Lithuania - Agriculture

Short-term priorities:

Agriculture

• continuation of the alignment and modernisation of inspection procedures in the veterinary and plant health sector;
• completion of the restructuring of businesses in the dairy sector and initiation of the restructuring of other sectors, meat in particular;
• reduction in state assistance to businesses facing difficulties.

Assessment (November 2000)

The modernisation of inspection procedures has begun. The restructuring of the dairy sector is ongoing, but that of the meat industry is yet to start. State aid to failing businesses has been reduced.

Assessment (November 2001)

Progress has been made in the veterinary and plant health sector and in reducing state aid to firms in difficulty. Efforts are required where the food industry is concerned.

Assessment (October 2002)

Lithuania's efforts are continuing. Border controls must be stepped up.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

Agriculture

• alignment with the agricultural acquis (especially in veterinary and plant health matters and, in particular, on external border controls);
• completion of the registration of real estate ownership and development of a property market;
• development of the capacity to implement and apply the common agricultural policy (CAP), particularly as regards the administrative structures and basic management mechanisms intended to monitor agricultural markets and to implement structural and rural development measures;
• adoption and implementation of veterinary and plant health rules and regulations;
• upgrading some food processing establishments and some testing and diagnostic facilities;
• restructuring of the agri-food sector.

Assessment (October 1999)

There are indications of progress in the alignment of national legislation with the agricultural acquis, including veterinary and plant health questions, with emphasis on external border controls.

Assessment (November 2000)

No progress made on these priorities.

Assessment (November 2001)

Some efforts have been made following the adoption of the legal basis required for implementing the acquis. Progress is needed on the transposition of the acquis and on administrative structures.

Assessment (October 2002)

Lithuania has made progress but must make efforts as regards border controls, implementing the integrated administration and control system, strengthening its administrative management and control capacity, setting up a paying agency and the treatment of animal waste.

Fisheries

• development of the capacity to implement and apply the common fisheries policy, in particular by making available adequate institutional resources and facilities for inspection and control;
• alignment with the requirements on vessel registration.

Assessment (November 2000)

The capacity for resource management within the common fisheries policy has expanded. Alignment in the matter of a shipping register has progressed.

Assessment (November 2001)

Lithuania has started to develop its resource management capability. However, further progress is needed as regards the requirements concerning fishing vessel registration.

Assessment (October 2002)

Although progress continues to be made in all areas, Lithuania must concentrate on market development, structural policy, controls and the fishing vessel register.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 98/265/EC of 30.03.1998Official Journal L 121, 23.04.1998

Decision 1999/856/EC of 6.12.1999Official Journal L 335, 28.12.1999

Commission Opinion COM(97) 2007 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(98) 706 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(1999) 507 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2000) 707 finalNot published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1750Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1406Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1204Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004