Lithuania: membership application and partnership, 8 December 1995

PURPOSE: presentation of the second 'accession partnership' for Lithuania. CONTENT : Like its previous version, this partnership for the accession of Lithuania resembles a work programme proposing priorities and objectives to be attained by the country in the short and the medium-term in order to become a member of the Union. These objectives take into account the regular report on Lithuania (1999). The short-term priorities (end of 2000) concern economic criteria (reduction of the budget deficit, privatisation and land ownership) ; the internal market (basically continuing the harmonisation process) ; agriculture, transport, energy (launch of preparations for the definitive closure of unit 1 of the Ignalina nuclear plant), environment, social affairs and employment, justice and home affairs (control of frontier with Belarus, combat of money laundering) and the strengthening of administrative and judiciary capacity (in particular the management and control of EU funds). In the medium term, the measures will concern the restructuring of the banking sector and fiscal reform. In the area of the single market, the complete liberalisation of public procurement is essential, as well as continuing alignmment and strengthening of customs controls. Further measures are awaited in the area of agriculture, fishing, energy (in particular, the nuclear sector), transport, environment and public administration. With regard to the programming of financial resources, the partnership confirms aid granted in line with AGENDA 2000 and the various instruments provided therein (Phare, SAPARD and ISPA) in accordance with the rules already foreseen. It should be noted that assistance is only granted if the country respects the provisions of the EC-Lithuania Association Agreement, makes progress towards satisfying the Copenhagen criteria and assures in the year 2000 the achievement of the specific priorities of this accession partnership.�