The proposal to join the ELI had been discussed for several years, but it was only at the end of the previous government's term in office that these discussions took a more concrete form. A list of priority international infrastructure networks was drawn up then, but the procedures came to a halt.
Lithuania would have to pay 200,000 euros in ELI membership fees annually, but the laser manufacturers Ekspla and Sviesos Konversija (Light Conversion) have promised to provide a part of the funds.