Lithuania - Strengthening of the institutional and administrative capacities

Short-term priorities:

• major efforts in reforming the administration, border controls, customs, taxation and finance;
• preparing a training strategy for civil servants;
• adopting measures to strengthen the judiciary, veterinary and phytosanitary administrations, in particular infrastructures at external borders;
• strengthening environmental institutions;
• making a start on setting up the necessary structures for structural and regional policies.

Assessment (October 1999)

These priorities have been partially implemented.

Considerable progress has been made in reforming the public administration and border controls, though further efforts are required in customs reform. Lithuania has also improved the tax administration and developed training for civil servants and the judiciary. Significant efforts have been made to reform the veterinary and phytosanitary administrations and on the environment. However, further efforts are necessary both at a central and local level in the environmental field. Lithuania has begun to set up the structures needed for regional and structural policy, but progress is slow and major efforts are still required to complete the process.

Assessment (November 2000)

An operational paying agency was set up for the SAPARD programme, but other programmes are needed in view of the establishment of the legal, administrative and budgetary frameworks needed to manage the ISPA and SAPARD programmes. The legislative framework for financial control is not complete and the necessary administrative structures have not been put in place. The training strategy has been pursued and customs officers, police officers and border guards have received training in EU law.

Assessment (November 2001)

The national and rural development plans have been completed. Certain measures are required to complete the legal, administrative and budgetary frameworks needed to manage the ISPA and SAPARD programmes. Alignment of financial control has continued as has the implementation of the national training strategy.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been assessed. The section on the Partnership for accession in the 2002 report focuses on issues which require more work in order to prepare Lithuania for accession.

Assessment (November 2003)

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

Medium-term priorities:

• setting up of a unit to fight fraud, a National Audit Office and mechanisms for financial and budget control;
• improving the functioning of the judicial system;
• strengthening justice and home affairs institutions (relying on an adequate number of suitably trained staff);
• strengthening the relevant foodstuffs control administration.

Assessment (October 1999)

No significant progress has been recorded in these areas.

Assessment (November 2000)

Implementation of legislation on the administration and the civil service has commenced.

Assessment (November 2001)

Good progress has been made in the application of the legislation on the administration and the civil service. A number of internal audit services have been set up. A programme to train judges on Community law and on the application of the acquis are under way. The administrative capacity of the statistical services has been strengthened.

Assessment (October 2002)

These priorities have not been implemented.

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

Council Decision 98/265/EC of 30 March 1998Official Journal L 121, 23/04/1998

Council Decision 1999/856/EC of 6 December 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