Lithuanian Formin, U.s. Secretary of State Discuss Eastern Neighbourhood, Eu Presidency

On September 7 in Vilnius, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius met with the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. During the bilateral meeting, heads of the Lithuanian and U.S. diplomacy discussed the situation in Syria, the EU-U.S. free trade agreement, the situation of democracy in the Eastern neighbourhood countries, and items on the Lithuanian EU Presidency's agenda, press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Linkevicius welcomed the strategic partnership with the U.S. and successful cooperation in the areas of security, trade, and democracy promotion.

"I am pleased to welcome you to Vilnius. Your visit to Lithuania as the country that holds the Presidency of the EU Council, as well as consultations with European counterparts, show that our transatlantic ties remain strong. The recent meeting of the Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and other heads of the Baltic States with Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., has brought our countries even closer together, while the joint statement issued after the meeting has provided guidelines to further strengthen the Lithuania-U.S. strategic partnership," Linkevicius said.

Speaking about the EU's Eastern Partnership programme, the Foreign Minister stressed the need to work together to strengthen cooperation with Eastern neighbours and thanked for strong support to the Eastern partnership countries.

"We believe that further EU and Euro-Atlantic integration is an important condition to ensure stability and economic welfare at home and in the Eastern partnership countries," Linkevicius said.

During the meeting, Linkevicius and Kerry also stressed the significance of the transatlantic trade and partnership. The sides agreed that the signing of the free trade agreement between the EU and the U.S. would be a very important achievement, which would strengthen economies and create millions of new jobs.

LITHUANIAN, ARMENIAN FORMINS DISCUSS ARMENIA'S DECISION TO SEEK CUSTOMS UNION MEMBERSHIP

Vilnius: On September 7, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevicius met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who is paying a visit to Vilnius, and discussed the announcement of September 3 that Armenia had decided to seek the Customs Union membership, the press office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Armenian Foreign Minister assured Linkevicius that Armenia wished to continue to participate actively in the Eastern Partnership programme.

The Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed that there was a need to continue consultations and to assess the situation; however, the Minister saw an incompatibility between Armenia's membership of the Customs Union and participation in a deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU.

"We respect Armenia's will, but we must emphasise that the decision to join the Customs Union diminishes Armenia's ambitions of integration in and cooperation with the EU," Linkevicius said.

The Minister Linkevicius noted that in this context it was important to look towards the future and not to waste what Armenia had achieved during the 5 years of its participation in the Eastern Partnership programme, as well as during the negotiations on the Association Agreement.

According to Linkevicius, the visit of the Armenian Foreign Minister shows that the country wishes to cooperate with the EU and to participate in the Eastern Partnership programme.

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR LITHUANIA'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM EMPLOYEES

Vilnius: Last Tuesday members of tripartite council of the National Health System of Lithuania (LNSS) have agreed to prepare a sectoral collective agreement in the nearest future. It will regulate core obligations of the LNSS employers and employees, labour relations, holidays, payment, working conditions and other matters.

Minister of Health Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis said that he is seeking for change. "I want an honest Lithuania. I want the collective agreement to encompass the whole health sector and that it established equal salary for the same job. This constitutional provision must become the principle of our life," said Andriukaitis.

A working group was formed to draft the LNSS collective agreement. Trade union of medics, employers and representatives of executive government specializing in health will delegate three representatives each to the working group. Three experts will also be invited. The working group was also entrusted to renew, modernize and coordinate collective agreements signed with employers.

At the meeting, members of the tripartite council stated that even though there are numerous trade unions representing medics, just a third of all healthcare institutions have signed collective employment contracts. Not all institutions have operating labour councils, while the heads of certain institutions are strictly against their employee participation in trade union activity.

The LNSS tripartite council was established in May. It aims to coordinate interests of personal and public healthcare and pharmaceutical specialists, their employers and the state.

LITHUANIAN CITY OF KAUNAS UNIMPRESSED BY BUDGET IN AUGUST

Kaunas: Kaunas City Municipality lacked LTL 9.5 million (EUR 2.8 million) to accomplish the budget plan for August.

Only 73.5 percent of the revenue plan was completed, while in July it was exceeded by 105.9 percent.

Director of Kaunas City Municipality Administration Dainius Ratkelis told ELTA that because such proceeds do not depend on the municipality, no detailed analysis is possible of what could have been done better. He said it could only be speculated that the budget received less personal income tax because most Kaunas' residents were on holiday and paid taxes prior to August. Also, some of them might have moved and now their taxes reach other municipalities according to the place of residence.

According to the director of administration, all other revenue plans from fees and rent of property were fully completed. He said it was probable that the yearly budget not only will be accomplished but also exceeded.

Kaunas received far less than it had expected in government grants (a portion of personal income tax allocated to even out structural differences of municipalities). The city budget received only 25.6 percent of such funds expected for August - around LTL 17 million (EUR 5 million) less.

However, government grants from January to September totalled to 113.7 percent of the planned amount for 8 months. LTL 24.8 million (EUR 7.1 million) more than expected was received in grants. Therefore, disregarding the fact that for 8 month period Kaunas city budget received LTL 24.6 million less in projected taxes, revenue and transactions it still exceeded the plan by LTL 222,000 (EUR 64,000).

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