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Prior to the Seimas’ spring session, President Dalia Grybauskaitė and members of the Board of the Seimas traditionally met to discuss key legislative initiatives.

Speaking about the underlying priorities, the President emphasized that with a view to upcoming elections the Seimas should not allow political ambitions undermine the tasks that are prevailing for the State. According to the President, the Seimas members need strong political will to take, already during this spring session, appropriate decisions necessary for ensuring energy and financial security in the country and, as the Constitutional Court has ruled, to pay debt to the people affected by the recession, i.e. to adopt legal acts governing the compensation of retirement pensions that have been reduced during the crisis.

“Pre-election fight should not prevent the Seimas from resolving the strategic issues of relevance to Lithuania. I invite politicians to act responsibly – suppress their political ambitions and complete the initiated works promoting energy independence and financial stability, as well as restore social justice,” she said.

According to Dalia Grybauskaitė, today the safeguarding of Lithuania’s energy independence is a kernel goal on the path to consolidating its political independence. She underscored considerable progress in energy and heat economy sectors over the last three years. Now it is important to ensure that all laws that are necessary for implementing strategic energy projects are adopted during the spring session, the President said.

The President also underlined the need to continue with making effort to control monopolistic heat suppliers. Therefore, during this session the Seimas members should enact amendments to the Law on Heat Sector setting forth clearer heat supply procedures for independent manufacturers, and pass the Law on Energy Resources Market which will set preconditions for competitive prices of biofuels.

Among the underlying political priorities the President also named fiscal discipline and living within the means.

“Strict discipline helped us to avoid financial collapse during the crisis. We should continue dealing with our finances in responsible manner and prevent wasting in the future. It is necessary to ratify Europe’s Fiscal Compact as its provisions will not allow wasting money or incurring heavy financial liabilities for the State,” the President said.

The President and members of the board of the Seimas also touched upon the importance of VAT exemptions in promoting media which is independent from business and politicians, and discussed other legislation initiatives which can serve to improve judicial system, expedite litigation process, boost business environment and enhance competitiveness.