in these fields.
Services (vocational orientation, counselling and development of carrier-planning skills)
provided by vocational orientation system
While implementing the principle of lifelong learning, it is necessary to ensure the fact
that people of various age would find their place in the education system. Their possibilities and
needs are different. The majority of research carried out show that persons who are older, receive
lower income, have got lower level of education or live in rural areas learn the least. The latter
persons especially lack information on possibilities to acquire or improve professional qualification,
develop social or cultural education.
Vocational orientation is carried out in territorial labour exchanges, labour market
training and counselling authorities; certain services are also provided by institutions belonging to
the general education system. That is to say, Lithuanian labour market training and counselling
authorities consult approximately 60 thousand people on matters related to employment every year,
and the demand of these services is increasing constantly. However, while providing vocational
orientation services (vocational orientation, counselling and development of carrier-planning skills),
serious problems, especially those of integrity of legal environment, planning and coordinating
activity, involving social partners, are also encountered. Because of insufficiently developed
services only about 10-15 percent of youths and even more older persons consult before choosing a
profession.
It is intended to solve these problems by implementing the Vocational orientation
strategy approved in 2004. It emphasizes that the vocational orientation system, first of all, aims to
provide high-quality services of vocational orientation, improve youths’ and adults’ employment
skills, promote their enterprise and constant pursuing of knowledge etc. In order to improve
informational availability of education system, it is necessary to expand the network of informing,
counselling, career-planning institutions, their branches or information terminals, increase the
variety and quality of services, prepare more qualified consultants of extended learning. This will be
pursued by implementing the plan of implementation of the Vocational orientation strategy.
Development of the network of libraries
Libraries are becoming corner axis of cultural education and self-education of
communities, especially in villages and smaller towns. The network of public libraries (there are
600 of them) of the municipalities is developed well; therefore, it coulf efficiently complement the
activity of the network of universal centres being created in rural areas and vocational orientation
(vocational orientation, counselling and development of carrier-planning skills), in this way
promoting lifelong learning. Besides, having ensured access to the Internet, customers of libraries
34
may be provided with the possibility to use various electronic services provided by stet institutions.
Therefore, aiming to induce more residents to learn and overcome informational problem of
education services, it is necessary to modernize infrastructure of public libraries.
Table 7. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian education services
Evaluation
EU
Indicator of difference
Year
Lithuania
of
average
difference
Participation of children aged 4 in education, in percent
2003
53.1
86.3
High
Participation of youths aged 15 – 24 in education (all
levels of ISCED 1 – 6), in percent
2003
68
59
–
Participation of youths aged 30 – 34 in education, in
percent
2002
35
24.8
–
Percentage of youths aged 18 – 24 having acquired
only principal education and not learning anymore, in
percent
2005
9.2
14.9
–
2003
26.1
55.6
High
2005
6.3
10.8
High
2003
27.8
42.0
High
Percentage of youths who have chosen vocational
training after secondary school among persons of
secondary education level (ISCED 3)
Percentage of persons aged 25–64 who participate in
extended learning in this age group
Percentage of persons aged 25–64 who have
participated in any kind of education during the year
Source: Eurostat, 2002-2005.
1.2.3 Services provided by vocational training institutions, institutions implementing state
employment policy, out-patient social services and services to the disabled
Main statements:
Reform of vocational training is being implemented aiming to improve the quality of
vocational training services and increase economic life of vocational training institutions. Currently,
vocational training graduates’ competences do not meet the needs of labour market enough, there is
an especial lack of special practical skills.
General availability of vocational training services is sufficiently even; however, it is low
for persons with special needs.
The infrastructure of state employment support policy is developed quite well, but it is
necessary to improve the quality of provided services, increase their variety, adapt these services to
the needs of particular persons better.
During the last 10 years, a wide network of social services was created in Lithuania;
however, geographic coverage of this network, the variety and quality of services is still
insufficient.
Only one centre provides services of vocational rehabilitation to the disabled in Lithuania
yet. Main problems encountered while developing this system are insufficiently developed
infrastructure of services, lack of qualified specialists in different links of vocational rehabilitation
and lack of work methodologies ensuring complex, extended and efficient rehabilitation.
During several last years, labour market and social indicators of Lithuania were
gradually increasing – employment level increased, unemployment decreased, integration of various
social groups in labour market improved, the principles of equal opportunities of sexes were applied
more and more consistently. However, certain problems also emerged: the number of employees of
35
employable age is decreasing (due to low birth rate and emigration of employees), the majority of
employees’ qualification and competence is insufficient and does not meet the needs of the market,
the phenomenon of structural unemployment is observed, that is, surplus of specialists exists in
some fields and other fields lack them. However, this problem mainly arises not because too few
specialists are prepared but because the majority of vocational schools graduates can not be
employed in accordance with their specialty because they lack competences. Various surveys and
research of employers show that there is a lack of qualified employees in all main economic sectors
of the country. At the moment, the problem of qualification of labour force also partially shows that
labour efficiency in Lithuania is one of the lowest in the EU (52.5 percent of the EU average, 2005),
although increase of labour efficiency was high enough currently.
A quite big unused reserve of labour force of women, older persons, the disabled,
persons with social risk also exists in Lithuania, that is, employment level of these persons is quite
low. Total level of economic activity of labour force is also reduced by the fact that there is a lack
of social services to families, members of which need constant care. Due to this members of these
families who carry out the functions of care can not actively participate in labour market.
Quality and availability of vocational training system
According to the data of 2004, state vocational training system consisted of 75
vocational training institutions (vocational schools, vocational training centres and higher schools)
and 14 labour market training centres. Services of vocational training were also provided by
colleges, situation of which is analyze in the chapter “Education institutions”.
Currently, prestige and respectively popularity of vocational training institutions is low
among persons entering education institutions. In 2002, only 18.1 percent and in 2003 – 17.7 percent
of principal school graduates attempted to enter vocational schools. Lithuania considerably falls
behind the EU average according to popularity of vocational training (of those who learn on levels 34 of ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education)). Only every fourth school student
learns in accordance with programs of vocational training (level 3 of ISCED) (in 2003, 24.7 percent
of school students in Lithuania, while the EU average is 57.5 percent). Twice as many persons study
in universities than in colleges or vocational schools, whereas research carried out by the Public
Policy and Management Institute shows that the demand of specialists who have graduated from
vocational training institutions is not much lower that the demand of employees who have graduated
from high schools in labour market. Thus, although the economy of the country needs much more
persons with vocational education, the majority of youths chooses high university education.
14 labour market training centres (hereinafter – LMTC) provide the services of
vocational training of adults, requalification and qualification improvement. In 2005, a total of 28.2
thousand persons was trained in these centres. An important part of clients of LMTC are the
unemployed (47.9 percent in 2004); however, as unemployment level has been decreasing during
recent years, their number also decreased considerably (from 17.2 thousand in 2003 to 13.5 thousand
in 2005). It is planned that the scope of services of employed people’s requalification and
qualification improvement will increase radically in the future; however, aiming to attract this
segment of learning persons, it is necessary to improve the quality of provided services.
Quality of vocational training services
Currently, main problem of vocational training system is low quality of teaching which
does not meet the needs of employment market enough. The quality of teaching is determined by a
number of factors: modern teaching programs, qualification of vocational teachers, proper
management of vocational training institutions. Premises and equipment used for teaching are also
one of the most important quality factors. It is true, though, that analysis carried out by the Public
Policy and management Institute showed that employers evaluate the services provided by
vocational training institutions and their conformity with the needs of the market relatively better
36
than those of initial vocational training. Main reason of this is the fact that labour market training
centres sell their services in the market, do not receive subsidization from the state and, therefore,
adapt to the demand of teaching services quicker.
Institutions providing labour market training centres lack teaching equipment reflecting
development of modern technologies. Morally obsolete equipment which is not used in Lithuanian
enterprises anymore is often used for teaching. According to the data obtained from the survey
carried out by the Public Policy and Management Institute and TNS Gallup in 2005, because of this
reason vocational training institutions graduates mostly lack professional special knowledge and
skills which are formed during practical training. Vocational training institutions lack computers:
according to the data of education management information system, twice as many school students
use one computer of a vocational school than in 9th-12th grades of secondary schools or 1st-4th grades
of gymnasiums. Talking about vocational training programs designed for specialists who need ICT
(information communication technologies) of professional level, such indicator is insufficient.
In the opinion of some employers, a part of vocational training institutions does not
use all possibilities of practical training of school students in their enterprises, even though this
would allow to reduce the need for investment; the same conclusions apply to labour market
training centres as well. In cases when investment in the equipment of teaching institutions can not
be avoided, it is proposed to consider at least two possibilities. First of all, perhaps it would be
useful to use equipment of lower throughput specially adapted to training process instead of buying
industrial equipment, throughput of which is high, and which, therefore, is very expensive to
operate. Second, perhaps it would be useful to purchase ICT-based stimulators, operation costs of
which are often lower than those of other training equipment, when organizing practical training.
The condition of the majority of institutions providing initial vocational training is
satisfactory or poor. As these institutions usually can not dispose their property freely, their
premises are often used non-optimally. Some of the institutions lack premises; however a
considerable part of them has got unused or insufficiently used premises. Approximately only 1/3
or less of total area of such institutions is used for teaching; however, even institutions which have
got too many premises often lack premises adapted for modern teaching process, whereas
maintenance of unnecessary, emergency building or building designed not for main activity costs
much and freezes resources.
Optimization of the network of vocational training institutions has been taking place
currently, though not rapidly enough. By joining small, economically lifeless institutions providing
the same services it is aimed to ensure economic life of the whole system as well as higher quality
of provided services. The process of reorganization of labour market training centres is also taking
place – it is planned to join these centres on regional principle and reorganize them internally.
Investment of structural funds will be effective the most in case they will be directed towards and
will contribute to restructurization of vocational training system.
As discussed in the chapter devoted to analysis of infrastructure of education,
cooperation of institutions of different education levels (on a scale of more than one region or on a
regional scale) would help to ensure greater efficiency of investment and improve the quality of
investment. Currently, vocational training institutions and labour market training centres practically
do not cooperate and this does not allow to use the possibilities of economies of scale, strengthening
of skills and renewal of infrastructure. Development of sectoral practical training centres discussed
in the chapter of infrastructure of education would be useful to the whole vocational training system
as well as would permit to avoid unnecessary investment made by purchasing expensive but
insufficiently used practical training equipment.
The quality of teaching is also related to involvement of better employers and other
social partners. While granting investment to the projects providing for cooperation with employers,
the risk that investment will be used to prepare such specialists which labour market does not need
is reduced. When employers participate in management (of an institution or a project), they are
interested to grant funds for preparation of such specialists (or improvement of such competences)
37
which enterprises or institutions of their sector need the most. Employers could also contribute to
organization of practical training of students and training of vocational teachers/ lecturers.
All institutions providing initial vocational training are almost totally dependent on
subsidization from the state budget (and EU support programs) so far; however, this subsidization is
insufficient. Dependence on the funds from the budget may decrease only in the long period of
time, having optimized the network of vocational training, reformed management of institutions and
invested a lot of state funds in vocational training resources. Then teaching institutions will be able
to offer a greater number of more varied paid services of qualification improvement in such
segments of the market where private providers of these services act not actively enough. In order
to make institutions ensure resources of received income self-dependently it is necessary to increase
their independence, promote initiative and orientation to the needs of labour market. However, this
is possible only when institutions are in a good start position, i.e. have got sufficiently qualitative
resources. If funds are not granted for that, it is probable that vocational training institutions will not
be able to provide high-quality marketable services and will not become more economically lively
in the future.
Availability of vocational training
Possibilities to use the services of vocational training institutions close to one’s place
of residence are different in the regions of the country. The study carried out by the Public Policy
and Management Institute assessed geographical availability of institutions providing initial
vocational training according to the following indicators: regional distribution of vocational training
institutions, number of institutions in a region, number of potential clients serviced by institutions,
variety of offered vocational training programs, possibilities of vocational training institutions to
accommodate students coming from other counties. It was determined that the lowest geographical
availability exists in Tauragė, Marijampolė and Telšiai counties. Average availability exists in
Utena and Panevėžys counties, while the best geographical availability is in Alytus, Klaipėda,
Kaunas, Šiauliai and Vilnius counties.
Services provided by labour market training centres complement services of
institutions providing initial vocational training. Besides, vocational training is also provided by
various private companies, institutions and organizations. General availability of vocational training
services is high enough in almost all counties; therefore, there is no need to establish new
institutions of vocational training system and most attention should be paid to the aforementioned
optimization and improvement of the quality of vocational training system.
Availability of vocational trainings services is low for persons with special needs.
Only Šiauliai, Kaunas and Vilnius counties are distinguished by relatively good availability,
whereas the worst availability for persons with special needs is in Marijampolė, Telšiai, Tauragė
and Utena counties. Only a few persons with special needs were admitted to vocational institutions
here in 2004–2005 or no such persons were admitted at all.
Infrastructure of institutions implementing state employment support policy
Availability of services of institutions implementing state employment support policy
(Lithuanian Labour Exchange, Lithuanian labour market authorities) is good, but it is necessary to
improve the quality of provided services, increase their variety and adapt these services to the needs
of particular people more. Currently, two state institutions under the Ministry of Social Security and
Labour are implementing state employment support policy (Lithuanian Labour Exchange (LLE)
and Lithuanian Labour Market Training Authority (LLMTA).
Availability of services provided by the Lithuanian Labour Exchange is sufficient. 46
territorial labour exchanges and their 45 departments provide general services of employment
support (information, consultation, mediation while employing people) to their clients (persons who
look for jobs as well as employers), implement active means of labour market policy and
38
employment support programs as well as monitor labour market according to the order determined
by legislation. 6 youths, 4 labour and 50 information and consultation centres established in
territorial labour exchanges provide information services. In 2005, approximately over 821
thousand clients visited these centres: 113.9 thousand clients visited the Internet site of the
Lithuanian Labour Exchange, 42.7 thousand persons searched for information and jobs selfdependently using special computers SIP and PIC, over 53 thousand people used computer testing
program. Over 298.8 individual consultations and pieces of advice were given during the year.
Percentage of the registered unemployed participating in active labour market
programs increased from 42.7 percent in 2001 to 63.6 percent in 2004. EURES (network of
European employment services) offices of the Lithuanian Labour Exchange further developed their
activity; in 2005, they provided 26.9 thousand consultations on free mobility of persons. In 2005,
labour exchange could offer vacant workplaces for even 75.7 percent of the unemployed who
turned to labour exchange. In 2004, this indicator was 64 percent, in 2003 – 54 percent. A total of
109.7 thousand persons searching for jobs were employed with the mediation of labour exchange;
87.9 thousand of them got permanent jobs, 21.8 thousand persons were employed under fixed-time
contracts. The greatest supply of workplaces exists for qualified workers – approximately every
second work offer). Lithuanian Labour Exchange points out that one Litas spent for employment of
the unemployed in vacant workplaces, direction to active labour market policy programs, payments
of unemployment social insurance and pre-pension allowances as well as development of labour
exchange in 2005 returned 1.3 Litas to the consolidated budget of the state.
Lithuanian labour market training and counselling authorities (hereinafter – LLMTA)
carry out vocational orientation of people who are searching for jobs, assessment and management
of the quality of vocational training and informal education of the unemployed and those who are
notified about dismissal from work. LLMTA take part in provision of vocational rehabilitation and
implementation of lifelong learning strategy. The situation of vocational orientation system is more
thoroughly discussed in the chapter devoted to infrastructure of education.
Infrastructure of out-patient institutions providing social services
During the last 10 years, a considerable network of social services has been created in
Lithuania, but coverage, variety of services and quality of this network is insufficient so far. On an
average, social services may be provided to only 50 persons of 10 thousand residents of the country.
In the end of 2004, approximately 600 institutions providing social services and subordinate to
different authorities (counties, municipalities, non-governmental organizations etc) operated in
Lithuania; 40 percent of these institutions were institutions of in-patient care. Recently, the number
of institutions providing in-patient care services has especially increased, new-type mixed social
services institutions providing various social services to different social groups of people appeared.
Total number of recipients of social services has increased approximately 10 times during recent
years. In 2006, new social services law providing for development of choice of social services,
defining equal standard of their provision, improving competitive conditions in the market of
providing such services and improving the model of subsidization was enacted.
Even though infrastructure of out-patient social services is being developed intensively
in Lithuania, it is still insufficient. Because of demographic tendencies (increase of the number of
families with social risk and children brought up in such families and the disabled, ageing of the
society) the need for such services should increase even more in the future.
Having assessed the scope of social services provided in out-patient institutions in the
territories of separate municipalities as well as regarding the need of lacking services, all
municipalities of Lithuania may be divided into small (Akmenė dist., Birštonas dist., Kalvarija dist.,
Kupiškis dist., Lazdijai dist. Visaginas dist. etc), average (Alytus dist., Anykščiai dist., Kaišiadorys
dist., Rokiškis dist. etc) and big (Alytus dist., Kaunas dist., Kėdainiai dist., Marijampolė dist.,
Vilnius dist. etc). As such division is determined by the number of residents (of the municipality),
39
the big cities (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys) are not classified according to the
aforementioned categories and are attributed to a separate group.
The survey using questionnaires carried out in some of the municipalities of Lithuania
in 2006 showed that there are relatively more services provided to the disabled children or children
with psychic disability in the small municipalities distinguished above (5-30 thousand residents, a
total of 20 municipalities), whereas only every tenth resident with recognized special need for
constant nursing and care receives social services in out-patient institutions. Talking about social
services provided to adults (under 60) with severe psychic, mental, physic or complex disability as
well as psychically disabled adults (under 60), the situation is similar. The indicators of the
situation of adults over 60 are even worse; they show that services are provided only to a few
percent of such persons at home or in special institutions in the municipalities.
Thus, judging by present tendencies, all the small municipalities lack 1-2 day outpatient institutions providing social services and mixed social services as well as homes for
temporary residence, if day services of social care would be provided to 20-30 persons in
institutions of these types (provided not less than 5-8 hours a day; also short-term social care would
be provided 24 hours a day but not longer than for 3 months). The need for 3-5 self-dependent life
homes or community homes (for aged persons) is also obvious.
The situation in average-sized municipalities (30-60 thousand residents; there are 29
such municipalities in Lithuania) is slightly better. Social services are provided to approximately 20
percent of persons of the following groups in these municipalities: disabled children or children
with psychic disability, mentally disabled adults (under 60), adults (under 60) with severe psychic,
mental, physic or complex disability, whereas services are provided only to a few percent of
persons with psychic disability. Low level of scope of services provided to persons aged over 60
must also be emphasized. Community services are provided to a few percent of persons belonging
to this group, the system of day social care services, including those for old people with special
needs, is not developed yet. The lack of at least one out-patient institution providing day social
services or an institution providing mixed social services as well as the lack of homes for temporary
residence is obvious in the municipalities belonging to this group. 2-3 self-dependent life homes or
community homes are also necessary.
The number of persons with special needs and the ration of out-patient social services
provided to them is much better in the big municipalities (60-100 thousand residents, 6
municipalities) and big cities (> 100 thousand residents, 5 cities) than in the aforementioned cases;
therefore, immediate development of infrastructure of out-patient institutions providing social
services (especially by establishing new institutions) is less necessary there. However, the need to
renew or develop some currently operating institutions is still relevant.
Combining professional and family life
Possibility to combine professional and family life is important both to women and
men, because it increases flexibility of labour force, improves the quality of life, allows to integrate
in labour market and stay in it more successfully. Flexible forms of work help to combine
professional and family life better, although such forms of work are not very popular in Lithuania.
Besides, certain exclusion of the basis of sex is obvious in this field. Men tend to work half-time
twice less than women because of care of children and other family members requiring care which
is traditionally attributed to women.
Improvement of social services (including those provided by nursery education
institutions) system is also relevant to combining professional and family life. During current years,
the number of children attending nursery education institutions increased. On the other hand, the
number of such institutions is decreasing. According to the data of the Department of Statistics, the
number of nurseries-kindergartens decreased from 533 to 519, the number of kindergartens – from
181 to 136, and the number of general education schools where there are groups of nursery
education – from 259 to 241 during the period from 2000 to 2005. These tendencies are partially
40
related to decreasing birth rate and optimization of the system. However, the statistics presented
show that a very large number of children do not attend nursery education institutions because of
financial problems in families or insufficient availability of such services in some regions.
Percentage of children attending nursery education institutions is much lower in Lithuania than the
EU average; this tendency is especially striking while comparing the situation in Lithuania with
Scandinavian states.
In general, the choice and availability of out-patient social services intended for care of
children, sick, disabled or aged family members is insufficient as well. The lack of such services is
especially noticeable in rural areas. That is to say, in 2004, percentage of children aged 1–6
attending nursery education institutions in villages was almost 3.5 times lower than in towns. The
availability of services to residents of villages is limited by lower level of income, concentration of
services in towns, the lack of services of special transport.
Infrastructure of services for the disabled (including vocational rehabilitation)
The system of vocational rehabilitation of the disabled covers such services as
vocational orientation, consultation, evaluation and recreation of professional skills, or development
of new skills, requalification. Vocational rehabilitation services to the disabled in Lithuania are
provided only by Valakupiai Rehabilitation Centre in Vilnius. Individual services are also provided
by public organizations and vocational training of the disabled (under accredited programs) is
carried out by some vocational training institutions of Lithuania. Main problems encountered while
developing this system, are insufficiently developed infrastructure of services, the lack of qualified
specialists ensuring complex, continuous and efficient rehabilitation in various links of vocational
rehabilitation.
Considering the number of disabled persons of employable age (under 50) residing in
the country as well as probable need of vocational rehabilitation services for the disabled,
approximately 500 places for rehabilitation are necessary in Lithuania. These places should be
equally distributed in all 10 counties; 20-50 persons a day should be serviced in one rehabilitation
centre and one rehabilitation cycle should not last longer than half a year.
The needs for vocational rehabilitation services is ascertained by the Disability and
Working Capacity Assessment Office which has got 25 territorial branches in the whole Lithuania.
While moving over to the new order of ascertaining disability and working capacity, Disability and
Working Capacity Assessment Office is one of the first and most important institutions helping to
ensure efficient application of social protection means in order to achieve actual integration of the
disabled in the society. This office is responsible for ascertaining disability level, assessment of
working capacity level, assessment of the need for vocational rehabilitation, decisions concerning
the nature and conditions of work for the disabled, initial ascertaining of special needs of the
disabled etc. The offices need qualified specialists able to work under new conditions in the field of
new methodology, especially that of vocational rehabilitation, to carry out all these activities,
because there practically was no such link in the previous system. As it is just started to implement
the new order of ascertaining disability and working capacity, help for formation of these offices
both in material sense as well as in the sense of personnel’s qualification improvement and
preparation of various work methodologies is extremely important in order to ensure efficiency of
the new system.
In order to ensure efficient implementation and coordination of social integration
means of the disabled, the Council of the Affairs of the Disabled and the Department of the Affairs
of the Disabled under the ministry of Social Security and Labour is operating. The Department of
the Affairs of the Disabled carries out National social integration program of people with disability
according to 7 priority fields of the program: rehabilitation (vocational, psychosocial, development
of skills of self-dependent life), social services, availability of environment (by adapting public
physical environment, housing and residential environment, informational environment), education,
employment (getting a job and other forms of employment), education of the society, culture, sports
41
and recreation. The Department of the Affairs of the Disabled was established not so long ago;
therefore, while providing planned services, it lacks modern infrastructure and equipment.
National social integration program of people with disability 2003-2012 and National
social integration law emphasizes decentralization of supply of special supporting means
(compensation technique) for the disabled, i.e. making support for the disabled closer to their places
of residence. By this decentralization it is planned to gradually locate technical aid centres in the
whole territory of the country; this would ensure equal availability of the services provided by the
centres to residents of all counties as well as would help to reduce regional differences of supply of
special supporting means. Besides, development of the network of such centres would also mean
improvement of organization of supply of means, greater individualization of supply and this would
ensure the fact that more and more disabled people will become independent of other persons’ help
and will be able to take part in labour market and social life. These centres must carry out such
functions as constant and systemic analysis of the need for compensation technique in the region,
ordering and delivery of necessary means to the disabled, services of repair and maintenance of
technique, teaching the disabled to use the measures of technical aid and inform them about such
measures. Currently, 4 technical aid centres are already operating; it is planned to increase their
number to 10. Investment is necessary for strengthening material base of these centres and
improving the quality of their services.
The provision that sign language is native language of the deaf is consolidated in the
National social integration law; therefore, translation centres of sign language are becoming an
important means of ensuring the right to use this language. Besides, the conception of adapting
informational environment to people with disability prepared by the Government provides for the
fact that informational environment must be adapted to people with disability in accordance with
their special needs. These centres must help to develop teaching and use of sign language in order to
provide the deaf with better possibilities to integrate in social life and labour market. Investments
should be made both in establishment of centres of such type, in improvement of models of their
activity and provided services as well as in preparation of translators of sign language and creation
of new methodologies of teaching sign language. Such centres are currently operating in Lithuania.
Their number should increase to 10.
Table 8. The most significant differences in the EU and Lithuanian labour market, education and
social fields
Average Average of 25
Indicator of difference
Year
of
EU member Difference level
Lithuania
states
Employment level of residents aged
2005
Average
62.6
63.8
15–64
Employment level of women
2005
Average but
59.4
56.3
positive
Employment level of residents aged
2005
High but
49.2
42.5
55–64
positive
Percentage of employed disabled
2003
20
40.0
High
people
Age of leaving market (years)
2004
60.8
60.7
Low
Employment in agriculture (percent of
2005
High
13.9
5.1
all employed people)
Employment in the sector of services
2005
High
56.0
69.5
(percent of all employed people)
Unemployment level, in percent (data
2005
8.3
8.7
Low
of reasearch of labour force)
Unemployment level of women, in
2005
8.5
9.8
Average but
percent.
positive
42
2005
Average
of
Lithuania
55.0
Average of 25
EU member
states
44.2
2005
6.3
10.8
High
2004
7.6
11.7
High
2004
2004
20.5
9.6
16.0 (2003)
6.2
High
High
2004
10.2
6.6
High
2004
16
15
Low
2005
18.9
22.9*
Average
2005
65.0
82.5*
High
Indicator of difference
Year
Percentage of the long-term
unemployed
Percentage of residents aged 25–64
who participated in education and
vocational training activity during the
last 4 weeks (lifelong learning level)
Women aged 25–64 learning all life (in
percent)
Poverty risk level
Children aged 0 – 17 living in
households where there are no
employed people
Persons aged 18 and older living in
households where there are no
employed people
Women’s wages lower than men’s
wages, in percent
Provision for care of children (under 3
years of age)
Provision for care of children (from 3
to school age)
Difference level
High
Source: Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, 2005, Residents income and living
conditions (PGS), 2005.
* Data of the year 2003; while calculating the average, no data concerning Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia and United
Kingdom was obtained
43
1.3 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
1.3.1 Water protection and implementation of water management means
Main statements:
64 percent of surface water bodies of Lithuania are affected by economic human activity;
therefore additional means for improvement of their condition are necessary.
Only about 60 percent of residents of Lithuania are provided with centralized supply of
drinking water and services of centralized collection and management of wastewater, and only
approximately 77 percent of wastewater is cleaned following the requirements of the EU.
A significant part of infrastructure of water supply and cleaning of wastewater is both
morally and physically obsolete, exploitation costs are high, management of surface wastewater is
insufficient. System of treatment and use of wastewater sludge is not created and energetic potential
of sludge is not used.
Following the requirements of the General Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC,
1239 surface water bodies were distinguished in Lithuania. Having assessed their condition, it was
determined that even 64 percent of them are affected by economic human activity and, therefore, a
risk that the aims of water protection will not be timely achieved in the until 2015 occurs.
According to preliminary data, even 88 percent of water bodies are attributed to potential risk
group.
The greatest number of water bodies in risk (75 percent) is determined by pollution of
towns and wastewater from industrial companies; however, water bodies in risk because of
agricultural pollution (22 percent of all water bodies in risk) constitute the greatest part of water
bodies in risk according to the territory they occupy. Even though the condition of water bodies has
been improving during recent years, the condition of the majority of water bodies is poor not
because of only the effect of existing economic activity but also because of the effect of past factors
(consequences of past pollution (sludge, waste, fertilizers etc), remains of buildings, violations of
hydromorphological condition etc).
Main task of cleaning water is to achieve good condition of all water bodies until
2015. Initial analysis of the state of water bodies showed that in order to achieve good condition it
is not enough only to implement sectoral directives regulating water protection such as Urban
Waste water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, Nitrates Directive 91/676/EEC, Dangerous
Substances in Water Directive 76/464/EEC etc. Considering the fact that a lot of water bodies of
Lithuania are very sensitive to anthropogenic effect, stricter requirements of reducing pollution than
provided for in the directives will have to be applied. Elimination of consequences of past effect
and implementation of stricter requirements is extremely expensive; therefore, efficient water
management system allowing to select optimal means for achieving water protection aims must be
created in the nearest future.
Drinking water is supplied only from underground water sources in Lithuania, that is
why the quality of publicly supplied drinking water is good enough. Unfortunately, water from
certain underground water bodies contains too high concentrations of iron, manganese and fluorine
(in North West Lithuania); therefore, water must be cleaned before supplying it to distribution
systems. An even greater problem of public supply of water is poor condition of water supply
infrastructure. Due to this reason the quality of used supplied water is decreasing, water losses,
number of accidents, net cost of water etc is increasing. The condition of wastewater management
infrastructure is hardly better. Worn infrastructure endangers environment and residents’ health.
Following valid requirements, only 77 percent of wastewater collected by centralized systems are
cleaned. The situation is especially bad in small towns and villages.
Development of water supply and wastewater management infrastructure substantially
falls behind the rates of development of housing and economy. Only 63 percent of residents of
44
Lithuania (90-95 percent of residents of the big cities and approximately 20-30 percent of residents
of villages) are provided with centralized supply of drinking water. Approximately 1 million
residents use ground water from dug wells or individual bores which is often polluted and does not
meet the requirements. Currently, the service of centralized collection and management of
wastewater is available to only 62 percent of all residents. Infrastructure of surface (rain)
wastewater is especially poorly developed; therefore a great part of wastewater is not cleaned when
it gets to surface water bodies and this greatly affects the condition of water bodies.
The condition of the water supply and wastewater management sector will mostly be
determined by two factors in the future: increase of the need of high-quality and affordable public
services of water supply and wastewater management both in towns and villages as well as
fulfillment of undertaken obligations of water supply and towns wastewater management which
will request big investments to growth of economy of water supply and wastewater management.
While developing infrastructure of wastewater collection and cleaning, the amount of
sludge produced during wastewater cleaning increases in proportion. The majority of sludge is not
properly managed, only stored. Currently, there are about 80 sludge storage sites, total are of which
amounts to 180 ha. 4 million tons of sludge are accumulated there. The need to implement more
modern, efficient and environment-friendly technologies of sludge management allowing to reduce
the amount of produced sludge significantly and utilize used sludge as a renewable energy source
immediately has emerged. It is also necessary to take care of managing existing sludge storage sites.
Table 9. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian water protection
EU
Indicator of difference
Year Lithuania
Evaluation
average
Percentage of wastewater cleaned according to set 2004
77
92
Average
requirements among all collected wastewater
Percentage of centralized supply of drinking water 2004
63
90
High
meeting requirements
Number of consumers of centralized supply of 2004
34
80
High
water in rural areas (up to 2000 residents), in
percent of the number of residents of such areas
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2006.
1.3.2 Waste management
Main statements:
The majority of operating waste landfills do not meet environmental protection
requirements, there are a lot of illegal and abandoned but so far not recultivated waste landfills
polluting the environment.
The majority of communal waste is not sorted and used as secondary raw materials;
therefore, flows of waste removed to waste landfills are extremely high.
System of collecting secondary raw materials and hazardous waste, management of
biologically decomposing waste is poorly developed.
Almost 5 million tons of harmless waste and approximately 120 tons of hazardous
waste are produced in Lithuania per year. The majority of harmless waste (~80 percent) consists of
production waste. Approximately 1 million tons of communal waste or on an average 310 kg of
waste per one resident is produced every year. As industry is developing more rapidly, the amount
of production waste increases, but this increase was much lower in comparison with growth of GDP
during recent years. The majority of production and communal waste of the country –
approximately 48.7 percent – is removed to landfills, 27.4 percent remain in enterprises (stored), the
rest – 10.5 percent – is exported, 6 percent are recycled, 4.6 percent are used in other ways (used in
construction, repair of roads, as soil fertilizers or anima food etc), 2.8 percent are burned.
45
thousand tons
Picture 10. Waste management and use (recycling)
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1012
359
276
24
212
1209
798
1
2
80
227
1169
1328
1
2000
2
2188
81
1119
2
1
2002
2147
104
1152
1015
1
2001
2184
95
2
2003
1
2
2004
Use of waste (recycling)
1 Communal waste
2 Production waste
Removal of waste to landfills
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2006.
Currently, there are 700 waste landfills registered in Lithuania; almost half of them is
still being exploited. The majority of these waste landfills do not meet environmental protection
requirements and pollute environment heavily. In order to increase efficiency of communal waste
management systems, regional communal waste management systems are being created in
Lithuania; 10 regional projects, the value of which amounts to 130 million Euros, have been
prepared and started to implement for creation and development of such systems. The first stage of
regional communal waste management systems covers development of waste collection, sorting and
use systems, recultivation of old waste landfills and construction of new, modern waste
management facilities. The second stage of creation of these systems, implementation of which will
begin in 2007, mostly provides for investment in management of biologically decomposing waste
by implementing modern technologies of biogas production and burning communal waste.
Management of production waste on national scale is regulated by environmental
protection and other normative documents, appropriate rules, technical regulations and permits. The
greatest priority in the flow of production waste is given to management of hazardous waste. In
2004, almost 19 million Euros from the state budget and European Union funds were granted for
development of infrastructure of hazardous waste managements. A lot of attention is also paid to
management of hazardous waste accumulated in the past and polluted territories. Since the
Restoration of Independence, several studies were carried out and these studies ascertained that
there are approximately 5200 potentially polluted territories in Lithuania; these territories include
over 700 waste landfills (trash landfills), over 2700 ex-military territories, over 900 places of
storage of pesticides, about 600 stores of oil products and about 200 other industrial and agricultural
objects. After the assessment it is necessary to clean the territories which endanger human health
and environment the most. In 2004–2005, approximately 14 million Litas were granted for safe
removal of pesticide waste alone, project of management of sites of fire of pesticides and hazardous
waste existing in bankrupt companies, estimated value of which amounts to 10 million Euros, was
prepared and will be implemented in the short run.
Even though the amount of communal waste has been increasing only slightly during
current years, while planning communal waste management systems, it is necessary to consider
tendencies of increase of amounts of communal waste in other European and world countries. The
amount of communal waste is estimated to increase by 43 percent in OECD countries from 1995 to
2020. Similar rates of increase of production of waste are probable to occur in Lithuania as well.
The greatest priority in the field of communal waste management will be given to development of
collection and recycling of secondary raw materials (including packaging waste) as well as
management of biologically decomposing waste in the future. The amount of biologically
46
decomposing waste will be aimed not to exceed 50 percent of the amount of the year 2000 in waste
landfills in 2013.
It will be aimed to keep increase of the amount of production waste much lower than
growth of GDP as well as to recycle produced waste and use them for production of energy and
remove them to safely equipped controlled waste landfills only in exceptional cases. A lot of
attention will be paid to management of hazardous waste accumulated in the past as well in order to
manage all such waste until 2013.
Strict requirements set for waste management, construction and supervision of
potentially dangerous objects allow to avoid the threat of emergence of new polluted territories.
Thus, a lot attention will have to be paid to inventory of existing polluted territories, determining
their danger and cleaning priorities considering reduction of negative effect to environment caused
by such territories as well as recreation of these territories and their use for economic, recreational
or other purposes. Having determined the priorities, works of cleaning and monitoring of polluted
territories as well as other necessary reformation works will be carried out.
Table 10. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian waste management
EU
Indicator of difference
Year Lithuania
Evaluation
average
Production of communal waste, kg per one 2003
310
580
High
resident per year
(EU-15)
positive
336 (VRE)
Recycling of packaging waste, in percent
2002 36 (2004) 54 (EU-15)
High
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2006.
1.3.3 Air quality
Main statements:
Pollution of air with solid particles is increasing in towns and exceeds set standards in the
big cities more and more often.
Large energetics objects using traditional energy sources have not got cleaning equipment
for pollutants emitted to the air; therefore, they do not meet the requirements set by the EU.
Public transport is developed insufficiently, obsolete and pollutes air. Infrastructure of
motorless transport is not developed.
Energetics, transport and industry emits the biggest amount of greenhouse gas and
pollutants to the atmosphere. In comparison with the year 1991, their amount decreased by over 3
times. The amount of sulphur, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and ammonia emitted to
the atmosphere amounts to 200 tons. It is noteworthy that the amount of pollutants emitted to the air
almost does not increase, although economy of the country is developing rapidly. Since 2000, only
the amount of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds has increased slightly. Analogous
situation exists talking about greenhouse gas – annual amount of this gas emitted to the atmosphere
as an equivalent of carbon dioxide (CO2) fluctuates by 16 million tons. Although the quality of
surrounding air is not bad, the problem of pollution of the big towns with solid particles smaller
than 10 microns has been becoming relevant during recent years, and, as appropriate norms are
becoming stricter, the problem of pollution of air with nitrogen oxides (NOx) is probable in the
future. Those municipalities where air quality does not meet norms must prepare and implement air
quality improvement programs.
Picture 11. Changes in emission of main pollutants to the air
47
1200
1022,9
thousand tons
1000
800
522
600
445,6
414
417,2
423,6
438,7
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
400
200
0
1990
1995
Source: Ministry of Environment, 2006.
One of the most serious problems of pollution is the fact that large energetics objects
using traditional energy sources (oil products, natural gas) have not got cleaning equipment for
pollutants emitted to the air; therefore, twice as many pollutants per one unit of produced energy are
emitted to the environment than in the old EU member states on an average. Installation of modern
equipment for cleaning of pollutants in these energetics objects would allow to reduce pollution
significantly.
Transport sector emits a great amount of pollutants to the air. Great problems of air
pollution arise because of insufficient development of public transport and constantly increasing
number of individual vehicles. At the moment, public transport enterprises have got approximately
3000 buses/ trolleybuses, even 75 percent of which are older than 10 years. In order to solve
problems of air pollution in towns, energetic efficiency and transport safety successfully, it is
necessary to promote development of public transport. One of the main tasks here is immediate
renewal of public vehicles as well as development of use of alternative cleaner fuel.
Motorless transport, first of all, bicycles, is used very little in Lithuania, especially in
towns, infrastructure of this transport is developed extremely poorly. As experience of the old EU
member countries shows, it is wider use of motorless transport that can contribute much to reducing
air pollution in towns, saving energy and optimizing the flows of transport. Creation and
development of infrastructure of motorless transport should be treated as an important factor which
can contribute not only to improvement of the quality of air in towns but also to improvement of
general transport system.
Certain increase of greenhouse gas and pollutants emitted to the atmosphere can not be
avoided in the future due to planned rapid growth of economy and shutdown of Ignalina atomic
power plant in 2009 m. Considering the fact that the amount of pollutants and greenhouse gas
emitted to the atmosphere will be strictly regulated in the future, main task is to increase efficiency
of energy consumption, use of local renewable energy sources and cleaning of emitted pollutants at
the maximum.
Implementation of modern environment-friendly production technologies and
increasing efficiency of energy consumption will allow to reduce emission of main pollutants and
greenhouse gas to the environment per one unit of created production and provided services as well
as to achieve much slower increase of air pollution than growth of economy. Renewal of public
transport and wider use of motorless transport will allow to reduce use of private cars, decrease
traffic intensity, traffic jams, pollution of surrounding air and negative effect to human health.
In order to observe all changes of pollution and condition of the environment
qualitatively, it is necessary to develop and improve monitoring of change of emitted greenhouse
gas and pollutants, their effect to the most sensitive ecosystems as well as surrounding air.
Table 11. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian improvement of air
quality
Lithua
EU
Indicator of difference
Year
Evaluation
nia
average
48
Intensity of energy (input of energy per one unit of
GDP) TNE/1000 EUR
2003
1.1
0.2
High
Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2006.
1.3.4 Protection of biodiversity and landscape
Main statements:
Biodiversity is endangered by changing farming traditions in agriculture and forestry as well
as spread of invasive species.
Development of industry, infrastructure and other sectors and related change of land purpose
negatively affect biodiversity.
Abandoned buildings and other objects spoil landscape.
Poorly developed infrastructure of cognitive tourism and ecologic education greatly limits
availability of information about protected values to the society.
Development of marine industry as well as natural and anthropogenic factors have a great
negative influence to development of coasts of the Baltic Sea in Lithuania.
Ecologic network of territories “Natura 2000” and territories established for protection of
species and habitats positively influence protection of biodiversity and landscape.
A system of protected territories covering 15 percent of the area of the country has
been created to protect biodiversity and landscape in Lithuania. The system of protected territories
consists of 6 reserves (5 state reserves and 1 small reserve area) 373 state and municipalities
preserves, 5 national parks, 30 regional parks, one biosphere reserve, 26 biosphere grounds, and
about 450 heritage objects. The national system of protected territories created is consistently
complemented by establishing new protected territories necessary for creation of European ecologic
network “Natura 2000”. While implementing the requirements of the Habitats Directive of the EU,
the list of areas meeting the selection criteria of territories important for protection of habitats was
approved.
Picture 12. Changes in the area of protected territories (percent of total are of the country)
14,3
16
14
percent
12
11,1
11,6
11,9
12
12,1
1995
2000
2001
2002
2003
15,06
10
8
6
5
4
2
0
1990
2004
2005
Source: State Protected Territories Authority, 2006
During recent years, increasing Lithuanians’ and foreigners’ interest in protected
values is felt. As one of the most important functions of protected territories is education of the
society of environmental protection and introduction to protected natural and cultural values, it is
very important to carry out this function of protected territories by not violating ecologic stability of
protected territories and not damaging the protected values. Poorly developed infrastructure of
cognitive tourism and ecologic education in the majority of protected territories of Lithuania
extremely limits availability of protected values to the society.
49
Existence of objects spoiling landscape is a relevant problem not only in protected
territories buts also in the whole country. Unused quarries, unfinished buildings, unused sites,
agricultural production centres and other abandoned buildings visually pollute landscape of the
country, reduce recreational potential and attractiveness as well as endanger visitors. During the
period from 2004-2006, using subsidization from structural funds, several objects have already been
demolished in protected territories, a program for demolishing abandoned building in the country is
being prepared. However, the majority of these abandoned buildings is not managed yet and this
problem must be solved in the short run.
Protection of the coast of the Baltic Sea is extremely important with regard to
protection of biodiversity and landscape. Present condition of the coast of the Baltic Sea in
Lithuania depends on interaction of various natural and anthropogenic factors. Change of global
climate, frequent repeated hurricane storms, ocean level rise, reductions of sand sources etc promote
erosion of coasts. Development of the coast of the Baltic Sea in Lithuania is greatly influenced by
growth of marine industry which has a negative influence on the processes of formation of coasts.
By further developing the network of “Natura 2000” territories and establishing
territories designed for protection of species and habitats, the area of protected territories will
increase in the short run and should achieve the area foreseen in the National strategy for
Sustainable Development – 17 percent of the territory of the country. By determining protection
regime of newly established territories interests of existing use of the territory and environmental
protection are coordinated, mechanisms of financial support to land owners and managers for
implementation of means favourably affecting the condition of species and habitats or ensuring
preservation of typical landscape are created. By planting unproductive plots of land with trees as
well as due to spontaneous processes of growth of forests forest-land percentage of Lithuania
increases by over 20000 ha every year. As forest-land percentage of Lithuania is increasing at such
rates, plans of increasing forest-land percentage of Lithuania (35 percent of forest-land until 2020)
should be fully implemented or even exceeded. However, spontaneous spread of forests and, in
some cases, unconsidered planting of it may have a negative influence on biodiversity, especially in
natural and semi-natural meadows. Invasive species from foreign lands also pose an increasing
threat to local endangered species of plants and animals.
Sensitive natural territories, especially protected ones, are increasingly being visited.
More and more local and foreign people wish to familiarize themselves with protected natural and
cultural heritage objects and to travel in national parks of the country. This tendency will persist in
the future as well because of possibilities which are not fully used so far. Proper control of flows of
visitors allows to reduce negative effect of recreational activity to protected territories and species
protected there. Therefore, it is very important to manage more and more territories and adapt them
to the needs of the society, properly protect, exhibit and take care of visited and protected
complexes and objects not damaging landscape, biodiversity and properly presenting information to
visitors. In order to avoid threat caused by increasing flow of visitors to protected natural and
cultural values, it is necessary to create proper infrastructure for visitors immediately – to provide
an information system in nature, centres for visitors, cognitive and teaching paths, viewing sites etc.
In order to reduce damage caused by intensive economic activity to valuable and
picturesque landscape complexes and increase recreational potential of protected territories, it is
necessary to expedite works of recreation of damaged territories and management of abandoned
economic buildings. Aiming to ensure stable condition of the coast of the Baltic Sea in Lithuania, it
is necessary to implement integrated management of coast zones.
Table 12. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian environment
protection
EU
Indicator of difference
Year Lithuania
Evaluation
average
50
Percentage of area which was proposed to be included
in the network of territories “Natura 2000” as
territories important to protection of habitats (in
continental part)
Source: State Protected Territories Authority, 2006.
2005
9.49
11.91
Low
1.3.5. Increase of efficiency of energy production and use as well as use of renewable energy
sources
Main statements:
Energy is used inefficiently in Lithuania because of poor energetic features of the majority
of public purpose buildings.
Low efficiency of operation of boiler plants an level of electricity produced by district
heating.
Energetic potential of renewable energy sources an waste is used insufficiently.
In 2005, 14.7 TWh of electric power was produced in Lithuania; 4 TWh were
exported, 1 TWh – imported, and general consumption of o electric power was 11.7 TWh.
Maximum load of the electric system was 1918 MW. On the 1st of January, 2006, installed electric
power in Lithuania was over 5000 MW. The majority of it consisted of: Lithuanian power plant
(1800 MW), Ignalina atomic power plant (1300 MW), district heating power plants (over 800 MW),
Kruonis hydroaccumulation power plant (900 MW). Ignalina atomic power plant produces
approximately 80 percent of all electric power. Predomination of Ignalina atomic power plant
partially prevents development of district heating power plants in Lithuania.
Centralized heat supply (hereinafter – CHS) systems of Lithuania are developed and
heat is supplied via these systems to approximately 50 percent of all users of thermal energy of
Lithuania. It is supplied to 90 percent of residents of towns and 40 percent of residents of villages.
In 2005, 56 CHS companies operated in the country; each of them sold over 5 GWh of heat to its
users per year. Natural gas constitutes the majority of fuel used for production of thermal energy –
over 80 percent, and percentage of biological fuel increased to 11 percent.
One of the most serious reasons of inefficient use of energy in Lithuania is the fact that
thermal features of the majority of public purpose buildings are extremely poor and a lot of energy
is needed to heat them. Renovation of these buildings is one of the most important tasks which must
be solved immediately in order to achieve higher efficiency of use of energy.
Projects of production of electric power from renewable energy sources in Lithuania
are supported following the order of promoting production and purchase of electric power,
renewable and waste energy sources are used for production of which. Favourable but in some cases
insufficient conditions to develop production of energy from renewable energy sources are provided
in Lithuania.. 4 percent of the whole amount of electric power used in the country was produced
using renewable energy sources in 2005; however, this is much lower than the EU average (14.2
percent.).
After reorganization of the CHS sector and removal of state subsidies heating supply
companies had to provide fuel for themselves and invest appropriately and this was decisive to the
net cost of heat produced by them. Fuel oil was gradually replaced by wood fuel in regional heating
supply companies. Wood waste is burned in 36 of 56 heating supply companies. Consumption of
the abovementioned fuel in the companies was increasing every year. Wood waste is main type of
fuel used in some companies – in Molėtai, Lazdijai, Ignalina, Šilalė and others. Total installed
power of boilers using renewable energy sources amounted to approximately 400 MW in 2005;
however, use of biological power for energetic needs hardly increases anymore because of the lack
of resources forcing to use more expensive types of renewable energy sources (e.g. waste from
cutting wood, straw etc). Waste is hardly used for energetic needs; the rates of increase of sludge
from cleaned wastewater and biologically decomposing waste for energetic needs are too low.
51
Percentage of biological fuel in total balance of used fuel amounted only to 0.06
percent in 2004. The Government has approved a new program of development of biofuel
production providing for increase of percentage of biofuel in the total balance of fuel for transport
to 2 percent in 2005 and to 5.75 percent in 2010. The program of implementation actions of the
Lisbon strategy provides for substantial support for biofuel production; however, in order to achieve
the aim indicated for in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (15 percent), promotion
to use biofuel will need additional support.
Lithuania imports almost 90 percent of primary energy. Rise of the prices of traditional
energy sources negatively influences economy of Lithuania. More effective use of energy and
development of renewable energy sources would allow to reduce import of fossil energy sources as
well as to reduce energetic dependence.
Viewing from the perspective, reconstruction of some worn boiler plants by
constructing district heating power plants would be economically expedient. Development of
district heating power plants in the country will be mostly influenced by the shutdown of the second
block of Ignalina atomic power plant. The results of studies carried out showed that approximately
80 percent of capacity of existing district heating power plants will be used for producing electric
power after the shutdown of the first block of Ignalina atomic power plant. As the needs for electric
power will be increasing in the country and especially after the shutdown of the second block of
Ignalina atomic power plant expediency of construction of new district heating power plants will be
proven. Production of electricity and thermal energy allows to save approximately 20 percent of
primary energy and reduce emissions of pollutants to the atmosphere in the general process. The
analysis of highly expedient potential of combined production of electricity and heat in Lithuania
carried out in 2005 showed that it would be economically expedient to construct district heating
power plants, total electric capacity of which would be 180 MW and 40 MW of which would use
biofuel, until 2013.
In order to increase use of renewable energy sources in the country, construction of
new boiler plants or modernization of a number of boiler plants by adapting them for use of the
aforementioned resources is expedient. Reserves of renewable energy sources amount to
approximately 400 ktoe per year, including: wood – 100 ktoe, straw – 150 ktoe, communal waste –
60 ktoe, wastewater sludge etc – 90 ktoe. Approximately 3.7 TWh of thermal energy could be
produced using the aforementioned reserves.
Table 13. The most significant differences in the field of the EU and Lithuanian use of renewable
energy sources
EU
Indicator of difference
Year Lithuania*
Evaluation
average**
Percentage of renewable energy sources in total
2005
8.7
6.3
Low
balance of energy
(2004)
Percentage of renewable energy sources in
2005
4.0
14.8
High
production of electric power
(2004)
Sources:
* Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
**EUROSTAT
1.3.6 Institutional environmental quality management
Main statements:
The rates of development of national environmental monitoring and pollution control system
are insufficient in comparison with development of economic activity as well as constantly
increasing environmental protection requirements.
Not renewed and not accredited laboratories of analytical environmental control can not
ensure reliability of the results of laboratory analysis as well as validity of decisions made.
Possibilities of environmental protection information systems are used insufficiently.
52
National environmental monitoring and pollution control system ensuring monitoring
of surrounding air, water bodies, depths of Earth, ecosystems and hydrometeorological phenomena
as well as assessment of pollution has been created in Lithuania.
Unfortunately, the rates of development of the aforementioned systems are insufficient
in comparison with development of economic activity as well as constantly increasing
environmental protection requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to renew existing and implement
modern methods of sampling, analysis, transfer of data and assessment of results, accredit
laboratories of analytical environmental control, create an efficient information control system,
provide environmental protection inspectors with mobile equipment for operative research, remote
devices for recording pollution, control of sea pollution, communication and other necessary
devices immediately.
Renewed and accredited laboratories of analytical environmental control would be
able to ensure reliability of the results of laboratory analysis as well as better validity of decisions
made on the basis of those results.
Only the most harmful chemical compounds emitted to the environment are controlled
of all different chemical compounds used in the industry and domestic life at the moment. Having
created national network of laboratories for ecotoxicity tests and validated the model of rating in
accordance with toxicity results, it will be possible to assess total effect of chemical compounds to
living organisms. All this will allow to dispose more accurate and reliable data on environmental
quality as well as to make more reasonable decisions on environmental quality control.
Having completed creation general environmental information system, it will be
possible to achieve more efficient, operative and accurate assessment of environmental condition
and more rapid procedure of issuing permits, to move on to electronic collection of reports from
companies; in this way, employees’ time and other resources will be saved.
1.3.7 Informing society, participating in making decision-making and education
Main statements:
The society is too little informed about the most relevant problems of environment and
sustainable development as well as ways of solving them. This stops greater participation of the
society while making decisions on environmental protection.
Thorough and timely information about environment is essential aiming to involve the
society in formation of environmental protection policy and decision-making. At the moment,
delayed citizens’ or the society’s reaction when it is already impossible to change a decision made
is a frequent phenomenon. The Orhus Convention on access to ecological information, public
participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental issues validates the concept
“concerned society”; however, formation of an educated society which understands the necessity of
environmental protection is a long process. The Ministry of Environment prepares a thorough
publication on environmental condition examining main environmental protection problems in
detail and presenting the means used to improve environmental quality and ensure its protection
every year. While carrying out their functions, some non-governmental organizations fulfill
ecologic education of the society as well – improve its ecologic culture, promote environmentfriendly lifestyle, induce participation in solving environmental protection tasks, initiates
cooperation of various institutions and citizens in the field of environmental education of the
society.
However, the society is too little informed about the most relevant problems of
environment and sustainable development as well as ways of solving them so far; a constantly
operating information system has not been created. This stops greater participation of the society
while making environmental decisions.
53
1.4 STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS
ANALYSIS
Analysis of the existing condition and future tendencies according to internal
(strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities and threats) factors is generalized in this
chapter. While analyzing the ratio of these factors, elimination of certain weaknesses and threats as
well as use of strengths and opportunities is proposed.
Table 14. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis
Strengths
 Relatively high growth of economy.
 Even distribution of towns.
 Geographical location favourable to tourism, large natural and cultural potential.
 Attractive prices and good quality of tourism services.
 Potential of health care system is quite high; it will be evidenced efficiently if this systems is reformed
successfully. Medical personnel’s qualification is high and is constantly improved.
 The quality of education services is improving in the majority of institutions. Increasingly more funds
are granted for investment in renewal of education resources.
 Systemic problems are being solved. The networks of general educations and vocational training are
being reorganized. The first steps were taken while solving the problems of geographic availability (the
program of yellow buses) and informational availability (the system of vocational orientation is being
developed).
 Availability of services of vocational training system and institutions implementing state employment
support program is sufficient.
 Vocational training system (vocational training institutions and labour market training centres) is being
optimized and restructurized; social services system is being reorganized.
 Legal and economic conditions promoting reduction of effect to the environment and increase of
efficiency of energy as well as use of renewable energy sources are provided.
 Not all potential of renewable energy sources is used yet.
Weaknesses
 Social, economic and territorial differences between different Lithuanian regions, within the regions and
between towns and villages are great and do not decrease.
 Public infrastructure (including housing) of towns and villages is developed insufficiently, which limits
their competitiveness and attractiveness of investment and residential environment.
 Degradation of the conditions of housing and residential environment.
 Great dependence of residents of villages of agricultural economic activity.
 Strong influence of seasonality to the tourism sector.
 Tourism infrastructure and services in regions, national and regional parks is developed insufficiently,
concentration of services in the big towns and regions of the country is not equal.
 The problem of accessing Lithuania due to unsatisfactory infrastructure of air, sea ports and roads.
 Infrastructure of health care institutions does not meet the quality requirements; the services do not meet
communal needs sufficiently.
 Decreasing birth rate and ageing of residents; high average age of labour force.
 High mortality rate because of main non-infectious diseases and external cause of death.
 Plenty of unsolved systemic problems remain: too slow reorganization of the networks of general
education and vocational training; insufficient cooperation of institutions of different levels; low
availability and insufficient quality of care services of children of pre-school age.
 Insufficient quality of education services: competences of vocational training and study system
graduates do not meet the needs of labour market completely; the quality of services provided by
education institutions of all levels suffers because of physically and morally obsolete teaching means,
equipment and poorly adapted premises. Technical base of teaching and science institutions is out of
date.
54

Sufficient availability of education services is not ensured: geographic availability of education services
(especially those of nursery education) is much worse in rural areas than in towns; insufficient
availability of education services for persons with special needs and those who experience social
exclusion; problems of informational availability prevent more active participation in lifelong learning
system.
 Low quality of services of vocational training system, institutions implementing state employment
policy and their infrastructure.
 Economic life of the majority of institutions providing primary vocational training is insufficient: they
are fully subsidized by the state budget and insufficient quality of services does not enable them to
provide services to the market.
 Great differences of availability of services in smaller municipalities or rural areas.
 Low availability and quality of vocational rehabilitation services and infrastructure to the disabled.
 Infrastructure of water supply, cleaning wastewater and waste management is developed insufficiently.
 The lack of means of improvement of air quality, environmental monitoring and pollution control.
 Poorly developed infrastructure of cognitive tourism and ecologic education.
 Energetic potential of renewable energy sources and waste is used insufficiently; poor thermal features
of the majority of public purpose buildings.
 The society is too little informed about the most relevant problems of environment and sustainable
development as well as participates while making decisions concerning solving them too little.
Possibilities
 Increasing internationalization of business and transfer of production.
 Strengthening international relations of Lithuania and cooperation in scientific, cultural and economic
sectors.
 Development and implementation of new equipment and state-of-the-art technologies.
 Provision of conditions to develop regional economic growth centres and poverty-stricken urban and
problematic territories of the country.
 Expedite development of renovation of blocks of flats and social housing.
 Expedite development of alternative economic activity in rural areas.
 Rapidly increasing flows of tourists and income from incoming tourism; formation of a system of new
routes of ecologic and cognitive tourism attractive to foreign tourists in the regions of the country.
 Efficient use of assistance from the structural funds of the EU.
 Development of new technologies which will provide conditions for improvement of the quality and
availability of health care services.
 Creation of an information system and integration of health care institutions in this system will allow to
accumulate and process information about patients as well as will improve organization of flows of
patients.
 Creation of a health care services observation (monitoring) system will allow to asses the quality and
efficiency of provided services as well as consumers’ satisfaction with the services.
 Due to the lack of qualified labour source, employers of the country will be ready to cooperate with
education institutions and invest in training of future employees or present employees’ qualification
improvement more.
 Due to the lack of qualified labour source, more and more attention will be paid to the quality of
vocational training (which is partially related to infrastructure as well) in the future.
 The scope of services of requalification and qualification improvement of employed people will increase
radically in the future.
 Closer cooperation of vocational training institutions and employers.
 Striving to improve the quality of services and reduce costs will promote cooperation of institutions
providing vocational training services and education institutions of different levels.
 More active participation of persons belonging to social risk groups, economically inactive or disabled
persons in the process of teaching and in various complex programs; providing equal opportunities to
everyone.
 Increase of the need for high-quality and available services of water supply and wastewater removal,
development of use of secondary raw materials, broader use of waste for energetic needs, creation and
implementation of environment-friendly and energetically efficient technologies.
 Increase of activity of the society.
55
Threats
 Slowing down growth of economy in the future.
 Increase of economic, social and territorial differences; increasing social, economic, cultural and
informational exclusion of the society.
 Delayed adaptation of public infrastructure (including housing) to changing distribution of production
powers and changed social-economic situation of towns and villages.
 Deterioration of the quality of recreational resources.
 Worsening image of tourism in Lithuania; unimproved availability of the country.
 Increase of unorganized flow of tourism, degradation of protected territories and decrease of possibilities
to visit them.
 The need for social support and health care services is increasing in ageing society.
 Modern technologies and treatment measures determine greater need for funds for health care.
 The problem of the lack of human resources occurs due to migration of specialists.
 Insufficiently developed health care services observation (monitoring) system observing if the services
meet residents’ needs may negatively influence optimization of these services.
 The flow of children and youths who enter the system of formal education is decreasing because of
demographic reasons will reduce financial and economic life of this system.
 Education system becomes unattractive to talented employees because of low salaries and “brain drain”
to other fields of activity is taking place; youths avoid education system and pedagogic personnel is not
renewing.
 Possibilities of a large part of residents to participate in labour market actively are encumbered by
fulfillment of care functions in families.
 Increasing negative effect of rapidly developing economy to the environment.
 Rise of prices of provided public services (water supply, wastewater removal, waste collection) and
renewable sources.
 Increase of violations of protection and use regime of protected territories.
 Insufficient attention to ecologic education of the society and promotion of environment-friendly
lifestyle.
Potential of local and urban development
Analysis of the situation and SWOT revealed at least a few significant strengths of the
country in the field of local and urban development. Evenly distributed Lithuanian towns provide
favourable conditions for sustainable growth of economy and the whole country. Favourable
geographic location, large natural and cultural potential, attractive prices of tourism services and
their good quality provide favourable conditions for development of tourism in the country. It is
necessary to use these strengths while further aiming to improve social, economic and territorial
cohesion of the country and improve development of tourism – state investment may play an
important role here.
The network of evenly distributed towns is not efficiently used for reduction of
economic, social and territorial differences between different Lithuanian regions, within regions and
between towns and villages – the aforementioned differences remain great and do not decrease. One
of the main reasons is insufficiently developed public infrastructure (including housing) of towns
and villages limiting their competitiveness and attractiveness of investment and residential
environment. Decrease of differences between towns and villages is prevented by great dependence
of residents of villages on economic agricultural activity as well as their slow adaptation to
changing conditions in the market. Strong effect of seasonality arising because of insufficiently
developed tourism services (especially because of high added value) is to be distinguished in
tourism field. The aforementioned reasons are especially obvious in villages in comparison with
towns and this causes uneven concentration of tourism services in the big cities and regions. The
problem of accessing Lithuania arising due to unsatisfactory infrastructure of air, sea ports and
roads is relevant to Lithuania with regard to tourism. Having these problems in mind, expedient
56
direction of the EU structural assistance for solving them could help to achieve the main aim of this
operational programme – greater cohesion in the country.
The aforementioned problems must also be solved bearing in mind some unfavourable
tendencies – future threats: increase of economic, social and territorial differences; increasing
social, economic, cultural and informational exclusion of the society; delayed adaptation of public
infrastructure (including housing) to changing distribution of production powers and changed
social-economic situation of towns and villages; deterioration of the quality of recreational
resources; insufficient image of tourism in Lithuania. Therefore, it is important to provide for
intervention measures in these fields. It is truth, though, that at least a few external factors
(possibilities) will help to strengthen efforts to promote local and urban development: increasing
internationalization of business and transfer of production; strengthening international relations of
Lithuania and cooperation in scientific, cultural and economic sectors; development and
implementation of new technologies; rapidly increasing flows of tourists and – mostly due to that –
income from incoming tourism; increasing attractiveness of tourism region of the Baltic countries
etc. Efficient use of assistance from the structural funds of the EU, measured controlling or
investment means of the country as well as initiatives of local residents and business representatives
would allow to promote these factors in every possible way and solve the weaknesses distinguished
by the analysis.
Quality and availability of public services
Currently, Lithuania is characterized by quite broad structural reforms of public
services: the networks of general educations and vocational training are being reorganized;
vocational training system is being optimized and restructurized; the system of social services is
being reorganized further. Positive results of these reforms can be seen already now. For example,
the quality of education services is improving in the majority of institutions; increasingly more
funds are granted for investment in renewal of education resources; more and more residents take
part in active measure of labour market policy.
However, despite the actions of structural reforms which are being implemented, some
problems are still important in the field of public services and additional state intervention measures
are required in order to solve these problems. The weaknesses in this field are, first of all, related to
unsolved systemic problems, insufficient quality of public services and the lack of infrastructure
necessary for provision of public services. Systemic problems are especially striking in cases of
slow reorganization of the networks of general education and vocational training and insufficient
cooperation of institutions of different levels. The services of education (nursery education, too),
health care, vocational training and services of institutions implementing state employment policy
provided in the country are still characterized by insufficient quality as well as insufficient
conformity with the needs of the market and the society. Sufficient geographic and informational
availability of education and vocational training services, especially to persons with special needs
and those who experience social exclusion, is not ensured in the country yet, whereas the
infrastructure and its quality is insufficient in institutions providing education, health care, initial
and vocational training and social services. The aforementioned problems of limited availability and
insufficient quality of public services demonstrate striking differences in the country which must be
solved and state attention must be given to which.
These problems of public services may be increased by future threats: increasing need
for social support and health care services in ageing society is risky having in mind limited
availability and quality of these services; the problem of the lack of human resources (especially of
qualified ones) occurring due to migration of specialists and other factors; greater need for funds for
health care caused by modern technologies and changes in medicine industry; limited health care
services observation (monitoring) system; decreasing flows of users, especially of children and
youths, of education system threatening to financial and economic life of this system. Use of such
possibilities as increasing cooperation of vocational training institutions and employers, increasing
57
scope of services of requalification and qualification improvement of employees, creation of
information (monitoring) systems for ensuring the quality of public services as well as use of the
aforementioned strengths will allow to neutralize presented threats and solve the problems arising in
the field of public services successfully.
Environment and sustainable development
Even though legal and economic conditions promoting reduction of effect to the
environment and increase of use of renewable energy sources are provided in the country, the
quality of the environment is not sufficient.
The lack of infrastructure in the fields of water supply, cleaning wastewater, waste
management and improvement of air quality is especially striking in the field of environmental
protection. Although energetic potential of renewable energy sources and waste is quite large in the
country, is not used sufficiently. Due to rising prices of renewable energy sources and necessity to
use more expensive their types the rates of use of these resources are slowing down. Besides,
energetic resources are wasted while exploiting uneconomic public purpose buildings. Sufficient
protection of biodiversity and landscape, cognitive tourism and ecologic education in protected
territories as well as informing the society and its participation in decision-making is also
insufficiently ensured.
Increasing need for high-quality and available services of water supply and wastewater
removal, development of use of secondary raw materials, broader use of waste for energetic needs
and increase of activity of the society could, first of all, promote solving of these problems.
The strengths and opportunities distinguished in the SWOT analysis must be used
effectively in order to reduce increasing negative effect of developing economy to the environment,
increase of violations of protection and use regime of protected territories and decline of urban
landscape, to give enough attention to ecologic education of the society and promotion of
environment-friendly lifestyle.
58
2. STRATEGY OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM
2.1 VISION AND AIMS
2.1.1 Vision
The vision of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion is closely related
to the strategic vision formed in the Use of EU Structural Funds of Lithuania for 2007–2013 –
Lithuania must achieve the level of social and economic growth of some old EU member countries
until 2015. The aforementioned vision meets the main aim of the economic strategy of Lithuania
presented in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy – to reduce the lag of
economic growth level of the country from the EU average.
The vision of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion is a more integrated
Lithuanian society which, irrespective of place of residence, is surrounded by a similar environment
and quality of life.
The vision covers both economic and social aspects of cohesion. Economic cohesion is
directed towards reduction of economic differences in the development of the country both between
separate territories and within them, whereas social cohesion means the need to ensure that the
residents of Lithuania would feel a part of one society and separate social layers of the society
would share the benefit provided by economic growth. Growth of Lithuanian economy may be
stable and sustainable in the long period of time only having a strong base guaranteed not only by
certain factors of production and their quality but also by broader presumptions covering integrated
society and proper attention to the environment. In such a way, implementation of the Operational
Programme for Promotion of Cohesion greatly contribute to more rapid development of Lithuanian
economy, though indirectly and more in the long period of time. The aim of cohesion is closely
related to growth of economy and competitiveness of business, as environmental quality is
becoming one of the most important factors of competitiveness of economy and the potential of less
developed territories, quality and availability of public services as well as contribution of various
social groups could be used better in order to achieve growth of economy.
The following main aim is distinguished in the Use of EU Structural Funds of
Lithuania for2007 – to improve conditions for investment, work and living in Lithuania rapidly so
that the benefit of developing economy would reach all residents of Lithuania. The latter and other
aims are pursued in accordance with several priorities provided for in the Use of EU Structural
Funds of Lithuania for 2007–2013. The third priority “Quality of life and cohesion” is being
directly implemented through this Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion subsidized
by the ERDF and Cohesion fund. While pursuing cohesion as well as better quality of life in the
broad sense, not only the aim to involve everyone in labour market but also the need to ensure
development of public infrastructure, active use of local development potential, high-quality and
available public services (first of all, in the fields of education, health care and labour market),
environmental quality and sustainable use of existing natural resources becomes extremely
important. Thus the aforementioned third priority of the Use of EU Structural Funds of Lithuania
for 2007–2013 emphasizes pursuit for these task by using local potential better, providing
qualitative and available public services as well as striving for better environmental quality.
This operational program will also help to implement one of the priorities of the
guidelines of the Community for 2007–2013 – to ensure that business could use all necessary
infrastructure; besides, to strengthen positive interaction of environmental protection and economic
growth. This operational programme will contribute to the aspect highlighted in the guidelines of
the Community for 2007–2013 as well: orientation to increase of competitiveness relevant to urban
59
areas and greater development of the most economically advanced towns and the rest of the
network of towns as well as promotion of variety of economic activity in rural areas.
Thus the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion corresponding to the
third priority “Quality of life and cohesion” of the Lithuanian strategy of use of strategic support
from the European Union in 2007–2013 will be based on complex complementary measures aimed
to create higher quality of life and greater cohesion; these measures should constitute the basis for
stable and sustainable economic growth in the long period of time. Implementation of the vision
defined above will be pursued via these main aims of the Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion:
1. To provide all conditions necessary for strengthening and revealing local development
potential.
2. To ensure available and high-quality essential public services of health care, education,
institutions implementing state employment policy, out-patient social services and services to the
disabled.
3. To pursue better environmental quality by giving special attention to increasing
efficiency of using energy.
The indicators of these aims are presented in the chapter 4 “Expression of tasks in
numbers”. Each aim of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion is described below.
2.1.2 First aim of the operational program – to provide all prerequisites necessary for
strengthening and revealing local development potential
The need of strengthening and thorough use of local development potential is
determined by increasing differences in development of separate regions of Lithuania. Long-term
strategy of development of the state provides for creation of welfare state with low unemployment
level, high price of labour, strong social guarantees, minimum number of poverty-stricken families
and high level of social cohesion until 2015. General plan of the territory of the Republic of
Lithuania states that regional policy must pursue two most important strategic aims:
 To ensure territorially differentiated social, economic and ecologic development as
well as management of the country aiming to use peculiarities of local conditions
thoroughly and protect regional self-identity;
 To diminish regional disproportions of the quality of life by reducing social and
economic differences between the regions.
Experience of the EU member countries shows that economic growth and progress
does not always reach isolated and the poorest regions of the country. The longer they are unnoticed
and the longer expedient policy measures do not reach them, the more complicated it is to solve
accumulated problems and overcome social exclusion in the course of time.
Despite the fact that social and economic cohesion is announced to be a strategic aim
on national and regional level, priorities are given to economic growth and increase of
competitiveness of the country. The residents of Lithuania, economic infrastructure and economic
activity is concentrated in the most competitive and developed towns and counties of the country.
New activity and services of high added value are concentrated in the centres of the latter (in
Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys) and especially in the capital and in this way, the
gap between them and other counties is increased. This tendency is strengthened by parallel
accumulation of direct foreign investments determined by highly qualified labour force, existing
infrastructure of services, implementation of innovations, good communication and other factors in
the mostly developed regional centres.
At the same time, insufficiently economically developed regional centres are not able
to use their local development potential, are incapable to provide conditions for employment,
qualification improvement and implementation of production using high technologies in such a way
that they would change social-economic situation of surrounding residential areas. Economic
growth of smaller regional centres of the country is still feeble. Insufficiently developed local
60
transport communication, undeveloped public infrastructures of towns and villages and unused
local development potential (for instance, too low use of cultural heritage and natural resources for
tourism) of regional centres determine the fact that smaller regional centres of the country remain
uncompetitive, their environment is attractive neither to investments nor to living and their residents
experience social, economic and informational exclusion. In such a way, local residents and those
from surrounding areas are not provided with conditions to use workplaces of regional centres and
representatives of local and foreign business are not provided with favourable possibilities to use
local development potential.
During the last decade social-economic problems of regions or towns were attempted
to be solved by cooperating with towns possessing similar features or finding themselves in a
similar position, Whereas the tendencies of intercompetition between regions and towns the basis of
which is increased mobility of residents, goods, services and especially capital are becoming
increasingly more striking in today’s Europe. Even though competitive environment of regions and
towns is a phenomenon which is not analyzed scientifically enough yet, it can still be noted that
perhaps three the most important factors of competition are communication possibilities, efficiency
of administration and environment and quality of life.
At the same time, mobility of residents is limited in Lithuania and this slows down
reduction of regional differences. Therefore, additional intervention measures covering the majority
of complex actions directed to strengthening local development potential and thorough use must be
invoked in order to achieve the latter aim. Local development potential is understood as indivisible
basis of urban or rural economic growth including such components as public local infrastructure,
local natural, cultural and historic potential and local natural resources. All actions of strengthening
local development potential and thorough use are directed towards providing favourable conditions
for development of local human resources, without which increase of social-economic regional
cohesion is impossible. This aim – to provide all prerequisites necessary for strengthening and
revealing local development potential – is directed towards creation of a high standard of
environment and quality of life in order to keep existing labour force as well as to attract new one
which is the catalyst of local economic growth.
One of the main shortcomings of the country in the field of local development
identified in the SWOT analysis is related to great and not decreasing social, economic and
territorial differences between different regions of Lithuania, within the regions and between towns
and villages. These great and not decreasing differences are, besides other factors, determined by
insufficiently developed public infrastructure of towns and villages creating unfavourable image of
the aforementioned areas, limiting their competitiveness and attractiveness of investment and
residential environment.
Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–2013 m. state that urban areas should
orient themselves towards increasing competitiveness (by establishing groups and networks of
companies) and more sustainable development of the most economically advanced towns and the
rest of the network of towns. With regard to the latter direction of structural assistance indicated in
the guidelines, this operational programme provides for intervention measures aimed at reduction of
differences between environment and quality of life in the main and the rest of the towns of the
country. While pursuing the set aim, this operational programme plans to grant support for
development of public infrastructure of smaller towns of the country ensuring at least minimum
environment and quality of life in these territories. In this case, the operational programme
provides for support for both investment projects and projects involving the society, promoting and
using civil initiative. In order to achieve substantial progress in this field, it is necessary to
complement the aforementioned measures with interventions in the fields of improving efficiency
of economic infrastructure and providing environment favourable to small and medium business
and innovations provided for in the Operational Pogramme for Economic Growth.
In order to reduce differences between environment and quality of life in the main and
the rest of the towns of the country, special attention will be given to improving housing conditions
as an important factor promoting social and economic cohesion. Development of residential
61
conditions is problematic in some areas of the country not only because residents are not able to
renovate their housing by themselves due to hard social-economic conditions but also because
renovation carried out does not increase the value of their housing as in other territories of the
country. Market is not effective in these areas; therefore, state intervention and additional
investments from the Structural funds are needed. Measures of investment in improvement of
housing conditions will be complemented by other measures directed towards efficiency of energy
consumption provided in the third priority of this operational programme. In such a way,
implementation of both these intervention measures will provide conditions favourable for
improvement of environmental quality with regard to the principles of equal opportunities,
sustainable development and regional growth.
Other problematic field important to local development potential is high dependence of
residents of villages of agricultural economic activity and great and still increasing differences between
the quality of life in towns and villages. In this case, it is important to provide conditions for
creation of new workplaces related to non-agricultural activities in rural areas and improvement of
environment and quality of life. In this field, it is aimed to develop public infrastructure of rural
areas designed for promotion of residents’ enterprise, improvement of employment and
development of the community.
An important component of local development potential is cultural heritage and
natural resources. Although Lithuania possesses a rich cultural heritage, unique ethnocultural
traditions, historic and ethnic relations to other countries, only approximately 3 percent of over 10
thousand cultural heritage objects are used for tourism. Sufficient attention is not given to
protection of natural resources and, first of all, water resources, landscape and biodiversity and
their adaptation to the needs of residents and economy in the country. Thus active use of cultural
heritage and adaptation of natural resources for tourism is an integral part of development of
tourism. Tourism is a labour-intensive branch of tourism able to help to attract labour force
becoming available because of restructurization of economy which is taking place (mostly because
of reduction of percentage of people employed in agriculture) as well as to develop the sector of
services important to local development.
While strengthening and thoroughly using local development potential, cooperation of
the authorities of local and surrounding areas, business and residents is especially important. Strong
and cooperating local authorities which accept responsibility for local development and promote
initiatives of the community of local residents in this field is an integral part of successful local
development. While using and strengthening local development potential, mutual cooperation of the
authorities and local residents, business representatives, NVO and other concerned persons helping
to select intervention measures properly, set clear priorities and use local advantages is especially
important.
It is more and more broadly agreed that the place to invest or live in is chosen not
only according to the price of factors of work or production and its availability but also according
to other – soft – factors, the following of which are to be distinguished: criminality level, supply
and quality of cultural services, favourable natural conditions (managed water bodies, landscape
etc), high-quality local infrastructure, available and high-quality public services, high-quality and
managed environment. Some of these soft factors will be aimed to be developed according to this
aim, actions planned for implementation of which will be long-term investment in order to create
conditions favourable to life and business helping to keep the existing labour force and attract new
highly qualified labour force and business investments in this way promoting economic growth of
smaller towns of the country and competitiveness of business as well as economic growth of rural
areas.
The aim of the operational programme to provide all prerequisites necessary for
strengthening and revealing local development potential visas will be implemented under the
priority 3.1 “Local and urban development, preservation of cultural heritage and nature as well as
its adaptation for development of tourism”.
62
2.1.3 Second aim of the operational programme – to ensure available and high-quality
essential public services of health care, education, institutions implementing state employment
policy, out-patient social services and services to the disabled
The measures for strengthening and thoroughly using local development potential
provided for pursuit of the first aim are not enough to ensure stable economic growth of smaller
towns and rural areas of the country. Soft factors which are regarded while choosing a place to
invest or live in also include high-quality and available public services. Existence of available and
high-quality public services in towns and rural areas is an integral part of creation of productive
labour force able to develop knowledge society and participate in it. It is very important to
strengthen infrastructure of education institutions as well: this would help to prepare highly
qualified specialists as well as improve general progress level and quality of life.
The Operational Programme for the Development of Human Resources does not cover
investment in infrastructure of public services (building and equipment) and actions provided for in
it include only soft measures of improvement of quality and availability of services. Therefore, in
order to promote social economic cohesion of residents of the country, this operational programme
aims to fill the aforementioned gap by providing for investments in improvement of availability and
quality of main public services. In such a way, investment distributed regarding regional and local
differences in quality and availability of public services will contribute to the main vision of this
operational programme – a more integrated Lithuanian society which, irrespective of place of
residence, is surrounded by a similar environment and quality of life.
Different regions of the country essentially differ in quality and availability of
essential public services; therefore, aiming for greater social and economic cohesion between
different regions of Lithuania, within the regions and between towns and villages, it is especially
important to ensure available and high-quality essential public health care, education, institutions
implementing state employment support policy services, out-patient social services and services to
the disabled. In order to ensure availability and high-quality of essential public services,
investments in infrastructure necessary for provision of such services are planned.
Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–2013 present a priority in the field of
health care – to help to preserve healthy labour force by, first of all, paying attention to prevention
of risk to health and elimination of shortcomings of infrastructure of health care. Long-term state
development strategy aims to create an up to date and modern health care system based on
strategic planning, analysis and management of changes of the process of reform as well as
ensuring availability of health care, efficiency, rational use of funds and formation of healthy
lifestyle. The main aims presented in the Lithuanian health program are reduction of birth rate of
residents and increase of average life expectancy, justice of health care relations related to equal
opportunities to strive for health and reduction of maximum differences between persons striving
for health as well as improvement of quality of life.
The program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy emphasizes that, in
order to avoid unreasonable increase of state expenses for health care and their negative effect to
macroeconomic stability, it is necessary to ensure efficiency of health care system as well as
availability and quality of services. One of the main measures of the program in this field are: to
improve the activity of health improvement, to ensure as great residents’ working capacity as
possible, to pursue efficiency and financial stability of health care system and to restructurized
health care institutions further.
The latter aim – restructurization of health care institutions – is provided for in the
strategy of restructurization of health care institutions aimed to improve the quality and availability
of health care services as well as optimize the scope and structure of provided services in
accordance with the residents’ needs for health care services.
The aforementioned strategic aims of the country in the field of health care are
determined by existing shortcomings of the system, one of the greatest of which is infrastructure of
health care institutions which does not meet quality requirements and health care services which
63
are insufficiently adapted to the needs of the society as identified in the SWOT analysis. Health
care services of poor quality and limited availability are one of the main reasons of negative
demographic tendencies in the country.
In order to ensure health care services of high quality and equally available to all
residents of the country, investments in infrastructure of health care and increase of availability of
provided health care services are necessary. Improvement of the quality and availability of health
care services will allow to reduce residents’ morbidity and mortality, preserve their working
capacity as long as possible and extend duration of healthy life. A healthier and more able to work
society will greatly influence growth of economy. Modern infrastructure of health care institutions,
improving availability and quality of health care services will help to ensure better quality of life
and greater social cohesion of people.
High-quality and available education services are especially important to improvement
of social-economic cohesion in the country. In this case, education services include services
provided by education institutions from nursery education to university education institutions
inclusively.
Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–2013 consolidate a priority – to increase
investment in human resources by improving education and skills. The latter priority provides for
support for development and implementation of reforms of education and teaching systems as well
as to ensure sufficient supply of attractive, available and high-quality education and teaching
services of all levels.
The program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy consolidates the
priority to promote employment and investments in human capital. One of its aims is to reduce
structural unemployment by investing in people more; it is planned to achieve this aim by
restructuring education system after compulsory education.
The provisions of the National education strategy for 2003–2012 consolidates the fact
that education system must help a person and the society to respond to new challenges and use
opening possibilities in the fields of democracy and market development, globalization, abundance
of information, rapid change and segmentation of the society. Essential changes of Lithuanian
education system helping to increase efficiency of education system, improve availability of
education system as well as ensure the quality of education services meeting the needs of modern
society are necessary for that.
The aims of the Bologna process, in which Lithuania takes part as well, also provide
for promotion of competitiveness and attractiveness of education system and preparation of highly
qualified specialists for labour market.
Even though progress while seeking for higher quality and availability of education
services is observed in Lithuania, shortcomings are still significant in this field; these shortcomings
are mostly related to unsolved systemic problems, insufficient quality and availability of services as
well as the lack of infrastructure necessary for provision of services.
In this case, one of the most important directions of this aim is ensuring higher quality
and availability of education services by improving participation of persons belonging to all age
groups in lifelong learning system. In order to improve the quality of education services, meet new
requirements for competence and availability of these services to all social groups, it is important to
reform education (from nursery education to university education inclusively) system and optimal
development of institutions and measures constituting it. These measures should determine higher
qualification of employed persons and the ones who make their way to labour market and higher
level of their employment. This in turn would promote efficiency of work and rise of wages in the
country as well as general growth of economy of the country. In this way, improvement of the
quality and availability of education services will greatly influence higher quality of life and socialeconomic cohesion in the country.
Development of the quality and availability of vocational training, institutions
implementing state employment policy, out-patient social services and services to the disabled is
especially significant while increasing employment level of residents of less developed regions as
64
well as social protection. In this case, vocational training, institutions implementing state
employment policy, out-patient social services and services to the disabled include initial
vocational training, services provided by institutions implementing state employment policy, outpatient social services and vocational rehabilitation services for the disabled.
One of the most important aims of the program of implementation of the National
Lisbon Strategy in the field of employment is to attract more people to labour market and to keep
them in the market by ensuring high-quality and safe employment, modernizing the systems of
labour market and social protection. Perhaps the main measures of pursuing this aim are related to
promotion of integration of persons belonging to social risk group in labour market by developing
infrastructure of services, increasing its availability and modernization of labour market
institutions as well as optimization of their services.
The SWOT analysis emphasizes low quality of infrastructure of vocational training
system and institutions implementing state employment policy which prevents them from
providing services to the market, high differences in availability of social services in smaller areas
of the country, low availability and quality of vocational rehabilitation services for the disabled.
Regarding the aforementioned shortcomings, this operational programme, first of all,
provides for improvement of the quality and availability of initial vocational training services.
This would help to ensure better compatibility of the supply and demand of vocational training,
improve qualification of labour force and induce economically inactive residents to get involved in
labour market. This aim also includes actions directed towards development of the quality and
availability of services designed for better integration of persons belonging to social risk groups
and persons experiencing social exclusion as well as their family member to the society and labour
market. The aforementioned actions would include modernization of infrastructure of institutions
implementing state employment policy, increase of availability and quality of infrastructure of outpatient social services as well as development of vocational rehabilitation of the disabled and other
services to the disabled. Improvement of the quality and availability of all social services is
especially important while pursuing the main aim of the state employment policy – to ensure highquality and socially safe employment. The latter is an integral part of social and economic
cohesion of the country.
Investment of this program directed towards improvement the quality and availability
of education, institutions implementing state employment policy, out-patient social services and
services to the disabled by, first of all, improving infrastructure of services will complement (but
not replace) intervention measures of lifelong learning provided for in the Operational Programme
for the Development of Human Recources and directed towards content and quality of learning.
Development of available and high-quality public health care, education, institutions
implementing state employment policy, out-patient social services and services to the disabled in
the country (especially in less developed areas of the country) will contribute to greater social and
economic cohesion while developing healthier and more able to work, qualified and socially
guaranteed local labour force. Investments in the aforementioned essential public services will help
to use local labour market potential better by keeping and creating new workplaces. By investing
in development of infrastructure of public services, innovative measures helping to pursue this aim
of the operational programme will be also developed in the field of public services (e.g.
development of electronic services).
The aim of the operational program – to ensure available and high-quality essential
public health care, education, institutions implementing state employment policy, out-patient social
services and services to the disabled – will be implemented under the priority 3.2 “Quality and
availability of public services: health care, education and social infrastructure”.
2.1.4 Third aim of the operational programme – to pursue better environmental quality by
giving special attention to increasing efficiency of using energy
65
Environmental quality – high-quality water supply, wastewater and waste management
systems, good air quality, efficiently produced and used energy resources – is one of the most
important factors of choosing a place to live or invest in.
One of the priorities highlighted in the Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–
2013 is to strengthen positive interaction of environmental protection and economic growth. The
guidelines state than investments in environmental protection may be useful to the whole economy
in three aspects: they may ensure long-term sustainability of economic growth, reduce expenses of
economy for the environment (e.g. expenses for health care system, cleaning expenses or returnable
expenses of compensation for damage) and promote innovations and creation of workplaces.
The program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy, besides other things,
also emphasizes this aim of microeconomic policy – to promote stable use of the resources and
strengthen interaction of environmental protection and economic growth. While pursuing this aim,
it is planned to improve the system of assessment and control of surrounding air, broadly implement
and economically promote clean means of production based on modern technologies, promote more
efficient use of energy and protect landscape and biodiversity of the country.
Investments in environmental protection are still insufficient in Lithuania. What
concerns improvement of the environment of the country, the lack of infrastructure is especially
striking in the fields of water supply, wastewater cleaning, improvement of air quality,
environmental monitoring and pollution control. Besides, energy is used inefficiently by exploiting
uneconomical public purpose buildings, the potential of renewable energy sources of the country is
used insufficiently.
With regard to these problems, the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
provides for pursuit of better environmental quality by giving special attention to increase of
efficiency of using energy. One of the most important aims of use of the EU structural assistance is
to ensure that growth of economy promoted by the EU investments would meet the principles of
sustainable development. Combining rapid growth of economy with protection of healthy
environment is a complicated task, and the society is usually prone to give the main priority to
solving economic problems which is generally done at the expense of environmental quality. It is
especially important to implement efficient measures of environmental protection and reduce
negative influence of the use of energy and other natural resources to the environment timely in the
present stage of development of Lithuania, because to solve accumulated environmental problems is
much more expensive than to prevent them and these problems start stopping economic growth
sooner or later. Therefore, in order to ensure better environmental quality and sustainable use of
natural resources, priority must be given to better quality of water and air, more qualitative waste
management, more efficient production and use of energy as well as increase of use of renewable
energy sources.
The aim of the operational programme – to purse better environmental quality by
giving special attention to increase of efficiency of using energy – will be implemented under the
priority3.3 “Environment and sustainable development”.
66
2.2 PRIORITY 1. LOCAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PRESERVATION
OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AND PROTECTION OF NATURE AND ITS
ADAPTATION TO DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM
Description of the priority
This priority, the first one of the operational programme, covers a whole complex of
actions united by one aim – to promote active use of local potential for growth of economy. In this
case, local potential would include essential factors identified in the SWOT analysis such as rich
potential of cultural heritage and natural resources, even distribution of towns and human
resources concentrated in rural areas and occupied with agricultural activity; these resources are
one of the essential reserves of available labour force. Besides, while implementing this priority –
to ensure sustainable, full-fledged and healthy environment for work and life (what concerns the
latter aspect, warm, ecologic and high-quality housing is important as well) – protection of natural
and cultural values and natural resources will provide conditions favourable to development of
cognitive as well as will contribute to further development of towns and rural areas.
Thus the following priorities may be distinguished in this priority:
1. To reduce differences in the quality and environment of life in the main and the rest
of the towns of the country by giving special attention to improvement of housing
conditions in problematic areas.
2. To provide conditions for more rapid diversification of economic activity in rural
areas.
3. To promote incoming and local tourism by properly using natural resources, cultural
heritage and creating conditions more favourable to active recreation.
4. To promote protection of natural resources (first of all, of water resources, landscape
and biodiversity) by providing conditions for their effective adaptation to the needs of
residents and economy.
All these tasks are closely interrelated, because reduction of differences in the quality
and environment of life in the main and the rest of the towns of the country will positively influence
diversification of economic activity in rural areas, whereas protected cultural and natural heritage is
an integral part of the quality of life. Besides, adaptation of cultural and natural heritage as well as
protected natural resources for economic activity and, first of all, for tourism will be an important
source of revival of economic activity in poorer areas of the country. To be consistent, this priority
is further presented according to investment directions distinguished by these tasks and
development of housing in problematic territories is distinguished separately; development of
housing will be implemented as a component of integrated urban development actions.
Reduction of differences in the quality and environment of life in the main and the rest of the
towns of the country
As determined in the analysis of this priority, even distribution of towns provides good
conditions for pursuing cohesion in the country. In this case, following strategic guidelines of the
Community, cohesion is perceived broadly: not only as assimilation of economic and social
indicators of separate areas of Lithuania but also as an aspect of territorial cohesion which is more
difficult to express, i.e. ensuring the quality and environment of life in the areas of the country,
provision of conditions favourable to creation of personal and communal economic activity there.
Improvement of the quality and environment of life will not only help to keep existing human
resources and implement measures of preventing emigration of the latter, but also will be a longterm investment in order to attract highly qualified labour force and in this way promoting
competitiveness of business of smaller towns of the country and growth of their economy.
67
In order to promote competitiveness of towns and development of their economy,
Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–2013 distinguish three priority groups of actions.
Firstly, actions forming towns of the country as engines of regional activity are distinguished. Main
attention, in this case, is given to increase of competitiveness of towns by developing clusterization,
promoting enterprise and innovations as well as developing the sector of services. With regard to
this, it is especially important to attract the most highly qualified employees and high-technology
companies to towns. Secondly, actions promoting internal cohesion in damaged territories of towns
should be carried out. These actions should, first of all, be directed to re-creation of physical
environment in the territories of towns and improvement of its quality. In such a way, not only the
situation of separate damaged territories of towns would be improved, but also pressure for
exaggerated expansion of towns promoted by the need of better quality of life of residents would be
reduced. Finally, the third group of actions would include actions directed towards a more balanced
polycentric development of the country. The actions of this group are related to development of the
network of towns of the country and especially with development of relations between the main and
the rest of the towns of the country. This requires strategic actions to determine and strengthen
development centres of the country joined not only by physic (infrastructure, information
technologies etc.), but also human (actions of promoting cooperation etc) relations. In this case, it is
also important to understand interaction of development of towns and rural areas: on the one hand,
development of centres of growth positively affects economic growth of surrounding territories and
the whole country; on the other hand, rural areas are important on the country scale because of their
natural, cultural and recreational resources. Thus while reducing differences in the quality and
environment of life in the main and the rest of the towns of the country, integrated actions must be
carried out with regard to even development of towns and rural areas.
In accordance with this priority, all three aforementioned groups of actions
distinguished in Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–2013; special attention is given to
investment in increase of urban environment, communal and transport infrastructure as well as
improvement of quality, competitiveness of smaller towns of the country and development of their
economy will mostly depend on which in the long period of time.
The greatest number of environmental problems occur in towns; however, towns are
also the economic motive force as well as the place where commercial activity takes place and it is
invested. Four of five citizens of Europe live in urban zones and their quality of life is directly
influenced by the condition of urban environment. One of the essential environmental problems
encountered by the urban zones (especially industrial ones) of the country is low-quality overbuilt
environment, abandoned land, expansion of towns resulting in negative consequences. Integrated
solving of these as well as other related problems of urban environment would increase
attractiveness of investment and residential environment which would positively influence
development of local services and increase of the quality of life, reduce unlimited growth of towns
and surrounding territories and in this way would create conditions necessary for economic growth
in the future.
Development of communal infrastructure is especially significant to promotion of
broad social cohesion. Modernization of communal infrastructure would contribute to promotion of
cultural integration highlighted in Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–2013: renewal and
development of public spaces, organized cultural events, exhibitions and concerts, increased
availability of museums and libraries would provide conditions favourable for keeping the existing
labour force and attracting new labour force as well as would strengthen local residents’ identity
and would substantially contribute to satisfaction of their communal needs. Besides, as emphasized
in Community’s strategic guidelines for 2007–2013, both improvement of urban environment and
development of communal infrastructure could contribute positively to reduction of criminality in
towns. For example, survey of several tens of European towns concerning perception of the quality
of life of local residents carried out by the organization Urban Audit states that a strong relationship
between cleanliness of towns and safety exists – the majority of residents of towns recognized as
clean ones were also recognized to be safe ones. Therefore, it is probable that planning, creation and
68
care of public spaces as well as increase of availability and quality of cultural services may increase
local residents’ feeling of safety and indirectly contribute to criminality prevention in the towns of
the country.
Transport is also one of the main elements of attractiveness of investment and
residential environment of towns. While developing transport infrastructure, it is necessary to
distinguish two directions of investment – increasing access to the main intercity and international
roads and promotion of mobility within towns. In case of increasing access to the main intercity and
international roads, it is invested in development of infrastructure of road and railway transport,
whereas in case of promotion of mobility within towns provided for in this investment direction,
intervention measures are related to development of infrastructure of internal transport. By
increasing mobility of local business and residents, development of public infrastructure of
transport positively influences growth of competitiveness of towns and their economic growth,
creates more favourable conditions of life for local residents as well as labour conditions for
business. Therefore, the notes of ex-ante assessment concerning added value provided by structural
assistance while promoting residents’ mobility were not regarded.
Direction of this priority is a continuation of the initiative of URBAN communities;
therefore it is planned to increase attractiveness of environment and quality of life in regional
economic growth centres distinguished in the regional policy strategy of Lithuania until 2013 (in
towns and problematic territories distinguished by the decision No. 112 of the Government made on
the 31st of January, 2007), first of all, by giving main attention to complex improvement of the
quality of life in order to reduce territorial differences in the quality of life. With regard to the
programs of urban development of regional economic growth centres and problematic territories,
this investment direction of the priority plans to implement two kinds of measures:
1. Improvement of environment and quality of life in regional economic growth centres
and problematic territories by developing urban environment, public transport and
communal infrastructure.
2. Promotion of new innovative initiatives of the community of local residents directed
towards improvement of environment and quality of life.
Firstly, while improving environment and quality of life in regional economy
development centres, it is very important to control processes of urban development properly by
providing for complex projects of improvement of environment and quality of life. Special attention
in this investment direction should be given to improvement of infrastructure of urban environment,
i.e. to regeneration of existing industrial and other damaged (abandoned) territories, removal of
buildings spoiling urban environment, regeneration of commercial centres, business incubators and
other public infrastructure of urban environment important to business. Investments in improvement
of urban environment provided for in this investment direction as well as investments in
development of infrastructure located in urban centres of attraction important to business will
complement and be coordinated with investments intended for improvement of infrastructure of
promotion of enterprise and innovations provided for in the priority 2.2 “Conditions favourable to
business and innovations”.
Investments intended for promotion of mobility within towns are provided for in the
field of transport. For this purpose, measures of investments the field of transport include
development and modernization of the network of access roads and car parks in towns,
improvement and development of availability of public transport system, increase of traffic safety,
development of infrastructure o pedestrians and bicycle paths as well as other “soft” types of
transport. Projects of development of infrastructure of transport provided for according to this
priority should be implemented on the basis of integrated strategies of development of separate
urban territories covering not only development of the aforementioned internal transport
infrastructure of regional economic growth centres, but also development of transport infrastructure
of other towns located in distinguished problematic territories. Investments in promotion of
69
mobility within towns provided for according with this investment direction will complement and
be coordinated with intervention measures of development of roads and railways infrastructure
provided for in the priority 2.4 “Essential economic infrastructure” of the Operational Programme
for Economic Growth. It is probable that complementary directions of investments in transport will
have a greater total positive effect while improving the quality of the network of communication in
the country.
Social cohesion in this investment direction is ensured by developing communal
infrastructure, i.e. infrastructure of urban centres of attraction and culture. Measures are planned for
development of centres of attraction; these measures will help to renew public infrastructure of
recreation, leisure time and sports, especially the one located near investment areas or objects
important to development of regional economic growth centres. In order to ensure reduction of
differences in availability and quality of cultural services existing between the regions of the
country and within them, this priority provides for modernization of infrastructure of culture
instances – culture centres, museums and public libraries – answering the needs of the community.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that, while developing infrastructure of urban
environment and community, it should be attempted to renovate existing buildings as far as possible
and not to build new ones. This is especially important aiming to avoid negative consequences of
urban development to residential environment when a great part of infrastructure remains unused,
abandoned and in this way both aesthetic view of towns is spoiled and inefficient use of their spaces
is supported.
As it was already mentioned, the second important field of investment of this priority
is promotion of improvement of residential environment by providing support to innovative local
residents’ communal initiatives. On the basis of experience of other countries, the latter could
include integrated actions in three main fields: promotion of competitiveness of towns and
surrounding territories; solving local social problems and improvement of physical infrastructure
and environmental quality. Examples of such integrated actions could be search for innovative ways
to promote small and medium business and increase resident’s enterprise, measures of criminality
prevention, promotion of local attractiveness to business through advertising and public relations
campaigns, development of cultural, leisure time and sports activity, maintenance and development
of pavements, parks, driveways and other public spaces, reduction of environmental pollution as
well as other communal initiatives and other measures not distinguished here. By promoting
creation of innovative local communities’ initiatives in this way, it is aimed to ensure satisfaction of
local needs, communal integration of residents and development of their activity.
Regarding the notes of ex-ante assessment, a lot of attention will be given to
coordination of measures of infrastructure of public urban environment significant to business with
local community’s initiatives on promotion of business. Thus it is aimed to contribute to
improvement of conditions of activity for small, medium and newly established companies.
On the basis of the main provisions of the national regional policy, it is mostly planned
to direct the aforementioned investments for complex development of seven towns – regional
economic growth centres. An exception will be investments in development of residential
environment and housing in problematic territories. Such concentration of investments will help to
implement the Regional policy strategy of Lithuania until 2013 providing for the fact that the main
measure of ensuring long-term economic growth and promoting social cohesion in the country
during the period of development until 2013 will be complex development of seven regional
economic growth centres. This provision corresponds to one of the tasks related to development
presented in the proposals of the Third Social and Economic Cohesion Report enacted by the
European Commission and presented to the contemporary member states – to avoid too large
concentration of investments in existing growth centres where effect to economic activity may be
the greatest in the nearest future but may harm sustainable development in the long-term
perspective. Such investment directions will contribute to the main aim (vision) of the program –
availability of the benefit provided by rapid growth of economy to all residents of Lithuania.
Besides, measures of two types provided for in this investment direction will be implemented
70
regarding the needs of every regional economic growth centre. Therefore, this operational
programme follows the provision to coordinate strategies of economic diversification with local and
regional needs emphasized in ex-ante assessment.
While pursuing the aims of this investment direction, besides the aforementioned
measures, it is important to implement other measures of integrated urban development actions as
well; these measures include the following priorities: 1.1 “High-quality employment and social
inclusion” and 1.2 “Lifelong learning” provided for in the Operational Programme for the
Development of Human Resources; 2.2 “Conditions favourable to business and investments”, 2.3
“Information measures to everyone” and 2.5 “Development of trans-European transport networks”
provided for in the Operational Programme for Economic Growth as well as 3.1 “Quality and
availability of public services: health care, education and social infrastructure” and 3.3
“Environment and sustainable development” provided for in this Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion. It is important to note that implementation of intervention measures
provided for in the priorities of this and other operational programmes will supplement but not
replace investment directions provided for in accordance with this priority. Carrying out integrated
urban development actions by coordinated several complementary fields of investments will allow
to achieve better positive effect while reducing differences in environment and quality of life of the
main and the rest of the towns of the country.
While reducing differences in environment and quality of life of the main and the rest
of the towns of the country in accordance with this investment direction, it is also aimed to promote
cooperation of the government with appropriate structures of surrounding towns and regional
economic growth centres both by carrying out joint actions and by exchanging available experience
and examples of good practice. As stated in the Commission working document “Cohesion policy
and towns: urban contribution to regional growth and employment”, multilateral and active
cooperation for the sake of greater positive effect would promote development of economic activity
of smaller towns of the country as well as would contribute to reduction of differences between
them and the main towns. In this case, special attention should be given to projects, implementation
of which in regional development centres would affect surrounding municipalities positively by
combining and coordinated efforts of local authorities structures to improve environment and
quality of life. Closer cooperation of local authorities and structures of appropriate surrounding
towns and regions, development of a more consistent urban development strategy as well as greater
integration of urban development actions may be achieved by combining the actions of this priority
with intervention means of development of authorities sector provided for the priority 1.4
“Strengthening administrative skills and increase of efficiency of public administration” of the
Operational Programme for the Development of Human Resources and priority 2.3 “Information
Society to All” of the Operational Programme for Economic Growth (in this case – investments in
implementation of IT control systems in public sector).
Development of housing in distinguished problematic territories
Improvement of housing conditions and residential environment in problematic
territories is an important factor promoting social-economic cohesion. Development of housing is,
first of all, pursued in such territories where low housing prices and persisting social-economic
problems mean limited demand of housing and residential attractiveness – in this case, in
problematic territories acknowledged by the decision No. 112 of the Government made on the 31st
of January, 2007, and distinguished according to the criteria determined by the decision No. 428 of
the Government made on the 8th of April, 2003, and meeting the criteria of Regulation 1828/2006,
Art. 47:
-
High poverty and unemployment level;
High long-term unemployment level.
71
These specific municipalities considered to be problematic territories will have to
distinguish areas suitable for investments in housing, i.e. parts of its territory containing not less
than 1500 residents and meeting the criterion of low housing prices according to Regulation
1828/2006, Art. 47; funds of this program will be invested in development of housing in these
territories.
Development of housing in distinguished problematic territories suitable for
investments in housing is problematic not only because the residents are not able to renovate their
housing due to difficult social-economic conditions but also because renovation carried out does not
increase the value of their housing as in other territories of the country. Thus, according to the
criteria presented above, market is not effective in areas suitable for investments in housing;
therefore, state intervention and additional investment from the Structural funds are needed. Two
essential directions of investment in development of housing are provided for in according to this
priority:
1. Renewal of blocks of flats by, first of all, increasing their efficiency of energy
consumption;
2. Development of social housing and improvement of its quality.
With regard to the fact that worsening conditions are mostly observed in blocks of
flats, especially in hostel-type ones, the most important aim of the first investment direction in
housing development is to renew blocks of flats by, first of all, improving their features which
determine efficiency of energy consumption. Decreasing energy input would allow to reduce
residents’ costs of maintaining housing and funds from the state budget as well as would be a kind
of a compensation for heating granted to households which receive low income. Besides, reduction
of energy input would allow to reduce limit emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere which would be
and important step while implementing the requirements of Kyoto Protocol ratified by the Seimas
of the Republic of Lithuania of the 19th of November, 2002.
Investments of the first direction will be granted to blocks of flats built before 1993
after assessment of the perspective of their use according to the prediction of social-economic and
demographic development of the area. Having renewed and warmed blocks of flats, housing
conditions will be improved for the majority of residents of municipalities suitable for investments
in housing. Due to reduced charges for heating, their social-economic condition will also be
improved as well as expenses of the state budget granted for subsidizing maintenance of housing
will be reduced. In accordance with this investment direction in housing, it is expected to renew and
warm the majority of blocks of flats having the perspective of exploitation an located in problematic
territories suitable for investments in housing. The first investment directions in housing will be
complemented by intervention measures directed towards efficiency of energy consumption in other
areas than problematic territories suitable for investments in housing distinguished in this
investment direction; these measures are provided for in the priority 3.3 “Environment and
sustainable development” of this Operational programme. The main aim of the second investment
direction in housing development is to provide housing to households which receive low income by
developing the social housing fund. Currently, there are over 13000 households claiming social
housing registered in Lithuania; about 1500 of these households are located in problematic
territories suitable for investments in housing. Development of social housing fund according to this
direction will be carried out by adapting suitable existing buildings, first of all, hostel-type blocks of
flats, to the needs of social housing fund. These actions will be coordinated with the measures
provided for in the first investment direction in housing development. By investments it will be
aimed to increase social housing fund and ensure that the need for social housing will be satisfied
for not less than 90 percent of households located in problematic territories suitable for investments
in housing. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that some part of the social housing fund will
have to be adapted to people with special needs.
Investments in housing development will not only reduce energy consumption but will
also positively influence improvement of environmental quality as well as will be of real social72
economic benefit. First of all, investments in housing in suitable problematic territories will create
additional workplaces for some part of the residents of these areas by involving them in the works
of modernization of residential houses and adaptation of buildings for social needs. Second, the
aforementioned works may contribute to development of the activity of companies operating in
these territories positively. Third, it is probable that investments in housing development will
reduce social exclusion and emigration of the residents of abandoned areas. Fourth, funds from the
state budget saved because of increased energetic efficiency may be directed to improvement of
environment and quality of life in the aforementioned areas or other fields which promote cohesion
as a compensation for heating granted to households which receive low income.
As it was already mentioned, both directions of investment in housing will be
implemented together with growth processes of these areas in this way integrating them into a
common program of urban development of these territories.
With regard to the notes of ex-ante assessment, EU initiative JESSICA which is being
currently prepared is relevant to this investment field of the priority. JESSICA (Joint European
Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) is an initiative of the Commission in cooperation
with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), in
order to promote sustainable investment, and growth and jobs, in Europe’s urban areas. This
initiative is especially important because it allows to attract additional funds lent by the EIB for
subsidization housing development in the country. Implementation of this direction of the priority
will create conditions for efficient operation of the aforementioned initiative in Lithuania, if a
decision to participate in it is made.
Providing conditions for more rapid diversification of economic activity in rural areas
Under the necessity to reduce great dependence of residents on economic activity of
agriculture and fishery as well as to reduce differences in quality of life in towns and cities,
according this investment direction, it will be aimed to provide conditions for persons employed in
agriculture and fishery to move over to non-agricultural of fishery economic activity and promotion
of general enterprise of residents of villages. This direction will aim to consistently complement the
measures provided for in the Lithuanian Rural Development Program for 2007–2013; general aim
of these measures is to provide conditions for creation of new workplaces related to the activity
other than agriculture in rural areas. This aim will be pursued by implementing two kinds of
measures:
1. Investments in development of public infrastructure and services related to
improvement of business conditions and increase of employment in villages;
2. Improvement of communal infrastructure in rural areas.
It is planned to develop public infrastructure intended for promotion of residents’
enterprise and increase of their employment in villages. Support will be provided in accordance
with this measure for modernization of public buildings and their adaptation for small business
which is being established in rural areas. With regard to the notes of ex-ante assessment, a lot of
attention will be given to coordination of measures of development of local business with public
services for business. In such a way, investments in accordance with this measure will interact with
services of business incubators which are planned to be supported according to the Operational
Programme for Economic Growth.
It is also planned to implement measures intended for development of communal
infrastructure similarly as in case of the first investment direction, in order to improve environment
and quality of life in rural areas in accordance to this direction. The latter would cover investments
in development of public spaces in rural areas by renewing public recreation, leisure time and sports
infrastructure as well as development of culture infrastructure by modernizing infrastructure of
culture institutions – culture centres, museums and public libraries – satisfying the needs of the
community and located in the areas.
73
It is probable that the abovementioned measures of this investment direction will
positively influence development of availability of services in rural areas and reduce flows of
residents’ of villages emigration in this way reducing the effect of existing negative demographic
processes in rural areas. Beside other services, it is probable that the measures of this investment
direction will promote improvement of the quality and availability of public health care, education
and social services which, at the moment, is still limited.; this is intended to be subsidized under the
priority “Quality and availability of public services: health care, education and social infrastructure“
of this operational programme, and improvement of the quality of education services and increase
of their availability is provided for in the priority 1.2 “Learning and qualification improvement,
lifelong learning” of the Operational Programme for the Development of Human Resources.
Only buildings and territories managed by the applicants (municipalities) by the right
of ownership or trust or transferred into the management of institutions of organizations established
by them as well as rural communities or local activity groups may be adapted for implementation of
indicated measures. While investing in accordance with this direction, problems of adaptation of
unused or partially used building or territories in rural areas of the country will also be solved.
Just as in the case of the first investment direction of this priority, while improving
public infrastructure and services in villages, it will also be aimed to promote cooperation of local
authorities with respective structures of surrounding towns and regional economic growth centres.
In such a way, the projects being integratedly implemented in several areas by combining and
coordinating local and regional efforts should have a greater positive effect to diversification of
economic activity in rural areas.
Promotion of incoming and local tourism by using natural resources and cultural heritage as
well as by creating conditions more favourable to active recreation
In order to use tourism potential of the country effectively and complexely as well as
to develop competitive marketable tourism products which provide conditions for increase of the
flows of incoming and local tourism, it is necessary to form national tourism routes (courses),
develop all existing tourism attraction centres and create new ones as well as complexely combine
all potential tourism resources, especially natural and cultural ones. The following tasks for
development of tourism are distinguished for this purpose:
1. To create a system of tourism routes in the regions of the country which are the most
attractive with respect to natural and cultural heritage by developing public tourism
infrastructure integratedly and attracting private investments;
2. To increase variety of tourism services/ products intended to foreign markets and
improve the quality of tourism services;
3. To increase the demand of Lithuanian tourism products and services in aim foreign
markets.
Cultural and natural tourism potential of Lithuania is plentiful and attractive. However,
to this date, this potential was used inefficiently. Adaptation of cultural heritage objects and natural
resources to the needs of tourism will allow to create new tourism attraction centres and develop old
ones, which, in turn, will attract more tourists, extend duration of their stay and enable to organize
recreational and cultural excursion attracting aim tourist groups, especially from abroad. A system
of tourism infrastructure which is methodical and meets the principles of sustainable development
will allow to ensure long-term protection and balanced use of natural values of national and
regional parks as well as will ensure implementation of environmental protection conditions. While
creating public tourism infrastructure, conditions to use local tourism resources and exceptional
advantages of the nature and culture of the region are provided as well as attractiveness of regions
to tourists increases; however, in order to ensure economic life, it is necessary to attract private
investments because implementation of complex measures will determine life and attractiveness of
developed objects in the long period of time.
74
According to the data of the report of the World Tourism Organization, ecologic
(cognitive) tourism should be the most rapidly developing group of tourism activities in the next 10
years and great lack of natural or little changed territories of nature; therefore, it is expedient to
specialize in the field of “natural tourism” more by using created system of protected territories and
extensive lifestyle of rural regions (with archaic cultural heritage and traditions) in order to create
attractive tourism products.
Besides, special attention must be given to development of resorts and resort territories
possessing a large potential of curative resources, their broader adaptation for tourism needs by
creating new services of entertainment and spending one’s leisure time intended for tourists of
various categories and contributing to reduction of seasonality, because it would allow to attract
groups of tourists with higher income.
In order to protect Lithuanian cultural heritage and pass it on to the future generations
as the guarantee of survival of the nation’s self-identity and increase incoming and local as well as
business tourism, support will be given to restoration of public heritage objects (manor houses,
water mills, inns, archeological monuments etc), rebuilding of past heritage and other objects
possessing remaining value (castles, fortresses, inns), complex adaptation for tourism infrastructure
(conferences, exhibitions, information, culture and leisure time, SPA services etc) and services, by
attracting private investments. Developed infrastructure and services will reduce the influence of
seasonality to tourism and additionally attract more tourists receiving higher income. Conditions for
organizing various events will be provided which, in turn, will contribute to improvement of the
image of Lithuania as an attractive and interesting country to visit and promote tourism.
Public tourism infrastructure enables to develop more various tourism products as well
as to provide various tourism services, reduces the risk of investing private capital in the field of
tourism and provides conditions favourable to broader development of private business of tourism
services. Development of public tourism infrastructure promotes emergence of alternative types of
business (rural tourism, handicrafts, hunting and fishing tourism etc) and creation of workplaces in
the fields related to tourism. Specifics of tourism and related sectors provides better possibilities of
employment of youths in the regions (slows down migration of young persons to the big towns or
abroad) as well as creates workplaces for persons who lose jobs because of diversification of the
activity of companies belonging to other sectors, modernization of production processes etc.
Development of tourism sector is restricted by the lack of infrastructure and services
of active recreation, entertainment and leisure time in Lithuania. In order to create and develop
tourism infrastructure by attracting private investments to public infrastructure and ensuring
creation of new workplaces, measures included in complex tourism development programs by
investing in development of public tourism infrastructure of water and bicycle routes (according to
the approved special plan of national bicycle routes), pedestrians paths, beaches, quays, parks,
recreation sites, racecourses (according to an approved program), campsites, informational tourism
infrastructure (e.g. helping to orient oneself while traveling across Lithuania (stands, directions,
traffic signs, points of access to information etc) in tourism routes (courses) of national and regional
significance. Creation of sea and internal waters infrastructure will intensify tourism of active
recreation, the number of foreign tourists will grow especially.
Successful development of infrastructure of entertainment and leisure time, including
sports infrastructure, as well as creation of new services/ products will help to solve the problem of
seasonality existing in Lithuania. Tourism routes and sports facilities such as quays for yachts and
other boats, sports grounds, racecourses, multifunctional sports objects holding from 5000 to 10000
spectators, where various international cultural, entertaining, sports and other events could take
place are constituents of the sector of entertainment as well which attract tourists or extend their
stay and expanding the variety of offered tourism products. The number of cultural and sports
events intended for commemoration of the Millennium of Lithuania as well as events resulting from
international obligations of Lithuania will grow; therefore, having assessed life of objects, optimal
support for development of such objects is necessary, i.e. support ensuring involvement of private
business in development and maintenance of the objects. 2-3 multifunctional sports objects are
75
planned to be subsidized; they will be granted up to 25 percent of funds intended for public tourism
infrastructure.
At the moment, short tourism season does not promote in investments of private sector
in the regions, and only development of public tourism infrastructure will not ensure private
investments in tourism and balanced development of tourism sector. Therefore, by applying the
principle of public and private partnership, development of tourism infrastructure and services
according to national tourism routes will promote development of tourism business in the regions
possessing resources attractive to tourism. Use of such possibilities of tourism business, e.g. SPA,
business (conference) tourism and other investments reducing seasonality as well as private
investments attracting tourism activities, will be promoted. In order to satisfy the needs of tourists
who travel individually and increase growth of their flow as well as reduce the lag from the EU
average in the field of accommodation services, development of economy class accommodation
services (campings, one or two-star economy class hotels) will be supported and, at the same time,
support will be provided to public tourism infrastructure. A significant principle while promoting
investments of public sector is the potential of an area to attract private investments and avoid
distortion of competition. The main aim of this principle is to promote cooperation of municipalities
and private sector in the field of tourism.
Support will be given to construction or management/ adaptation of infrastructure of
health improvement, active recreation and leisure time for tourism by assessing the lack of such
objects and services planned to be provided in respective tourism routes. In order to solve the
problems of deficiency of tourism infrastructure, it is aimed to implement complex decisions by
concentrating investments in the regions possessing the greatest number of resources suitable for
tourism; therefore, firstly, investments are intended for the following districts until 2007–2013:
North East Aukštaitija and Žemaitija regions, Nemunas valley and areas surrounding it as well as
some regions of Middle Lithuania. These regions, as priority recreational territories having a large
recreational potential are distinguished in the general plan of the territory of the Republic of
Lithuania. Such regional growth centres as Alytus City Municipality, Tauragė District Municipality,
Telšiai District Municipality, Utena District Municipality identified in the Regional policy strategy
of Lithuania until 2013 are included in these priority recreational territories. Investments from the
EU structural funds intended for development of tourism would allow to reduce social and
economic differences in these regions as well as would provide conditions use these additional
financial resources purposefully for increase of territorial social cohesion between the regions of
Lithuania and within them.
In order to reduce seasonality, increase the variety of tourism services and improve the
quality of existing services as well as to ensure competitiveness of tourism products and services
offered in Lithuania on international scale and increase demand of Lithuanian of tourism products
in aim foreign markets, private sector’s initiatives of development of tourism services/ products and
marketing of tourism programs.
Lithuania should specialize more in the field of “Natural tourism” (because a great
lack of natural or little changed territories of nature is felt in the EU) by using created system of
protected territories and extensive lifestyle of rural regions (with archaic cultural heritage and
traditions) in order to create attractive tourism products. Ecologic (cognitive) tourism should be the
most rapidly developing group of tourism activities in the next 10 years.
Increase in the demand of Lithuanian tourism products and services in aim foreign markets
Spread of tourism information about Lithuania will help to promote incoming and
local tourism by supplying necessary publications to tourism information centres and developing
the activity of the National tourism information system helping to find accommodation,
entertainment, active recreation, events that are going on etc individually. The network of Tourism
information centres (TIC) is an extremely important part of the structure which spreads tourism
information and provides marketing services. These centres are not still supplied so that they could
76
provide high-level marketing services. That is why it is necessary to equalize the level of spread of
tourism information in the whole Lithuania and to ensure tourism promotions skills of TICs in order
to achieve high quality of provided services in all regions of Lithuania. Aiming to develop tourism
information and increase the flows of incoming and local tourism, financial support will be given to
national and regional institutions, public legal persons (or public sector) for development of various
marketing activity (publications and visual material, exhibitions, advertising campaigns and other
related fields, tourism information signs and stands, needs of public points of access to the Internet,
development of tourism information database and technical capacities). Marketing must be
strengthened on a national scale in order to increase knowledge and interest in Lithuania as a
tourism country as well as improve the image of the country.
Investments of the task “Promotion of incoming and local tourism by using natural
resources and cultural heritage as well as by creating conditions more favourable to active
recreation” of the first priority “Local and urban development, protection of cultural heritage and
nature and its adaptation for development of tourism” of this operational programme are closely
related to other tasks of the first priority: task 2 “To provide conditions for more rapid
diversification of economic activity in rural areas” and task 4 “To promote protection of natural
resources (first of all, of water resources, landscape and biodiversity) by providing conditions for
their effective adaptation to the needs of residents and economy”.
Development of incoming and local tourism will be promoted by combining the
measures of the first priority of this operational programme with intervention measures provided for
in the second priority “Conditions favourable to business and innovation”, third priority
“Information Society to All” and fourth priority “Essential economic infrastructure” of the
Operational Programme for Economic Growth.. According to these priorities, it is planned to
develop and modernize transport infrastructure of entertainment and tourism, promote sea tourism
and entertaining navigation by developing infrastructure of ports and roads of internal waters,
increasing its safety as well as giving special attention to formation of the image of business
conditions of the country and its presentation using intervention measures provided for in various
information measures. The measures provided for in the priority 1.4 “Strengthening administrative
skills and increase of efficiency of public administration” of the Operational Programme for the
Development of Human Resources should provide conditions for improvement of the quality of
services provided in tourism information centres and teaching foreign languages as well as
customer service culture.
Preservation of natural resources by providing conditions for their efficient adaptation for
residents’ and economy's needs
More efficient use of local potential by promoting growth of economy and protection
of good environmental quality is one of the priority aims of this operational programme.
Environmental protection measures must not be treated as additional costs at the expense of
economy, but economic and organizational mechanisms increasing economic efficiency of
environmental protection measures and promoting local development must be created. The EU
strategy for sustainable development provides for the fact that economic growth must expedite
social progress and improve environmental condition, social policy must stimulate economic
growth and environmental protection policy must be economically efficient. Only such synergic
interaction may ensure successful implementation of the main tasks of this program on national and
local levels. Better environmental quality will be pursued by implementing the following tasks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
To improve condition of water bodies;
To improve protection of biodiversity and landscape;
To manage and clean polluted territories;
To strengthen capacities of institutional control of environmental quality;
77
5. To improve information and education of the society; to provide conditions for more
active participation of the society in making decisions of environmental protection and
sustainable development.
The main strategic aim of protection of water bodies (the aim of water protection) is to
ensure that ecologic condition of all water bodies (both surface and underground ones) would be
good until 2015: chemical composition of water in a water body must be close to natural one (water
can not be polluted), the condition of ecosystems present in a water body and related to it must be
good (variety, biomass etc), quantitative water indicators (resources, water level, flow etc) and
hydromorphological characteristics of a water body (bottom relief, banks) must not be changed etc.
Till now, the majority of applied measures (cleaning of urban wastewater, development of the
system of wastewater collection, reduction of pollution with harmful materials, implementation of
integrated pollution prevention and principles of control etc) were directed only towards
improvement of chemical condition of water bodies (reduction of pollution). Unfortunately, not
everything has been done in this field, too. The condition of some water bodies is bad because of
the consequences of past pollution (usually because of overgrowth of water bodies, accumulation of
sludge, decrease of oxygen concentration caused by too large amount of biogenic substances etc) as
well as because, in some cases, measures of reducing pollution (e.g. cleaning of urban wastewater)
which were applied till now are insufficient due to great sensitiveness of water bodies to pollution.
While solving the aforementioned problems, it may be necessary to apply stricter requirements of
reducing pollution that the general requirements set in the Urban Wastewater Directive, Nitrates
Directive, Dangerous Substances Directive etc and/ or implement additional measures for
improvement and protection of condition. Measures of improvement of the quality of water bodies
will have to be planned and implemented by applying the principles of watershed management
meeting the EU requirements.
Having improved the condition of water bodies, conditions for more rapid local
development and, first of all, for more rapid development of recreation (water sports, water tourism,
networks of bathing places, amateur fishing, recreation near water etc) and rural tourism will be
provided. A none the less important result would also be the fact that, having improved the quality
of damaged water bodies and begun to use them for the needs of the society, intensity of using
undamaged water bodies will decrease and this will greatly improve possibilities to protect them.
In order to achieve water protection aims during the terms set by the EU as well as at
optimal expenditure, anthropogenic effect to the condition of water bodies will have to be assessed
in detail, causes of unsatisfactory condition will have to be determined, detailed water protection
aims will have to be set and programs of measures for achieving water protection aims will have to
be prepared and implemented in the short run. It is also planned to subsidize measures of improving
the condition of water bodies damaged because of past economic activity: removal and handling
bottom sludge which formed because of pollution, cleaning waste from water bodies, removal of
vegetation caused by eutrophication, cleaning banks, renaturalization of regulated brooks,
demolition of unused dams and other buildings/ facilities located in water bodies, improvement of
recreational characteristics etc.
Protection of biodiversity and landscape is one of the most important tasks for the
humankind. Lithuania has undertaken to protect biodiversity and landscape both on international
and national level. The main threats to biodiversity and landscape arise because of urbanization of
natural environment, intensive agriculture, forestry or use of unfavourable methods in these fields,
unstable use of natural resources and development of infrastructure.
The most effective way to protect biodiversity and landscape is establishment of
protected territories in the most valuable areas and proper organization of activity there. While
developing the system of protected territories, it is planned to expand it to 17 percent of the territory
of the country provided for in the National strategy for sustainable development during this
financial period. The aims of protected territories will be achieved only having created proper
institutional, monitoring, planning and other conditions, provided favourable conditions for the
78
society to get familiarized with them and implementing ecologic education. A system of planning
documents is necessary in order to implement specific protection and management measures. Only
having created suitable infrastructure and information system, will it be ensured that visiting and
recreation in nature will not damage protected values and ecologic stability will not be violated.
Having managed damaged landscape elements (abandoned buildings spoiling
landscape, areas of damaged land etc), visual pollution of landscape will decrease, recreational
potential of managed territories and possibilities of local development will increase. Possibilities to
develop rural tourism will be provided in recreated territories, it will be possible to use some of
these territories for creation of rapid turnover forest plantations used for energetic purpose and
finances by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The potential of
renewable energy sources will increase. This will contribute to implementation of the program of
implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy.
By investing in integrated management of the littoral zone, intensive degradation
processes of the coast of the Baltic Sea will be slowed down, protected and re-created littoral
recreational potential and conditions for sustainable development of the littoral region will be
provided.
“Natura 2000” network of territories will be formed and extended for protection of the
most important territories with regard to biodiversity. It is planned to prepare missing planning
documents, including special plans, as well as the rest of nature management plans of Natura 2000”
territories (not less than 100 plans), develop monitoring of the condition of protected territories,
implement the measures of protection and management of natural habitats and species, adapt them
to the society’s needs by exhibiting visited objects, creating and developing infrastructure designed
for visitors, including information system in nature, provide conditions for ecologic education in
nature and tourist centres, strengthen institutions which organize activity in protected territories
during this financial period. It is planned to subsidize recultivation works of abandoned quarries and
peatbogs as well as demolition of agricultural production centres and other abandoned buildings
which pollute landscape visually, reduce its recreational potential and endanger visitors by giving
priority to protected and visited territories. Implementation of coast management measures designed
to protect or re-create important or characteristic natural features of coasts and provided for in the
program of management of littoral zone will be subsidized. Inventory of the most important or
sensitive objects, constant collection and renewal of data about them plays a significant role while
protecting biodiversity and landscape. Therefore, databases of this field will be created and
strengthened, studies carrying out works of protection and observation of biodiversity on national
scale will be prepared, places where endangered species and natural habitats to be protected are
located will be inventoried. In order to stop extinction of biodiversity, it is planned to implement
programs of protection of protected species prepared during preceding programming period as well
as to prepare and implement new programs of protection of not only species but also protected
natural habitats; actions of these programs will be oriented to protection of these objects outside the
bounds of protected territories. Management or recreation measures are provided for protection of
migrating animals in the places having the greatest ecologic importance for migrating species.
In order to ensure good quality of underground and surface waters as well as to
implement the main provisions of the EU Soul Strategy which is being prepared as well as to
provide additional conditions for local development, it is necessary to manage territories which
were damaged and polluted in the past. Aiming to clean polluted territories, it is planned to
subsidize inventory of damaged territories and determine cleaning priorities with regard to real
negative effect of such territories to people's health, underground and surface waters, “Natura 2000”
and other protected territories. Reformation works of polluted territories and their renaturalization
and (or) adaptation to recreational or other needs of the society will also be subsidized. Capacities
of environmental monitoring, pollution control, control of compliance with environmental
protection requirements and prevention of violations as well as information about environment, i.e.
capacity of institutional environmental quality management, was created in Lithuania for
observation of surrounding air, water bodies, depths of Earth, ecosystems, hydrometeorological
79
phenomena, pollution assessment, recording and prevention of illegal pollution and other violations
of environmental protection. In order to achieve compliance of environmental research laboratories
with the EU standards as well as operative provision of accurate and reliable information about
environmental condition and effect to the environment, it is planned to supply the most advanced
technical equipment to responsible institutions as well as to create working conditions meeting the
requirements by rationalizing processes of the activity and information systems. Having
strengthened capacities of institutional environmental quality management, not only the
environment will be protected better but also the environment of economic development will
improve – optimal environment protection requirements will be determined and necessary permits
will be issued more operatively etc.
In order to strengthen capacities of institutional environmental quality management, it
is planned to subsidize renewal of equipment of state environmental monitoring and systems of
laboratory control of pollution (purchase of modern technical/ software equipment necessary for
sampling, analysis, transfer of data and assessment of results, implementation of measures
necessary for accreditation of laboratories of analytical environmental control), supply of mobile
equipment for operative research, remote devices for recording pollution, control of sea pollution,
communication, transfer of data, transport and other necessary devices to environmental protection
inspectors. It is also planned to renew the system of early warning about radiation danger, the
system of observation, assessment and prognostication of hydrologic regime and extreme
hydrologic phenomena (floods, droughts), to renew and expand the network of underground water
monitoring stations. Besides, it is planned to create a system of environmental ecotoxicity research
which will enable to assess total effect of chemical compounds to living organisms.
In order to ensure efficient information and education of the society on environmental
condition and other issues related to the environment, provide conditions favourable to the society
to participate in decision-making process as well as form the policy of environmental protection and
sustainable development, it is planned to invest in strengthening capacities of institutional
environmental quality management, education about environmental protection and sustainable
development, promotion of the society’s participation in decision-making and propagation of
environment-friendly lifestyle.
This will provide conditions favourable for implementation of the Orhus Convention
on access to ecological information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice on
environmental issues as well as broader spread of information in the whole territory of Lithuania,
will help to involve local communities which are being created in decision-making processes more.
The society must be educated by using modern measures of information technologies and ensuring
integrated exchange of information. Technical capacity of spreading information and promotion of
its understanding is not enough when the society becomes more interested in environmental
protection issues. Development and promotion of information and education of the society may be
achieved by strengthening technical base and optimizing information management systems which
will help to provide understanding and thorough information about environmental protection and
conservation measures in time.
An environment-friendly lifestyle is one of the main conditions while pursuing the
aims of sustainable development. Its propagation, i.e. making it closer to every society member’s
life, is especially important while combining rapid economic growth with protection of healthy
environment. Non-governmental organizations operating in the field of environmental protection
and sustainable development play and especially important role while informing and educating the
society as well as forming its attitude towards the environment. Therefore, cooperation with them,
implementation of joint project and subsidization these projects is one of the planned activities of
this field.
While improving information and education of the society, it is planned to create
information centres in the municipalities, education institutions, recreational and increased risk
zones (near regional waste management centres, big energetics, chemistry and recycling
companies). It is planned to improve information environmental management system by carrying
80
out analysis of existing management processes and rationalizing them as well as renewing and
integrating existing information systems and sub-systems and creating new ones; to improve
availability of information on environment and sustainable development, to increase the number
and editions of publications on environment (environmental condition, biodiversity, protected
territories, landscape etc), to prepare constant cycles of publications in the press as well as radio and
television broadcasts, as well as to create and spread social advertising, to subsidize joint projects
with non-governmental organizations designed to involve the society in making decisions on
environmental protection as well as to propagate environment-friendly lifestyle.
Compatibility with other measures supported by the EU
The EU initiatives JEREMIE and JESSICA which are being prepared at the moment
are relevant to the investment fields of this priority. The first initiative – JEREMIE (Joint European
Resources for Micro-to-Medium Enterprises) – will enable the member states and their separate
regions to use some funds from structural assistance of the European Union for creation of financial
instruments specially designed for supporting possibilities to subsidize development of very small,
small and medium businesses. In this case, financial instruments would include: consultations and
technical aid, own and risk capital and guarantees (both to loans of micro credits and loans for small
and medium business). The European Investment Bank (EIB) is responsible for implementation of
this initiative during the new programming period. The second initiative – JESSICA (Joint
European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) – is an initiative of the European
Commission in cooperation with EIB and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), in
order to promote sustainable investment in urban zones. This initiative is important because it
allows to attract additional funds lent by the EIB for subsidization housing development in the
country. Implementation of this direction of the priority will create conditions for efficient
operation of the aforementioned initiative in Lithuania, if a decision to participate in it is made.
Implementation of the first task – to reduce differences between environment and
quality of life in the main and the rest of the towns of the country by giving special attention to
improvement of housing conditions in problematic territories – may be greatly influenced by the
measures related to water protection and water management, air protection and waste management.
The Operational programmes of Lithuania and Latvia, Lithuania and Poland and South
Baltic of the aim of cross-border cooperation (CBC) of the European Territorial Cooperation (ETC)
complement all measures of this priority on local/ regional level. Support of these programs will be
expediently given to promotion of growth and cohesion of border regions participating in the
programs. Regional development centres, promotion of development of which, as planned, will
provide conditions for reduction of territorial social and economic differences between these centres
and the main towns of Lithuania as well as between towns and villages, are distinguished in the
Regional policy strategy of Lithuania until 2013. Six of these centres – Alytus, Marijampolė,
Mažeikiai, Telšiai, Utena ir Visaginas – are located in the main territories of future ETC programs;
Tauragė is in the additional territory of Lithuanian-Polish CBC program. As the majority of
problematic territories are located in the main territories of the aforementioned programs,
implementation of these programs will also strengthen regional cohesion.
Compatibility with Life+ will be ensured by deciding upon investment priorities of
Life+ in the next stage.
Information on compatibility of investments provided for according to this priority
with the support planned according to other operational programmes, priorities and programs
subsidized by the EAFRD and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) is presented in the Appendix V
“Compatibility of support with other operational programmes and other financial means of the
European Union“.
81
Table 15. Predicted distribution of expenses of the first priority according to the categories
Distribution of expenses according to priority themes
Financial proportion (in
Title
Euros)
50 Re-creation of industrial areas and polluted land
14.501.892
Promotion of protection of biodiversity and environmental protection
51 (including Natura 2000)
87.011.351
Other measures designed for protection of environment and prevention of
54 risk
78.551.914
55 Promotion of natural wealth
79.228.669
57 Other support for improvement of tourism services
66.023.891
58 Protection and conservation of cultural heritage
66.023.891
59 Development of cultural infrastructure
52.819.113
61 Integrated projects of reviving towns and rural areas
252.091.219
78 Housing infrastructure
58.875.310
TOTAL
755.127.250
Distribution of expenses according to subsidization measures
Code
Code
Title
01 Non-returnable support
04 Other subsidization forms
TOTAL
Distribution of expenses according to types of territories
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
540.293.547
214.833.703
755.127.250
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
286.419.766
234.391.498
234.315.986
755.127.250
Code
Title
00 Not applicable
01 Town
05 Rural areas
TOTAL
82
2.3 2 PRIORITY 2. QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC
SERVICES:
HEALTH
CARE,
EDUCATION
AND
SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
Description of the priority
Higher-quality and available to everyone public services are one of the basic
conditions of the quality of life and greater cohesion. It is aimed to provide health care, education
and social services meeting the highest European standards to all residents of the country. In the
field of health care, it is aimed to extend duration of healthy life, reduce morbidity and mortality
rates due to main non-infectious diseases, optimize infrastructure of health care institutions and
structure of services. In the field of education, it is aimed to provide conditions for more active
participation in lifelong learning system by ensuring higher quality and availability of education
services. In the field of social services, it is aimed to reduced territorial differences in provided
services as well as qualitative and quantitative gap between services provided in Lithuania and
respective services provided in the leading EU member states.
Thus the main tasks of this priority are the following:
1. To provide high-quality and available health care services.
2. To ensure higher-quality and availability of services provided by the education and
system by improving participation of persons belonging to all age groups in lifelong
learning system.
3. To ensure better compatibility of the supply and demand of vocational training, to
improve qualification of labour force and promote economically passive residents to
get involved in labour market.
4. To promote better integration of persons with social risk and persons experiencing
social exclusion in the society and labour market.
Investments provided for in each of the aforementioned tasks will be aimed to be
coordinated with the actions provided for in the priority 1.4 “Strengthening administrative skills and
increase of efficiency of public administration” of Operational Programme for the Development of
Human Resources of the Operational Programme for Economic Growth; these actions are intended
for subsidization reforms of education, labour market and health care systems.
Health care institutions
Both Community’s strategic guidelines and the National general strategy emphasize
that the aim to ensure healthy labour force is one of the essential directions both while developing
efficiency of labour force, eliminating obstacles for more rapid economic growth in the whole
country and promoting social cohesion. Such aim may be implemented only having ensured highquality and equally available health care services to all residents off the country, and these services
are impossible without appropriate investments in improvement of the activity of health
improvement and health care infrastructure. Having invested in modernization of infrastructure of
health care institutions and implementation of modern medical and laboratory technologies, the
quality of health care services will improve. In order to improve availability of health care services,
it is planned to optimize the network of health care institutions, its scope and structure by adapting
it to the need of health care services and quality requirements.
These investments will provide conditions for reduction of residents’ morbidity and
mortality, preserve their working capacity as long as possible and extend duration of healthy life.
While investing in various fields presented below, it will be aimed to develop a heath care system
allowing to diagnose illnesses as early as possible, shorten the time of making exact diagnosis as
well as to provide necessary help and specialized health care services in a qualified manner as
quickly as possible. This aims for a double positive effect. Firstly, more quickly diagnosed illnesses
83
will have less permanent negative outcome, a person will remain employable longer and in case of
an illness, will be able to go back to work sooner – undoubtedly, it all will have a positive effect on
efficiency of labour force in the country. Secondly, while optimizing the network of health care
institutions, a financially and economically stable health care system will be created in the country;
this system will provide high-quality and available health care services, but, at the same time, funds
necessary for maintaining the system will not cause unreasonably high pressure for the finances and
macroeconomic stability of the country in the long period of time. These two principles – as high
positive effect on efficiency of labour force as possible and financially and macroeconomically
stable system – are essential; on the basis of them, main investment fields are developed further.
Thus these investments will meet not only the aforementioned Community Strategic Guidelines,
National General Strategy but also will consistently contribute to implementation of the program of
implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy, Lithuanian Health Program (Zin., 1998, No. 641842), National Long-term Development Strategy (Zin., 2002, No. 113-5029), Health Care
Institutions Restructurization Strategy (Zin., 2003, Nr.28-1147) and other strategic documents.
The chapter on analysis of the operational programme clearly reveals that decrease of
duration of residents’ healthy life and loss of working capacity is mostly influenced by the
following:
 Cardiovascular diseases (according to statistics, it is the main cause of death of
residents: among people of employable age, it is the main cause of death of men aged
45-64 as well as the main reason of ascertaining disability to people of employable
age),
 Oncological diseases (the main cause of death among women aged 45–64 as well as
one of the main reasons of ascertaining disability to people of employable age),
 Traumas and other external causes of death (the main cause of death among people of
the most employable age (15–44 years old), especially among men, as well as one of
the main reasons of ascertaining disability to people of employable age),
 Psychic disorders (The number of suicides per 100 000 in Lithuania is one of the
highest ones in Europe, it exceeds the EU average several times; especially a lot of
men of employable age commit suicides; morbidity with psychic disorders and
addictions is constantly increasing).
Analysis of the operational programme showed that the system of health care
institutions which is being reformed actively at the moment must be optimized further, especially in
the fields of development of ambulatory help, in-patient services and health care of the society.
Thus investments of this operational programme will be concentrated in the fields
defined above: a more detailed presentation of the way these investments will be concentrated each
one of the fields and the way they will directly contribute to implementation of the aims defined
above is presented below. Modern infrastructure of health care institutions, improving availability
and quality of health care services will help to ensure better quality of people’s life and social
cohesion. In such a way, investments in the field of health care will help to use the potential of
labour market better by preserving existing workplaces and creating new ones.
Reduction of morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases was and still is the main cause of death in Lithuania just like
in the whole Europe (in 2004, cardiovascular diseases were the cause of 54.5 percent of all deaths).
In 2004, indicator of morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases exceeded other three main causes of
death added up by 35 percent. This problem is especially sore to labour force over 45, especially to
men in the ageing society.
On the basis of the analysis as well as the principles defined above, investments in this
field will mostly be concentrated in two essential directions: a) more efficient prophylaxis; and b)
optimized capacity of more accurate diagnostics, including interventional one, as well as more
84
efficient treatment in 2nd and especially 3rd level institutions (2 university hospitals and 5 city
hospitals).
Primary prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases and education of the society is
implemented with the help of the primary link of personal health care – family doctors. It is
necessary to install additional diagnostic medical equipment in family doctors’ consulting rooms
(electrocardiographs with possibility of connecting a computer). Such use of telemedicine will
allow not only to save money but also to find a disease in an early stage efficiently for a larger
number of persons belonging to an increased risk group as well as to apply a more efficient and
available treatment to them. It is probable that there are 10 percent more people ill with
cardiovascular diseases at the moment in Lithuania than registered. The number of unknown people
ill with diseases is especially large in smaller districts remote from the main centres where there is a
lack of second level specialists consultants and people themselves seldom consult their family
doctor or communicate with him passively. These investments will extend and complement
investments made in this field according to the measure 1.4 of the General Programming Document
of Lithuania for 2004–2006, the territory of supplying support will be expanded and more attention
will be given to development of telemedicine.
Early diagnostics of cardiovascular diseases and timely chosen modern
pharmaceutical, interventional and surgical treatment of cardiovascular diseases meeting the
European standards will reduce morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. For this
purpose, investments in state-of-the-art and modern infrastructure – in ambulatory noninvasive
diagnostic equipment, echocardiography, multilayer computer tomography, magnetic resonance and
radionuclide diagnostics analyses – are necessary. While pursuing optimal system, these
investments will be clearly concentrated on the basis of the system of three-level health care
institutions which is being developed. The main portion of investments will be granted to
institutions providing 3rd level services which must purchase the most expensive equipment.
Geographically these investments will be concentrated in several towns: currently, main procedures
of interventional diagnostics and treatment of cardiovascular diseases are carried out in five city
(Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys), and more complicated interventional
procedures are carried out in university hospitals (in Vilnius and Kaunas). Such concentration of
capacity in the centres of highest competence require adequate possibilities to transport patients into
them as well. In order to ensure urgent help, especially in cases of acute cardiologic disorders,
investments will be directed towards development of specialized emergency ambulance park as
well. Investments will be allotted according to the Program of development of emergency medical
services, urgent consultative health care and primary ambulatory health care vehicle park for 2006–
2008; having carried out adequate calculations, detailed need for such vehicles is presented
according to specific territories in this program.
At the same time, city and county hospitals (i.e. 2nd level health care institutions) will
be modernized by ensuring diagnostics and treatment corresponding the 2nd level. Costs of these
investments will be much lower than in us institutions providing 3rd level services, and the
investments themselves will be directed towards strengthening a clearly defined capacity (e.g.
diagnostics of acute coronary syndromes) by modernizing intensive observation wards by providing
conditions for modern intensive pharmaceutical and thrombolysis therapy in them, ensuring early
diagnostics of brain stroke, improvement of infrastructure of neurological departments and
establishing stroke subdivisions with possibilities and equipment of intensive observation of
patients.
Planned investments in development of health care system of cardiovascular diseases
in Lithuania set huge tasks to Lithuanian cardiologists, cardiosurgeons, neurologists, angiosurgeons
and radiologists. The most advanced diagnostic equipment and implementation of new technologies
will request a lot of efforts while preparing necessary specialists and strengthening present
specialists’ skills. This is closely related to the measures subsidized under the priority 1.1 “Highquality employment and social coverage” and priority 1.2 “Lifelong learning”.
85
Early diagnostics of oncological diseases and full fledged treatment
Oncological diseases are in the second place in the general structure of mortality and
in the first place among women aged 45–64 in Lithuania. The greatest problem is delayed
diagnostics of oncological diseases (in 2004, 38.1 percent of all cases were diagnosed in the thirdfourth stages of the disease), thus the reason of high morbidity due to oncological diseases is poor
diagnostic possibilities as well as poor possibilities to use efficient treatment methods. Therefore,
on the basis of the analysis and the principles defined above, investments in this field will be mostly
concentrated in two essential directions: a) more efficient early diagnostics on the level of county
hospitals, institutions providing specialized oncological help and university hospitals; and b)
developed capacity of treatment of malignant tumours in, first of all, 2 university hospitals as well
as 5 health care institutions providing complex services of diagnostics and treatment of oncological
diseases. These investments will complement the prophylaxis initiatives (e.g. cervical malignant
tumours, mammographic examination concerning early diagnostics of breast cancer or prostate
cancer etc) subsidized by national funds which play an important education role and generates the
flow of interested patients who need efficient diagnostics.
Early diagnostics of oncological diseases is the most important factor while aiming to
reduce mortality due to oncological diseases; therefore, in order to reduce it, it is planned to
improve infrastructure of early diagnostics of oncological diseases on the level of county hospitals,
institutions providing specialized oncological help and university hospitals. Having diagnosed
oncological diseases early and treating them efficiently, patients have got a chance to return to
labour market. Improvement of the quality and availability of health care services in this direction
has a great effect while preserving a healthy person capable to work. Implementation of modern
research methods will be a great clinical and economic benefit. Adaptation of modern treatment
methods in clinical practice also determined reduction of patients’ morbidity as well as their
possibilities to participate in labour market; therefore, investments are planned for improvement of
infrastructure of treating malignant tumours (in the fields of radiation therapy, surgical oncology
and chemotherapy). One of the most important aims while developing diagnostic capacity, would
be increased availability of the service: it is expected to reduce an extremely long waiting time
when a person, having suspected a disease, must wait until exact diagnosis is made at least twice.
Another priority direction mentioned is to ensure high-quality and efficient treatment
of patients ill with oncological diseases by, first of all, improving infrastructure of radiation therapy.
Use of radiation therapy would reduce people’s disability, extend their life infrastructure and
patients would have a chance to recover. Radiation therapy equipment in institutions providing
specialized oncological help is obsolete and does not meet modern requirements for the quality and
efficiency of treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to renew it by giving priority to equipping the two
university hospitals. Special attention must be given to renewal of infrastructure of hospitals where
radiation therapy methods are applied. Adaptation of modern radiation therapy would enable to
achieve not only huge social bust also economic indicators.
While improving efficiency of treating oncological diseases, investments in
modernization of other treatment methods – surgical treatment, chemotherapy – are also necessary.
The main portion of investments is planned to be concentrated in 5 health care institutions
providing complex services of diagnostics and treatment of oncological diseases. Besides, while
pursuing early diagnostics of oncological diseases, it is necessary to strengthen non-specialized
services of oncological diseases provided on county level as well. Specialized oncological help
must be concentrated, because the principle of work of a multidisciplinary team expert in
diagnostics and treatment of malignant tumours (surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy,
hormonotherapy, biological therapy) is extremely important for qualified treatment of oncological
patients. In this way distributing investments to health care institutions providing specialized and
non-specialized help, even availability of qualified thorough oncological health care services would
be ensured to all residents of Lithuania.
86
Success of investment directions depends on health care specialists’ qualification
improvement. This is closely related to the measures subsidized under the priority 1.1 “High-quality
employment and social coverage”.
Reduction of mortality due to traumas and other external causes of death
External causes of death (traumas, poisoning etc) are in the third place in the general
structure of mortality and in the first place among people of the most employable age (15–44 years
old) in Lithuania. In order to preserve people’s working capacity, it is necessary to create a complex
system of help to traumatized persons by investing in infrastructure of health care institutions and
emergency medical services. Depending on seriousness of the trauma, emergency ambulance
transports a patient to the nearest personal health care institution functioning as a trauma centre
(TC). The work and dislocation of the emergency medical services institution should be organized
so that the patient would be delivered to the TC not more than within an hour from the accident
(“golden hour”). During this hour, the patient’s condition must be stabilized following the set
requirements, the institution where the patient is planned to be delivered must be notified etc. Thus,
by providing timely medical help in cases of a trauma, poisoning or other similar instances, the
chance to survive increases and recovering a person’s working capacity requires less costs. Hence
development of the system for the traumatized directly contributes to higher productivity of labour
force as well as allows to reduce future treatment costs in this way reducing pressure to the budget
of health care system. Therefore, on the basis of the analysis and the principles defined above,
investments in this field will be mostly concentrated in two essential directions: a) investments in
development of emergency medical services by supplying emergency medical services stations with
emergency ambulances and reanimobiles with special equipment; b) development of personal
health care institutions functioning as a trauma centres.
First of all, planned investments in development of emergency medical services by
supplying emergency medical services stations with emergency ambulances and reanimobiles with
special equipment will be allotted according to the Program of development of emergency medical
services, urgent consultative health care and primary ambulatory health care vehicle park for 2006–
2008; having carried out adequate calculations, detailed need for such vehicles is presented
according to specific territories in this program.
Investments in infrastructure of health care institutions helping the traumatized are
also planned. During hospitalization period, proper medical help to the victims would be provided
by personal health care institutions functioning as a trauma centres (hereinafter – TC). These
institutions are personal health care institutions (or their subdivisions) providing in-patient services
of surgery and/ or orthopaedics traumatology and reanimation as well as intensive therapy and
meeting additional special requirements. TC are planned to be of three levels according to the scope
of provided services: first, second and Third (highest) level. While approving additional special
requirements, it will be determined in cases of which traumas and to which TC victims must be
delivered immediately. Investments will be made on the basis of such a plan as this will enable to
specifically define investments in infrastructure and equipment depending on the level of a TC.
As it was already mentioned, it is necessary to begin providing medical help at the
place of the accident (during pre-hospitalization period) – success of treating traumas highly
depends on that. During pre-hospitalization period, help is provided by paramedics and emergency
medical services employees. In order to provide proper emergency medical services, it is necessary
to train paramedics, improve specialists’ of health care institutions qualification so that they would
acquire knowledge and skills necessary for treating the injured according to ATLS (Advanced
Trauma Life Support) course. This is closely related to the measures subsidized under the priority
1.1 “High-quality employment and social coverage”.
Optimization of infrastructure of psychic health care services
87
During recent years morbidity with psychic disorders increased by almost 10 percent
(from the year 1990 to 2004) in Lithuania, also increase in the number of suicides is also observed.
In 1991, Lithuania was the leading country among the Baltic States according to the number of
suicides, and in 1994, it overtook Hungary and became the leading country in Europe. The
possibility to receive a high-quality necessary service would prevent occurrence or progress of a
psychic disorder or illness, would allow to avoid severe outcome as well as would ensure a person’s
recovery, preservation of working capacity and return to the society. Good psychic health is
inseparable from the quality of human life and one’s everyday activity – work, studies, rest.
Psychic health requires quantitatively and qualitatively new investments in order to
ensure social and economic development of the country and the quality of residents’ life. The main
aim of reorganization is to create a complex psychic health care system allowing to strengthen
psychic health of the society efficiently and rationally, carry out prevention of illnesses, provide
thorough help and social services to persons with psychic and behavioural disorders; to ensure
effective and priority investment in a psychologically strong society characterized by a large social
capital and low level of social pathology; to reduce the number of cases of suicide, violence or other
destructive behaviour directed towards oneself or others. This aim may be achieved by investing in
modern ways of strengthening psychic health of the society.
In order to increase availability of psychic health care services as well as avoid treating
persons in in-patient department if their psychic condition allows to treat them in a day centre,
investments will be made in infrastructure of flexible psychic health care services by establishing
day centres of psychic care in addition to already created infrastructure of psychic health centres on
municipal level as well as by supplying them with adapted premises and necessary equipment. Inpatient services should be provided only in especially severe cases of exacerbation of psychic
illnesses.
Establishment of day centres would bring services closer to their users; availability of
these services as well as secondary and tertiary prevention of illnesses would improve very much;
this would cause reduction of the need for in-patient services and economic benefit; allow users of
services receive thorough services; promote development of communal services; patients would be
treated more intensively and their ties to their families and ordinary environment would not be
broken. In such a way, a system of services satisfying patients’ needs would be created.
It is necessary to modernize the link of in-patient psychiatry by investing in equipping
premises of in-patient departments of acute psychiatry with modern measures designed for special
care as well as by supplying them with necessary medical equipment. High-quality psychic health
care services are impossible in the community without modern and efficient in-patient help in cases
of acute conditions.
In order to ensure provision of help to a person as quickly as possible in critical
situations disturbing psychic human health, psychic wellness, social functioning and adaptation as
well as to prevent recurrence of crisis in order to avoid severe outcome to the society, it is necessary
to develop/ create infrastructure of crisis intervention centres by investing in premises, purchase of
equipment and transport. These centres would be mediators of provision of social and medicals
services as well as would ensure constant help in cases of critical situations.
Specialized and extremely necessary services to children and teenagers with psychic
and behavioural disorders have been provided insufficiently until now. While treating frequent
children’s psychic health disorders and preventing them becoming severe socialization failures
(attempts to commit suicide and suicides, delinquency, addiction to alcohol and drugs), it is
necessary to create regional centres providing a complex of modern psychosocial services.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop children’s and teenagers’ psychic health care services – to
establish day centres of complex help to the child and his family (early rehabilitation services
centre; psychiatry centre for pre-school and younger school-age children with an in-patient
department and day in-patient department; teenagers’ psychiatry centre with an in-patient
department and day in-patient department; day centre for children with autistic and disorders;
psychosocial rehabilitation centre fro children with behavioural and socialization disorders as well
88
as those who are addicted to psychoactive substances), by supplying them with necessary
equipment and investing in transport for provision of mobile help. Help is provided to all children
groups and their families in these regional centres by closely cooperating with personal health care
specialists working on communal level and education and social care structures.
Success of investment directions depends on preparation of specialists of efficiently
operating health care system and their qualification improvement by training for work with patients
with psychic health problems, formation of teamwork skills etc. At the same time, it is necessary to
invest in training of community’s health care specialists, family doctors and nurses, other specialists
working on communal level (teachers, police officers) by giving the knowledge in the field of
psychic health. This is closely related to the measures subsidized under the priority 1.1 “Highquality employment and social coverage” and priority 1.2 “Lifelong learning”.
It is necessary to carry out scientific assessment of occurring changes constantly
(including assessment of indicators of community’s psychic, efficiency of the activity of the system,
assessment of efficiency of the quality of provided services, assessment of users’ satisfaction with
services, assessment of efficiency of invested funds, epidemiologic research etc).
Continuity of the health care system reform, optimization of health care infrastructure
The main aims of the health care reform are to improve the quality and availability of
health care services constantly as well as to optimize the scope and structure of provided services
with regard to the to residents’ health care needs. These aims are being implemented by curing
widespread illnesses in health care institutions located nearer residents and by concentrating high
technologies in university hospitals and hospitals where the flows of patients are the highest.
Investments in development of ambulatory services, optimization of in-patient services and
development of nursing and supporting treatment.
Reorganization of ambulatory help. In order to improve the quality and availability of
health care services and reduce differences in the quality and availability of health care services, it
is necessary to decentralize and develop primary health care further by bringing it closer to people
and strengthen specialized ambulatory help and rehabilitation. Investments in renewal of
infrastructure of health care institutions providing ambulatory services by modernizing and
supplying them with modern equipment and technologies are necessary. This will help to diagnose
health disorders sooner, while cheaper and more efficient services located nearer people will enable
to reduce residents’ morbidity an increase their working capacity as well as will allow to use the
funds from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund and state budget more rationally.
Optimization of in-patient services. In order to ensure the quality of provided services
to all residents of Lithuania, it is necessary to reorganize the network of providers of in-patient
health care services. Investments in optimization of in-patient services in the counties and
municipalities are necessary by providing for she structure of provided services and personnel
supplying necessary equipment and premises, improving the quality of tests. Currently, there are
about 40 district hospitals in Lithuania which should be reorganized in accordance with modern
requirements. It is necessary to give a lot of attention to development of day in-patient departments
and day surgery further. After implementation of these services queues of patients waiting for
planned services become shorter, patients’ needs to receive the service necessary to them are
satisfied better, the number of days when patients do not work decreases and availability of health
care improves. In order to improve elderly people’s health care services as well as to ensure
continuity of health services and proper treatment, it is necessary to integrate nursing and long-term
supporting treatment services in general profile hospitals as well as to establish day nursing inpatient departments.
It is planned to support reorganization of ambulatory help and optimization of inpatient services by aiming to reduce differences in the quality and availability of health care
services in the country. It is planned to provide conditions to treat widespread illnesses in health
care institutions located nearer residents. For this purpose, investments will be made in health care
89
institutions provided ambulatory services and located in the regions; besides, it is planned to
reorganize about 40 district hospitals in accordance to modern requirements. These investments will
help to increase availability and quality of health care services for residents of villages as they will
be provided with the possibility to receive services nearer their residential place and this, in turn,
will help to reduce residents’ of villages mortality.
Development of the society’s health care. Investments in state-of-the-art and modern
society’s health care – equipment for the institutions, modern technologies, implementation of
society’s health care research in order to implement prevention of diseases efficiently – are
necessary. More active participation of the society in the activity of health protection and
prevention of diseases helps to develop habits of healthy lifestyle, prevent diseases and perceive
everyone’s responsibility for one’s heath better. In order to make these processes more active as
well as to reduce differences in the indicators of residents’ health and improve information and
consultation of residents on the issues of healthy lifestyle, it is planned to strengthen health
monitoring and education, society’s health care in communities by establishing institutions
providing health care services (creation of a material base), to increase ability to ascertain factors
which determine and to manage them.
Success of investment directions depends on preparation of efficiently operating
society’s health care specialists and their qualification improvement. This is closely related to the
measures subsidized under the priority 1.1 “High-quality employment and social coverage” and the
priority 1.2 “Lifelong learning”. Preparation of algorithms, guidelines, recommendations and
methodological material is related to the priority 1.4 “Strengthening public administration skills”.
Education institutions
The priority “to increase investment in human capital through better education and
skills” is consolidated in the European Commission’s guidelines “More and better workplaces”.
This priority requests to ensure sufficient supply of attractive, available and high-quality education
services in all levels of education, whereas the priority to promote employment and investment in
human capital is consolidated in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy.
While implementing this priority, it is aimed to increase the quality and availability of education
services. This should determine higher qualification of employed people and those who get into
labour market, which will ensure higher level of employment, increase of efficiency of work (as well
as wages) and development of the economy of the country. These factors will greatly influence
better quality of life and cohesion. The aims of the Bologna process, in which Lithuania takes part
as well, also provide for promotion of competitiveness and attractiveness of education system and
preparation of highly qualified specialists for labour market.
It is consolidated in the provisions of National education strategy 2003-2012 that
education system must help a person and the society to respond to the need for democracy and
development of the market, globalization and constant learning as well as to use new possibilities.
Substantial changes helping to increase efficiency of the education system of Lithuania, developing
availability of education system and ensuring the quality of education system satisfying the needs of
modern society are necessary for that. The experts who carried out ex-ante assessment of the
strategy also emphasized the need for reform of education system in order to achieve the quality and
availability of services.
While pursuing the aims provided for in these and other strategies, reform of education
system and investments in infrastructure of education and studies system will be supported in
accordance to this priority. This should improve the quality of provided services, meet new
requirements for competence and availability for residents. The majority of education institutions
require investments in order to achieve higher quality and availability of education and studies
institutions as well as scientific research services. However, the SWOT analysis of support shows
that the following problems of availability of education services are especially important (and must
be solved immediately): low availability of nursery and pre-school education (especially in rural
90
areas), low availability of education services in rural areas, insufficient availability of education
services of all levels for persons with special needs and those who experience social exclusion and
poor availability of vocational orientation services (vocational information, counselling and
development of carrier-planning skills). The following problems of the quality of education services
are none the less important: insufficient quality of teaching technologies and natural sciences in
general education schools, low quality of formation of practical skills and development of main
competences in all education levels, insufficient quality of studies, their poor conformity with the
society’s and business’ needs.
Increasing availability of education services
Research of school students’ international achievements show that one of the factors of
successful learning is early start of learning. However, children’s education is started much later in
Lithuania than in the EU member countries. In 2003, only 53.1 percent of children aged 4 attended
education institutions and this part almost does not change. Children from rural areas, children with
social risk and those who are growing up in social exclusion conditions start learning especially
late. Regarding these problems, the provisions of the National Education Strategy for 2003-2012
provide for ensuring equal possibilities of starting to learn, developing availability of nursery
education services, creating and developing a general to nursery education system. Using ERDF
funds, these aims may be achieved by strengthening institutions providing nursery and pre-school
education as well as by promoting establishment of universal centres in rural areas – these centres
should be established in the premises of general education schools which are closed during the
reform or in already operating community homes. These centres not only would provide services of
nursery and additional education as well as additional and special education, informal education of
adults etc. It is probable that this will have a triple positive effect. First of all, it will help to ensure
better possibilities of start of learning for children living in rural areas. Second, better availability of
nursery education services will promote earlier parents’ living in rural areas integration in labour
market. Third, services of informal education provided by universal centres will also allow to
ensure higher level of labour force in rural areas.
While developing availability of lifelong learning services in rural areas in accordance
to this principle, it would also be possible to modernize and adapt infrastructure of public libraries
as a network developed so well could participate in organization of informal education, ensure
availability of learning sources and provide certain public electronic services (e.g. vocational
orientation).
While promoting lifelong learning, it is necessary to increase availability and quality
of vocational orientation (including vocational information, counselling and development of carrierplanning skills) services. Analysis of the situation states that persons, who are older, receive lower
income, have got lower level of education, live in rural areas learn the least, whereas a properly
operating vocational orientation system could radically improve this situation. Currently, a
vocational orientation system is only being created, though various institutions are providing certain
vocational orientation services: general education, vocational and high schools, labour market
training and counselling authorities, youth and labour centres operating in territorial labour
exchanges. However, services are provided more on the initiative of individual institutions, there is
a lack of a systemic, complex and coordinated attitude covering all teaching levels, objective groups
and institutions of different institutional status. Therefore, while using ERDF’s funds, it is planned
to develop and modernize infrastructure of vocational orientation: to establish vocational
orientation (vocational information, counselling and development of carrier-planning skills) centres
in education and studies institutions (general education, vocational and high schools) or as
independent municipal institutions, to renovate the premises of institutions providing these services,
to support purchase of necessary equipment. Initiatives which will contribute to creation of a
properly functioning vocational system in Lithuania bus will be supported. These initiatives are
provided for in the Plan for Implementation of Vocational Orientation Strategy (approved by the
91
order of the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Labour and Social Security
No. ISAK-2540/A1-321 on the 9th of May, 2005).
Availability of services provided by institutions of all education levels is also limited to
school students with special needs and those who experience social exclusion. During recent years,
it has been aimed to integrate as many such school students to learn with others as possible.
However, education system is poorly prepared for such integrated teaching, a system of support to
such school students and their teachers is not developed, there are almost no schools adapted to
persons with movement disability. Therefore, school students with special needs and those who
experience social exclusion who are integrated to learn in general education and vocational training
systems often change schools or simply do not graduate from them. While using ERDF’s funds for
solving these problems, it would be possible to invest in adaptation and renewal of infrastructure of
methodological centres which are being established instead of special schools, in material and
methodological base of pedagogical psychological base, to adapt infrastructure of education
institutions for children with special needs as well as to renew and adapt infrastructure of youth’s
schools.
Efficiency of investments intended for improvement of availability of education
services is related to the measures of the priority 2 “Lifelong learning” of the operational
Programme for the Development of Human Resources: improvement and development of the
activity of vocational orientation system; implementation of compulsory nursery education and
increase of availability of nursery education in rural areas (supplying institutions with modern
education content and measures, pedagogues’ qualification improvement or requalification, testing
new education programs etc); reform of the system of financial, psychological, special pedagogical,
special, social pedagogical, medical and other help for learning and personnel’s of this system
qualification improvement, renewal of competence or requalification by using modern teaching
methodologies and technologies; development of the network of lifelong learning institutions,
including culture and other institutions, by supplying it with information sources of lifelong
learning and access to them. Pursuing efficiency of investments, it is also necessary to coordinate
these interventions mutually as well as regard specific local community’s or aim group’s needs.
While establishing universal centres in rural areas, it is necessary to follow experience accumulated
when establishing the first centres, identify the most important mistakes and lessons as well as to
ensure cooperation of authorities of various levels. At the same time, successful integration of
children with special needs and those who experience social exclusion will also be influenced by
external factors: tolerance level of the society (especially that of school students and their parents),
parents’ of persons with special needs attitude towards integration. Besides, investments should be
related to reform of the aforementioned systems. This should ensure a long-term effect of
investments.
Improving education quality
Creation of knowledge society, development of high technologies and growth of
economy of the country will be greatly influenced by higher quality of teaching technologies,
natural sciences and arts in general education schools of the country in the long period of time.
The Promotion of Science and Technologies in Lithuania Strategy states that general education
system does not promote interest in science and technologies enough. This determines relatively
low popularity of programs of the fields of natural and technological sciences among persons
attempting to enter high schools of the country. Besides, international research show that Lithuanian
school students’ achievement in the field of mathematics and natural sciences still lag behind the
strongest EU member countries. While solving these problems, the program of implementation of
the National Lisbon Strategy plans to induce schools implementing programs of secondary
education to form a technological profile or direction. ERDF’s funds could be used to subsidize this
reform as well as to ensure teaching quality by subsidization purchase and renewal of modern
measures and equipment for teaching mathematics and natural sciences. These interventions are
92
necessary in order to radically renew content of primary, principal and secondary education by
directing it towards formation of essential competences, including competences of natural sciences
and technologies, in general education schools from 2008. On the other hand, the main condition of
success of these interventions is an efficiently functioning system of pedagogues’ qualification
improvement (the measures of the priority 2 “Lifelong learning” of the Operational Programme for
the Development Human Resources). Success of intervention will also depend on efficiency of
supporting scientific activity of school students from general education and other education
institutions (the measures of the priority 3 “Strengthening researchers’ skills” of the Operational
Programme for the Development Human Resources). On the basis of the provisions of the National
Education Strategy for 2003–2012, description of Secondary Education Program and general
education plans for school year 2007–2008, it is also necessary to renew infrastructure of teaching
arts in general education schools. New artistic education programs are of applicable nature and they
give a lot of attention to applying informational communicational technologies in the teaching
proves so that school students could familiarize themselves with vocational skills necessary in
modern branches of creative industry (interactive design, advertising, cultural tourism etc). Present
infrastructure of general education schools is not adapted for modern teaching arts; that is why it is
important to supply them with modern teaching measures, including information technologies.
The guidelines and strategies of the EU provide for the fact that education system
should prepare specialists meeting the requirements of labour market, whereas surveys of
employers show that graduates of vocational and high schools most of all lack practical skills.
While solving this problem, it would not be optimal to supply every education institution with
expensive practical training equipment. Therefore, while using ERDF’s funds, sectoral centres of
practical training could be established in the base of vocational training institutions which are
being restructurized. The practical training equipment located there could be used by institutions of
various education levels (general education, vocational training institutions, colleges universities).
Such investments are expected not only to improve practical preparation of graduates from
institutions of various education levels and school-graduates but also would ensure higher economic
life of education system. Cooperation while using practical training equipment located in sectoral
centres of practical training would cause lower need for investments as well as would provide
conditions for sharing exploitation costs of practical training equipment. Success of this
intervention will depend on several conditions. Firstly, it is necessary to ensure not only close
cooperation of individual education institutions but also active participation of business
representatives in making decisions concerning location of a sectoral centre of practical training,
purchased equipment and nature of teaching programs. This would allow to ensure better
conformity of the results of such centres’ activity with the needs of labour market. Secondly, it is
necessary to coordinate these interventions with the actions of the priority 2 of the Operational
Programme for the Development Human Resources intended for improvement of the quality of
existing teaching programs, preparation of new teaching programs meeting the needs of economic
development, pedagogical personnel’s qualification improvement and development of general
skills, especially for implementation of enterprise development in education system.
Development of knowledge society, expansion of the sectors of production and
services which create high added value and which are receptive to knowledge and growth of
qualification level of labour force determines the need to improve the quality of studies. The aim to
increase efficiency of high education and improve supply of the highest qualification specialists
meeting the needs of modern industry and business is consolidated in the National Lisbon
implementation program. However, the majority of research show that study system is being
developed not properly regarding the knowledge society’s needs, students extremely lack practical
knowledge and preparation to compete in labour market. Also not enough young scientists or
researchers who would join the rapidly ageing academic community are prepared; very few
researchers participate in business. The SRTD (scientific research and technologies development)
activity is not oriented to society’s and economy’s needs due to insufficient quality, results of
SRTD are little used in Lithuanian economy. Besides, poor and morally obsolete infrastructure
93
prevents from attracting the highest qualification specialists from other EU member countries
(including Lithuanian scientists who work abroad) and in this way implement the aims of the
Bologna process as well as ensure higher quality of studies. Therefore, it is necessary to invest in
modernization and development of infrastructure of study system. These investments will also
positively influence the SRDT activity in that scope in which part of infrastructure of studies is
unavoidably used in the SRDT activity.
Using ERDF’s funds, it is planned to create teaching and learning environment
meeting today’s and future needs by modernizing studies infrastructure of high schools. This would
include complex renewal and development of infrastructure of auditoriums, libraries, training and
scientific laboratories (including information systems). Priority should be given to improvement of
the quality of studies in priority fields, especially the quality of social and humanities sciences and
art studies. These investments should also be coordinated with reform of the network of high
schools provided for in the Plan for Development of Lithuanian High Education System for 2006–
2010 as well as other provisions of the plan. These investments will contribute and be closely
coordinated with investments promoted under the priority 1 “SRTD intended for economic
competitiveness and growth” and priority 2 “Increasing business productivity and improving
business environment” of the Operational Programme for Economic Growth. Investments intended
for complex modernization and development of studies infrastructure will also be coordinated with
investments subsidized under the priorities 2 and 3 of the Operational Programme for the
Development Human Resources and the priority 3 of the Operational programme for economic
Growth; these priorities provide for supply of science and studies institutions with modern teaching
material, provision of conditions necessary to use information sources of lifelong learning,
promotion of cooperation of scientists’ and researchers’ activity as well as cooperation of science
and studies institutions and business subjects, subsidization information systems and development
of computer networks of science and studies institutions.
In order to ensure higher quality of education, it is also necessary to strengthen expert
education institutions' skills. Using ERDF’s funds, complex development of infrastructure of the
Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education, the institution managing National Qualification
System and other quality assessment institutions will be supported. These investments will
complement support to creation and implementation of National Qualification System and
strengthening education monitoring and quality assurance provided for in the priority 2 of the
Operational Programme for the Development Human Resources.
Proper implementation of this priority will contribute to implementation of the
Operational Programme for the Development Human Resources. Without investments in
modernization of infrastructure of education institutions, it is hardly possible to create a society
actively participating in labour market, members of which actively acquire, renew and develop their
knowledge and skills constantly as well as apply them efficiently in economy of the country.
Implementation of this priority will especially complement measures/ interventions subsidized
under the priority 1 “High-quality employment and social coverage” and the priority 2 “Lifelong
learning” of the Operational Programme for the Development Human Resources. In order to use the
measures of the latter priorities efficiently, investments in renewal of infrastructure of education
institution under this priority intended for personnel’s of education system qualification
improvement, renewal of teaching methodologies and measures as well as assurance of access to
information sources, employees’ of enterprises and public sector flexibility and adaptation to the
needs of this market are necessary; these investments will enable to satisfy increasing demand of
high-quality and available education services.
Services provided by vocational training institutions, institutions implementing state
employment policy, social services and services to the disabled
The main aim of the Lithuanian employment policy is to ensure high-quality and
socially safe employment. The most important guideline of the Lithuanian employment policy
94
during the average period are defined in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon
Strategy. The following aims are emphasized in it:
 To attract and keep more people in labour market;
 To improve employees’ and enterprises’ ability to adapt;
 To reduce structural unemployment by investing in people more.
The program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy the following most
important tasks in the field of development of infrastructure are distinguished:
 To restructurize education system after compulsory education;
 To improve minimum standards of material condition of schools;
 To modernize institutions of labour market and optimize provided services;
 To develop services provided to the community members, to provide them with
possibility to return to labour market and actively participate in it;
 To promote integration of persons with social risk – to develop infrastructure of
services and increase availability of them.
The quality and availability of infrastructure of services of vocational training system,
institutions implementing state employment policy, social services and vocational rehabilitation
services to the disabled are important conditions while aiming to increase employment of labour
force (including such groups as youths, aged persons, women, the disabled, persons with social risk
or persons who experience social exclusion). Investments of this direction of the priority in
development of the aforementioned services are indirectly related to and complement investments
provided for in the priority 1.1 “High-quality employment and social coverage” of the Operational
Programme for the Development Human Resources. Under the latter priority, it is aimed to involve
and keep economically inactive persons, the unemployed, young people, aged residents in labour
market by providing for subsidization of various measures of employment support or active labour
market policy measures. Besides, while implementing direction of the priority, results of labour
market monitoring, a system prognosticating its changes and the need for qualification training
planned to be improved under the priority of the Operational Programme for the Development
Human Resources will be regarded.
Developing infrastructure of vocational training
While developing infrastructure of vocational training, it is, first of all, aimed to ensure
better compatibility of the supply and demand of vocational training, improve labour force’s
qualification and induce economically inactive residents to get involved in labour market.
The provision that it is necessary to increase the influence of vocational training and
extended learning to employment is set in the Lifelong Learning Assurance Strategy and its
implementation actions plan. Learning must become more available (especially to those who have
received the least from education system), “second chance” possibilities must be provided for
persons under 16 who have not acquired principal education. Besides, it is planned to develop
infrastructure of education by continuously increasing investments in renewal of technical base of
institutions providing education and vocational orientation (vocational orientation, counselling and
development of carrier-planning skills) services.
Vocational training system consists of institutions providing initial vocational training
and labour market training centres (specialize in the field of vocational training for adults). Analysis
of the situation showed that vocational training is not popular and its prestige is low at the moment.
Surveys of employers show that graduates of vocational and high schools most of all lack
vocational practical (special sectoral) skills. Vocational training system is not used for extended
teaching of adults enough.
Currently, the main problem of vocational training system is the quality of training
which does not meet the needs of labour market enough; it is planned to improve the quality by
95
using the funds of this and other operational programmes. In order to achieve higher quality of
training, it is necessary to improve not only the training base but also training programs,
qualification of vocational teachers, implement modern training and quality control methods.
Teachers’ and lecturers’ qualification improvement as well as improvement of training programs is
supported under the priority 2 of the Operational Programme for the Development Human
Resources, whereas under this operational programme, it will be invested in renewal of training
equipment and modernization of premises for training, because such investments are necessary in
order to provide vocational training programs which meet the needs of labour market.
Complex projects improving cooperation of vocational training institutions and
planning optimal use of infrastructure which is being created will be promoted. It is planned to
invest in an optimized and common system, which means that, before allotting funds, it is necessary
to assess the whole network of vocational training institutions (initial training and training of adults)
regarding the criteria of availability, specialization and economic life as well as aiming to avoid
doubled investments (due to this reason some institutions may be merged or closed before allotting
funds). The most resources should be given to those fields where .the greatest increase in demand
for specialists is planned. Initiatives intended for creation or improvement of infrastructure
necessary in order to provide vocational-practical skills valued in labour market will be subsidized.
It is planned to solve the problem of low use of information technologies in vocational training
system (especially in training programs which are receptive to this special equipment). The funds
allotted will complement (but not replace) infrastructure which is planned to be created in sectoral
practical training centres.
Analysis of the situation showed that general availability of vocational training
services is sufficiently good in all counties (having in mind that such training services are provided
by a lot of state and private institutions, enterprises and organizations). Speaking about initial
vocational training, it is relatively lower in Tauragė, Marijampolė and Telšiai counties. However,
availability of vocational training for persons with special needs is much lower, because vocational
training institutions are not properly adapted to these persons. Therefore, it is planned to allot funds
for solution of this problem.
Having increased the quality of services, we may expect prestige of vocational training
to improve, more school students to decide to learn in vocational schools, more employees and the
unemployed to choose qualification improvement or requalification services provided by vocational
training system. The report of ex-ante assessment notes that it is necessary to ensure compatibility
of the measures subsidized by the ESF and the ERDF. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize the
fact that investments allotted under this priority will be consistently complemented by the activities
subsidized under the Operational Programme for the Development Human Resources. The demand
for high-quality vocational training will be increase by the support to training employees of
enterprises and public sector as well as strengthening general residents’ skills provided under the
priority 1 of the Operational Programme for the Development Human Resources. Besides, support
will be given to strengthening social partners’ skills and promoting joint actions under this priority
and the priority 4. At the same time, while aiming for quality of training, further efficient
cooperation of training institutions and social partners is necessary.
Modernization of infrastructure of institutions implementing state employment policy
Analysis of situation and SWOT analysis point out that availability of the services
provided by institutions implementing state employment policy (Lithuanian Labour Exchange,
Lithuanian labour market authorities) is good, but it is necessary to improve the quality of provided
services, increase their variety, adapt these services to the needs of particular people more. This
operational programme plans to alot funds for further modernization of infrastructure of institutions
implementing state employment policy (Lithuanian Labour Exchange). (Development of the
Lithuanian Labour Market Training Authority, which also contributes to implementation of state
96
employment, is discussed in the chapter of this strategy devoted for infrastructure of vocational
training).
It is planned to continued optimization and renovation of the network of the
aforementioned institutions in order to form an efficiently functioning network of complementary
institutions. In this field, a considerable amount of funds ha already been invested under the General
Programming Document of Lithuania for 2004–2006; therefore, new investments will be allotted to
those objects which will contribute to further development of high-quality services of state
employment support policy and optimization of the network of institutions providing these services.
While granting support, recent changes of labour market discussed in the analysis of the situation
must be regarded: decreasing number of the unemployed and sufficiently big part of economically
inactive residents. That is why employment exchanges must also change – more and more attention
must be given to better coordination of the supply and demand of labour market as well as
consistent application of the principle “it pays to work”. It is planned to support such initiatives
which will help institutions implementing state employment support policy to form a modern highquality services packaging adapted to the needs of specific regions and objective groups. Provision
of these services will be supported under the Operational Programme for the Development Human
Resources (priority 1 “High-quality employment and social coverage”) as well as by consistently
complementing assistance provided by the ERDF.
Increasing availability and quality of infrastructure of out-patient social services
The measures for 2005–2006 of implementation of the National Action Plan against
Poverty and Social Exclusion of the Republic of Lithuania for 2004–2006 provide for initiation of
measures helping to coordinate making the actions and policy against poverty and social exclusion
more active. In 2002, the reform of social services system was begun. It aims to ensure sufficient
protection of the most vulnerable groups by developing social services which provide possibilities
to individualize help as well as increase efficiency of help and return socially excluded persons and
families to the society and work. Certain measures consolidated in the National children’s day
centres program for 2005-2007 (approved by the decision No. 1525 of the Government of the
Republic of Lithuania on the 1st December, 2004) (as well as in similar programs until 2013) are
also planned to be subsidized under this operational programme.
It is planned to invest in increase of availability, variety and quality of out-patient
social services. Out-patient social services will be developed both by aiming to ensure sufficient
social security level for recipients of these services and by inducing persons who are currently
economically inactive to return to labour market. Depending on such persons’ situation, there will
be two incentives for returning to labour market. First of all, certain out-patient social services will
directly help persons belonging to certain social risk groups to return to labour market (e.g. persons
who have returned after imprisonment, persons with various addictions, women who have
experienced violence in their families, victims of human trade). Besides, developed network of outpatient social services institutions would enable those persons who look after family members who
are not able to take care of themselves (children, the disabled, elderly persons etc) to get
employment.
Development of the network of out-patient social services would help to optimize the
structure of the network of out-patient social services which is functioning at the moment – to
reduce the percentage of in-patient services. Therefore, some in-patient social services institutions
(residential care homes, sheltered housing institutions etc) will be reorganized into out-patient ones.
The investments allotted must also be coordinated with development of health care institutions
provided for under this priority, as social services will be provided in social services centres
operating on in-patient basis as well. Development of universal multifunctional centres in rural
areas will be subsidized according to the direction of education institutions of this priority;
integrated education and out-patient social services are also planned to be provided in these centres.
Investments under this direction of the priority will also be coordinated with the investments
97
provided for in the priority 1 “High-quality employment and social coverage” of the Operational
Programme for the Development Human Resources intended for increasing social coverage and
reducing poverty. It is planned to support creation and development of social services under the
latter priority. The funds of this Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion will radically
contribute to improvement of the quality and availability of these services.
While developing the quality and availability of out-patient social services, the
network of institutions providing day social services will be developed. Therefore, it is planned to
renew or establish new social care centres and crisis centres (women’s, men’s, family’s) holding 2030 clients; it is planned to establish such centre, mixed social services institutions (family support
offices are to be established there) and homes for self-dependent or temporary residence or
community homes are to be established in every county. While providing support, the following
principles will be followed: further deconcentration and decentralization of organization of outpatient social services; reduction of differences in out-patient social services in the counties and
regions; modernization of material base of out-patient institutions; increase of the variety of social
services; increase of involvement of the society in solving community members’ problems.
Development of vocational rehabilitation of the disabled and other services to the disabled
When the Law on Social Integration of the Disabled came into force in 2005, a new
conception of disability emphasizing not the disability but provision of possibilities to work was
started to be formed. Therefore, especial attention is given to vocational rehabilitation. A system of
vocational rehabilitation of the disabled covering such main services as vocational orientation,
counselling, assessment and recreation of vocational skills as well as development of new skills and
requalification was started to be created.
At the moment, the system of vocational rehabilitation of the disabled includes only a
few disabled people; it is expensive, besides, it does not solve the problems of social adaptation.
Vocational training and requalification of the disabled is organized in labour market training
authorities and special vocational training institutions, thus it is available only to mildly disabled
people. Therefore, it is planned to give a lot of attention to making more vocational rehabilitation
services available as well as providing them to the disabled and in this way promoting their return
to labour market. Development and renovation of vocational rehabilitation centres will be
subsidized by improving the quality and availability of related services. While orienting these
services to the disabled of employable age, it is planned that at least one centre adapted to
rehabilitation and holding 50 clients will function in every of the 10 counties (with regard to actual
needs of the county) (currently, only one such centre is operating in Vilnius). Thus in about 500
rehabilitation places designed for persons to whom the need for vocational rehabilitation services
was assessed would be established in the whole territory of Lithuania. While investing in
infrastructure of education and teaching institutions, adaptation of physical and informational
teaching environment to the disabled will be subsidized as well.
While providing vocational rehabilitation services for the disabled, it would be aimed
to assess disabled persons’ vocational (working) skills, to re-create them or teach new skills; to
increase disabled persons’ vocational mobility in labour market, to teach and requalify them so that
they would acquire a specialty marketable in the market; to promote the use of new technologies in
the activity of vocational rehabilitation; to stimulate disabled persons’ motivation to work.
Therefore, it is necessary to develop infrastructure of the Working Capacity Assessment Office
(including its 25 territorial branches) in order to improve possibilities of this office to assess the
level disabled persons’ working capacity as well as their need for vocational rehabilitation services.
The aforementioned measures of this direction of the priority will complement the investments
under the priority 1 “High-quality employment and social coverage” of the Operational Programme
for the Development Human Resources intended for creating and improving vocational
rehabilitation services as well as providing various teaching services (to persons with social risk and
those who experience social exclusion).
98
Development of the divisions of the Center Of Technical Aid For Disabled People will
also be supported in order to renovate their premises and help to purchase modern equipment. It is
planned to establish 4 more centres besides 6 already functioning ones. Translation centres of sign
language function with the aim to promote integration of people with hearing disability in labour
market and society; it is planned to increase the number of these centres up to 10 in the future. It is
planned to support renewal of infrastructure of such centres and purchase of modern equipment
under this priority.
Analysis of the situation and SWOT analysis points out that, in order to ensure
efficient implementation and coordination of the measures of social integration of the disabled, it is
necessary to develop infrastructure of and the Department of the Affairs of the Disabled (which also
functions as the secretariat of the Council of the Affairs of the Disabled). The Department of the
Affairs of the Disabled implements the National Program for Social Integration of People with
Disabilities in such fields as rehabilitation (vocational, psychosocial, developments of selfdependent life skills), social services, environmental availability (by adapting public physical
environment, housing and residential environment, informational environment), education,
employment (getting a job and other forms of employment), education of the society, culture, sports
and recreation. Development of infrastructure of the Department of the Affairs of the Disabled will
be supported in order to achieve efficient implementation of this program.
Compatibility with other measures supported by the EU
Drafts of regulations of the EU structural funds provide for the fact that special
attention must be given to assuring complementarity and compatibility with other political
initiatives of the Community. It is planned to begin implementing a new integrated lifelong learning
program of the EU from 2007. It will consist of four special programs: Comenius program designed
for general education activity in nursery and general education institutions; Erasmus program
designed for the activity of teaching and further improvement on a high education level; Leonardo
da Vinci program designed for all other aspect of vocational training; and Grundtvig program
designed for education of adults. Besides, the integrated lifelong learning program will consist of
two horizontal programs. The first one, “horizontal” program, will cover the aforementioned
political issues and provide special conditions for teaching languages and ICT-related activity when
they fall out of special programs. The second one, Jean Monnet program, is designed for
supporting European education and teaching institutions and actions related to European
integration. While implementing the measures of the priority 3.2, complementarity and
compatibility with the aforementioned program and its constituents will be pursued. The “7th
Framework“ program provides for applicable and fundamental scientific research related to modern
medical technologies. Implementation of these technologies and progress of the science of medicine
directly influences the quality of provided health care services.
Information about compatibility of investments provided for in this priority with
assistance planned under other operational programmes and priorities as well as the Rural
Development Program subsidized by the EAFRD is presented in Appendix V “Compatibility of
support with other operational programmes and other financial means of the European Union“.
99
Table 16. Predicted distribution of expenses of the second priority according to the categories
Distribution of expenses according to priority themes
Code
Title
75 Infrastructure of education
76 Infrastructure of health care
79 Other social infrastructure
TOTAL
Distribution of expenses according to subsidization measures
Code
Title
01 Non-returnable support
TOTAL
Distribution of expenses according to types of territories
Financial proportion
(in Euros)
389.549.096
240.086.875
90.625.000
720.260.971
Financial proportion
(in Euros)
720.260.971
720.260.971
Financial proportion
(in Euros)
480.173.751
115.410.046
124.677.174
720.260.971
Code
Title
00 Not applicable
01 Town
05 Rural areas
TOTAL
100
2.4 PRIORITY 3. ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Description of the priority
This priority will be subsidized by the Cohesion Fund. One of the most important aims
of efficient use of the assistance from the EU is to ensure that growth of economy promoted by the
EU investments would meet the principles of sustainable development. Combining rapid growth of
economy with protection of healthy environment is a complicated task, and the society is usually
prone to give the main priority to solving economic problems which is generally done at the
expense of environmental quality. It is especially important to implement efficient measures of
environmental protection and reduce negative influence of the use of energy and other natural
resources to the environment timely in the present stage of development of Lithuania, because to
solve accumulated environmental problems is much more expensive than to prevent them and it
begins to stop economic growth sooner or later.
In order to ensure better environmental quality and sustainable development, the most
attention will be given to solving the following tasks, while investing the funds of the Cohesion
Fund intended for this priority:
1. Renovation and development of water supply and wastewater management systems.
2. Creation of a modern waste management system.
3. Improvement of air quality.
4. Increase of efficiency of energy production and use as well as use of renewable energy
sources.
Renovation and development of water supply and wastewater management systems
Development of water supply and wastewater management infrastructure highly lags
behind the rates of housing and economical development as well as the growth in the need for
public water supply and wastewater management services. Approximately 1 million residents use
ground water from dug wells or individual bores which is often polluted and does not meet the
requirements. Currently, the service of centralized collection and management of wastewater is
available to only 62 percent of all residents. Some wastewater collected via communal wastewater
collection systems (especially in small towns and villages) is insufficiently cleaned and, in some
cases, it happens because of sensitivity of receiving water bodies while pursuing water protection
aims. Infrastructure of surface (rain) wastewater is especially poorly developed; therefore a great
part of wastewater is not cleaned when it gets to surface water bodies and this greatly affects the
condition of water bodies.
While developing infrastructure of wastewater collection and cleaning, the amount of
sludge produced during wastewater cleaning increases in proportion. The need to immediately
implement more modern, efficient and environment-friendly technologies of sludge management
allowing to reduce the amount of produced sludge significantly and utilize used sludge as a
renewable energy source appeared. It is also necessary to take care of managing existing sludge
storage sites.
It is planned that not less than 97 percent of the flow of wastewater discharged into the
environment will meet requirements before 2013. It is also planned that, having implemented the
plans of water supply and wastewater management, the number of users of centralized supply of
drinking water and wastewater management services will increase by 3 percent in towns and by 20
percent in rural areas.
It is planned that, having implemented this program, approximately 80 percent of
sludge produced in Lithuania will be managed by applying modern technologies. Besides solving
the problems of environmental quality, it will provide possibilities to use existing accumulated
sludge and newly produced sludge for the needs of energetics.
101
The main measures of renovation of water supply and wastewater management
systems which are planned to be subsidized under this program are modernization and development
of infrastructure of wastewater management (wastewater collection, transportation, cleaning,
discharge, stocktaking, control, management of waste produced during initial cleaning of sludge),
development of infrastructure of surface wastewater management, creation of infrastructure of
cleaning sludge produced while during wastewater management. In order to improve the condition
of water bodies and achieve water protection aims during the terms set by the EU it is planned to
subsidize implementation of the measures of increasing efficiency of wastewater from
agglomerations cleaning facilities from which wastewater is discharged into pollution-sensitive
water bodies (in those agglomerations where wastewater is cleaned up to the minimum
requirements of The Urban Wastewater Directive but this is not enough in order to achieve water
protection aims (additional cleaning is necessary). The largest investments are intended for
completion of implementation of investment programs for development of watershed water supply
and wastewater management infrastructure, i.e. for renovation and development of infrastructure
designed for public water supply and wastewater management in cities and towns.
It is planed to give none the less attention to supply of suitable-quality drinking water
to villages and small settlements and creation of a proper wastewater management infrastructure.
While solving the problems of surface wastewater management, it is planned to subsidize
construction of cleaning facilities in existing surface wastewater collection systems belonging to
municipalities (or enterprises controlled by municipalities). It is planed to implement more modern
and efficient sludge treatment technologies for management of wastewater sludge as well as to
create wastewater sludge management infrastructure enabling to use existing accumulations of and
newly obtained sludge for the needs of energetics.
Creation of a modern waste management system
Having created a modern waste management system meeting the EU requirements,
environment-friendly waste management services convenient to residents will be ensured. This will
ensure implementation of the tasks set in the EU Waste Landfill Directive, contribute to
implementation of the aims of waste recycling set in the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste
Directive and the Electrical and Electronical Equipment (EEE) Directive. Development of the
capacities of collecting and managing biologically decomposing waste from the flow of communal
waste will ensure that 50 percent less of such waste would be removed to waste landfills in 2013
than in 2000. By properly managing biologically decomposing waste, emissions of greenhouse gas
will be reduced in this way contributing to implementation of the requirements of the Kyoto
protocol and appropriate EU legal acts. Having implemented initial sorting of communal waste and
using waste as secondary raw materials, the amount of waste removed to landfills and pollution of
the environment will decrease greatly as well as the need for and use of natural resources will be
reduced. The proportion of used and removed waste is planned to amount to 50 percent in the end
of the financial period.
In order to create a modern waste management system, it is planned to complete
creation of regional modern waste management systems according to prepared plans for regional
modern waste management system. Some funds will be invested in completion of closing and
recultivation works of old landfills, at the same time ensuring construction of an appropriate waste
collection and sorting infrastructure. Parallelly, plans for regional waste management will be
renewed by giving special attention to development of infrastructure of biologically decomposing
waste management and separate collection of flow of specific waste (EEE, packaging, domestic
hazardous waste etc) in order to ensure proper proportion of used and removed waste. The priority
will be given to investments in biologically decomposing waste management facilities (mechanicbiologic treatment, biogas production, making compost etc), separate collection of specific waste
and, if expedient, burning communal waste. Regarding specifics of every region and possibilities of
102
inter-regional cooperation, a technology for biologically decomposing waste management will be
chosen and appropriate system of collecting this waste will be created.
Improvement of air quality
In order to ensure air quality which does not endanger human health as well as to keep
surrounding air norms meeting the strictest requirements of the EU, it is necessary to reduce
pollution of surrounding air with pollutants emitted by energetics objects and vehicles.
Regarding closing the atomic power plant, the big facilities producing energy will
have to operate at a higher capacity and meet strict requirements of the EU applied to them;
therefore, priority must be given to implementation of pollution cleaning and control (monitoring)
systems in such facilities.
While improving air quality, implementation of pollution cleaning and control
(monitoring) technologies in the three big energetic enterprises (Vilnius (TE-3), Kaunas and
Mažeikiai power plants) will be subsidized; transitional status regarding application of limit values
of emitted pollutants established to new facilities by giving especial attention to installing
equipment for eliminating solid particles, nitrogen and sulphur oxides is granted to these power
plants until 2015.
Control of pollution by vehicles will be strengthened and the principle “polluter pays”
will be implemented in transport sector as provided for in the National Strategy for Sustainable
Development. While implementing the provisions of strategic documents for transport
development, an economically strong public transport system will be created further, development
of all vehicle types by giving priority to public transport which negatively affects the environment
less during the planned period (until 2013). Following the tasks for in the National Strategy for
Sustainable Development, it will be aimed to make biodiesel and bioethanol amount to
approximately 15 percent of fuel needed to transport.
Regarding the fact that air quality is worsening every year because of pollutants
emitted by transport, it is necessary to renew passenger transport park immediately – technically
obsolete, polluting and non-economical buses can not ensure necessary conditions for reducing air
pollution. These investments not only will allow to reduce environmental pollution and improve the
quality of air in cities but also will reduce the quantities of greenhouse gases emitted to the
atmosphere and contribute to implementation of the requirements of the Kyoto protocol and
appropriate EU legal acts.
While improving air quality, implementation of effective technologies cleaning and
controlling (monitoring) pollutants emitted to the air in enterprises of energetics; special attention
will be given to installing equipment designed for eliminating solid particles (KD10) and nitrogen
and sulphur oxides. In order to reduce negative effect of transport to the environment and human
health, control of environmental pollution by vehicles will be strengthened, implementation and
development of infrastructure of clean public transport related to using alternative fuels and biofuel
will be supported. While implementing the provisions of strategic documents for transport
development, public transport park will be renewed by giving priority to public transport which
negatively affects the environment less, increase of energy efficiency as well as use of alternative
fuels and biofuel for public transport will be promoted during the planned period (until 2013).
Increase of efficiency of energy production and use as well as use of renewable energy sources
In order to reduce dependence on imported organic fuel as well as contribute to
reduction of environmental pollution, it is necessary to increase efficiency of energy production and
use as well as promote use of renewable energy sources.
As experience shows, having invested in renovation of the buildings of public sector
which mostly are objects of health care, education, social sector, their heating will require much less
thermal energy. Besides, people’s working conditions and the quality of provided services will
103
improve, conditions for more efficient works of these sector will be created and environmental
pollution will decrease.
Investment in increase of renewable energy sources will provide possibility to
implement significant obligations to achieve the fact that renewable sources would amount to not
less than 12 percent in total balance of primary energy until year 2010. Therefore, it is planned to
modernize boiler plants by moving on to renewable fuel or implementing the possibility to produce
electricity in district heating cycle. Wider use of renewable energy sources will determine higher
demand of these resources as a fuel. Development of local renewable energy sources will positively
influence local development and promote persons engaged in agriculture to reorganize their activity
partially by orienting to production and supply of biofuel (wood, straw) to energetics objects.
Wider use of renewable energy sources and higher efficiency of producing power will
contribute to improvement of economic competitiveness as well.
Planned investments will enable to reduce intensity of energy by 10 percent and
increase use of renewable energy sources by 20 percent (in comparison with year 2005) in the end
of the programmed period.
In order to reduce consumption of energy in the buildings of public sector, it will be
invested in increasing energetic efficiency of these building by repairing and/ or reconstructing
external walls of the building and improving their thermal characteristics.
Repair and/ or reconstruction of energetics systems (engineering or technological
engineering) of the buildings will also be subsidized by improving thermal characteristics of the
buildings.
In order to increase efficiency of energy production, i.e. to increase the quantity of
electricity and/ or heat at the same input of fuel, district heating power plants will be renewed by
increasing their operation efficiency; development of highly efficient district heating plants is being
carried out. For the same purpose, boiler plants supplying heat to centralized heating networks will
be modernized; the possibility to implement electricity production by efficient district heating will
be assessed in separate cases.
Use of renewable energy sources and waste for energy production will also be
developed. Boiler plants and district heating plants supplying heat to centralized heating networks
will be modernized by using fuel which pollutes environment less and (or) is renewable in them.
Investments in construction of new efficient district heating plants and (or) boiler plants using
renewable energy resources will be supported.
Information about compatibility of investments provided for in this priority with support planned
under other operational programmes and priorities as well as the Rural Development Program
subsidized by the EAFRD is presented in Appendix V “Compatibility of support with other
operational programmes and other financial means of the European Union“.
104
Table 17. Predicted distribution of expenses of the third priority according to the categories
Distribution of expenses according to priority themes
Code
Financial proportion
(in Euros)
Title
41 Renewable energy sources: biomasses
43 Energy efficiency, common production, energy management
44 Domestic and industrial waste management
45 Water distribution and management (drinking water)
46 Water cleaning (wastewater)
47 Air quality
52 Promoting clean urban transport
TOTAL
Distribution of expenses according to subsidization measures
Code
Title
01 Non-returnable support
04 Other subsidization forms
TOTAL
Distribution of expenses according to types of territories
36.763.789
256.615.050
278.995.046
137.444.500
206.166.750
171.481.463
40.652.957
1.128.119.555
Financial proportion
(in Euros)
998.272.994
129.846.561
1.128.119.555
Financial proportion
(in Euros)
620.465.755
507.653.800
1.128.119.555
Code
Title
01 Town
05 Rural areas
TOTAL
105
2.5 PRIORITY 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR PROMOTION OF COHESION
Description of the priority
A common national management and control system of the EU structural assistance
will be created for all thematic operational programmes implementing Structural Assistance Use
Strategy for 2007-2013 of Lithuania; this system will be based on common institutional structure as
well as processes and procedures ensuring observance of essential principles of good financial
management. It will be aimed to render this system as simple and transparent as possible as well as
comprehensible to applicants and controlling institutions.
The Ministry of Finance will have to ensure proper fulfillment of the functions of
managing and certifying authorities of the aforementioned thematic operational programmes. The
same institution – the Ministry of Finance – will carry out some of these functions subsidized from
a special Technical Assistance Operational Programme for 2007–2013 which will be designed for
common management and control aspects of administration of all thematic operational programmes
as well as will include preparatory, management, supervising, assessment, informing and
controlling activity of the operational programmes as well as activity designed to strengthen
administrative skills of using assistance from the EU funds. A special Technical Assistance
Operational Programme will render technical assistance to the activity related to more than one
thematic operational programme, i.e. it is not limited solely to implementation of one of the
thematic operational programmes, of all institutions involved in implementation of the EU
structural assistance. The activities will include preparation, management, supervision, assessment
and information as well as activities designed to strengthen administrative skills related to using EU
structural assistance.
Other part of the functions of managing and controlling institutions (especially
functions attributed to the Managing authority by Regulation No. 1083/2006) will be delegated to
other institutions: ministries and agencies. Besides, experience shows that implementation of
operational programmes is not limited to fulfillment of the functions provided for in EU
Regulations in practice; therefore, a wider circle of Lithuanian public administration institutions
participating in planning, coordination and supervision of implementation of the programme, its
priorities or projects are unavoidably involved in implementation of this thematic operational
programme.
This priority will be subsidized by the Cohesion Fund. While implementing the
requirements of the Council Regulation No. 1083/2006 to ensure quality of implementation of
supporting programs, create a suitable system for management and control of support and ensure its
efficient functioning, to ensure suitability of expenses declared to the European Commission to be
subsidized from the structural assistance funds, prevent fraud, detect and eliminate violations as
well as while strengthening support management and control skills, the following aims are set in
this priority:
 To ensure efficient functioning of the system of management and control of EU
structural assistance received following the Convergence aim while implementing this
Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion;
 To improve information of the society about the support provided by the Operational
Programme for Promotion of Cohesion and results of its implementation; assessment
of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion.
Efficient functioning of the system of management and control of EU structural assistance
while implementing this Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
106
As provided for in the description of implementation system of this operational
programme presented below, while implementing this programme, the Managing authority will
delegate implementation of some functions without delegating responsibility for the functions
attributed to it as required in the General Regulation, Art. 59 (2); besides, it will use the help of
state institutions responsible for particular policy fields. For example, it is planned that Ministry of
Environment, Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry
of the Interior, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy and Environmental
Projects Management Agency, Lithuanian Business support Agency, Central Project Management
Agency and Transport Investment Directorate will take part in implementation of this operational
programme.
Under this priority, technical assistance will also be rendered to the activity of all
institutions (the aforementioned and other ones) involved in implementation of the Operational
Programme for Promotion of Cohesion and related solely to implementation of this operational
programme. This support will help to manage the actions of assessment and selection of projects
efficiently and qualitatively, assessment and inspection of suitability of expenses to be subsidized
from the structural assistance funds as well as other actions inseparably related to this operational
programme.
Information of the society about the support provided by the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion and results of its implementation; assessment of the Operational
Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
It is important to emphasize that technical assistance of this priority will be directed
not only towards the administration system but also towards the environment, first of all, towards
potential project officers, partners and the general public. In order to prepare and implement
projects meeting the aims and tasks of the EU Strategic Assistance Use Strategy of Lithuania for
2007–2013 and the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion, potential project officers of
this operational programme must be constantly informed about these aims and tasks and understand
well what kind of projects are suitable to be subsidized from the funds of the Operational
Programme for Promotion of Cohesion.
The general public must also be constantly informed about the purpose, aims,
implementation progress and results of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion in
order to ensure that they are adequately understood.
Preparation of a strategy and action plan for informing the society and publicity as
well as supervision of their implementation is an integral part of the aforementioned administration
system. However, this project will also actively support implementation of this strategy and action
plan via specific actions related to publicity of the Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion. For instance, objective events will be organized – seminars, conferences, information
days, special reports will be published in the media, information and good practice publications will
be published and all other actions contributing to ensuring publicity of the Operational Programme
for Promotion of Cohesion will be supported.
The activity of assessment of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
will be organized on the same principle: preparation of an assessment actions plan, planning and
coordination of assessment actions are an integral part of the aforementioned administration system.
However, at the same time, this priority will support the activity of assessment itself as well –
current strategic and activity assessments solely related to efficiency of implementation of the
Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion, assessment of its effect and assessment of
implementation context of this operational programme.
Compatibility with the Technical Assistance Operational Programme
Activities related to management and control system
107
Activities of institutions involved in implementation of the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion and related solely to implementation of this operational programme will be
subsidized under this priority.
In case the same institution takes part in implementation of more than one operational
programme, its activity may be subsidized under the Technical Assistance Operational Programme.
Activities related to publicity and assessment
Publicity and assessment activities related solely to implementation of the Operational
Programme for Promotion of Cohesion will be subsidized under this priority.
Publicity and assessment activities related to more than one operational programme
will be subsidized under the Technical Assistance Operational Program.
Table 18. Predicted distribution of expenses of the fouth priority according to the categories
Distribution of expenses according to priority themes
Code
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
Title
85 Preparation, implementation, supervision and inspection
86 Assessment and studies, information and communication
TOTAL
Distribution of expenses according to subsidization measures
Code
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
Title
01 Non-returnable support
TOTAL
Distribution of expenses according to types of territories
Code
35.859.836
8.964.959
44.824.795
44.824.795
44.824.795
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
Title
00 Not applicable
44.824.795
44.824.795
TOTAL
108
2.6 COMPLIANCE WITH
IMPLEMENTATION
HORIZONTAL
THEMES
AND
THEIR
Information society
The measures planned to be implemented under the first priority Local and urban
development, preservation of cultural heritage and nature as well as its adaptation for development
of tourism will complement the actions of the investment field in Information Society to All
provided for in the Economic Competitiveness Action Program and will have a greater positive
influence to development of information society in the country, especially in regional economic
development centres and rural areas. It is probable that improvement of environment and quality of
urban and rural life in regional economic development centres and rural areas will promote
residents’ and especially business representatives’ of these territories need for information and
communication technologies. Thus implementation of the measures of the priority will positively
influence reduction of digital exclusion of both the main and the rest of the towns of the country
and residents of towns and villages, and this, in turn, will promote broader social and economic
cohesion of objective territories of this priority. Creation of a common tourism information system
will provide better conditions for accumulation and spread of knowledge and information to local
and foreign tourists.
While implementing the second priority Quality and availability of public services:
health care, education and social infrastructure, various actions related to development of
information society are subsidized as well as positive influence to development of information
society will evidence itself. It is planned to promote use of modern information technologies in
teaching process and ensure access of various excluded groups to information sources. While
implementing modern information technologies, adaptation of physical environment for the
disabled is also planned. It is aimed to ensure more efficient provision of health care services,
planned to implement information technologies and support their use in health care institutions.
Possibilities to present reliable and easily available information about health care provided by
information technologies will improve administration of health care institutions. Creation of
monitoring systems and databases will facilitate exchange of information, improve organization of
patient flows as well as provide conditions to accumulate and process information about patients, to
plan and implement society’s health care, control and expertise efficiently as well as to ensure quick
reaction to threats for residents health and life.
The third priority Environment and sustainable development provides for essential
improvement and substantial development of operating information system of the environment as
well as modification of the structure of databases. Accumulated information will be used more
efficiently, procedures of issuing permits will become quicker, it will be moved over to electronic
reports of economic subjects. This will substantially facilitate the process of making environmental
protection decisions. In order to increase information of the society and promote more active
participation of the society while solving problems related to environmental protection and
sustainable development, a constantly operating system for information of the society will be
created, information centres will be established in municipalities as well as variety and availability
of information will be increased.
Equal opportunities
The measures planned to be implemented under the first priority Local and urban
development, preservation of cultural heritage and nature as well as its adaptation for development
109
of tourism will indirectly positively influence development of equal opportunities in a broad sense.
While implementing the measures of investment directions of development of regional economic
development centres, housing development and diversification of economic activity in rural areas
provided for in this priority, it will be contributed to development of equal opportunities of various,
often the most vulnerable, social groups by promoting their communal integration and reducing
social-economic exclusion. Communal initiatives provided for in the first investment direction of
this priority will also contribute to implementation of the latter aims. At the same time, influence of
investment directions provided for this priority to equal opportunities of sexes will be neutral, as the
latter are oriented to measures promoting social and economic cohesion, not that of separate social
groups.
Implementation of the second priority Quality and availability of public services:
health care, education and social infrastructure will contribute to assurance of equal opportunities
in the following ways: by improving availability of health care services, equal opportunities for
residents to receive high-quality health care services in the whole country will be provided;
influence of this measure to equal opportunities of sexes will be neutral. Equal opportunities of
early start of learning will be ensured in education field; social adaptation, integration and
possibilities to acquire the highest-quality education will be promoted for persons who experience
social exclusion and those who have special needs. Development of infrastructure of childcare
institutions will help families to combine obligations to work and family better – and this is
especially important while promoting equal opportunities for men and women. Participation of girls
in vocational training system will also be supported. It is planned to promote more active
participation of all groups of persons in lifelong learning, vocational qualification improvement and
requalification system. In order to improve participation of disabled people of employable age who
are partially able to work in labour market, it will be invested in development of vocational
rehabilitation system. Development of crisis centres will contribute to solving the problem of
violence in families.
While implementing the third priority environment and sustainable development, the
fact that equal opportunities are not provided to residents of rural areas to use centralized supplied
of drinking water as residents of towns do at the moment is regarded; while implementing this
operational programme, the measures strengthening supply of high-quality drinking water and
wastewater management will be subsidized. It is planned that, having implemented the plans for
development of water supply and wastewater management, the number of users of centralized
supplied of drinking water and wastewater management services will increase by 20 percent in rural
areas. By developing regional waste managements systems further, it is planned that the possibility
to use public domestic waste collection service will be offered to all residents of Lithuanian towns
as well as those living in villages during this financial period.
Sustainable development
The measures planned to be implemented under the first priority Local and urban
development, preservation of cultural heritage and nature as well as its adaptation for development
of tourism will positively influence development of sustainable growth both in regional economic
growth centres and in rural areas of the country. While developing appropriate infrastructure of the
later under the first and the second investment directions of this priority, it will be aimed to invest in
modernization of existing buildings and not in construction of new ones. In such a way, it will help
to avoid negative consequences of urban development to residential environment of towns and
villages when a great part of infrastructure remains unused, abandoned and in this way both
aesthetic view of towns is spoiled and inefficient use of their spaces is supported. Besides,
adaptation of natural resources and public spaces to communal needs will provide conditions
favourable to efficient use of resources, reduction of waste quantities, creation of a safe and clean,
i.e. favourable to health, environment as well as conservation and protection of natural variety. Thus
both modernization of existing buildings and adaptation of urban natural resources and public
110
spaces will allow to achieve more sustainable ecologic, economic and social development in the
arrears intended for investment under this priority.
Developed tourism infrastructure will enable to use natural and cultural resources
more rationally as well as will promote sustainable regional development. Due to proper care of
cultural heritage values and their adaptation to tourism needs as well as due to care of other natural
monuments, landscape will improve. By controlling tourists and visitors flows, the number of
unorganized visitors will be reduced in protected areas; it will also be possible to avoid potential
negative influence to the environment. A developed tourism infrastructure will enable to collect
waste and wastewater in an organized way, to clean this wastewater and only then discharge it to
natural environment; in this way, pollution of surface waters will be reduced.
Implementation of the second priority Quality and availability of public services:
health care, education and social infrastructure must not affect the pursuit for stable development
of Lithuania negatively. It is aimed to improve the quality and availability of health care services in
the whole country; especial attention must be given to remote and rural areas. Planned fields of
activity meet the principles of stable development aiming for balance of environmental protection,
economic and social aims of the society. While investing in development, adaptation or
modernization of education and social infrastructure, environmental protection requirements of
national and EU legal acts will be regarded and followed. Strategic environmental assessment will
also be carried out and its results will be actively used during implementation. Implementation of
the measures of the priority 3.2 by investing in the quality and availability of education, social and
labour market services will also contribute to implementation of social and economic priorities
provided for in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development.
The third priority Environment and sustainable development is directly related to this
horizontal theme. The majority of the tasks to increase environmental protection and efficiency of
energy production and use provided for in this priority will directly contribute to sustainable
development of Lithuania and implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable
Development. Increasing efficiency of energy production and use as well as use of renewable
energy sources is considered to be one of the most important tasks while reducing negative
influence to the environment. By investing in repair and/ or reconstruction of the buildings of public
sector, it is planned to increase their energetic efficiency significantly which, as experience shows,
will enable to reduce input of thermal energy necessary to heat them almost twice. Having reduced
energetic input, air pollution will be reduced in towns as well. With regard to the quality of air
which has been worsening during recent years, it is planned to renew and develop public transport
as well as control and regulate quantities of pollutants emitted by transport stricter. Wider use of
renewable energy sources is one of the most important tasks of sustainable development. It is
planned to develop use of bioethanol and biodiesel for transport as well as to construct new boiler
plants and reconstruct existing ones by adapting them to use of renewable energy sources.
Investments in increase of renewable energy sources will provide the possibility to implement
significant obligations to achieve the fact that renewable sources would amount to not less than 12
percent in total balance of primary energy until year 2010. It is also planned to implement more
modern, efficient and environment-friendly technologies of sludge management allowing to reduce
the amount of produced sludge significantly and utilize used sludge as a renewable energy source.
Creation of a regional waste management system will also help to solve the tasks of sustainable
development as well as will contribute to reduction of environmental pollution. Extended capacity
of collecting and managing biologically decomposing waste from the flow of communal waste will
ensure that 50 percent less of such waste would be removed to waste landfills in 2013 than in 2000.
By properly managing biologically decomposing waste, emissions of greenhouse gas will be
reduced in this way contributing to implementation of the requirements of the Kyoto protocol and
appropriate EU legal acts. It is also planned to develop capacities of using waste for energetic
needs.
In order to ensure better integration of this horizontal priority, sustainable development
will be monitored on the basis of indicators determined for the Operational Programme for
111
Promotion of Cohesion (see chapter 4 “Expression of tasks in numbers”). The indicators of
sustainable development will be assessed and monitored by a Monitoring Committee. Integration of
environmental protection issues will also be integrated during the process of making decisions
while determining environmental protection criteria for selection of projects.
In fact, regarding recommendation of the Strategic environmental assessment (SEIA)
report, all investment projects will be assessed with regard to influence to the environment.
Regional development
Implementation of the investment directions of the first priority Local and urban
development, preservation of cultural heritage and nature as well as its adaptation for development
of tourism will directly positively influence regional development in Lithuania as well as will
indirectly contribute to broad development of social and, economic and territorial cohesion in the
country. Support under the investment directions provided for in this priority will be, first of all,
given to objective territories of the national regional policy – regional economic growth centres
provided for in the Regional Policy Strategy of Lithuania until 2013 as well as to problematic
territories distinguished by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, whereas support to
diversification of economic activity in rural areas will be concentrated in all rural areas under this
priority. While providing support under investment directions provided for in the priority,
conditions favourable for developing favourable social, economic and cultural environment will be
provided in regional economic growth centres and rural areas which will positively contribute to
reduction of emigration flows of residents (especially youths and highly qualified employees)
which increases differences in development.
Thus diversification of investment flows provided for under the first priority will
enable to reduce social, economic and territorial differences existing both between the main and the
rest of the town of the country and between towns and villages more efficiently as well as to
promote more sustainable development of the latter in the long period.
The second priority Quality and availability of public services: health care, education
and social infrastructure aims to improve the quality and availability of health care services in the
country. Regional differences will be reduced not only in health care sector – this meets the
priorities of horizontal-level regional development field. Five regional development centres (Alytus,
Marijampolė, Utena, Tauragė, Telšiai) were distinguished in the National Regional Policy Strategy
of Lithuania until 2013 approved by the order No. 575 of the Government of the Republic of
Lithuania on the 23rd May, 2005. In these centres, it is planned to modernize vocational training
institutions, improve vocational training and strive that university and non-university high
education institutions would regard the need for highly qualified specialists of these regional
centres. One of the aims of the priority is also reduction of differences in the quality, scope and
availability of social services in the regions of the country, especially in small towns and rural areas
located far away from the big cities. Thus the measures of the priority 3.2 will contribute to
implementation of the National Regional Policy Strategy. Besides, establishment of universal
multifunctional centres in rural areas will also help to solve the problem of availability of education
services in rural areas. This will highly influence regional development in the long period.
The measures implemented under the third priority Environment and sustainable
development will contribute to more even regional development and reduction of differences
between the regions as well. Having created regional waste management systems, modern domestic
and industrial waste managing services will be provided to residents and enterprises of all regions
of Lithuania. Creation of a water quality management system based on watershed principle and
implementation of efficient water management measures will enable to clean polluted wastewater to
the EU norms, reduce pollution of surface water bodies, first of all, pollution of rivers, and improve
the quality of their water in all regions of Lithuania. Construction of air cleaning facilities in the big
objects of energetics will enable to reduce pollution of air in the most polluted regions of Lithuania.
112
3. SUBSIDIZATION PLAN
Table 19. Subsidization plan of Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion according to the funds and year
Year
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
TOTAL
ERDF
185.246.780
187.647.587
191.572.358
204.081.391
220.468.865
234.373.637
251.997.603
1.475.388.221
Cohesion fund
97.656.023
127.207.246
156.100.252
173.630.356
187.318.340
207.828.626
223.203.507
1.172.944.350
Total
282.902.803
314.854.833
347.672.610
377.711.747
407.787.205
442.202.263
475.201.110
2.648.332.571
Table 20. Subsidization plan of Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion according to the priorities and subsidization sources
Priority
1. Local and urban development, protection of cultural
heritage and nature and its adaptation to development of
tourism
2. Quality and availability of public services: health care,
education and social infrastructure
3. Environment and sustainable development
4. Technical assistance for implementing Cohesion
Promotion Operational Programme
TOTAL
Subsidization National
National
from
the public
private
Total
Community subsidization subsidization subsidization
For information
Total
Other
subsidizatio EIB
n level (in contri- subsidizapercent)
bution tion
755.127.250
110.731.952
76.898.414
942.757.616
80,10
720.260.971
1.128.119.555
127.104.877
151.285.243
0 847.365.848
59.599.271 1.339.004.069
85,00
84,25
44.824.795
2.648.332.571
7.910.258
397.032.330
0
52.735.053
136.497.685 3.181.862.586
85,00
113
4. EXPRESSION OF TASKS IN NUMBERS
While implementing this operational programme, a lot of attention will be given to
constant monitoring which would allow to assess success of implementation of the program an
initiate corrective actions in time, if necessary. For this purpose, the main indicators expressed in
numbers are formulated below for every task of this program. Monitoring of implementation of the
operational programme will be based on an exhaustive and coordinated system of monitoring
indicators which will be the basis of the monitoring system.
Strategic context indicators
Context indicators are presented below. The latter are related to common aims set in
the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy and other strategic documents;
therefore, they define general strategic context of implementation of the operational programme. It
is planned that implementation of this operational programme will positively contribute to
quantitative tasks set on the effect level of the program, i.e. they will positively influence strategic
context indicators. However, only ex-post assessment (and not monitoring carried out during
implementation of the program) will be able to present a more thorough assessment of this effect as
implementation of the operational programme will not be the only factor influencing achievement
of strategic context indicators.
Information sources of these strategic context indicators is official statistics, unless
stated otherwise. The data will be updated every year and, if necessary, they will be presented in
annual reports of implementation of the operational programme.
Program implementation indicators
Program implementation indicators are also presented below (i.e. they measure the
effect of implementation of the program). The main indicators are presented first of all. They were
chosen following the Commission working document “Monitoring and assessment indicators” as
well as regarding specifics and nature of planned actions. The main indicators are based on
indicators of product and result level presented below on the level of tasks of the priorities;
therefore, their number is rather limited. Besides, some of the indicators of product and results
presented in appendix 1 of the aforementioned working document are integrated in the system of
indicators of the program where appropriate. Concentration of the monitoring system on indicators
of product and result level may be explained by the fact that it is aimed to limit oneself only to such
indicators, achievement of which will be determined only by projects implemented under a certain
priority of the operational programme.
In fact, the main information source of achievement of these indicators will be the
system monitoring the projects, i.e. reports on implementation of the projects subsidized under this
operational programme. Collection and processing of monitoring data is thoroughly described in
chapters “Monitoring of implementation” and “Monitoring of indicators” of the part 6
(“Implementation provisions”).
114
AIM 1 OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM
to provide all conditions necessary to strengthen and reveal local development potential
Strategic context
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation (year)
Tasks expressed in numbers
in year 2015
0.9 (2005)
≤1
13.9 (2004)
10
-2409 (2004)
0
742 (2005)
1113
3.49
Average annual lag of regional development level (cohesion) from the Lithuanian average (deviation of
actual annual GDP/ res. Of the regions in percent in comparisons to last year)
Percentage of persons employed in agriculture among all employed people
Migration balance in regional economic growth centres (Alytus City Municipality, Marijampolė
Municipality, Mažeikiai Municipality, Tauragė District Municipality, Telšiai District Municipality,
Utena District Municipality and Visaginas Municipality) (difference between those who arrived at and
who left the municipalities)
Annual income from incoming tourism (in million Euros)
Average duration of incoming tourists’ stay in the country (bednights)
2.59 (2005)
Water bodies meeting water protection aims (in percent)
Area of protected territories (in percent)
40 (2006)
15 (2005)
100
17
PRIORITY 1 “LOCAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AND PROTECTION OF NATURE
AND ITS ADAPTATION TO DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM”
Main indicator
Indicator (assessment unit)
Number of local development projects
Initial situation
-*
Tasks expressed in numbers in year 2015
400
* in order to assess initial situation, a study will be carried out (EU structural assistancet projects in the period of programming EU structural assitance in 2004-2006)
115
Task 1: To reduce differences in quality and environment of life in the main and the rest of the towns of the country by giving special attention to
improvement of housing conditions in problematic areas.
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
1.09 (2005)
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
0,01
Information
source
Project reports
-*
100
Signed contracts
-*
264** (2006)
200
150
Signed contracts
Signed contracts
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Annual increase of material investment indicator per one resident in regional
economic growth centres (Alytus City Municipality, Marijampolė Municipality,
Mažeikiai Municipality, Tauragė District Municipality, Telšiai District
Municipality, Utena District Municipality and Visaginas Municipality) in
comparison with the indicator of the Republic of Lithuania
Number of integrated urban development projects of regional economic growth
centres
Number of complex development projects of problematic territories
Number of renewed blocks of flats
* in order to assess initial situation, a study will be carried out (EU structural assistance projects in the period of programming EU structural assitance in 2004-2006)
** 99 projects concerning renewal of housing are already completed, 150 – are being implemented.
Task 2: To provide conditions for more rapid diversification of economic activity in rural areas.
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Private investments attracted (in million Euros)
Number of integrated development projects or rural communal and public
infrastructure related to improvement of business conditions and increase of
employment
*
*
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
50
100
Information
source
Project reports
Project reports
* in order to assess initial situation, a study will be carried out (EU structural assistance projects in the period of programming EU structural assistance in 2004-2006)
Task 3: To promote incoming and local tourism by properly using natural resources and cultural heritage as well as by creating more favourable
conditions to active recreation.
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Private investments attracted (in million Euros)
Number of newly created workplaces:
1) men;
2) women.
12.7
1) 3389
2) 9704
2006*
116
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
50
1) 250;
2) 250.
Information
source
Project reports
Project reports
Product
Number of projects
58**
120
Signed contracts
* number of workplaces in tourism sector
** the period of programming EU structural assistance in 2004-2006
Task 4: To promote protection of natural resources (first of all, of water resources, landscape and biodiversity) by providing conditions for their
effective adaptation to the needs of residents and economy.
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Increase in percentage of protected territories where conditions to visit without
damaging nature are provided
Number of protected territories (national parks and reserves) where tourist centres
and visual information systems are established
30
(2006)*
11 (2006)
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
70
25
Information
source
Assessments,
studies
Project reports
* conditions to visit without damaging nature are provided (in percent). This indicator is calculated on the basis of the number of national parks and reserves which belong to the field
controlled by State Protected Territories Authority under the Ministry of Environment.
AIM 2 OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM
to ensure available and high-quality essential public health care, education, institutions implementing state employment support policy services,
out-patient social services and services to the disabled
Strategic context
Indicator (assessment unit)
72.06 (2005)
4295 (2005)
2759 (2005)
1337 (2005)
1319 (2005)
68.3 (2005)
62.6 (2005)
59.4 (2005)
49.2 (2005)
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
73
4200
2700
1203
1200
73.5
70
61.5
52
85 (2005)
100
Initial situation (year)
Probable average life expectancy (years)
Mortality due to circulatory system diseases of residents under 65 (cases)
Mortality due to malignant tumours diseases of residents under 65 (cases)
Hospital mortality due to traumas, poisoning and other external causes (cases)
Number of suicides
Labour force’s activity level (aged 15–64) (in percent)
General employment level of residents aged 15–64 (in percent)*
Women’s employment level (in percent)*
Aged persons (55–64) employment level (in percent)*
Provision of a new chance (teaching, work practice, employment) to young (under 25) unemployed during
6 months of unemployment (in percent)*
117
Provision of a new chance (teaching, work practice, employment) to adult (25-64) unemployed during 12
83 (2005)
months of unemployment (in percent)*
Percentage of employment of long-term unemployed who participated in active measures (teaching, work
16 (2005)
practice, employment) *
Percentage of residents aged 24-65 who participated in education and vocational training activity (lifelong
6.3 (2005)
learning level) during the last 4 weeks
Average age of leaving labour market (years)*
63.5 (2005)
Taking care of children:
(a) 21.3 (2005)
(a) (under 3 years of age) (proc.)*
(b) 69.6 (2005)
(b) (over 3 years and until school-age) (in percent)*
Percentage of employed disabled people
20 (2003)
Poverty risk level (in percent)
20.5 (2004)
Difference in the level of men’s and women’s wages (in percent)
16 (2004)
100
50
11
64.5 **
(a) 30.**
(b) 90 **
30
10
<10
* indicators of Lithuanian Employment Policy indicated in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy
** indicator provided for in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy which is planned to be achieved in year 2010
PRIORITY 2 “QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC SERVICES: HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE”
Main indicator
Indicator (assessment unit)
Number of public services (health care, vocational training, social services)
objects (institutions) which received support
Initial situation
1116*
Tasks expressed in numbers in year 2015
306
* Number of public services (health care, vocational training, social services) objects (institutions)
Task 1: To provide high-quality and available health care services
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Number of patients to whom the quality and availability of health care services
improved
Number of health care institutions which received support
Number of projects (health care)
Initial
situation
3403300*
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
1050500
293**
122***
110
75
* Number of residents of Lithuania on 1st January, 2006. Source: Department of Statistics under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania
118
Information source
Project reports
Project reports
Signed contracts
** Network of health care institutions in the end of 2006: general hospitals, nursing hospitals, specialized oncological and psychiatric hospitals, ambulatory health care institutions,
departments/ stations of emergency and urgent medical services (legal units were counted). Source: Lithuanian Health Information Centre.
*** Projects subsidized under the measure 1.4 “Restructurization and modernization of health care institutions” of the general programming document of Lithuania for 2004–2006
(fields of activity: development and modernization of infrastructure general practice services; strengthening and development of cardiological health care services by modernizing health
care institutions). Source: PE Central Project Management Agency
Task 2: To ensure higher quality and availability of education and studies services by improving participation of persons belonging to all age
groups in lifelong learning system
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Number of beneficiaries of direct benefit from investments in education
infrastructure (during 6 months after completion of a project)
Number of projects
Initial
situation
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
-*
110000
51**
(2006)
100
Information source
Project reports
Signed contracts
* it is planned to carry out a study
** projects under the measure 1.5 of the general programming document BPD 1.5 in the field of education, vocational training and studies (except support for preparing projects).
Source: Central Project Management Agency
Task 3: To ensure better compatibility of the supply and demand of vocational training, improve qualification of labour force and induce
economically inactive residents to get involved in labour market
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Number of persons (students, lecturers, unemployed, economically inactive
persons) who will obtain direct benefit from state investments in infrastructure of
vocational training institutions and institutions implementing state employment
support policy
Number of constructed or reconstructed objects or objects where equipment was
renewed (hereinafter – objects) (vocational training institutions, institutions
implementing state employment support policy)
Initial
situation
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
152000*
225000
135**
82
Information source
Project reports,
research
Project reports
*- data of the year 2006: number of persons who used services of Lithuanian Labour Exchange – 73 thousand; data of the year 2004 and 2005: number of persons who used services of
vocational training infrastructure – 79 thousand.
**- data of the year 2006: number of Lithuanian Labour Exchange institutions – 46; data of the year 2004 and 2005: number of vocational training institutions – 89.
Task 4: To promote better integration of persons belonging to social risk groups and persons experiencing social exclusion as well as their family
member to the society and labour market
119
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Initial
situation
Indicator (assessment unit)
Number of the disabled, persons who experience social exclusion or those to whom
social exclusion threatens and who obtained direct benefit from investments in
development of infrastructure of out-patient social services and infrastructure
designed for the disabled
Number of constructed or reconstructed objects or objects where equipment was
renewed (hereinafter – objects) (institutions providing social services and services
to the disabled)
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
Information source
225000*
390000
Project reports,
research
346**
114
Project reports
*- data of the year 2006: number of persons who used infrastructure designed to the disabled – 154 thousand; data of the year 2005 m. number of persons who used infrastructure of outpatient social services – 71 thousand.
**- data of the year 2006: number of institutions providing services to the disabled –41; data of the year 2005: number of institutions providing social services – 305.
AIM 3 OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAM
to pursue better environmental quality by giving special attention to increasing efficiency of using energy
Strategic context
Initial situation (year)
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
70 (2005)
97
Quantity of biologically decomposing waste removed to landfills (thousand tons)
574 (2000)
287
Energy intensity (kg n.e./1000 Lt )
132* (2005)
118.8
750 000 (2005)
900000
0,3 (2005)
<0,3
Indicator (assessment unit)
Percentage of wastewater meeting requirements and discharged to the environment in
total flow of wastewater
Use of renewable energy sources (t n. e.)
Emission of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere (thousand t n. e. CO2 equivalent/
million Lt GDP)
* comparative prices in 2000
PRIORITY “ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT”
Task 1: Renovation and development of water supply and wastewater management systems
Program implementation indicators
120
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
62 (2006)*
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
8
107**
220
Initial situation
Increase in percentage of residents who use centralized wastewater
collection and management services (in percent)
Number of residential areas where a water supply and/ or wastewater
system was renovated/ constructed
Information source
Assessments, studies
Project reports
* Residents who use centralized wastewater collection and management services (in percent)
** water supply and/ or wastewater systems was renovated/ constructed in 2000-2006 using the funds of ISPA and Cohesion Fund
Task 2: Creation of a modern waste management system
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
0 (2006)*
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
100
Assessments, studies
587** (2007)
249
Project reports
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
Information source
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Result
Increase in percentage of waste landfills meeting the EU
environmental protection requirements (in percent)
Product
Number of closed and managed waste landfills/ dumps
Information source
* removal of waste in waste landfills meeting the EU environmental protection requirements (in percent)
** number of waste landfills/ dumps closed and managed in 2000-2006 using the funds of ISPA and Cohesion Fund
Task 3: Improvement of air quality
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Decrease of concentration of main pollutants in exhaust gas in
modernized big objects which burn fuel:
1) SO2 (mg/Nm3)
2) NOx (mg/Nm3)
3) KD (mg/Nm3)
Result
Product
1) 1700
2) 450
3) 100
(2006)
3*
Number of modernized big objects of energetics
1) 1300
2) 50
3) 50
3
Project reports
Project reports
* Transition period granted to three Lithuanian objects of energetics because of the EU Directive on ceilings on pollutants emitted by big facilities which burn fuel
Task 3: To increase energy production and use efficiency as well as use of renewable energy sources
Program implementation indicators
121
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Quantity of energy saved in renewed public purpose buildings (GWh)
Number of public purpose buildings renewed with regard to saving
energy
40*
82*
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
100
200
Information source
Project reports
Project reports
* the period of programming EU structural assistance in 2004-2006
PRIORITY 4 “TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR IMPLEMENTING OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR PROMOTION OF COHESION”
Task 1: To ensure efficient functioning of the system of management and control of EU structural assistance received following the Convergence
aim while implementing this Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
State officers and employees who have improved their qualification*
and have been employed in the field of implementation of the
Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion not less than a
year (in percent)
Number of state officers and employees who are employed in the field
of implementation of the Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion and who have improved their qualification not less than once
a year
430**
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
90
430**
72
Information source
Research
Research
* Persons who participated in training courses at least once in a year
** Number of state officers and employees who administer EU structural assistance of 2004-2006, except state officers who administer European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund and Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance
Task 2: To improve information of the society about the support provided by the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion and results
of its implementation; assessment of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
Program implementation indicators
Indicator
type
Result
Product
Indicator (assessment unit)
Initial situation
Potential beneficiaries of support who know about the EU structural
assistance for cohesion promotion (in percent)
Number of implemented information initiatives (information
campaigns, conferences, cycles of seminars, internet sites etc)
-*
Tasks expressed in
numbers in year 2015
75
0
21
122
Information source
Opinion polls
Project implementation
reports
* A potential beneficiaries’ opinion poll will be carried out in the beginning of implementation of the program in order to determined initial situation. According to the data of a poll
carried out in April, 2007, 42 % of applicants of the general programming document know what activity is supported by ERDF.
123
5. PREPARING OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME
5.1 PARTNERSHIP
Following the decision No. 1351 “Regarding determining operational programmes for
implementation of the strategy for using structural assistance from the European Union for 20072013” of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on 14th December, 2005, working groups
“Local development” (led by the Ministry of the Interior), “Quality and availability of public
services” (led by the Ministry of Education and Science) and “Environmental quality and efficiency
of using energy” (led by the Ministry of environment) were established. The ministries addressed
organizations of social economic partners (state institutions, employers, labour unions, nongovernmental organizations etc) inviting them to participate in working groups while preparing
priority 1 of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion. A number of organizations
turned to the ministries themselves asking to allow them to participate in preparation of the project
of the support.
Representatives of all organizations which expresses their wish to participate in any
working group were included in working groups, personal composition of which was approved by
the order No. 1K-070 “Regarding approval of personal composition of working groups established
for preparation of operational programmes” of the Minister of Subsidize of the Republic of
Lithuania on 27th January, 2006, with later additions and amendments (order No. 1K-151 of the
Minister of Subsidize of the Republic of Lithuania on 6th April, 2006).
Contributions prepared by working groups were incorporated in the text of operational
programmes by the Ministry of Finance; projects of operational programmes and parts of them were
considered by the Committee responsible for preparation of the strategy for using funds of Common
National EU structural assistance for Lithuania for 2007–2013 as well as projects of operational
programmes implementing this strategy.
All priorities were presented on 29th June, 2006, in a public meeting, over 200 various
social and economic partners participated in which. The majority of these partners worked in
separate working groups during preparation of operational programmes, thus the aim of final public
meeting was to review and generalize results of the work together once more as well as to check
compatibility of separate operational programmes and their priorities.
After public meeting, the most important notes of social and economic programs were
considered. The results of informal consultations with representatives of the European Commission
(took place on 9th April and 13th July) were also considered, as notes and proposals for the common
strategy influenced a more detailed content of the operational programme.
Partnership while preparing description of the priority 1 “local and urban development,
preservation of cultural heritage and protection of nature and its adaptation to development
of tourism”
33 members participated in the working group “Local development”, 25 of them are
representatives of the Government, Presidential Palace and ministries of the Republic of Lithuania
and 8 members are representatives of social-economic partners and non-governmental organizations
(Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania, Lithuanian Non-governmental Environmental
Organizations Coalition, association of Lithuanian Museums, Association of Directors of
Agricultural Schools, Association of Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts,
Chamber of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, association “Cultural Self-government
Board”, Country Heads Association). While preparing the Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion (in April – September, 2006), 5 meeting of the working group were organized. Also
interinstitutional meetings of representatives of the working place took place during the period
124
when the operational programme was being prepared. Communication and cooperation of the
members of the working groups as well as exchange of information took place not only during the
meetings but also by e-mail.
A meeting with the mayors of the municipalities of 7 regional economic growth
centres distinguished in the Regional Policy Strategy of Lithuania until 2013 was held on 30 th
March, 2006, in order to discuss purposeful use of the EU structural assistance as well as to
introduce foreseen planning of investment projects.
In July, 2006, the Ministry of the Interior organized public meeting in 9 counties.
Representatives of County Head Administration and municipalities included in a particular county
participated in these meetings. During these meetings, they were introduced to planning of projects
of regional significance, new rights and duties of councils for development of municipalities and
regions, structural assistance and its administration for 2007–2013 as well as new functions of
councils for development of regions during the new period of using EU structural assistance.
Officers of the Ministry of the Interior, members of a working group participated in the
meetings of councils for development of regions of Alytus, Panevėžys, Tauragė, Telšiai and Utena;
during these meetings, they introduced members of councils for development of regions with the
new role of councils for development of regions while administering EU structural assistance for
2007–2013
The Ministry of Economy also established a Tourism subgroup of the “Local
development” working group; Members of this subgroup prepared the parts of the Operational
Programme for Promotion of Cohesion which were intended for the priority “Local development
and protection of natural and cultural heritage objects; their adaptation for complex tourism
development”. Representatives of concerned state governing institutions as well as representatives
of the big associated tourism structures participate in the working group. Six meetings of the
Tourism subgroup of the “Local development” working group were held. Before, the meeting, each
partner presented his/ her proposals to the Ministry of Economy which generalized information and
presented it to the members of the meeting for discussion.
Members of other concerned associations, members of Lithuanian castles and
manors, hotels and restaurants, other associations were invited to the meeting as well; issues
concerning preparation, directions and priorities of the strategy and action program of Tourism
development for the programming period in 2007–2013 were discussed with them.
During the meetings, the working group discussed the following issues concerning the
Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion:
- Discussion of the description of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
for 2007–2013;
- Discussion of priority objects of routes of tourism development regarding their
descriptions presented;
- Tourism development for the programming period in 2007–2013, its directions and
priorities, discussion of priority objects of routes of tourism development presented;
- The list of priority objects of public tourism of the appendix of the operational
programme of the part on tourism development of the Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion for the programming period in 2007–2013;
- Distributions of the funds of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
for 2007-2013;
- Proposals of the Association of Lithuanian Castles and Manors regarding use of EU
structural assistance for 2007–2013.
Preparation of other priorities of the Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion was organized on the same legal basis as well as following similar principles and the
same schedule; therefore, application of the partnership principle was introduced briefly while
preparing them.
125
Partnership while preparing description of the priority 2 “Quality and availability of public
services”
The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter –
MES), being the institution responsible for the priority 2 “Quality and availability of public
services: health care, education and social infrastructure” of the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion, held 2 common meetings of this working group during the first half of this
year – on March 2nd (the first and general meeting of all working groups led by the MES) and on
April 19th. The working group consists of 76 members. Representatives1 of over 20 various
associations, councils and other organizations who expressed their wish to participate while
preparing the draft of the description of the priority 2 of the Operational Programme for Promotion
of Cohesion took part in the activity of the working group “Quality and availability of public
services: health care, education and social infrastructure”.
Besides common meeting of the working group, people also worked in separate
subgroups. A part of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion – description of the
health care sector – was prepared in accordance with separate investment directions. The Council of
the Ministry of Health, in the activity of which representatives of social-economic partners of the
Ministry participate actively, approved these directions on December 22nd, 2005. 5 working groups
involving main specialists of appropriate fields and representatives of social partners (each group
consisted of 4-11 members) were formed in order to describe investment directions. Regular
meetings of these working groups were organized from September, 2005, to June, 2006 (once or
twice a month).
A generalized description of the health sector was prepared by a newly formed
working group involving representatives of social-economic partners and each working group
which described an appropriate investment direction (from 8 different organizations and
associations). The results of preparation of the operational programme were presented to socialeconomic partners and discussed several times – on 22nd December, 2005, April 12th, 2006 (together
with the management of the Ministry) and April 28th 2006. Final text of the description of the health
sector of the operational program was coordinated with social-economic partners on March 23rd,
2006, April 7th, 2006 and June 14th and the partners were asked to give their notes and proposals.
The MES held two public meetings with education and science institutions, nongovernmental organizations and other social-economic partners. A conference “Future perspectives
of EU structural assistance to education and science (2007–2013)”, in which the main provisions of
the national strategy for using structural assistance which were being created at the moment,
priorities of the strategy and proposals concerning operational programmes as well as planned
directions of the EU structural assistance to education and science were discussed, were held on
September 28th, 2005. Discussions took place in the conference, expressed remarks were considered
while perfecting the strategy as well as while preparing initial proposals for operational
programmes. A public discussion “Support of structural funds to education and science for 2007–
2013: drafts of operational programmes”, during which the EU structural assistance to education
and science – operational programmes, priorities, financial weights, problematic issues and
Council of Lithuanian Patients’ Organization, Lithuanian Business Employers' Confederation, Lithuanian Vocational
Schools Directors‘ Association, National Health Care Institutions Association of Lithuania, Kaunas University Hospital,
Conference of Lithuanian University Rectors, Knowledge Economy Forum, Association of Lithuanian Chambers of
Commerce, Industry and Crafts, Conference of Lithuanian College Directors, Association of Local Authorities in
Lithuania, Vilnius Emergency University Hospital, Democratic Policy Institute, Lithuanian Heart Association, National
Health Board , Lithuanian Labor Federation, Chamber of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Association of
Chiefs of Local Authorities of Lithuania, Lithuanian Labour Market Training Authority, Lithuanian Confederation of
Industrialists, Lithuanian Trade Union “Solidarumas”, Lithuanian Confederation of Trade Unions, Vilnius University,
Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania, Lithuanian Disabled People Union, Lithuanian Dental Chamber, State
Council for Youth Affairs, Association for the Physically Disabled of Lithuania, Lithuanian Social Workers'
Association, Vytautas Magnus University.
1
126
perspectives – was discussed, descriptions of the priorities under which support to education and
science will be given were discussed separately (analysis of the condition and problems, proposed
investment directions etc), was held on May 9th, 2006. An active discussion took place.
Participants’ proposals and remarks were generalized in the report on the event; working groups
considered them while perfecting projects of operational programmes.
The part of the operational programme concerning social and labour market
infrastructure was prepared by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour and discussed with the
institutions concerned: Lithuanian Labour Exchange and Lithuanian Labour Market Training
Authority, the Department of the Affairs of the Disabled etc. The document prepared was presented
to these institutions and social partners by e-mail. The part of the program renewed in accordance
with their proposals was discussed in the working group “Quality and availability of public
services”.
Partnership while preparing description of the priority 3 “Environment and sustainable
development”
The members of the working group “Environmental quality and efficiency of using
energy” include representatives of social-economic partners who represent organizations, activity of
which is related to the fields which may be subsidized by the EU structural funds in the field of
environmental protection and energetics. Besides, energetic issues are closely related to
environmental protection and public interest; therefore, a representative of Lithuanian Nongovernmental Environmental Organizations Coalition also participates in the working group. Other
members of the working group represent the ministries concerned, the Government and the
Presidential Palace. A total of 29 members participated in the working group, 7 of them were
representatives of partners (Lithuanian Water Suppliers Association, Lithuanian Communal
Services and Waste Management Association, Lithuanian Association of Hospital Managers,
Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, Lithuanian public organization “Lithuanian Green
Movement”, Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania, Lithuanian Non-governmental Environmental
Organizations Coalition).
5.2 EX-ANTE EVALUATION
Ex-ante evaluation of the programs of using EU structural assistance for 2007-2013 in
Lithuania was carried out from May, 2006, until May, 2007. Ex-ante evaluation was carried by a
consortium of independent evaluators consisting from “Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services
LLP” (CSES) and JSC “Economic Consultations and Research” (ECR).
Ex-ante evaluation was carried out following the Council’s Regulation No. 1083/2006
of the year 2006.
Purpose of ex-ante evaluation
There are two main aims of ex-ante evaluation as determined in the guidelines of the
European Committee:
 To optimize resources of structural assistance;
 To improve the quality of programming.
Ex-ante evaluation must help to improve efficiency of structural assistance as well as
to ensure added value and accountability of public – both EU and national – resources.
Methodological approach
127
The methods chosen for fulfillment of these tasks included combination of analysis of
primary and secondary sources. In case of analysis of secondary sources, ex-ante evaluators
fulfilled the following tasks:
 Reviewed experience of implementing EU structural assistance (especially that of
programs for 2004–2006);
 Analyzed and commented programming documents (projects of operational
programmes were evaluated);
 Reviewed and commented the proposed system of indicators;
 Prepared working documents according to the main issues of evaluation together
with introductory report.
 Prepared intermediate and final evaluation reports for each operational programme;
 Prepared an all-inclusive final evaluation report with the common part and
summary of the main issues of the operational programme.
Analysis of primary sources was also carried out. Discussions with the main programpreparing institutions (basically, municipalities) were held and regular presentations were carried
out in the ex-ante evaluation committee and commission responsible for preparation of Lithuanian
strategy for using EU assitance for 2007-2013 as well as determining operational programmes.
Due to regular seminars interactive discussion about the results of ex-ante evaluation
were possible.
Main tasks of the evaluation
Ex-ante evaluators fulfilled special tasks:
 Analyzed evaluation of initial situation of operational programmes and SWOT
analysis as well as checked if this corresponds actual situation (working document
1);
 Analyzed and commented suitability of intervention logics and checked if
proposed priorities and sub-priorities are suitable measures for solving socialeconomic problems identified in the evaluation of initial (working document 2);
 Checked internal compatibility of the strategy and links between the strategy and
priorities (working document 1);
 Checked external compatibility of the strategy and individual priorities with
national and regional policies of the EU (working document 3);
 Gave recommendations concerning the system of indicators and expression of
tasks in numbers, i.e. setting quantitative aims (working document 4);
 Reviewed and made decisions concerning the proposed support management and
implementation mechanisms (working document 5);
 Analyzed the fact whether horizontal themes were adequately evaluated in the
programs (working documents 4 and 5).
Ex-ante evaluation and partnership
Ex-ante evaluation process involved a lot of participants and was interactive. The
partnership principle was observed in the following ways:
 Bilateral meetings with ministries were held in order to discuss operational
programmes thoroughly.
 Seminars were held aiming to discuss the main elements of ex-ante evaluation such
as SWOT analysis and analysis of initial situation, monitoring and indicators as
well as a seminar for regional institutions and partners concerned was held in order
to consider territorial/ regional dimension.
128





Reports were read to the ex-ante evaluation committee and commission
responsible for preparation of Lithuanian strategy for using EU structural assitance
for 2007-2013 as well as determining operational programmes.
Social-economic partners also had the possibility to contribute to ex-ante
evaluation by participating in thematic meetings of working groups where working
documents of ex-ante evaluation were discussed and commented.
Regional institutions and partners concerned were involved (during a seminar for
regional institutions and partners concerned where their role in 2007-2013 was
discussed).
A lot of recommendations were presented during ex-ante evaluation. They were
discussed in bilateral meetings with ministries.
Besides, ex-ante evaluators participated in certain meetings of working groups
which prepared operational programmes.
Recommendations of ex-ante evaluation
The European Committee suggests to indicate clearly in programming documents the
way ex-ante evaluation contributed to preparation and improvement of operational programmes. A
lot of recommendations were presented during ex-ante evaluation. The main recommendations were
generalized in every working document and included (if they were still important, as documents
were only being prepared at that time) in intermediate and final reports.
Generalized tables of initial recommendations are presented in ex-ante evaluation
report of each operational programme. The ministries were requested to indicate which
recommendations were and which were not regarded (if the ministries did not agree with a
recommendation) and which ones will be regarded later while implementing the programs.
Recommendations of ex-ante evaluation and information about the fact whether they
were regarded is presented in appendix IV.
5.3 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the program together with ex-ante
evaluation was carried out by “Centre for Strategy & Evaluation Services LLP” (CSES) and JSC
“Economic Consultations and Research” (ECR).
Requirements of SEA are set by Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and
of the Council on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the
environment. In Lithuania, SEA is regulated by the decision No. 967 “Regarding approval of the
description of the order of strategic environmental assessment of plans and programs” of the
Government of the Republic of Lithuania on August 18th, 2004, and order No. D1-455 “Regarding
approval of the description of the order of participation of the society in strategic environmental
assessment of plans and programs and informing the EU member states” of the Minister of
Environment on August 27th, 2004, as well as other legal acts related to environmental protection.
The aims of SEA are:
 To determine, define and assess possible significant consequences of
implementation of the projects to the environment;
 To ensure that state and municipalities institutions and the public will be consulted
considering the results of these consultations and other procedures ensuring publicity;
 To ensure that thorough and reliable information about possible significant
consequences of implementation of the projects to the environment will be available to organizers
of preparation of the programs and that they will consider them.
The evaluators followed strict evaluation procedures determined in legal acts: first of
129
all, they prepared a document determining the scope of SEA and presented it to evaluating subjects
(state and municipalities institutions responsible for environmental protection, health care,
organization of protection and management of protected territories, protection of cultural values) for
analysis. Before presenting the document determining the scope of SEA to the subjects, the society
was publicly informed about that.
SEA experts, having analyzed the conclusions presented by evaluating subjects,
corrected the document determining the scope of assessment and prepared an evaluation report in
accordance with it. While preparing the report, SEA experts actively participated in public
discussions with institutions concerned, discussed with programming document-preparing
institutions and other evaluation experts. As SEA is a relatively new phenomenon in Lithuania,
while preparing the draft of SEA report, information related to the experience of the EU member
countries in this field and EC recommendation documents were very helpful. The society could
familiarize itself with prepared SEA report of the operational programmes (information about the
draft of SEA report was published in the national press and Internet site of the Ministry of Finance,
public presentation of the draft of SEA report was organized).
After a public discussion the draft of SEA report was presented to SEA subjects for
coordination and they considered the draft of the report according their competence and presented
conclusions. SEA experts, regarding the remarks, perfected the draft further and presented final
SEA report in November, 2006.
The main stages of preparation of the SEA report are presented more thoroughly
below:
1.
A notice on the beginning of SEA was published in national daily newspaper
“Lietuvos rytas” and on the Internet site www.finmin.lt on July 14th, 2006.
2.
The document concerning the scope of SEA was presented to evaluating subjects
(Ministries, State Protected Territories Authority under the Ministry of
Environment, 10 County Head Administrations) on July 5th, 2006.
3.
Remarks presented before July 26th, 2006, were considered in the meetings with
the aforementioned evaluating subjects and the document concerning the scope
of SEA was corrected respectively.
4.
August 1st, 2006 – the beginning of preparation of SEA report. While preparing
the report, experts discussed with institutions concerned actively.
5.
A notice on public discussion of the draft of SEA report was published in
national daily newspaper “Lietuvos rytas”, on the Internet site www.finmin.lt and
Internet sites of 10 County Head Administrations on August 24th, 2006.
6.
Public discussion of the draft of SEA report took place on September 22nd, 2006.
The participants had no remarks concerning the draft of SEA report.
7.
The draft of SEA report was presented to the aforementioned evaluating subjects
on September 25th, 2006.
8.
The evaluating subjects presented their remarks until October 11th, 2006. The
remarks were assessed and a document concerning assessment of presented
remarks as well as respectively corrected draft of SEA report was prepared.
9.
Final SEA report was presented to the Ministry of Finance on October 13th, 2006.
The Ministry of Finance published this information on the Internet
www.finmin.lt.
130
131
6. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS
Coordination of planning and implementation of actions subsidized under Lithuanian
strategy for using structural assistance from the European Union for 2007-2013 and their
compatibility with other financial instruments
It is necessary to ensure coordination of actions and compatibility of separate
operational programmes as well as operational programmes and Lithuanian strategy for using
structural assistance from the European Union for 2007-2013. The Ministry of Finance (department
coordinating EU cohesion policy and structural assistance) which was responsible for preparation of
programs for using EU structural assistance and supervision of monitoring and control system of
assistance for 2004-2006 and which will retain this function during 2007-2013 will function as the
coordinator. The main functions of the coordinator:
- To ensure coordination of actions and compatibility of separate operational
programmes as well as operational programmes and Lithuanian strategy for using structural
assitance from the European Union for 2007-2013; ensure compatibility with operational
programmes implementing European territorial cooperation aim as well as with other financial
instruments;
- To carry out supervisions of implementation of the strategy and ensure compatibility
with the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy; ensure compatibility with the
aims set in Lithuanian strategy for using structural assitance from the European Union for 20072013 with the aims of other national strategic documents and EU policies;
- To organize meetings of the Monitoring Committee and to preside in them;
- To create EU structural assitance and monitoring system and supervise its operation;
to set the main principles of administration of programs and projects; to coordinate development of
computer information system (SFMIS) of EU structural assistance and supervise its functioning; to
provide information to the European Commission via European Community fund management
system for 2007–2013 (hereinafter – SFC 2007);
- To organize preparation of ex-ante evaluation of conformity of management and
control system with the provisions of General Regulation, Art. 58-62, (in accordance with General
Regulation, Art. 71, parts 2 and 3). For this purpose, it is planned to purchase independent auditors’
services.
- To prepare description EU structural assistance management and control system and
submit it to the European Commission together with the report of evaluation of the created EU
structural assistance management and control system as provided for in the regulation No.
1083/2006, Art. 71;
- To prepare and approve information strategy and action plan for implementation of
information strategy; to coordinate implementation of the strategy and action plan; to form an
informing-coordinating group for coordination of the activity;
- To coordinate and organize the actions of evaluation; to prepare an evaluation plan
and coordinate implementation of this plan; form a coordinating group for coordination of the
evaluation activity.
Institutions participating in implementation of the operational programme
Institutions of two types will take part in implementation of the operational
programme:
132
1) Public administration institutions (ministries) responsible for development strategy
of certain economic sectors will actively participate in planning, coordination and selection of
projects subsidized under this program as well as will carry out certain functions of an intermediate
institution indicated in Council Regulation No. 1083/2006, Art. 59 (2);
2) Institutions appointed following Council Regulation No. 1083/2006, Art. 59: the
Managing Authority and agencies implementing delegated functions (intermediate institutions),
Certifying Institution and Audit Institution.
Institutions of the first type will organize strategic investment planning and financial
planning of activities subsidized under a priority or its part of the operational programme in
accordance with their competence. These institutions will carry out the following functions:
-
Will propose procedures of selection of projects (planning procedure or an
invitation to submit applications);
Will plan and initiate projects, prepare investment plans (an intermediate
institution’s function);
Will plan invitations to submit applications and determine conditions of giving
support as well as assessment criteria;
Will prepare national support schemes, where necessary;
Will plan general subsidization;
Will make decisions concerning provision of support (an intermediate institution’s
function);
Will participate in the activity of Monitoring Committee and Management
Committee of the program;
Will participate in evaluation of operational programmes as determined in the
evaluation plan;
Will participate in the activity of publicity as determined in the Information
Strategy.
The following public administration institutions (ministries) will take part in
implementation of this operational programme:
In the priority “Local and urban development, protection of cultural heritage and
nature and its adaptation for development of tourism” – Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of
Economy, Ministry of Environment;
In the priority “Quality and availability of public services: health care, education and
social infrastructure” – Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Social
Security and Labour;
In the priority “Environment and sustainable development” – Ministry of Environment
and Ministry of Economy;
The agencies will ensure that all projects would be selected following criteria applicable to
the operational programme and that they would meet applicable European Community and national
rules during the whole period of their implementation.
Individual financial sums for counties (10 NUTS III regions in Lithuania) will be
determined where necessary and where some activities subsidized under a certain priority fall in the
competence of municipalities following national law.
Regional development councils will carry out the functions of an intermediate
institution only with regard to planning and ex-ante selection of projects. They will carry out exante selection of projects regarding the criteria of selection of projects approved by the Monitoring
Committee. The agencies will ensure that projects would be selected following the criteria
133
applicable to the operational programme and that they would meet applicable European Community
and national rules during the whole period of their implementation. Final decision regarding
subsidization of the project will be made by the ministry responsible.
Regarding recommendations of strategic environmental assessment, the Ministry of
the Interior will inform all County Head Administrations and municipalities that, regarding the
aims, priorities and tasks of the operational programmes, regional strategic documents must be
reviewed.
Aiming for better coordination and planning of actions while implementing the aims of
the operational programme, it is planned to establish a Managing Committee for the program;
representatives of all institutions responsible for implementation of the program (coordinator,
responsible ministries, Managing Authority and implementing institutions, Certifying institution
and audit institution) would participate in this committee.
The main tasks of the Managing Committee for the program:
To coordinate planning of the actions subsidized under separate priorities by
pursuing their compatibility and more efficient pursuit for the aims of the general
operational programme;
To supervise progress of implementation of priorities and measures of
operational programmes; to discuss arising planning and implementation
problems; to present coordinated proposals regarding variations of the
operational programme, distribution or redistribution of financial resources,
improvement of EU structural assistance management and control system etc to
the coordinator and Monitoring Committee;
To present proposals concerning organization of evaluations provided for in
regulation No. 1083/2006, Art. 48, part 3, to the coordinator;
To present proposals concerning action plan for implementing information
strategy to the coordinator.
The Ministry of Finance will ensure implementation of the Managing and Certifying
authorities. The Ministry of Finance will also be the institution receiving payments from the
European Commission and paying money to project officers. The principle of separation of
functions will be ensured by assigning the functions of these institutions to separate departments of
the Ministry of Finance as described in this chapter.
Managing Authority
The Managing Authority of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion is
responsible for management and implementation of the program following a reliable subsidize
management principle as well as carries out the functions indicated in the Council Regulation No.
1083/2006, Art. 60, regarding general provisions of the European Regional Development Fund,
European Social Fund and Cohesion Fund as well as regarding cancellation of the Council
Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999 (hereinafter – General Regulation).
Operational Programmes Management Department will function as the Managing
Authority in the Ministry of Finance.
While implementing the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion, some of
the Managing Authority’s functions will be delegated to the following institutions (intermediate
institutions) on the basis of the General Regulation, Art. 59 (2):
In the priority “Local and urban development, protection of cultural heritage and
nature and its adaptation for development of tourism” – Central Project Management Agency,
Lithuanian Business support Agency and Environmental Projects Management Agency;
134
In the priority “Quality and availability of public services: health care, education and
social infrastructure” – Central Project Management Agency;
In the priority “Environment and sustainable development” – Environmental Projects
Management Agency, Central Project Management Agency and Lithuanian Business support
Agency;
In the priority “Technical assistance for implementing Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion” – Central Project Management Agency.
These institutions:
- Ensure that projects would be selected following the criteria applicable to the
operational programme and that they would meet applicable European Community and national
rules during the whole period of their implementation;
- Certify the fact that subsidized works were carried out and services were provided as
well as whether costs related to implementation of projects and declared by beneficiaries of the
support were actually incurred and whether they meet legal acts of the European Community and
Republic of Lithuania; carry out inspections of projects on site;
- Keep information about the projects being implemented, register it in SFMIS,
collects data about implementation necessary for financial management, monitoring, inspections,
audit and evaluation;
- Ensures that beneficiaries of the support would have a separate system for managing
project accounting or a special code for accounting of transactions of the operational programmes;
- Ensures that received and prepared documents necessary for ensuring
implementation of audit would be kept properly as provided for in the General Regulation, Art. 90;
- Presents all necessary information about procedures and inspections carried out while
approving costs to the Certifying institution;
- Presents information necessary for preparation of annual and final report on
implementation of the operational programme to the Managing Authority;
- Participates in spreading information about EU structural assistance in accordance
with the field of responsibility assigned in the information strategy and ensures that beneficiaries of
the support would follow the requirements of information and publicity determined in the regulation
No. 1828/2006, Art. 8.
Certifying Institution
The Certifying institution of the operational programme is responsible for fulfillment
of the functions determined in the General Regulation, Art. 61.
National Fund Department will function as the Certifing institution in the Ministry of
Finance.
Audit Institution
The audit institution of the operational programme is responsible for fulfillment of the
functions determined in the General Regulation, Art. 62.
It is planned that State Control will function as the audit institution.
Institution receiving payments from the European Commission and paying money to
beneficiaries of support
State Budget Department functions as the Institution receiving payments from the
European Commission and paying money to beneficiaries of support of the Ministry of Finance.
135
136
Picture 13. Administration scheme of Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
Government of the Republic of Lithuania
European Commission
Ministries – intermediate
institutions
Ministry of Environment
Ministry of Social
Security and Labour
Ministry of Finance
Monitoring
Committee
Coordinator
Managing
Committee
EU Cohesion
policy and
structural
assistance
department
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Education
and Science
Managing
authority
Certiyfing
authority
Operational
programs
management
department
National fund
department
Ministry of
Environment
Institution
receiving
payments from
the European
Commission
and paying
money to
beneficiaries of
support
State budget
department
Ministry of Transport
Ministry of the
Interior
Regional
development councils
Implementing agencies – intermediate institutions
Central Project
Management Agency
Final benificiaries
137
Lithuanian
Business
Support Agency
Environmental
Projects
Management Agency
Audit
institution
State
control
Monitoring of implementation
As determined in the General Regulation, Art. 66, the Managing Authority and
Monitoring Committee must ensure high-quality implementation of the program.
General monitoring of the program will be carried out by the Managing Authority by
collecting information from responsible institutions and SFMIS. Other important institutions and
establishments as well as representatives of social, economic and regional partners will also be
involved in monitoring of implementation of the program via the activity of the Monitoring
Committee.
Further following thematic principle on the basis of which the operational programmes
were prepared, it is planned to establish a common Monitoring Committee for all operational
programmes. It is planned that about half of the Committee will consist of representative of social,
economic, regional and other partners.
The coordinator will preside in the Monitoring Committee. The Government of the
Republic of Lithuania will approve the constitution of the Committee. Representatives of the
European Commission may participate in the work of the Committee on their own initiative or upon
invitation of the Monitoring Committee as an advisor.
The Monitoring Committee will determine their working rules in accordance with the
institutional, legal and financial system of the Republic of Lithuania and approve them so that it
could fulfill the tasks indicated in the General Regulation, Art. 65.
It is planned that the common Monitoring Committee may establish subcommittees for
consideration of specific issues related to implementation of a certain operational programme.
Additional representatives of social, economic, regional and other partners may be included in the
composition of such subcommittees.
Indicators of monitoring
The conditions for monitoring and evaluating the quality and success of
implementation of the program will be provided by:
- Financial indicators of the program, in accordance to which the speed of using the
funds will be evaluated; implementation of the rule N+2/N+3; the need to implement variations or
corrections of the operational programme;
- Physical indicators of the program, in accordance to which success of fulfillment
of quantitative aims of the program will be determined.
The system of indicators was determined “top-down” during the planning stage by
using macroeconomic prognoses, conclusions of ex-ante evaluation of the operational programmes,
the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy, other national strategic documents
and long-term programs. The indicators were selected following the European Commissions
working document “Indicators for monitoring and evaluation” and regarding specifics and nature of
planned actions, available data on the reference point and existing data collection mechanisms and
data sources.
Indicators used in the Lithuanian strategy for using EU assistance for 2007-2013 as
well as determining operational programmes will be based on the indicators used in the operational
programmes; therefore, progress of implementation of the strategy will be monitored and measured
parallelly.
During implementation, financial and physical (indicators of product and result) data
will be collected “top-down” using information of the project level. Where possible, data will be
presented by indicating participation of men and women as well as the size of the enterprises
receiving support. Besides, on the basis of the main indicators determined in chapter 4, information
will be aggregated on the program or priority level as indicated in the tables of the main indicators
(see chapter 4). Special attention will be given to collecting information about workplaces created
138
while implementing projects under this program. Even though quantitative aims have not been set,
data about workplaces created while implementing this operational programme will be presented
every year.
Following the General Regulation, Art. 37, indicators will be measured regarding
initial situation; therefore, a proper context indicator is used in the fields where there are no
necessary data as provided for in chapter 4. Strategic context indicators present initial situation
related to a certain indicator as well as foreseen general situation while evaluating this indicator in
the end of the period. Indicators of implementation of the Program (including the main indicators as
well) are presented as a change which will be achieved until the end of indicated period while
implementing the operational programme. In some cases, research and evaluations will be carried
out in order to evaluate initial situation. Where necessary, data will be complemented by carrying
out regular polls or other direct methods of collecting data (as indicated in the tables “polls”,
“evaluations” in chapter 4) which will be initiated on regular basis (at least once a year) by
institutions responsible for a certain priority in order to obtain information necessary for the annual
report of implementation of the operational programme.
Financial indicators (use of annual and general obligations of the program, distribution
of costs in accordance with intervention codes determined in appendix II of the Implementation
Regulation) will be prognosticated on the basis of data indicated in project applications.
Implementation of the prognoses will be monitored in accordance with data presented in project
applications for payment and reports.
The basis of monitoring will be data indicated in project applications; therefore,
product and result indicators, according to which success of implementation of the project will be
judged, will be indicated in every application. Some of these indicators must coincide with the main
product and result indicators of a respective priority of the operational programme. Institutions
responsible for implementation of certain priorities (agencies) will constantly collect project-level
data about presented indicators.
Under necessity, data sources may be complemented by research and external statistic
data. Progress and achievements of a priority and the whole operational programme will be
evaluated every year while preparing annual implementation report which will be discussed in the
meetings of the Monitoring Committee. This will enable of the Monitoring Committee to review the
progress of implementation of the tasks of the program and a priority as well as to provide
recommendations for further implementation of the program.
Context indicators will be reviewed and updated every year; this information will be
presented in annual implementation report.
Implementation mechanisms of the horizontal priorities (equal possibilities,
information society, regional development and stable development) will be based on four working
groups (a separate group for every horizontal theme) led by the coordinator as determined in
chapter 6 (“Implementation provisions”). The working groups will consist of representatives of
appropriate institutions participating in implementation of the operational programmes as well as
social, economic and regional partners. The working groups will discuss implementation of
horizontal themes in the context of the operational programmes and, if necessary, will provide
recommendations concerning strengthening of horizontal aspects while implementing the
operational programmes to the coordinator. The working groups will present information about
implementation of horizontal priorities for annual reports on implementation of the operational
programmes and strategic report indicated in the General Regulation, Art. 29, part 2.
Implementation of horizontal priorities will be monitored on the basis of indicators
presented in chapter 4 (“Expression of tasks in numbers).
Data about indicators will be entered, stored and processed in the computer
information system of Structural funds management and supervision; forecasts and reports will be
139
generated using this system. Data will also be submitted to the computer system of structural funds
management of the European Commission (SFC 2007).
While implementing this program, cross-subsidization may be used as provided for in
the General Regulation, Art. 34 (2). Cross-subsidization must meet the following criteria:
1. Activities subsidized by ESF must be implemented as a constituent of the actions
implemented under a certain priority;
2. Activities subsidized by ESF must be necessary for successful achievement of the
aims and results of subsidized actions.
Application of cross-subsidization will be monitored while implementing the program
in order to ensure that limit of such activities would not be exceeded as well as to avoid double
subsidization risk. This information will be presented in annual implementation reports.
Cross-subsidization is planned to be applied in the priority 2 of this operational
programme.
Evaluation
General aim of evaluation in EU cohesion policy is to improve the quality, efficiency
and consistency of the assitance from EU structural funds as well as the strategy and
implementation of the operational programmes so that added value of interventions subsidized by
the EU funds will be increased. Evaluation of EU structural assitance is an important constituent of
the process of making decisions using to improve management of the programs subsidized by the
EU.
Following the Council Regulation (EC) No. 1083/2006 determining the main
provisions concerning EU structural assistance, evaluation is carried out before programming period
(ex-ante), during it (mid-term) and after it (ex post).
Ex-ante evaluation of operational programmes is mandatory for the member parties
which receive EU structural assistance under the Convergence aim. In Lithuania, ex-ante evaluation
of operational programmes was organized by hiring independent experts who carried out ex-ante
evaluation of all operational programmes at one time.
Following the requirements of the Regulation, evaluation related to monitoring of the
operational programme will be carried out in programming period, first of all, in cases when:
1. Monitoring shows that it was considerably deviated from initial aims;
2. An application regarding variation of an operational programme is submitted to the
European Commission.
Mid-term evaluation will be carried out during the whole implementation of the
operational programme by analyzing and evaluating the progress of product and result indicators,
determining efficiency and efficacy of using investments. Evaluations will be initiated having found
problems concerning a program or a part of it (a priority/ measure) or under necessity to collect
additional data. Following the provisions of the Regulation, evaluation will be carried out having
found essential deviations from initial aims.
Finding such deviations is, in fact, a qualitative decision which will be based on the
best quantitative data of monitoring available. The main criteria which will be considered are: a)
implementation of physical product and/ or result indicators (e.g. what percentage of the tasks set in
operational programmes for the year 2015 is already achieved); b) percentage of funds of a program
concerning which contracts are signed (from all funds of the program); c) percentage of paid funds
(from all funds of the program). While making a decision, other criteria such as implementation
stage (e.g. it is predicted that implementation of physical product and/ or result indicators will be
slower during initial program implementation stages), investment field, type of granted support etc
will also be considered.
Computer informational system will present data for the three main criteria. The
Management Committee of the program will carry out evaluations regularly on the basis of these
140
and other criteria as well as will make a decision whether large deviations from the aims set in the
beginning exist concerning each aim of a priority. If large deviations are determined, the Managing
Authorities initiates evaluation of the activity.
Constant evaluation of the activity will enable to prepare and present results of the
evaluation together with proposals to change operational programmes radically to the European
Commission in time.
Besides, evaluations of strategic nature covering strategically important fields of one
or several programs will be carried out under necessity; during these evaluations, effect of EU
structural assistance while pursuing national and the Community’s aims will be evaluated. While
satisfying strategic needs, evaluations covering strategically important themes of this operational
programme such as regional development, tourism, public infrastructure, sustainable development,
environmental protection, efficiency of using energy will be relevant.
During the programming period of 2007–2013, the Coordinator will be responsible for
coordination and organization of evaluation of operational programmes. The Coordinator has
prepared a plan for evaluating EU structural assistance for 2007–2013 (hereinafter – Evaluation
plan), in which national evaluation needs are analyzed for the period of 2007-2013, the aims and
tasks of evaluation of EU structural assistance as well as organization and management of
evaluation of EU structural assistance for the period 2007-2013 is determined. In order to
implement the evaluation plan, yearly plans will be prepared on the basis of the proposals of the
Managing Authority, responsible ministries, Management Committee of the program and
Monitoring Committee.
Particular strategic and current themes of evaluation of EU structural assistance,
priorities of strengthening evaluations and evaluation skills, their coverage and dates of
implementation as well as institutions responsible for implementation of projects will be provided
for in Yearly plans.
Usually, evaluations will be carried out externally by purchasing independent experts’
services; however, it is also planned that certain mid-term evaluations will be carried out by
responsible institutions.
Aiming for efficient coordination of evaluation, it is planned to form a group
coordinating evaluation of EU structural assistance; this group would consist of a coordinator, a
Managing Authority, representatives of ministries and other responsible institutions. Under
necessity, representatives of the European Commission, social and economic partners and
evaluating experts would be invited to participate in the meetings of the evaluation coordination
group. The evaluation coordination group will discuss yearly evaluation plans and information
about their implementation, evaluation reports and implementation of evaluation recommendations.
Information about evaluation results will be presented to the Monitoring Committee,
European Commission and other responsible institutions. Evaluation reports will also be available
to all institutions concerned, partners and the general public.
Information and publicity
Participation while using the funds from EU structural assistance is a process of
national significance; active participation of the society in this process and implementation of the
partnership principle is mandatory in order for it to achieve approval and be successful.
Besides, transparency of using the funds from EU structural assistance as well as
simplicity and clarity of functioning of EU structural assistance management system, including
transparency of selection and evaluation of projects, are the main principles of successful using EU
structural assistance.
During the programming period of EU structural assistance for 2007–2013, it is
necessary to expand the scope of the information and publicity activity, as the object of the
141
information and publicity activity as well as discussion topics have become much more
complicated.
Information and publicity strategy
During the programming period of 2007–2013, the Coordinator will be responsible for
the strategy of informing about EU structural assistance for Lithuania for 2007–2013 in accordance
with Lithuanian strategy for using structural assistance from the European Union for 2007-2013 and
operational programmes (hereinafter – Information strategy) as well as preparation of an action plan
for implementation of the Information strategy.
The Information strategy will be prepared regarding the European Commission
Regulation No. 1828/2006 presenting detailed directions for spread of information about EU
structural funds, their assistance and effect as well as how and what information must be presented
to potential applicants, project officers and the society.
The process of preparing a draft of the Information strategy will be organized by the
department of coordination of EU cohesion policy and structural assistance of the Ministry of
Finance; external experts (public relation and marketing agencies) and the Managing Authority
ensuring transfer of information to potential applicants will also be involved. The Information
strategy will cover all three operational programmes, define the aims and tasks, determine the
levels, stages and objective groups of information and publicity as well as measures of information
and publicity. It will also describe administrative structure and functions of information and
publicity as well as supervision and subsidization of information activity.
The Information strategy and action plan will ensure spread of information to potential
beneficiaries and the society.
It is planned that not less than 15 persons will be responsible for implementation of the
Information strategy and action plan. Public relation and marketing agencies will also be actively
involved in these actions.
General aims of information and publicity



To spread information about EU structural assistance for Lithuania for 20072013;
To help to create conditions for efficient use of funds from EU structural
assistance;
To ensure transparency of use of funds from EU structural asistance.
In order to implement the aims set in Lithuanian strategy for using structural assistance
from the European Union for 2007-2013, complex information about EU structural policy, its
implementation in the Europe and Lithuania, mechanism, implementation and results of
administration will be presented to possible applicants, project officers and the society.
In order to spread integrated information about progress and results of strategic aims
provided for in Lithuanian strategy for using structural assistance from the European Union for
2007-2013 and operational programmes, large events intended for the beginning of implementation
of operational programmes and presentation of their implementation results to the society will be
organized.
Conferences, seminars and fairs will be organized in order to present general
information about the content and aims of structural policy and the possibilities to submit projects
for EU structural assistance to objective groups or partners (vocational associations, socialeconomic partners, representatives of the media) and seminars on strengthening skills will be
organized for persons employed in the field of publicity and information.
142
Internet site www.esparama.lt providing a lot of information and possibilities to
exchange opinions will be widely used as an information measure for local and foreign people
searching for information.
Various material to be published (publications, programs, reports, manuals, case
studies (examples of finished projects)) will be presented to potential beneficiaries of support and
other objective groups and the society. This measure of publicity will provide conditions for
maximum transparency of implementation results of the program.
In order to implement the aims set in the operational programme, information about
the operational programme, its aims, priorities and measure, implementation and results of set aims,
will be presented to potential applicants, project officers and the society. Information and publicity
activity will form positive applicants, project officers and the society’s opinion about the effect of
implementation of the aims set in the operational programme to the Lithuanian economy.
Project officers’ information and publicity activity
Agencies and project officers will be responsible for information and publicity activity
carried out by project officers. Agencies will collect information about projects and how the aims
set in a project are implemented, generalize achieved results of the projects and ensure their spread.
Agencies will also consult project officers on application of information and publicity measures as
well as will supervise implementation of those measures.
A project officer will apply publicity measures provided for in a project following the
requirements set in the national information and publicity rules which will be prepared with regard
to the provisions concerning information and publicity measures determined in the European
Commission Regulation No. 1828/2006. The Managing Authority will ensure that beneficiaries of
support are informed about these rules and follow them while implementing projects.
Evaluation of information and publicity actions
As the quality of implemented information and publicity action directly determines the
number of applicants, the quality of prepared projects and public opinion, constant monitoring and
evaluation of these actions is highly important.
Measures of evaluating results of information and publicity activity:
1. Opinion polls of potential applicants, project officers, partners and the public
determining the change in the level of knowledge about EU structural assistance.
2. Monitoring and analysis of information about EU structural assistance and its use
presented in the media.
3. Statistics of visiting the Internet sites devoted to EU structural assistance, the
number of opened documents and queries in the sites and analysis of their content,
number of subscriptions.
4. Polls of participants of organized events.
Financial flows
The main procedures which will help to ensure transparency of financial flows while
implementing this operational programme are presented below. It is important to emphasize that the
system described herein is common for all EU structural aisstance administered in Lithuania
according to the Convergence aim; therefore, it will be equally applied to all operational
programmes under the aforementioned aim. Two essential aspects of the system of financial flows
may be distinguished: a) common subsidization of actions by EU structural assitance and national
funds; b) cycle of movement of EU funds to final beneficiaries of benefit.
143
Common subsidization of EU structural assistance from national funds will be ensured
by the state budget, non-budgetary funds (e.g. Employment Fund), municipal budgets and final
beneficiaries of benefit own funds. Regarding the possibility provided for in the regulation, private
funds will constitute a part of national common subsidization.
The potential of common subsidization of EU structural assistance from own funds
will be ensured by integrated planning of EU structural assistance in the state budget. Usually, EU
structural assistance funds planned to be given to a certain economic sector will be included in the
annual budget of an appropriate subsidy manager (most often – an appropriate ministry) supervising
the state policy in that field by integrating these funds in strategic budget programs of that subsidy
manager as a separate subprogram. Besides, planning of state capital investments commonly
subsidized from EU structural assistance funds will be closely related to common planning of state
capital investments of the basis of the State Investment Program.
The European Commission will transfer EU structural assistance funds to a separate
state budget account specially opened in the Lithuanian bank for every fund and administered by
the State Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance. These funds will be transferred to final
beneficiaries of benefit via the state budget system. Final beneficiaries of benefit will submit
applications for payment to agencies which, following the order determined by the Managing
Authority, will check suitability of a final beneficiary’s of benefit costs to be subsidized from EU
structural assistance funds. Having determined the sum in the application submitted by a final
beneficiary of benefit suitable to be subsidized from EU structural assistance funds, agencies will
form an application for payment of this sum to the State budget accounting and payment system
(VBAMS) and, according to the order determined in this system, will transfer it to the subsidy
manager controlling appropriate subprogram, in which EU structural assistance costs are planned,
of the state budget. Having formed an application for payment to VBAMS, the process of
inspecting and approving the application for payment will take place according to common order of
paying state budget funds.
Upon receipt of a proper application for payment approved by the subsidy manager for
a particular subprogram, in which EU structural assistance costs are planned, of the state budget, the
Ministry of Finance will transfer the sum of EU structural assistance funds indicated in the
application for payment from a separate state budget account specially opened in the Lithuanian
bank for every fund and administered by the State Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance.
In this way, transparency of the cycle of movement of EU structural assistance funds
to the final beneficiaries of benefit will be ensured by several main measures mentioned above:
 Having included EU structural assistance funds ES in the state budget, common
controlling measures applicable to payment of the state budget funds will be in
force during their payment;
 With the help of the state budget system, EU funds will be transferred directly to
final beneficiaries of benefit; this will strengthen the functioning of the traceability
principle of audit as well as will enable to implement the principle that EU funds
must reach the final beneficiary of benefit as soon as possible provided for in the
Regulation;
 The system will ensure that, in all cases, EU funds will be transferred to final
beneficiaries of benefit only having checked and approve sums suitable to be
financed from EU structural assistance funds according to the order determined by
the Managing Authority.
The state budget system will also ensure that all interest accumulated on EU structural
assistance funds transferred to Lithuania in advance would be allotted for implementation of this
operational programme as public common national subsidization.
The scheme of financial flows is presented in Appendix III.
Data collection and transfer via electronic communication means
144
Following the order determined in the General Regulation, Art. 66, part 3, and
complying the rules for implementation enacted by the Commission, the Commission and the
member states exchange data electronically.
Lithuania will use one national SFMIS for accumulation, generalization and
presentation of all data of ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund; this system will ensure that all data
necessary for financial management, monitoring, supervision, audit and evaluation is collected and
stored as required in the General and Implementation Regulations. Parallelly, data will be
accumulated and stored in paper format as well.
Each project will have a unique code marking all information related to the project and
actions being carried out. The code will be allotted while registering a project in SFMIS. The
system will be connected with information accounting and payment system of the state budget
(VBAMS) used to carry out payments to project officers.
SFMIS will be adapted to all administration needs of funds of ERSF, ESF and
Cohesion Fund at the same tame regarding specifics of various structural funds. SFMIS will enable
to monitor data on the activity and financial information about:
- Implementation of separate projects financed from structural funds and Cohesion
Fund;
- Progress of implementation of separate operational programmes;
- Total progress of implementation of the program according to the Convergence
aim;
- Violations found out as well as inspections and audit being carried out.
SFMIS will help to carry out the following main functions:
1. Managing function: entering financial plans and indicators of operational
programmes, prognoses and monitoring of their implementation, supervision of obligations and
payment plans, control of the N+2/N+3 rule.
2. Administrative function: registration of projects, administration of contracts,
prognoses and supervision of implementation of projects, registration of the results of inspections,
control of suitability of costs and their payment. This function includes presentation of generalized
data enabling to easily determine the problems related to terms, payments etc.
3. Accounting function: presenting information about progress of projects, preparation
of summaries for reports, presenting information about costs, collecting information necessary for
control and audit, ex-ante evaluations, mid-term evaluations and ex-post evaluations, presenting
reports to the Commission electronically (for audit purposes following the requirements of the
Regulation (EC) No.1083/2006).
SFMIS will allow all related institutions participating in the support management and
control system to receive enough information which may be used to ground records in their
accounting and sums reported by them to the upper level in order to ensure proper course of audit.
The coordinator of SFMIS development will cooperate with other institutions
(responsible ministries, Managing Authority, implementing agencies, certifying and audit
institution). It is planned to start keeping data in the year 2007; reports in a determined form will be
started to be presented to the Commission from July 14th, 2007.
This system will ensure transfer of data between the Managing Authority and the
European Commission (as provided for in the Regulation (EC) No. 1083/2006, Art. 60 c).
It is planned that data will be transferred from SFMIS to common management system
of the Community funds (SFC 2007) in automated way. Applications for access rights will be
centralized and sent to the European Commission via an agent of the member state – an officer of
the Information Technologies Department of the Ministry of Finance.
Mechanisms for coordination with other EU financial instruments
145
Coordination of EU structural assistance with other EU financial instruments will be
ensured through several coordination mechanisms.
First of all, coordination will be ensured through the common Monitoring Committee
involving representatives of all important institutions. The Monitoring Committee will ensure
coordination through making decisions on the criteria of project selection. In case of coordination
with EAFRD and EFF, The coordinator’s representative will participate in the monitoring comities
of programs subsidized by EAFRD and EFF, and a representative of the Ministry of Agriculture
responsible for implementation of EAFRD and EFF will participate in the common Monitoring
Committee of EU structural funds and Cohesion Fund.
Second, Coordination of EU structural assistance with other EU financial instruments
is one of the main functions of the coordinator who will analyze implementation of operational
programmes in the context of implementation of other kuris national strategic documents and
programs subsidized by other EU financial. If necessary, the coordinator may form working groups
for solving relevant problems.
Finally, coordination issues will be discussed in program management committees
established for every operational programme. Representatives of ministries and agencies
implementing a particular operational programme will participate in program management
committees. Even though the main aim of this committee is to ensure internal compatibility of
implementation of an operational programme, it also will discuss issues related to implementation
of other financial instruments, especially EAFRD and EFF, if necessary, as far as it is related to
implementation of an operational programme.
Under necessity, EU initiatives Jeremie (financial engineering while supporting small
and middle business), Jaspers (support for applying public-private partnership while preparing big
infrastructure projects), Jessica (urban development), European Investment Bank and other
possibilities provided by other EU financial institutions will be used.
146
APPENDIX
APPENDIX I:
CATEGORIES
DISTRIBUTION
OF
EXPENSES
ACCORDING
TO
Distribution of expenses according to priority themes
Code
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
Title
41 Renewable energy sources: biomasses
43 Energy efficiency, common production, energy management
44 Domestic and industrial waste management
45 Water distribution and management (drinking water)
46 Water cleaning (wastewater)
47 Air quality
50 Re-creation of industrial areas and polluted land
36.763.789
256.615.050
278.995.046
137.444.500
206.166.750
171.481.463
14.501.892
Promotion of protection of biodiversity and environmental protection
51 (including Natura 2000)
52 Promoting clean urban transport
87.011.351
40.652.957
Other measures designed for protection of environment and prevention
54 of risk
55 Promotion of natural wealth
57 Other support for improvement of tourism services
58 Protection and conservation of cultural heritage
59 Development of cultural infrastructure
61 Integrated projects of reviving towns and rural areas
75 Infrastructure of education
76 Infrastructure of health care
78 Housing infrastructure
79 Other social infrastructure
85 Preparation, implementation, supervision and inspection
86 Assessment and studies, information and communication
TOTAL
78.551.914
79.228.669
66.023.891
66.023.891
52.819.113
252.091.219
389.549.096
240.086.875
58.875.310
90.625.000
35.859.836
8.964.959
2.648.332.571
Distribution of expenses according to subsidization measures
Code
01
04
TOTAL
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
2.303.652.307
344.680.264
2.648.332.571
Title
Non-returnable support
Other subsidization forms
Distribution of expenses according to types of territories
Code
00
01
05
TOTAL
Financial proportion (in
Euros)
811.418.312
970.267.299
866.646.960
2.648.332.571
Title
Not applicable
Town
Rural areas
147
APPENDIX II. LIST OF PROJECTS OF HIGH VALUE
Preliminary it is planned to implement the following projects of high value (value of
the project – over 25 million Euros) in the field of environmental protection in 2007–2013:
Project
Modernization of Mažeikiai
power plant
Modernization of Vilnius power
plant No. 2
Construction of an incineration
station in Vilnius
Construction of an incineration
station in Kaunas
EU structural assistance
jointly subsidizing the
project
Cohesion Fund
Preliminary value of the
project (in millions Euros)
127
Cohesion Fund
116
Cohesion Fund
191
Cohesion Fund
172
148
Draft
APPENDIX III. FINANCIAL FLOWS
Documents proving costs
Transfer of funds
Lithuanian Bank
Bank payment order to
transfer EU structural
support and national
common subsidization
State Budget Department of the
Ministry of Finance
ERDF
account
Main
account of
the state
budget
European
Commission
Application for payment to the State
Budget Department
Information about
transfer of funds
ESF
account
Applications for payment
Information
about
payments
received from
EC
Information
about
submitted
payment
declarations
Responsible ministries –
intermediate institutions
Cohesion
Fund account
Application for payment to a
responsible ministry regarding
transfer of funds
Certyfying Authority
National Fund Department
under the Ministry of Finance
Checking
suitability of
costs
Information
about
procedures
and
inspections of
costs carried
out
Information
about transfer of
funds
Implementing agencies –
intermediate institutions
Transfer of EU structural
support
Audit
institution
Applications for payment,
documents grounding costs
Checking
suitability of
costs
Delegation of
the functions of
checking costs
to implementing
agencies
Managing Authority
(Operational Programmes
Management Department
of the Ministry of finance)
Transfer of national common subsidization
Beneficiaries of support
Documents
Transfer of funds
Information
about audits
carried out
APPENDIX IV. EX-ANTE RECOMMENDATIONS – OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR PROMOTION OF
COHESION
Final recommendations for the draft of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion which was submitted to the European Commission
are presented in the table below. Proposals for corrections of the document are presented in the table.
The actions carried out are divided into:
Whether it was considered:
Yes
Yes, partially
No
Symbol:
√√
√
N
Final recommendations
No.
Recommendation
1
Improve SWOT compatibility by composing separate SWOT
tables or at least inserting subheadings so that it would be
clearer what field separate SWOT aspect are related to.
In some places, it is necessary to define a clearer relation in
order to show internal compatibility, for example, how
intervention measures of the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion (AP) will contribute to the activity
supported by other operational programmes and vice versa.
The ministries participating in the operational programme must
ensure that the main indicators would be included in the
system of indicators, otherwise it will be difficult to carry out
quantitative evaluation “top-down” or to include common data
to annual and final implementation reports.
It is necessary to make short common definitions of all
indicators.
Regardless methodological and practical difficulties
experienced in 2004-2006 while integrating data into whole, if
expenses for infrastructure under the Cohesion AP are high, we
believe that adapt about temporary workplaces (mostly in
2
3
4
5
Considered/
not considered
√
√
Remark
SWOT statements are grouped according to themes (e.g. health care conditions,
equality of education services)
Compatibility of the actions subsidized under the priorities of the Human Resources
Development AP with the actions subsidized under other priorities of this program
or other operational programmes is presented in the description of the priorities of
this program and Appendix V (“Compatibility of support with other operational
programmes and other EU financial instruments).
The indicators of the program are presented in chapter 4 (“Expression of tasks in
numbers).
√
√√
See chapter 4 (“Expression of tasks in numbers).
N
There is no reliable data.
150
construction sector related to projects of infrastructure) should
be integrated.
Recommendations presented by ex-ante evaluators during evaluation of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion are distinguished in
the following tables as well as information whether these recommendations were considered is presented. It is noteworthy that only main
recommendations are included in these tables because ex-ante evaluators presented very many recommendations during the period of ex-ante
evaluation process which took place when programming documents were being prepared.
Evaluation of initial situation and SWOT analysis
No.
Recommendation
6
It should be necessary to deepen the analysis of diversification
of economic activity into alternative fields of activity in
regions and villages.
It should be necessary to present statistic data about the
number tourists and the country they come from.
It would be useful to know how useful grown rural tourism and
ecotourism was to various regions.
We do not think that causal relationship exists between
competitiveness in tourism sector and direct foreign
investments in the level of hotel and restaurant trade. This
statement should be eliminated.
There are problems concerning SWOT compatibility.
7
8
9
10
Considered/
not considered
√
Remark
√√
√√
√√
√
Compatibility was improved having grouped the statements in SWOT analysis
according to themes (e.g. health care conditions, equality of education services).
Improvement of grounding the strategy
No.
Recommendation
11
Are there any ideas how would it be best to apply the strategies
promoting diversification of economic activity for local and
regional needs?
Reference to JESSICA program initiated by the Directorate
General for Regional Policy of the European Commission and
European Investment Bank must be added to housing
development.
12
Considered/
not considered
√
√√
151
Remark
13
It would be necessary to deeper analyze possible role of public
and private sector partnerships while subsidizing tourism and
leisure time projects under this priority.
√√
Internal compatibility and consistency
No.
Recommendation
14
Tourism development is supported under the priority 1 of the
Cohesion AP. It is necessary to ensure close integration of this
measure with the Human Resources Development AP.
15
It is necessary to strengthen the relationship between efforts to
promote lifelong learning under the Human Resources
Development AP (priority 1 – the part of demand, priority 2 –
the part of supply) and aims related to strengthening of local
and social development potential and improvement of social
cohesion under the Cohesion AP.
Would it be suitable to involve environmental protection in
this priority with regard to cohesion – perhaps it would be
better to integrate this activity in the priority 3 (environmental
infrastructure).
16
Considered/
not considered
N
Remark
No particular training measures are provided for in this stage. It is noteworthy that
training of the unemployed is, in all cases, carried out and developed considering
the needs of labour market and the lack of skills. Currently, Lithuanian Labour
Exchange is preparing an methodology for prognostication of the need for
qualifications during an average period (3 months).
√√
N
The priority 3 is subsidized by the Cohesion Fund.
Horizontal themes
No.
Recommendation
17
Even though it is clear how each priority will contribute to
creation of information society, it would be useful to present
short references to the main EU strategies in this field. For
example, reference to the E-integration strategy of the
Commission of Information Society to All under the priorities
1 and 2.
Considered/
not considered
√√
Remark
Considered/
not considered
Remark
External compatibility
No.
Recommendation
152
18
19
20
21
Where appropriate, references to the main EU policies could
be added in the Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion.
For example, a reference to agenda of EU Social Inclusion
could be included in the priority 1 (aims 1 and 2).
Additional information on compatibility with national policies
should be added to the priority 2, task 4 “To promote better
integration of persons with social risk and persons
experiencing social exclusion as well as their family members
in the society and labour market”.
It should be necessary to present evidence how the priorities
of the Cohesion AP are related to the measures for fighting
poverty and social exclusion planned for the period of next
five-ten years instead of focusing too much attention on the
National Action Plan for fighting poverty and social exclusion
for 2004-2006 which is coming to an end
√√
√√
√
A reference to the measures for reducing poverty and social exclusion provided
for in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy is
presented.
√
A reference to the measures for reducing poverty and social exclusion provided
for in the program of implementation of the National Lisbon Strategy is
presented.
Monitoring and indicators
No.
Recommendation
22
It is necessary to try to distinguish indicators of efficiency,
results and effect right.
Aims should be defined for the indicators of the third
operational programme as they are not evaluated
quantitatively yet (especially those in the priority 1).
It would be necessary to consider evaluation of the number of
newly established workplaces and enterprises.
Approach to the main indicators must be reviewed.
Appropriate indicators such as the number of newly created
workplaces and preparation of new territories for investments
must be added.
23
24
25
Considered/
not considered
√√
Remark
√√
√
It was decided to measure attracted private investments instead of that.
√
The indicators of the program are presented in chapter 4 (“Expression of tasks
in numbers).
153
APPENDIX V. COMPATIBILITY OF SUPPORT WITH OTHER OPERATIONAL PROGRAMMES AND OTHER
EU FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
PRIORITY/ TASK
COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER
OPERATIONALPROGRAMMES
COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER FINANCIAL
INSTRUMENTS
Priority 1. Local and urban development, preservation of cultural heritage and protection of nature and its adaptation to development of
tourism
Task 1: To reduce differences in the quality and environment of life in the main and the rest of the towns of the country by giving special attention to
improvement of housing conditions in problematic areas
- Improvement of infrastructure of urban
environment (including re-creation of industrial and
other damaged areas);
Applicants: municipalities and their institutions
- Improvement of infrastructure of urban community
(renovation and development of public leisure,
sports and culture buildings, urban transport
infrastructure important to business). Complex
development projects over 200 000 Euros will be
subsidized.
Applicants: municipalities and their institutions
Operational Programme for Economic Growth
(priority 2. Increasing business efficiency and
improving environment for business)
- infrastructure for business environment: creation
of business information centres and business
incubators in non-rural areas;
- financial engineering instruments
Operational Programme for the Development of
Human Resources (priority 1. High-quality
employment and social coverage)
- training residents’ enterprise relating this to
establishing business.
Applicants: business information centres, business
incubators, non-governmental organizations.
EAFRD:
- The measure “Rural renewal and development” (support for
reconstruction (renewal) of buildings, renewal and protection of
rural heritage objects and landscape components, creation and
management of public infrastructure).
Watershed criteria:
- quantity of support per one project: projects under 200 000 EUR;
- applicant: local activity group (LAG) (projects are implemented
using the LEADER method) and final beneficiaries of benefit may
be non-governmental organizations, physical and other persons
provided for in local development strategies).
In case final beneficiary of benefit is a municipality, it will have to
present a certificate certifying that the project will not be subsidized
from ERDF funds issued by the Regional Development Council
(which ensures coordination of the watershed mechanism).
Task 2: To provide conditions for more rapid diversification of economic activity in rural areas
- Improvement of public infrastructure and services
related to improvement of business conditions
(modernization and adaptation of existing public
buildings, schools, culture centres) and increasing
employment in rural areas by providing premises for
business being established and creation of
incubators of local significance and by providing
Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion (priority 2. “Quality and availability of
public services: health care, education and social
infrastructure)
- establishment of universal multifunctional centres
in rural areas where less than 1000 people reside.
The centres will provide education and training
154
EAFRD:
- The measure “Rural renewal and development” (support for
reconstruction of buildings, creation of public infrastructure and
supply of drinking water, renewal and protection of rural heritage
objects and landscape components in order to improve the quality
of life in rural areas).
Watershed criteria:
consultations necessary for establishment of
business or people getting involved in labour
market.
- Support for renovation of buildings designed for
education, training, communal and social actions in
rural areas.
Complex development projects over 200 000 Euros
will be subsidized. Support will be given to areas
where from 1000 and 3000 people reside.
Decisions concerning subsidization of projects will
be made in Regional Development Councils.
Applicants: municipalities and their institutions
services.
Applicants: municipalities
- Creation and modernization of institutions
providing social services in areas where over 3000
people reside.
Operational Programme for Promotion of
Cohesion (priority 3. Environment and sustainable
development)
Renovation of buildings of state or municipality
institutions belonging to national health care
system, national education system, buildings of
institutions providing social services or municipal
culture centres aiming to increase efficiency of
energy consumption.
- quantity of support per one project: projects under 200 000 EUR;
- applicant: local activity group (LAG) (projects are implemented
using the LEADER method) and final beneficiaries of benefit may
be non-governmental organizations, physical and other persons
provided for in local development strategies).
In case final beneficiary of benefit is a municipality, it will have to
present a certificate certifying that the project will not be subsidized
from ERDF funds issued by the Regional Development Council
(which ensures coordination of the watershed mechanism).
EFF:
Renewal and development of littoral villages and settlements
engaged in fishery.
Applicants: local activity groups of the fishery region having an
approved fishery region development strategy (in which certain
physical and legal entities are named as beneficiaries of benefit).
Task 3: To promote incoming and local tourism by properly using natural resources, cultural heritage and creating conditions more favourable to
active recreation
- Development of public tourism infrastructure by
using natural and cultural heritage resources as well
as creation and modernization of infrastructure of
active tourism recreation;
- Development of tourism information services and
promotion of tourism marketing;
- Development of tourism services/ products and
their variety as well as improvement of the quality
of tourism services
Applicants: Public and private entities
EAFRD:
- The measure “Rural renewal and development” (support for rural
tourism: creation of rural tourism homesteads and construction of
campsites in rural areas).
Watershed criterion – applicant (farmers and residents of villages
– physical persons):
- The measure ”Non-profit investments in forests“
Applicants: owners of private forests and managers of national
forests.
Maximum sum of the support – 100 000 EUR.
Watershed criterion – the sum of the support and the applicant
Actions to be supported:
- Formation of forest borders, actions intended for preserving
natural habitats or habitats of protected animal species or typical
forest structure (presented in natural management plans),
complementing forests with ornitochoric trees and bushes, creating
small ponds up to 300 m2, temporary measures intended for closing
forest roads across ecologically vulnerable areas.
- Support for construction and improvement of recreational objects
of forest infrastructure intended for public use (recreational paths,
155
access boards, stairs, viewing sites, leisure areas, campsites, arbors,
benches, tables, fireplaces, rubbish bins, outside toilets, fencing,
information stands, schemes, pointers, signs).
- Supervision and protection of recreational facilities, reclamation
works of hydrological regime which was disturbed because of
drainage of I class (in reserves) and IIA class (protection of
ecosystems of special purpose), application of special forestry
measures (clearings in order to form landscape, planting
recreational woodlands etc).
- Creation of forest management plans and other planning and
creation of documents necessary for implementation of actions up
to 10 percent of all suitable costs.
EFF:
- Reorientation of fishing ships to activity other than fishing;
- Tourism promotion, support for tourism infrastructure in fishery
regions, protection of cultural heritage provided for in the Fishery
Region Development Strategy.
Applicants: local activity groups of the fishery region having an
approved fishery region development strategy (in which certain
physical and legal entities are named as beneficiaries of benefit).
Task 4: To promote protection of natural resources (first of all, of water resources, landscape and biodiversity) by providing conditions for their
effective adaptation to the needs of residents and economy
- Management of Natura 2000 territories except
territories related to forestry and agricultural
activity.
Applicant: State Protected Territories Office
EAFRD:
- The measure “Natura 2000 payments and payments related to the
directive 200/60/EC” (support for land of agricultural purpose
located in Natura 2000 areas).
- The measure “Natura 2000 payments” (support for land located in
Natura 2000 forest areas).
Support to farmers and forest owners in Natura 2000 areas is
allotted by EAFRD (for the land used for agricultural purposes and
forests) in order to compensate income lost due to fulfillment of
environmental requirements.
Watershed criterion – supported activity and aim of the measure.
EFF:
Support for stable aquaculture compatible with special
environmental protection restrictions resulting from attribution to
156
Natura 2000 territories.
EAFRD:
- The measure “Re-creation of damaged forests and implementation
of preventive measures” (re-creation of private and national forests
which suffered from natural disasters and fires; it is also planned to
support appropriate preventive measures, in this way, protecting
environmental protection and economic value of forests).
Watershed criterion – field of activity and geographic location
(forests).
- Management of damaged landscape elements
(abandoned buildings which spoil landscape and
areas of damaged land).
Applicant: State Protected Territories Office
- The measure ”Non-profit investments in forests” (management
and protection of the environment of recreational objects,
reclamation works of hydrological regime which was disturbed
because of irrigation engineering of I class (in reserves) and IIA
class (protection of ecosystems of special purpose), application of
special forestry measures (clearings in order to form landscape,
planting recreational woodlands etc)).
Watershed criteria – field of activity and geographic location
(forests).
- preparation of management plans of river
watersheds
- preparation of documents for establishing and
planning protected territories
Operational Programme for the Development of
human Recourses (priority 4. Strengthening
administrative skills and increase of efficiency of
public administration)
- implementation of strategic planning in local
municipalities and creation of action management
systems in ministries, other public institutions and
agencies or in the fields of public administration.
- detalization of territorial plans (all general and
detailed plans assigned by a municipality
administration) and preparation of plans and
programs for regional and municipal development
plans.
- Improvement of the condition of lakes, rivers and
other water bodies.
Demolition of unused dams and other buildings/
157
EAFRD:
- Agrarian environmental protection program “Improvement of the
condition of “risk” water bodies” (protection from agricultural
pollution). Watershed criterion – field of activity.
EFF:
- The measure “Stable development of fishery regions”: protection
of the environment of fishery regions.
Applicants: : local activity groups of the fishery region having an
approved fishery region development strategy (in which certain
physical and legal entities are named as beneficiaries of benefit).
EAFRD:
- The measure “Promotion of rural tourism activity” (support for
rural tourism: creation of rural tourism homesteads and construction
of campsites in rural areas).
Watershed criterion – applicant (farmers and residents of villages
– physical persons):
- The measure ”Non-profit investments in forests”
Applicants: owners of private forests and managers of national
forests.
Maximum sum of the support – 100 000 EUR.
Watershed criteria – the sum of the support and the applicant.
Actions to be supported:
- Formation of forest borders, actions intended for preserving
natural habitats or habitats of protected animal species or typical
forest structure (presented in natural management plans),
complementing forests with ornitochoric trees and bushes, creating
small ponds up to 300 m2, temporary measures intended for closing
forest roads across ecologically vulnerable areas.
- Support for construction and improvement of recreational objects
of forest infrastructure intended for public use (recreational paths,
access boards, stairs, viewing sites, leisure areas, campsites, arbors,
benches, tables, fireplaces, rubbish bins, outside toilets, fencing,
information stands, schemes, pointers, signs).
- Supervision and protection of recreational facilities, reclamation
works of hydrological regime which was disturbed because of
drainage of I class (in reserves) and IIA class (protection of
ecosystems of special purpose), application of special forestry
measures (clearings in order to form landscape, planting
recreational woodlands etc)
- Creation of forest management plans and other planning and
creation of documents necessary for implementation of actions up
to 10 percent of all suitable costs.
facilities located in water body, improvement of
recreational conditions.
- Removal and management of bottom sludge
formed due to pollution, waste management,
removal of vegetation caused by eutrophication,
cleaning of banks, renaturalization of regulated
brooks, improvement of recreational conditions.
Applicants: municipalities and county head
administrations.
-
- Establishment of places of interest,
environmental protection education systems
(recreational paths, stairs, viewing towers, leisure
areas, information stands, schemes, pointers, signs
etc), exhibitions etc in national and regional parks,
protection of natural heritage objects and their
adaptation for visiting.
Applicant: State Protected Territories Office
-
EFF:
- Reorientation of fishing ships to activity other than fishing;
- Tourism promotion, support for tourism infrastructure in fishery
regions, protection of cultural heritage provided for in the Fishery
Region Development Strategy.
Applicants: local activity groups of the fishery region having an
approved fishery region development strategy (in which certain
physical and legal entities are named as beneficiaries of benefit).
EFF:
- Protection of the environment of fishery regions in order to
preserve their attractiveness, recreation and development of littoral
villages and towns engaged in fishery, protection and strengthening
158
of natural and architectural heritage.
Applicants: local activity groups of the fishery region having an
approved fishery region development strategy (in which certain
physical and legal entities are named as beneficiaries of benefit).
- Implementation of management measures of
littoral strip provided for in the Management
program of Lithuanian littoral strip designed for
protection and re-creation of specific and significant
natural components of littoral strip.
Applicant: Klaipėda County Head Administration
Priority 2. Quality and availability of public services” health care, education and
In order to avoid overlapping, projects for re-creation and
development of littoral villages submitted by local activity groups
of fishery regions will have to be coordinated with the activities
provided for in the Management program of Lithuanian littoral
strip.
social infrastructure (see priority 1, task 2 (To provide conditions
for more rapid diversification of economic activity in rural areas)
Priority 3. Environment and sustainable development
Task 1: Renovation and development of water supply and wastewater management systems
- Renovation and development of water supply
systems;
- Renovation and development of wastewater
management systems.
Applicants: municipalities and/ or water companies.
EAFRD:
- The measures “Modernization of agricultural domain”,
“Settlement of young farmers” (construction/ renovation of
drinking water and wastewater systems in agricultural domain).
Watershed criteria: place of implementing a project and the
applicant (physical (a farmer) o legal entity engaged in agricultural
activity).
- The measure “Rural renewal and development” (support may be
given to water management in rural areas).
Watershed criteria:
- Amount of the support: projects up to 200 000 EUR,
- Projects which are not included in the list of the projects of the
Ministry of Environment subsidized by the Cohesion Fund (the
Ministry of Environment will issue a document certifying that the
project is not planned to be subsidized from the Cohesion Fund to
the applicant).
- Applicant: local activity group (LAG) (projects are implemented
using the LEADER method) and final beneficiaries of benefit may
be non-governmental organizations, physical and other persons
provided for in local development strategies).
Priority 4. Technical assistance for implementing Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
159
Task 1: To guarantee efficient functioning of the system of management and control of EU structural assistance received following the Convergence aim
while implementing this Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
Activities related solely to implementation of this
operational programme of institutions participating
in implementation of the Operational Programme
for Promotion of Cohesion will be subsidized under
this priority.
Technical Assistance Operational Programme
In case if a certain institution is involved in
implementation of more than one operational
programme, its actions may be subsidized under
the Technical Assistance Operational Programme.
Task 2: To improve information of the society about the assistance provided by the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion and results of
its implementation; assessment of the Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion
Publicity and evaluation actions related solely to
implementation of the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion will be subsidized under this
priority.
Technical Assistance Operational Programme
Publicity and evaluation actions related to more
than one operational programme will be subsidized
under the Technical Assistance Operational
Programme.
160
APPENDIX VI. STATE AID STIPULATION
Any public support provided under this program must meet the rules for state aid
applicable at the time when public support is being provided.
161
APPENDIX VII. PUBLIC PROCUREMENT
A member state ensure that public procurement carried out while implementing projects
under this program would meet the provisions of the directives No. 2004/17/EB and 2004/18/EB or
appropriate principles of the Contract.
162
APPENDIX VIII. INITIATIVE “REGIONS FOR ECONOMIC CHANGES”
The Coordinator (as determined in chapter 6) or the Managing Authority may:
a) permit a representative of a network taking part in the initiative “Regions for
economic changes” to participate (as an observer) in the Monitoring Committee and read a report
on progress of implementation of the network’s activities related to the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion;
b) plan revision of the network’s activities and consideration of proposals for to the
Operational Programme for Promotion of Cohesion in the agenda of the Monitoring Committee.
c) inform in annual report on implementation of the program about actions included in
the initiative “Regions for economic changes” and related to the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion.
163
APPENDIX IX. CO-OPERATION WITH BALTIC STATES
Regarding the size of the national market, where appropriate, it will be aimed to
cooperate with other Baltic states in the fields where there are common interests and in which
economies of scale or critical mass could increase possibilities which are harder to achieve
individually.
164
APPENDIX X. RECOMMENDATIONS OF STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR OPERATIONAL
PROGRAM FOR PROMOTION OFCOHESION
No.
Recommendation
1.
We suggest to complement the operational programmes with provisions
binding county head administrations and municipalities to review their
strategic document as early and possible and to complement them with the
priorities, aims and tasks determined in programming documents.
Municipalities and county head administrations play a significant role in
implementation of environmental protection measures and improvement of
its condition; therefore, this should be emphasized in programming
documents.
2.
While pursuing maximum benefit from investments in environmental
protection, it is necessary to follow the principle of protecting environment.
This should be emphasized in AP, especially in the Operational Programme
for Economic Growth. This program should include more environmental
protection aspects/ explanations/ arguments determining solutions
important to the economy of the country, i.e. it should state that a it
searches for a combination of solutions not impairing environmental
quality.
Review of current environmental condition requires a lot of time for
collecting data and checking its reliability. The problem of collecting and
processing data exists not only in Lithuania but also in other EU member
countries. We suggest to emphasize in the part on monitoring (supervision)
of the AP the importance of monitoring of influence to the environment as
well as the fact that, while carrying out monitoring of influence to the
environment, it would be possible to move on to indicators used in the EU
evaluating EU member countries’ progress in environmental protection
(The European Environment, State and Outlook 2005) – 9 indicators and
their two positions (fixed condition and progress). We recommend to form
a group of independent experts which would constantly work in the field of
improving monitoring system and coordinate this activity. The
environmental protection agency which is carrying out monitoring of the
environment in Lithuania at the moment should appear in the scheme of
administration of implementation of the AP.
3.
Considered/
not considered
Considered
Considered
Partially considered
165
Remarks
The Ministry of the Interior will inform all
county head administrations and municipalities
that regional strategic documents must be
reviewed with regard to the aims, tasks and
priorities of operational programmes.
County head administrations and municipalities
will have a possibility to use EU structural
assistance (under the priority 4 of the
Operational Programme for the Development of
Human Resources) for preparation of strategic
documents in 2007–2013.
All investment projects will be evaluated in
order to determine their influence to the
environment.
Monitoring activities are thoroughly described
in chapter 6 (“Implementation provisions”). The
Monitoring Committee is planned to be involved
in monitoring of horizontal priorities.
4.
Low public interest in the results of SEA report may rebound on
implementation of the AP; therefore, a suggestion that it is necessary to
continue information/ introduction of the society after execution of SEA
should be included in the text of the AP.
Considered
5.
We recommend to complement information in the AP that applies transition
periods for certain obligations to the EU. It is also important to mention in
programming documents future EU strategies in environmental protection
because they are related to development of the economy of the country,
pollution prevention and requirements in the environment protection field
already now.
As conclusions concerning possible influence of implementation of the AP
to the environment are evaluated and presented in tables (described), we
may conclude that, having evaluated the tasks, the majority of them will
improve environmental condition. As resultant action to environmental
components is often positive while implementing a task, we suggest, while
determining implementation measures, to pay attention to such
environmental components which may be harmed, i.e. while determining
implementation measures, to discuss with all parties concerned whether,
e.g., society’s health, value of real estate or protection of landscape is a
priority while implementing a task.
In order to create more and better workplaces (especially in regions) and
preserve qualified labour force, indirect positive implementation of
environmental protection aims may be achieved by establishing, e.g.,
Pollution Intervention Centres in the regions. This would be a new step in
the field of implementing the Lithuanian environmental protection policy as
well as would meet the community’s needs to be a concerned part of the
society. Investments in this field would induce the society to take interest in
environmental protection issues (not only related to them but also on
national scale).
Development of communal infrastructure must be related to changes of
forming municipal budgets by integrating national approach (in
environmental protection field). Funds of environmental protection funds of
municipalities should be oriented to subsidization of the tasks provided for
in the AP. Such attitude must be declared in programming documents.
Being aware of the fact that the issues concerning the quality of drinking
water are extremely relevant to residents of Lithuania, the issues concerning
improvement of the quality of dug wells must be made a priority by
implementing water supply and wastewater management aims, because this
problem is directly related to the society’s health. While distributing funds
for solving this problem, it is necessary to consider social status of residents
Considered
6.
7.
8.
9.
Considered
Publicity activities will be continued. When
operational programmes are approved, following
the SEA directive, institutions and partners with
whom it was consulted will be informed how
SEA recommendations were considered.
Transition periods are considered in pages 84,
86 and 111 of the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion
While implementing the operational programme,
new environmental protection requirements will
be considered.
All investment projects will be evaluated in
order to determine their influence to the
environment.
Environmental protection institutions and
partners will participate in making decisions
concerning project selection criteria (Monitoring
Committee).
Considered
These actions could be subsidized under the
priority 1 of the Operational Programme for
Promotion of Cohesion.
Considered
Regional development plans must meet the
principle of sustainable development.
Besides, municipalities have got special
environmental protection programs which may
be used for common subsidization.
Free water quality tests cover only a small part
of the problem concerning the quality of water
and do not solve it. Centralized infrastructure
will be supported in the Operational Programme
for Promotion of Cohesion.
Not considered
166
of Lithuanian villages and carry out water quality tests free of charge: this
should become a problem of national significance and should be
emphasized in programming documents.
167