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YouthWiki

EACEA National Policies Platform
Lithuania

Lithuania

1. Youth Policy Governance

Last update: 5 March 2024

The concept of Lithuanian national youth policy could hardly be understood without a broader historical context and appreciation of the time of changes that happened after the country regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. Due to the dramatic changes in Lithuanian society after it regained independence, Lithuanian youth policy has to be shaped almost from scratch due to the changes in the social and economic structure of the Lithuanian society, the shift from planned economy towards the market economy, the building of the nation-state and establishing youth policy including the institutions to support it. 

In accordance with Article 3 of the Law on Youth Policy Framework of the Republic of Lithuania, the Ministry of Social Security and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania forms the youth policy, organizes, coordinates and controls its implementation. The youth policy is implemented by the institutions authorized by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania: Commission for Youth and Sports Affairs of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Ministry of Social Security and Labour, Agency for Youth Affairs, Council for Youth Affairs, Council of Lithuanian Youth Organizations.

 

In addition, some functions of the state are transferred to municipalities where youth policy is implemented The municipal youth affairs coordinators in municipal administrations:

- prepare and implement youth policy programs and measures implemented in the municipality, 

- analyze the situation of youth, youth organizations and organizations working with youth in the municipality, 

- develop cooperation between municipal institutions and institutions working in the field of youth policy, 

- maintain relations with foreign Lithuanian youth organizations and 

- perform other functions specified in their job descriptions. 

 

The Council of Lithuanian Youth Organizations and councils of municipal youth organizations, youth organizations and organizations working with youth, the World Lithuanian Youth Union, contribute to the implementation of youth policy. 

 

Every year by  the Agency of Youth Affairs submits a report regarding the implementation of the youth policy in the previous calendar year and its recommendations. The Agency of Youth Affairs is a public advisory body of the institution implementing the youth policy, formed in accordance with the principles of equality and parity from the delegated representatives of state institutions, the Association of Lithuanian Municipalities, the Council of Lithuanian Youth Organizations and the World Lithuanian Youth Union. 

 

Agency of Youth Affairs performs the following functions:

- submits proposals regarding the vision, mission, priorities, and strategic goals of the institution implementing the youth policy; 

- evaluates the projects of the institution implementing the youth policy of the appropriations allocated by the Ministry of Social Security and Labor for youth policy and submits its proposals for their improvement; 

- submits proposals to the Ministry of Social Security and Labor regarding the implementation of the strategic and annual activity plans of the institution implementing the youth policy; 

- participates in the formation of youth policy; 

- examines issues related to youth policy and submits proposals to the Government, ministries, and other state and municipal institutions and institutions regarding the implementation of youth policy, funding priorities for youth policy measures, cooperation with foreign Lithuanian youth organizations, as well as regarding legal acts related to the implementation of youth policy projects; 

- makes suggestions regarding the annual report of the institution's activities submitted by the head of the institution implementing the youth policy and makes recommendations to the Ministry of Social Security and Labor regarding the evaluation of the implementation of this report; 

- participates in the election of the head of the institution implementing the youth policy in accordance with the procedure established by legal acts; 

- monitors the implementation of youth policy, initiates research in the field of youth policy, evaluates and submits conclusions to the Ministry of Social Security and Labor regarding the conducted research; 

- considers draft budget estimates of the institution implementing youth policy and submits proposals to the Ministry of Social Security and Labor regarding the proper use of the allocations allocated to the institution implementing youth policy.

 

The municipal youth affairs councils (SJRT) are public advisory institutions, based on the principle of equality, consisting of delegated representatives of the municipal administration and/or the municipal council and the council of municipal youth organizations operating in the municipal territory. If the municipal council of youth organizations does not exist or it has not delegated representatives, youth representatives are elected at a public general meeting of youth organizations and organizations working with youth, students and/or student self-government representatives operating in the territory of the municipality. The municipality's youth affairs coordinator is responsible for organizing this meeting. 

 

The procedure for establishing the municipal youth affairs council is established, and the regulations and composition are approved by the municipal council. The municipal youth affairs councils examine issues related to youth policy in the municipality and submit proposals to municipal institutions and institutions regarding youth policy, its implementation, funding priorities for youth policy implementation measures in the municipality, and draft legislation related to the implementation of youth policy in the municipality.