The Commission has assessed Lithuania progress in energy security, economic growth, job creation, and the increase of non-taxable income as positive. However, income inequality in Lithuania is among the highest in the EU and continues to grow.
The reduction of social exclusion is on top of the list of priorities that the President put forward to the Government.
During the meeting, the President underlined that the ongoing introduction of a social model in Lithuania amounted to a fundamental structural reform, which qualified for a derogation in the evaluation of Lithuania's financial discipline.
Lithuania also needs to deliver structural reforms in the fields of labor, education, social security, and health care. According to the President, the recommendations issued by the Commission were very useful for turning economic performance into concrete results for each and every person in Lithuania.
It was also stated during the meeting, that inadequate progress had been made in innovation, quality of education, development of skills – which posed a serious obstacle to further economic growth. Last year, the Seimas approved the Guidelines for the Science and Innovation Policy initiated by the President. The document sets the roadmap to create an effective education system, speed up scientific progress, develop and introduce innovation in public and private sectors. The President’s initiative has been well received by the European Commission as a key factor in reforming the innovation policy.
President Dalia Grybauskaitė and Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis exchanged views on the scenarios for the future development of the European Union. According to the President, the vision presented by the Commission calls for serious thought on the Union’s reform agenda.
