Lithuania
Since 1991, the Lithuanian Government has instituted a number of reforms which led to an increase in the level of foreign investment. The Investment Guide for Lithuania has been prepared with three objectives in mind : firstly, to identify those areas of economic activity which present opportunities for foreign investors; secondly, to provide the investor with comprehensive information relating to the historical, political, economic, financial and legal framework, essential for sound and secured foreign investment; thirdly, to draw on the experiences of the foreign investors in Lithuania, and to assess the business, investment and regulatory environment.
The present study was prepared in the third quarter of 1999 as a background study to a Conference organised by the OECD Committee on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises (CIME), in collaboration with the Centre for Co-operation with Non-Members and with the support of the Estonian Investment Agency, on the subject of “Foreign Direct Investment Policy and Private Sector Development in the Baltic States”. This event took place in Tallinn on 17 November 1999. Its objective was to provide an overall assessment of the contribution of foreign direct investment (FDI) to the economic transformation of the three Baltic states since their independence in 1991-1992.
The conference was one of the main activities organised in 1999 under the auspices of the OECD Baltic Regional Programme. Within the framework of the same programme, it was followed up by a Conference on Fiscal Incentives and Competition for Foreign Direct Investment in Vilnius in Spring 2000 organised in ...
Creating favourable conditions for FDI has been a core element of Lithuania’s economic strategy, and relatively few restrictions to FDI now remain. FDI has also been encouraged by the prospect of EU membership, as well as Lithuania's accession to the World Trade Organisation on 31 May 2001. Among the remaining challenges are an early completion of privatisations, pursuance of liberalisation, and foreign competition for trade and investment. Top priority is being given to solving implementation problems resulting from the revamping of the old regulatory regime. On 26 July 2001, Lithuania became eligible for adherence to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. This will help to consolidate Lithuania's achievements and expand its economic relations with OECD countries and other adherents to the Declaration.
In accordance with decisions made by the FDI, the OECD has initiated surveys on fiscal decentralisation for the purpose of providing international comparisons on the design of fiscal systems across levels of government. The FDI is a joint initiative of the OECD, the World Bank, USAID, the Council of Europe, The Open Society Institute, UNDP and OECD Member countries to assist transition economies in Central and Eastern Europe in carrying out intergovernmental reforms. In 2000 the surveys took place in six countries: three OECD Member countries, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, and the three Baltic States, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In "Fiscal Design Surveys across Levels of Government" OECD Tax Policy Studies, no 7, 2001, the overall concept of the surveys and the comparative results for the six countries are brought. The full country reports are available through the OECD iLibrary, www.OECD-iLibrary.org, and the internet site of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration, www.oecd.org/daf/fa
Depuis qu’elle a recouvré son indépendance, en 1990, la Lituanie a connu une transformation économique remarquable. Dès la fin de 2000, ce processus avait été grandement stimulé par un apport de quelque 2.3 milliards de dollars d’IDE en provenance des pays européens, des Etats-Unis et des pays voisins. L’IDE a contribué aux investissements nouveaux, aux fusions-acquisitions et à la privatisation des entreprises d’Etat. La mise en place de conditions propices à l’IDE a été un élément central de la stratégie économique de la Lituanie, et à l’heure actuelle il subsiste relativement peu de restrictions dans ce domaine. L’IDE a été également encouragé par la perspective de l’entrée de la Lituanie dans l’UE et par son adhésion à l’Organisation mondiale du commerce, le 31 mai 2001. Parmi les grands chantiers en cours, on peut citer l’achèvement rapide des privatisations, la poursuite de la libéralisation et l’ouverture à la concurrence étrangère. Une priorité absolue est accordée au règlement des problèmes d’application découlant de la refonte de l’ancien régime réglementaire. Le 26 juillet 2001, la Lituanie a été admise à adhérer à la Déclaration de l’OCDE sur l’investissement international et les entreprises multinationales. Cela contribuera sans aucun doute à consolider ses avancées et à développer ses relations économiques avec les pays de l’OCDE et les autres adhérents à la Déclaration.
Reform of education, training and human resource development is an integral part of the transition to a democratic society and market economy. Lithuania has made progress in all these areas since reform began in 1990. The challenge for the Ministry of Education and Science has been to promote and support changes that meet the needs of the new economy and society as well as the interests of all young people and adults, in the face of a shortage of financial and human resources.
This book first gives a brief overview of regional issues and a history of education in Lithuania and describes the development of education in the country since the political changes. It then presents an analysis of the entire education system and identifies key directions for the reinforcement of the reforms in light of the challenges encountered by officials, communities, enterprises, educators, parents and students under very dynamic conditions. It concludes with a set of key recommendations of goals of education, learning effectiveness, outcomes and the curriculum, management and governance for flexibility, responsiveness and change and, resources and financing. This review will be very useful to both Lithuanian professionals and their international counterparts.
La réforme des activités d'enseignement et de formation ainsi que la valorisation des ressources humaines font partie intégrante de la transition vers la démocratie et l'économie de marché. La Lituanie a réalisé des progrès dans tous ces domaines depuis le début des réformes en 1990. Tout le problème, pour le ministère de l'Education et de la Science, a été de promouvoir et de favoriser des réformes propres à répondre aux besoins d’une économie et d’une société nouvelles ainsi qu'aux intérêts de tous les jeunes et adultes, malgré la pénurie de ressources financières et humaines. Cet ouvrage donne un aperçu général des questions régionales, fait l'historique du système éducatif en Lituanie et décrit l'évolution de l'éducation dans ce pays depuis les changements politiques. Il présente ensuite une analyse du système éducatif tout entier et signale les principales orientations à suivre pour renforcer les réformes compte tenu des difficultés auxquelles ont dû faire face les décideurs, les collectivités, les entreprises, les éducateurs, les parents et les élèves dans un environnement en pleine mutation. En conclusion, il comprend une série de recommandations essentielles qui concernent les objectifs de l'éducation, l'efficacité des apprentissages, les débouchés et les programmes d'enseignement, la gestion et la gouvernance dans un souci de flexibilité, d'adaptabilité et d'évolution, et, enfin, les ressources et le financement. Cet examen sera d'une très grande utilité aux spécialistes lituaniens ainsi qu'à leurs homologues internationaux.
This conference proceedings takes a detailed look at the outlook for the dairy industry in the Baltics. It finds that intense competition for raw material, changing consumer demand and internationalisation are potent forces shaping the global dairy industry today and that impending EU accession offers the Baltic countries a unique window of opportunity to accelerate consolidation and to create a more economically viable and sustainable dairy sector.
This review analyses the key issues facing each of the Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - given its specific economic and social trends. It provides detailed information and policy recommendations in five topical areas: labour law; "active" and "passive" labour market policies; pension reform; long-term care of the elderly; and social assistance benefits as a last resort. This publication is part of the OECD’s ongoing co-operation with non-member economies around the world.
The Lithuanian pension system experienced two major reforms, one in 1995, which introduced social insurance principles, and a second one in 2000 which established a voluntary funded pension pillar. Strict regulatory measures, an unfavourable tax regime, and high social security contributions largely explain the failure to attract investors in fund management companies. After a long debate, a new law was approved in December 2002 to be implemented in January 2004. Workers will be able to choose between making their full social contribution to the PAYG tier and diverting part of it (up to 2.5% of their salary in the first year, increasing up to 5.5% in later years) to mandatory pension funds and specific life insurance contracts...
The European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) has adopted a new approach to strengthening its work on road safety. It is now working to contribute more effectively to the debate on the improvement of road safety policies by conducting peer reviews of the measures and policies enacted by member countries.
Lithuania is the first country to undertake this type of review in the safety field. This review, carried out by experts from Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and the ECMT Secretariat, is an effective way for Lithuania to openly examine its policies and practices through detailed expert comment, discussion and insight on its activities.
The peer review process is used extensively within the OECD and its affiliated organisations, always originating at the request of the country being reviewed. Apart from providing an open appraisal of national policies, the review process should help relevant Ministries obtain needed resources and implement effective policies and practice.
As it was presented in the Memorandum of Economic Policies of the Government and Bank of Lithuania for the period July 1, 2001-December 31, 2002, during the past eighteen months, Lithuania has made significant progress in restoring macroeconomic stability, following severe disruptions in 1998-99 in the wake of the Russian financial crisis.
This document provides an unofficial translation of legislation on lobbying in Poland, Hungary and Lithuania.