The initiator of the amendments Member of Parliament Vytautas Gapsys, Chairman of the Labour Party political group in the Seimas, says the new procedures will enable higher education institutions to use immovable property more rationally and effectively.
According to Gapsys, higher education institutions manage substantial state-owned immovable properties under property trust agreements. However, not all of them are in use. Previously the law prevented these institutions to receive any revenue from renting property. Consequently, premises of higher education institutions were often not in use and brought losses because they still had to be looked after and heating bills had to be paid. Now higher education establishments will be able to receive additional income from rent, whereas money will be used to improve infrastructure, develop education processes or for other goals. What is the most important, budget funds will not be spent seeking to achieve these goals.
The amendments stipulate that properties may only be rented for the implementation of other formal and non-formal education and culture programmes. According to the politician, this will further contribute to the development of non-formal education in Lithuania.
The Seimas passed the amendments with 67 votes in favour, 3 against and 5 abstentions
