COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Environmental Implementation Review 2022 Country Report - LITHUANIA Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Environmental Implementation Review 2022: Turning the tide through environmental compliance
Date: 2022-09-08
Institutions: Directorate-General for Environment, European Commission
Subjects: EU environmental policy, Lithuania, application of EU law, biodiversity, circular economy, climate change policy, environmental law, governance, pollution control measures, waste management

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 8.9.2022  SWD(2022) 266 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Environmental Implementation Review 2022     Country Report - LITHUANIA           Accompanying the document Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions Environmental Implementation Review 2022: Turning the tide through environmental compliance {COM(2022) 438 final} - {SWD(2022) 252 final} - {SWD(2022) 253 final} - {SWD(2022) 254 final} - {SWD(2022) 255 final} - {SWD(2022) 256 final} - {SWD(2022) 257 final} - {SWD(2022) 258 final} - {SWD(2022) 259 final} - {SWD(2022) 260 final} - {SWD(2022) 261 final} - {SWD(2022) 262 final} - {SWD(2022) 263 final} - {SWD(2022) 264 final} - {SWD(2022) 265 final} - {SWD(2022) 267 final} - {SWD(2022) 268 final} - {SWD(2022) 269 final} - {SWD(2022) 270 final} - {SWD(2022) 271 final} - {SWD(2022) 272 final} - {SWD(2022) 273 final} - {SWD(2022) 274 final} - {SWD(2022) 275 final} - {SWD(2022) 276 final} - {SWD(2022) 277 final} - {SWD(2022) 278 final}  
 
 
Lithuania  1 

This  report  has  been  written  by  the  staff  of  the  Directorate-General  for  Environment,  European  Commission. 
Comments are welcome. Please send them to: ENV-EIR@ec.europa.eu  

More information on the European Union is available at (http://europa.eu). 

Photographs:  

For reproduction or use of these photos, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holder. 

©European Union, 2022 

Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lithuania  2 

Table of Contents 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... 3 

PART I: THEMATIC AREAS ...................................................................................................................................... 4 

1. CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND WASTE MANAGEMENT ............................................................................................................. 4 
Measures towards a circular economy ................................................................................................................ 4 
Waste management ............................................................................................................................................. 7 
2. BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL CAPITAL ............................................................................................................................. 9 
Nature protection and restoration ....................................................................................................................... 9 
Marine ecosystems............................................................................................................................................. 15 
Ecosystem assessment and accounting ............................................................................................................. 16 
3. ZERO POLLUTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 
Clean air ............................................................................................................................................................. 18 
Industrial emissions ............................................................................................................................................ 19 
Major industrial accidents prevention – SEVESO ............................................................................................... 21 
Noise .................................................................................................................................................................. 22 
Water quality and management ........................................................................................................................ 22 
Chemicals ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 
4. CLIMATE ACTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 28 
Key national climate policies and strategies ...................................................................................................... 28 
Effort sharing target ........................................................................................................................................... 29 
Key sectoral developments ................................................................................................................................. 29 
Use of revenues from the auctioning of EU ETS allowances .............................................................................. 30 

PART II: ENABLING FRAMEWORK: IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS .............................................................................. 32 

5. FINANCING ............................................................................................................................................................. 32 
Environmental investment needs in the European Union .................................................................................. 32 
EU environmental funding 2014-2020 ............................................................................................................... 34 
EU environmental funding  2021-2027 .............................................................................................................. 35 
National environmental protection expenditure ................................................................................................ 37 
Green budget tools ............................................................................................................................................. 38 
Overall financing compared to the needs .......................................................................................................... 40 
6. ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE ................................................................................................................................. 42 
Information, public participation and access to justice...................................................................................... 42 
Compliance assurance ........................................................................................................................................ 43 
Effectiveness of environmental administrations ................................................................................................ 45 
Coordination and integration ............................................................................................................................. 45 
Reforms through the Commission’s technical support instrument (TSI) ............................................................ 45 
TAIEX EIR peer to peer projects .......................................................................................................................... 45 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lithuania  3 

Executive summary 

Water  Directive  and  the  Urban  Waste  Water  Treatment 
issues  relating  to  the  use  of 
Directive  except  for 
individual  and  other  appropriate  systems  across  the 
country. Groundwater quality is good but only half of all 
surface  water  bodies  achieve  good  ecological  status. 
There  are  high  levels  of  eutrophication  in  rivers  and  a 
very  acute  eutrophication  problem  affecting  97%  of  the 
Baltic  Sea  which  is  a  problem  shared  with  neighbouring 
countries. An extremely high proportion of waters in the 
than  good 
region  are  assessed  as  having 
eutrophication status. 

less 

EU  funding  is  expected  to  contribute  significantly  to 
implementing  EU  standards.  Lithuania  is  due  to  receive 
over EUR 2.2 billion from its  RRP (2021-26) and close to 
EUR 6 billion from the cohesion policy (2021-27). Part of 
this funding will be channelled into supporting Lithuania’s 
annual  environmental 
investment  needs,  which  are 
estimated  to amount  to at least 1.68%  of the country’ s 
GDP, signalling a  potential financing  gap of over 0.5% of 
GDP. 

Even  with  the  forthcoming  increase  in  2023  Lithuania’s 
landfill  tax  remains  among  the  lowest  in  the  EU  while 
allocations  for  fossil  fuel  subsidies  are  above  the  EU 
average. At the same time, an environmental investment 
gap  of  around  0.8%  of  GDP  must  be  addressed  by 
focusing  on  the  country’s  three  main  environmental 
implementation priorities: improvement of circularity of 
Lithuanian  economy,  protection  and  restoration  of  its 
nature and reduction of pollution. 

In  previous  Environmental 
Implementation  Reviews 
(EIRs), the main challenges identified for Lithuania for the 
implementation  of  EU  environmental  policy  and  law 
were: 

 

 
 

low 

the  risk  that  growing  municipal  waste  incineration 
landfill  tax  could  undermine 
capacities  and 
progress with recycling; 
low resource productivity; 
incomplete  designation  of  Natura  2000  sites  to 
protect threatened species and habitats.  

Though  Lithuania  had  already  met  the  2020  municipal 
recycling targets in 2018, it slid back for 2 years in a row 
and missed the target in 2020. Nevertheless, remarkable 
progress with waste management should be noted over 
the 
last  decade.  However,  the  circularity  of  the 
Lithuanian economy is still almost three times below the 
EU  average.  If  properly  designed  and  implemented,  the 
national circular  economy  action  plan to be adopted by 
2023  could  help  Lithuania  bring  about  the  necessary 
systemic 
fertile  business 
environment for circular economy practices. 

change  and 

create  a 

The  protection  of  biodiversity  requires  greater  efforts 
and  investments  since  two  thirds  of  the  EU  protected 
habitats  in  Lithuania  have  an  unfavourable  conservation 
status  due  to  pressures  from  forestry,  agriculture,  and 
invasive  alien  species.  Lithuania  must  still  complete  the 
Natura 2000 designation process and put in place clearly 
defined  site  specific  conservation  objectives  and 
necessary  conservation  measures  for  all  the  sites.  The 
Recovery  and  Resilience  Plan  (RRP)  will  contribute  by 
restoring  8000  ha  of  degraded  peatlands  which 
represents  a  good  starting  point  for  wider  restoration 
efforts. 

sustainable  water  management, 

On 
Lithuania 
demonstrates  very  high  compliance  with  the  Drinking 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Lithuania  4 

Part I: Thematic Areas 

1. Circular Economy and waste management

Measures towards a circular economy 

Figure 1: Circular material use rate (%), 2010-20203 

 The  new  Circular  Economy  Action  Plan  adopted  in 
March  2020  is  one  of  the  main  building  blocks  of  the 
European  Green  Deal.  The  EU’s  transition  to  a  circular 
economy will reduce pressure on natural resources and 
will  create  sustainable  growth  and  jobs.  It  is  also  a 
prerequisite to achieve the EU’s 2050 climate neutrality 
target  and  to  halt  biodiversity  loss.  The  Action  Plan 
announces  initiatives  along  the  entire  life  cycle  of 
products,  aiming  to  reduce  the  EU's  consumption 
footprint  and  to  double  the  EU's  circular  material  use 
rate  by  2030.  It  targets  how  products  are  designed, 
promotes  circular  economy  processes,  encourages 
sustainable consumption, and aims to ensure that waste 
is prevented and the resources used are kept in the EU 
economy for as long as possible. 

While  Lithuania  has  made  significant  progress  in  its 
waste  management  system,  a  lot  remains  to  be  done 
for the circularity of its economy. 

The  circular  material  use  rate  is  a  good  indicator  of  an 
economy’s  circularity,  as  it  includes  all  the  materials 
that are fed back into the economy. Large differences in 
the  circularity  rate  exist  between  countries.  To  help 
achieve the goal in the EU Circular economy action plan 
of doubling the EU’s circular material use rate by 2030, 
ambitious  measures  targeting  the  whole  product  life 
cycle are needed at Member State level. Such measures 
range  from  sustainable  product  design  that  makes  it 
possible 
reparability, 
upgradability  and  recyclability  of  products,  to  other 
like:  (i)  remanufacturing 1 ;  (ii) 
measures 
increasing 
circularity  in  production  processes;  (iii)  recycling;  (iv) 
boosting  eco-innovation;  and  (v)  increasing  the  uptake 
of green public procurement. 

the  durability, 

increase 

to 

Resource  productivity  expresses  how  efficiently  the 
economy  uses  material  resources  to  produce  wealth. 
Improving  resource  productivity  can  help  to  minimise 
negative 
impacts  on  the  environment  and  reduce 
dependency on volatile raw material markets. As shown 
in figure 2, with EUR 0.83 generated per kg of material 
consumed in 2020, resource productivity in Lithuania is 
well below the EU average of EUR 2.09 per kg. 

As  shown  in  Figure  1,  Lithuania’s  circular  (secondary) 
use  of  material  has  stayed  close  to  4%  since  2010,  but 
saw  a  slightly  stronger  upward  trend  in  2020  to  4.4%2. 
However, it remains almost three times lower than the 
EU average of 12.8% in2020 

1  Rebuilding  of  a  product  to  specifications  of  the  original 
manufactured  product  using  a  combination  of  reused,  repaired  and 
new parts 
2 Eurostat estimate 

3 Eurostat, Circular Economy Monitoring Framework.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
Lithuania  5 

Lithuania  has  prepared  a  “Roadmap  for  Lithuania’s 
industrial  transition  to  a  circular  economy”  as  a 
European Commission/DG REGIO pilot project. 

its  Recovery  and  Resilience  Plan,  Lithuania  has 
In 
included a reform on the adoption of a national circular 
economy plan by the first quarter of 2023. The plan will 
focus  on  waste  prevention,  recycling,  product  design 
and  use  of  secondary  raw  materials,  digitalisation,  the 
promotion of green innovation as well as legal and fiscal 
measures promoting long term circular solutions. 

Eco-innovation 

A  successful  transition  to  a  circular  economy  requires 
social and technological innovation. This is because full 
potential of circular economy can only be reached when 
it is implemented across all value chains. Eco-innovation 
is  an 
important  enabling  factor  for  the  circular 
economy.  New  approaches  to  product  design  and  new 
business  models  can  help  to  produce  circularity 
innovations, creating new business opportunities. 

Lithuania  ranked  20th  on  the  2021  Eco-Innovation 
Index,  with  a  total  score  of  88,  which  indicates  the 
  to  make  up  on  eco-
country  has  some  ground 
innovation.  On  all  five  indicators  in  the  2021  Eco-
innovation  Index  (eco-innovation  inputs,  activities  and 
outputs,  resource  efficiency  outcomes  and  socio-
economic  outputs),  Lithuania  performed  below  the  EU 
average. 

Figure 2: Resource productivity 2010-20204 

Circular economy strategies  

The  Commission  encourages  Member  States  to  adopt 
and 
implement  national/regional  circular  economy 
strategies covering the whole life cycle of products. This 
is because such strategies are one of the most effective 
ways  to  progress  towards  a  more  circular  economy  at 
Member  State  level.  Since  the  launch  of  the  European 
in  2017 5 , 
Circular  Economy  Stakeholder  Platform 
national,  regional  and  local  authorities  have  used  the 
platform to share their strategies and roadmaps. 

As of 2021, there is no national strategy  or action plan 
on the circular economy in Lithuania. At the same time, 
circular economy related goals and targets can be found 
in  the:  National  Sustainable  Development  Strategy, 
National  Environmental  Protection  Strategy,  Strategy 
for the National Climate Change Management Policy by 
2050, and the National Waste Prevention Programme. 

Moreover, Lithuania is working to improve circularity in 
textiles,  including  through  meetings  with  interested 
parties,  awareness raising  for society, promotion of re-
use,  support  for  re-use  and  repair  networks,  provision 
of  containers  for  textile  waste  separate  collection  and 
binary  payments.  Textiles  waste  prevention  is  also 
obligatory  through  the  National  Waste  Prevention 
Programme. 

4 Eurostat, Resource productivity 
5  Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
Figure 3: Eco-innovation performance, 2010-20196 

Green public procurement 

Public  procurement  accounts  for  a  large  proportion  of 
European 
consumption,  with  public  authorities’ 
purchasing  power  representing  14%  of  EU  GDP.  Public 
procurement can help drive the demand for sustainable 
products  that  meet  repairability  and  recyclability 
standards.  To  date  reporting  to  monitor  the  uptake  of 
green public procurement (GPP) is voluntary.   

The  Lithuanian  national  progress  plan 7 (adopted  on 
9 September  2020)  stipulated  that,  as  an  intermediate 
target,  GPP  should  account  for  50 %  by  value  of  all 
procurements  in  2025,  with  55 %  bu  2030  as  the  final 
target.  The  government  programme 8 sets  even  more 
ambitious  goals  for  GPP  to  become  the  dominant  type 
of  public  procurement  in  the  public  sector  as  of  2023. 
Environmental  criteria  have  been  laid  down  for  32 
product groups. The definition of GPP now includes not 
only  mandatory  minimum  GPP  criteria,  but  also  refers 
to  eco-labels,  environmental  management  systems  or 
standards,  and  other  environmental  criteria.  In  cases 
where  environmental  criteria  are  not  set, 
the 
independently 
contracting  authority  can  set  them 

6   European  Commission  -  Directorate-General  for  Environment  (DG 
ENV), Eco-innovation Observatory, Eco-innovation index. 
7

https://e-
seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/c1259440f7dd11eab72ddb4a109d
a1b5/asr  
8

 https://e-
seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/973c87403bc311eb8c97e01ffe05
0e1c  

Lithuania  6 

scoreboard 9 .All 

according  to  established  principles.  GPP  is  monitored 
and statistical data collected by the Public Procurement 
Office  (PPO).  The  data  are  published  online  on  the 
public  procurement 
contracting 
authorities  must  report  on  their  green  procurement 
procedures  to  the  PPO.  In  addition,  there  are  annual 
progress reports on green public procurement. In order 
to  facilitate  the  development  of  GPP,  the  PPO  has 
established  a  Sustainable  Procurement  Unit  that 
provides  contracting  authorities,  contracting  entities 
and suppliers  with consultations and training on green, 
socially  responsible  and 
innovative  procurements. 
Increasing  GPP’s  share  in  total  public  procurement  is 
one  of  the  measures  in  the  Lithuanian  recovery  and 
resilience plan. 

EU ecolabel and the eco-management and audit 
scheme (EMAS) 

The  number  of  EU  ecolabel  products  and  EMAS-
licensed 10 organisations  in  a  country  provides  some 
indication of how actively engaged its private sector and 
national  stakeholders  are  in  the  transition  to  a  circular 
It  also  shows  how  committed  public 
economy. 
authorities  are  to  supporting  instruments  designed  to 
promote the circular economy.  

As of  September 2021, Lithuania had  474 products out 
of 83 590, and 10 licenses out of 2 057 registered in the 
EU  ecolabel  scheme,  showing  a  rather  low  take-up  of 
products  and  licences11.  Moreover,  five  organisations, 
spread over 18 sites in Lithuania are currently registered 
in EMAS, the European Commission's  eco-management 
and audit scheme12.   Since 2019, there have been  279 
new product registrations for an EU ecolabel, as well as 
one  new  organisation  registered  with  EMAS,  while  the 
number of EU ecolabel licences has remained the same. 

Given that the circular material use rate is far below EU 
average, a priority action on this is proposed. 

2022 priority action 

 

Take measures to improve the circular material 
use rate. 

9  https://vpt.lrv.lt/lt/statistika-ir-analize/pirkimu-vykdytoju-zemelapis-
svieslente-1  
10 EMAS  is  the  European  Commission’s  Eco-Management  and  Audit 
Scheme,  a  programme  to  encourage  organisations  to  behave  in  a 
more environmentally sustainable way. 
11 European Commission, Ecolabel Facts and Figures. 
12 As of May 2018. European Commission, Eco-Management and Audit 
Scheme. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
                                                                 
  
 
 
                                                                 
Waste management 

Figure 4: Municipal waste by treatment in Lithuania, 
2010-202014 

Lithuania  7 

Turning waste into a resource is supported by: 

implementing  EU  waste 

legislation,  which 
(i)  fully 
includes  the  waste  hierarchy,  the  need  to  ensure 
separate  collection  of  waste,  the 
landfill  diversion 
targets, etc.; 

(ii) reducing and waste generation per capita in absolute 
terms; 

(iii)  limiting  energy  recovery  to  non-recyclable  waste 
and phasing out the landfilling of recoverable waste. 

This  section  focuses  on  the  management  of  municipal 
waste 13 for  which  EU  law  sets  mandatory  recycling 
targets. 

resource  efficiency  and 

Preventing  products  and  materials  from  becoming 
waste for as long as possible is the most efficient way to 
the 
improve 
environmental  impact  of  waste.  Waste  prevention  and 
re-use  are  the  preferred  options  and  are  therefore  at 
the  top  of  the  waste  hierarchy.  The  amount  of 
municipal  waste  generated  is  a  good  indicator  for  the  
effectiveness of waste prevention measures.  

reduce 

to 

inhabitant 

still  below 

Municipal  waste  generation  in  Lithuania  is  growing.  It 
in  2020, 
reached  481 kg  per  year  per 
although  was 
the  EU  average  of 
502 kg/year/inhabitant,  as  Figure  4  shows.  Since  waste 
generated  has  increased  by  20%  in  the  last  decade,  it 
indicates  that  Lithuania’s  economic  growth  is  not  yet 
decoupled from its generation of waste. 

Figure  4  also  shows  municipal  waste  by  treatment,  in 
terms of kilos per capita. 

Lithuania reduced its landfilling rate threefold in the last 
decade,  down  to  22  %  in  2019  and  now  sends  less 
municipal waste to landfill than the EU average (24 %). 
However,  it  is  some  distance  away  from  the  target  of 
10%  by  2030.  Recycling  and  composting  are  the  main 
treatment  options.  The  share  of  material  recycling 
shows  a  steady 
increase  and  has  reached  28% 
approaching  the  EU  average  of  30%.  Composting  has 
decreased since 2017 to 22 %, and Lithuania is now only 
still  slightly  above  the  EU  average  of  around  21 %.  The 
reduction  in  landfill  has  been  achieved  in  part  by 
increasing  incineration  with  energy  recovery  capacity 
(the  second 
for  waste 
treatment),  now  used for  close to 15 % (still below the 
EU  average  of  24 %).  Possibly  this  will  increase  in  the 
future  as  new  incineration  facilities  in  Kaunas  and 
Vilnius have started operating. Around half of municipal 
waste  is  treated  at  mechanical-biological  treatment 
plants  and  afterwards  mostly  incinerated  or  sent  to 
landfill  as  the  quality  of  the  waste,  even  after 
treatment, is too low for secondary use. 

favourable  option 

least 

As  shown  in  Figure  5,  the  recycling  rate  for  municipal 
waste  showed  a  steady  increase  up  to  2018,  but  fell 
back  to  45 %    and  in  2020  was  again  below  the  EU 
average of 47.8%. 

13  
Municipal waste consists of (a) mixed waste and separately 
collected  waste  from  households,  including  paper  and  cardboard, 
glass,  metals,  plastics,  bio-waste,  wood,  textiles,  packaging,  waste 
electrical  and  electronic  equipment,  waste  batteries  and 
accumulators,  and  bulky  waste,  including  mattresses  and  furniture; 
and  (b)  mixed  waste  and  separately  collected  waste  from  other 
sources,  where  such  waste  is  similar  in  nature  and  composition  to 
waste from households. (Directive 2008/98/EC, Article 3 (2b). 

14  Eurostat, Municipal waste by waste operation, april 2022. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
  
                                                                 
Figure 5: Recycling rate of municipal waste, 2010-
202015 

Lithuanian  government  and  Lithuania  has  not  yet 
notified the Commission that it is in place18. 

Lithuania  8 

In  November  2021, 
the  Lithuanian  government 
approved an increase in landfil tax to EUR 50 per ton as 
of  2023,  up  from  EUR 15/t,  one  of  the  lowest  rates  in 
the EU.  

Lithuania  has  not  ratified  the  Hong  Kong  International 
Convention  for  the  Safe  and  Environmentally  Sound 
Recycling of Ships. 

2022 priority actions 

 

including  economic 
Introduce  new  policies, 
instruments,  to  promote  prevention  and  make  the 
re-use and recycling more economically attractive. 

  Develop 

run 

and 

implementation 

support 
programmes for municipalities to help support their 
efforts  to  organise  separate  collection  and  further 
improve recycling performance. 
Improve  the  functioning  of  extended  producer 
responsibility  systems,  in  line  with  the  general 
minimum  requirements  established  in  the  Waste 
Framework Directive. 
Ensure that a  waste  management  plan in line with 
the revised Waste Framework  Directive is in place.

The Commission's 2018 early warning report did not list 
Lithuania  as  one  of  the  countries  at  risk  of  missing  the 
EU  2020  target  of  recycling  50 %  of  municipal  waste. 
The  Commission  is  currently  finalising  its  analysis  of 
progress  in  response  to  the  2018  early  warning  report 
recommendations  as  a  well  as  an  analysis  of  progress 
towards achieving the 2025 waste recycling targets. This 
report  will  be  presented  at  the  end  of  2022  and  will 
make recommendations as appropriate16. 

 

 

Implementation of the 2018 waste legislative package 

into 

laws 

Member  States  had  until  5th  July  2020  to  bring  their 
national 
line  with  the  amended  Waste 
Framework  Directive,  Packaging  and  Packaging  Waste 
Directive  and  Landfill  Directive17.  Lithuania  was  late  in  
doing  thus  for  the  first  two  Directives,  but,  in  August 
2021,  it  notified  the  Commission  that  the  2018  Waste 
legislative  package  had  been  fully  implemented  in 
national law. A compliance assessment is ongoing.  

Waste  management  plans  and  waste  prevention 
programmes form part of this implementation. They set 
out  key  provisions  and 
to  ensure 
compliance  with  existing  and  new  legal  requirements 
(e.g.,  waste  prevention,  separate  collection  for  several 
specific  waste  streams,  recycling  and  landfill  targets). 
Revised  plans  and  programmes  were  due  on  5 July 
2020.  

investments 

Although Lithuania’s waste management plan for 2021-
2027  was  drafted  and  revised  after  the  public 
consultation,  it  has  not  yet  been  approved  by  the 

15 Eurostat, Recycling rate of municipal rate, april 2022. 

17 Directive  (EU)  2018/851,  Directive  (EU)  2018/852,  Directive  (EU) 
2018/850  and  Directive  (EU)  2018/849  amend  the  previous  waste 
legislation and set more ambitious recycling targets for the period up 
to 2035. 

18 May 2022. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Lithuania  9 

2. Biodiversity and natural capital 

The 2030 EU biodiversity strategy adopted in May 2020 
aims to put the EU’s biodiversity on a path to recovery 
and  sets  out  new  targets  and  governance  mechanisms 
to achieve healthy and resilient ecosystems.  
In particular, the strategy sets out ambitious targets to: 
(i) protect a minimum of 30% of the EU’s land area and 
30% of its sea area and integrate ecological corridors, as 
part of a true trans-European nature network;  
(ii) strictly protect at least a third of the EU’s protected 
areas,  including  all  remaining  EU  primary  and  old-
growth forests;  
(iii)  effectively  manage  all  protected  areas,  defining 
clear  conservation  objectives  and  measures,  and 
monitoring them appropriately.  
The strategy also sets out an EU nature restoration plan 
–  a  series  of  concrete  commitments  and  actions  to 
restore  degraded  ecosystems  across  the  EU  by  2030, 
and  manage  them  sustainably,  addressing  the  key 
drivers of biodiversity loss. 

The  EU’s  Habitats  and  the  Birds  Directives19 are  key 
legislative  tools  to  deliver  on  the  targets  in  the  EU’s 
biodiversity  strategy  for  2030  and  are  the  cornerstone 
of  European  legislation  aimed  at  conserving  the  EU's 
wildlife20.  

In  April  2015,  the  Lithuanian  Parliament  approved  the 
national  environmental  protection  strategy 21 ,  which 
aims  to  identify  priority  environmental  policy  areas, 
long-term  objectives  up  to  2030  and  Lithuania’s  vision 
for  the  environment  by  2050.  The  long-term  objective 
for  nature  and  biodiversity  referred  to  in  the  strategy 
relates to the establishment of protected areas: the aim 
is for national protected areas and Natura 2000 sites to 
make  up  17  %  of  land  area  and  10%  of  the  country’s 
marine area. 

Nature protection and restoration 

The  EU  Habitats  and  the  Birds  Directives,  which  are  to 
be  bolstered  by  the  Nature  Restoration  Law,  are  the 
cornerstone  of  EU  legislation  aimed  at  conserving  the 
EU’s wildlife, natural habitats and ecosystems. They are 

19 Council Directive 92/43/EEC and Directive 2009/147/EC  
20  These  should  be  reinforced  by  the  Nature  Restoration  Law, 
according to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. 
21 http://extwprlegs1.fao.org/docs/pdf/lit163665.pdf 

crucial to delivering on the targets in the EU biodiversity 
strategy for 203022. 

Natura  2000 23,  the  largest  coordinated  network  of 
protected  areas  in  the  world,  is  the  key  instrument  to 
achieve  the  objectives 
in  the  Birds  and  Habitats 
Directives. These objectives are: (i) ' to ensure the long-
term  protection,  conservation  and  survival  of  Europe's 
most valuable and threatened species and habitats and 
(ii)  to  maintain  or  restore  the  favourable  conservation 
status  of  these  species  and  habitats.  Key  milestones 
towards  meeting  the  objectives  of  the  Birds  and 
Habitats Directives are: (i) the setting up of a  coherent 
Natura  2000  network;  (ii)  the  designation  of  sites  of 
importance  (SCIs)  as  special  areas  of 
Community 
conservation 
the  setting  of 
(iii) 
conservation  objectives  and  measures  for  the  Natura 
2000 sites. 

(SACs) 24 ;  and 

Setting up a coherent network of Natura 2000 sites 

Lithuania  hosts  54  habitat  types 25 and  98  species 26 
covered  by  the  Habitats  Directive.  The  country  also 
hosts  populations  of  83  bird  taxa  listed  in  the  Birds 
Directive Annex I27. 

As shown in the Figure 7, by 2021, 12.6% of Lithuania’s 
territory  was  covered  by  Natura  2000  (EU  average 
18.5%),  with  SPAs  classified  under  the  Birds  Directive 
covering  8.5%  (EU  average  12.8%)  and  SCIs  under  the 
Habitats  Directive  covering  10%  (EU  average  14.2%)  of 
Lithuania. 

22

 https://ec.europa.eu/environment/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-

2030_en 
23  
Natura  2000  comprises  sites  of  Community  importance 
(SCIs) designated pursuant to the Habitats Directive as well as special 
protection  areas  (SPAs)  classified  pursuant  to  the  Birds  Directive; 
figures of coverage do not add up due to the fact that some SCIs and 
SPAs overlap. Special areas of conservation (SACs) are SCIs designated 
by Member States. 
24  
Sites  of  Community  importance  (SCIs)  are  designated 
pursuant  to  the  Habitats  Directive  whereas  special  protection  areas 
(SPAs)  are  designated  pursuant  to  the  Birds  Directive;  figures  of 
coverage  do  not  add  up  since  some  SCIs  and  SPAs  overlap.  Special 
areas  of  conservation  (SACs)  are  SCIs  designated  by  the  Member 
States. 
25 EEA, Article 17 dashboard, Annex I total, 2019. 
26 EEA,  Article  17  dashboard,  Annex  II  +  Annex  IV  excluding  those  in 
Annex  II  +  Annex  V  excluding  those  in  Annex  II,  2019.  This  counting 
only takes into account species and habitats for which assessment of 
conservation status was requested. 
27 EEA,  Article  12  dashboard,  Annex  I,  2020.  This counting  only  takes 
into account birds taxa for which information was requested. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
 
insufficiencies 

The latest assessment of the SCI part of the Natura 2000 
network  reveals  that  there  are 
in 
designation.  To  address  these  gaps  the  Commission 
took legal action in May 2018 when it sent to Lithuania 
a letter of formal notice in accordance with Article 258 
of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union  
. Since then, Lithuania designated a number of new sites 
and  committed  to  finalise  the  designation  process  by 
the  end  of  2022.  The  Commission  closely  monitors  the 
progress made towards compliance. 

Taking  account  of  both  Natura  2000  and  other 
nationally  designated  protected  areas,  Lithuania  legally 
protects  18,2%  of  its  terrestrial  areas  (compared  with 
the  EU-27  average  26.4%)  and  24.1%  of  marine  areas 
(EU-27  average  10,.7%). 28 Figure  6  shows  the  2021 
situation at EU level for terrestrial and marine protected 
area coverage in meeting the biodiversity strategy 2030 
target. 

Figure 6: Marine & terrestrial protected area coverage, 
202129 

Lithuania  10 

Figure 7: Natura 2000 terrestrial protected area 
coverage, 202130 

Designating special areas of conservation (SACs) and 
setting conservation objectives and measures 

The 6-year deadline set by the Habitats Directive to  for 
designating  SCIs  as  SACs,  and  establishing  appropriate 
conservation  objectives  and  measures,  has  expired  for 
406 sites in Lithuania. 

Nevertheless, 243 SCIs have not yet been designated as 
SACs. In addition, Lithuania has failed to set sufficiently 
detailed  and  quantified  site-specific  conservation 
objectives  and  introduce  the  necessary  conservation 
measures  for  all  406  sites.  Furthemore,  the  quality  of 
the objectives and measures in place is insufficient. For 
this  reason,  the  Commission  sent  Lithuania  a  letter  of 
formal  notice  under  Article  258  of  the  Treaty  on  the 
Functioning of the European Union in February 2021. In 
reply,  Lithuania  committed  to  addressing  the  gaps 

28  European  Environment  Agency,  Protected  Areas,  March  2022, 
terrestrial  protected  area  percentage  (2021)  and  marine  protected 
area percentage (2019), March 2022. 

29 EU  Biodiversity  Strategy  Dashboard,  indicators  A1.1.1  and  A1.2.1, 
February 2022. 

30 European  Environment  Agency,  Natura  2000  Barometer,  February 
2022. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
identified.  The  Commission 
progress towards compliance. 

is  closely  monitoring 

Figure 9: Assessments of conservation status for 
species for 2007-2012 and 2013-201832 

Lithuania  11 

Progress in maintaining or restoring favourable 
conservation status of species and habitats 

To measure the performance of Member States, Article 
17  of  the  Habitats  Directive  and  Article  12  of  the  Birds 
Directive  require  reportings  on  the  progress  made 
towards  maintaining  or  restoring 
favourable 
the 
conservation status of species and habitats. 

According  to  the  report  submitted  by  Lithuania  on  the 
conservation  status  of  habitats  and  species  covered  by 
Article 17 of the Habitats Directive for 2013-2018,  22% 
of  habitats  were  in  good  conservation  status  in  2018 
(19%  in  2007-2012)  and  37%  of  protected  species 
assessments  rated  their  conservation  status  as  good 
(27% in 2007-2012). As far as birds are concerned, 19% 
of  breeding  species  showed  short-term  increasing  or 
stable population trends. 

At  the  same  time,  the  share  of  habitats  with  a  bad 
conservation status has increased to 39% and the share 
of  assessments  for  species  in  bad  conservation  status 
has  also  increased  to  13%.  The  main  pressures  are 
invasive alien species, forestry and agriculture. 

Figure 8: Assessments of conservation status for 
habitats for 2007-2012 and 2013-201831 

Lithuania  is  currently  implementing  the  LIFE  integrated 
project  “Optimising  the  management  of  Natura  2000 
network  in  Lithuania”33.  The  project,  which  will  invest 
EUR 17.2 million  until  2027,  was  launched  in  2018  .  It 
will  encourage  the  development  of  the  Natura  2000 
in  the  country,  promote  environmentally 
network 
friendly farming and sustainable use of forests in Natura 
2000  sites   and  raise  public  awareness  of  ecological 
issues.  Among  other  initiatives,  the  LIFE  integrated 
agri-environmental 
result-based 
project 
measure  to  save  and  protect  species  rich  natural 
meadows34.  

includes 

In  its  recovery  and  resilience  plan,  Lithuania  has  a 
measure that addresses: (i) regulatory changes to put in 
place  the  national  framework  for  identifying  damaged 
peatlands  and  manage  the  restored  peatlands  (by  30 
September 2022); and (ii) investment to restore 8000 ha 
of damaged peatlands. 

setting 

The 2019 EIR identified a number of priority actions for 
the  Natura  2000 
Lithuania,  such  as  completing 
conservation 
designation  process, 
clear 
for 
providing 
objectives, 
implementation,  and 
incentives  for 
foresters  and  farmers  to  better  protect  forest  and 
grassland  habitats.  Lithuania  made  some  progress  on 
methodology  for  site-specific  conservation  objectives 
but  limited  or  no  progress  on  the  other  suggested 
actions. 

adequate 
improving  the 

resources 

31   European  Environment  Agency,  Conservation  status  and  trends  of 
habitats  and  species,  December  2021.  Please  note when  comparing 
the  figures  shown  for  2007-2012  and  2013-2018  these  may  also  be 
affected by changes of methods or due to better data availability. 

32 Idem. 
33 LIFE integrated project for Natura 2000 protection - Naturalit 
34

 https://naturalit.lt/en/a-pilot-agro-environmental-measure-has-

been-started-in-lithuania/ 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Bringing nature back to agricultural land and restoring 
soil ecosystems 

programme  of  adopted  in  December  2020  includes  an 
initiative to double the area of organic farming. 

Lithuania  12 

Agricultural land  

The biodiversity strategy works alongside the new farm 
to fork strategy and the new common agricultural policy 
(CAP)  to  support  and  achieve  the  transition  to  fully 
sustainable agriculture.  
The  biodiversity  and  farm  to  fork  strategies  have  set 
four important targets for 2030:  
- a 50% reduction in the overall use of – and risk from – 
chemical pesticides; 
-  a  50%  reduction  in  the  use  of  more  hazardous 
pesticides; 
-  a  50%  reduction  in  losses  of  nutrients  from  fertilisers 
while  ensuring  there  is  no  deterioration  of  soil  fertility 
(which  will  result  in  a  20%  reduction  in  the  use  of 
fertilisers);  
- bring back at least 10% of agricultural area under high-
diversity  landscape  features  and  increase  areas  under 
organic farming to at least 25%. 

According to the Commission analysis of Lithuania’s CAP 
strategic plan 35 ammonia emissions from agriculture in 
Lithuania  are  still  hampering  efforts  to  reduce  air 
pollution and the downward trend is not strong enough 
for 
reduction 
commitments. The low organic-carbon content of soil is 
of  particular  concern,  affecting  both  arable  soils  and 
grazing land. 

its  emission 

to  meet 

Lithuania 

Lithuanian agricultural areas are affected by a decline in 
biodiversity.  Data  on  the  farmland  bird  index  show  a 
declining trend since 2014 with a slight improvement in 
2019.  The  index  for  Lithuania  stood  at  61.69  in  2019, 
compared with 74.64 for the EU-27. 

According  to  reports  for  2013-2018,  required  under 
Article 17  of  the  Habitats  Directive,  no  protected 
grassland habitats had a favourable conservation status. 
The  prioritised  action  framework  indicates  that  the 
main  pressures  for  grasslands  are  conversion  to  other 
land uses (forests, arable land), land use intensification 
and  intensive  use  of  grasslands  (frequent  mowing, 
overgrazing),  abandonment  of  meadows  and  pastures, 
use of pesticides and drainage. 

The  area  of  organically  farmed  land  in  Lithuania  has 
marginally decreased since 2019. It accounted for 8.0% 
is 
of  all  farmed 
marginally  below 
(9.07%)  and 
considerably below the EU biodiversity and farm-to-fork 
strategy  target  for  2030.  The  Lithuanian  government 

in  2020  (Figure  10),  which 

the  EU  average 

land 

35 SWD/2020/395 final 

Figure 10: Share of total utilised agricultural area 
occupied by organic farming per Member State36 

Soil ecosystems 

soil 

new 

strategy, 

Soil  is  a  finite  and  extremely  fragile  resource.  It  is 
increasingly degrading in the EU. 
on 
adopted 
EU 
The 
17 November 2021,  stresses  the 
importance  of  soil 
protection,  of  sustainable  soil  management  and  of 
restoring  degraded  soils  to  achieve  the  Green  Deal 
objectives  as  well  as  land-degradation  neutrality  by 
2030.  
This entails:  
(i) preventing further soil degradation;  
(ii)  making  sustainable  soil  management  the  new 
normal;  
(iii) taking action for ecosystem restoration 

One factor of degradation of soil ecosystems is the area 
of  soil  that  is  sealed  or  artificialised37.  The  net  land 
taken  (land  ‘taken’  means 
is  sealed  or 
artificialised)  per  year  in  2012-2018  can  be  seen  as  a 
measure  of  one  significant  pressure  on  nature  and 

land  that 

36

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_02_40/default/
table?lang=en (Eurostat, Area under organic farming, February 2022)  
37 
Artificial  land cover  is defined as  the total  of roofed built-
up areas (including buildings and greenhouses), artificial non-built-up 
areas  (including  sealed  area  features,  such  as  yards,  farmyards, 
cemeteries, car parking areas etc. and linear features, such as streets, 
roads, railways, runways, bridges) and other artificial areas (including 
bridges  and  viaducts,  mobile  homes,  solar  panels,  power  plants, 
electrical substations, pipelines, water sewage plants, and open dump 
sites). 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
Lithuania  13 

biodiversity  -  land  use  change.  At  the  same  time,  land 
use  change  constitutes  an  environmental  pressure  on 
people living in urbanised areas. Despite a reduction in 
the  last  decade,  land  take  in  EU-28  still  amounted  to 
539km2/year in 2012-201838.  

The concept of ‘net land take’ combines land take with 
the  return  of  land  to  non-artificial  land  categories  (re-
cultivation).  While  some  land  was  re-cultivated  in  the 
EU-28 in 2000-2018, 11 times more land was taken than 
returned. 

Lithuania ranks below the EU average with net land take 
of 67.8m2/km2 (EU-27 average: 83.8 m2/km2). 

Figure 11: Land take and re-cultivation in EU27 
(m2/km2), 2012-201839 

biodiversity  and  climate  ambitions.  Forests  are 
important  carbon  sinks  and  conserving  them  is  vital  if 
the EU is to  achieve climate neutrality by 2050.  

Out  of  the  27%  of  EU  forest  area  protected  under  the 
Habitats Directive, less than 15% of assessments show a 
favourable  conservation  status 41 .  Bad  conservation 
status increased from 27% to 31% in the EU compared 
to 2015. 

In  Lithuania,  forests  cover  35.6%  of  the  territory42 and 
more than 90% of the assessments reveal a bad to poor 
status 43 .  Primary 
in 
Lithuaniaby44. 

forests  cover  27  000  ha 

Figure  12:  Conservation  status  of  forests  protected 
under  the  Habitats  Directive  in  EU  Member  States, 
2013-2018 (% assessments)45 

Lithuania has not yet committed to set land degradation 
neutrality targets under the United Nations Convention 
on combating desertification40. 

Forests and timber 

The EU forest strategy for 2030 adopted in July 2021 is 
part  of  the  Fit  for  55  package.  The  strategy  promotes 
the many services that forests provide. Its’ key objective 
is  to  ensure  healthy,  diverse  and  resilient  EU  forests, 
strengthened 
significantly 
that 

contribute 

to 

Land  take  in  Europe  –  European  Environment  Agency 

38 
(europa.eu) 
39 European  Environment  Agency,  Land  take  in  Europe,  December 
2021. 
40 The LDN Target Setting Programme | UNCCD 

The  European  Union  Timber  Regulation  (EUTR) 46 
prohibits  the  placing  on  the  EU  market  of  illegally 
harvested  timber.  In  accordance  with  the  EUTR,  EU 
Member  States  competent  authorities  must  conduct 
regular  checks  on  operators  and  traders  and  apply 
penalties  for  non-compliance.  With  the  amendment  of 
Article 20  of  the  EUTR,  reporting  every  two  years  has 
been  changed  to  annual  reporting  and  covers  the 
calendar year as of 2019. 

41State of Nature Report, EEA, 2021 State of Nature in the EU 
42 EEA, Forest information system for Europe. 
43 COM SWD (2021) 652 
44 JRC, Mapping and assessment of primary and old-growth forests in 
Europe, p. 13. 
45 European  Environment  Agency,  Conservation  status  and  trend  in 
conservation status by habitat group - forests, January 2022. 

46 Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 20 October 2010. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
Between  March  2017  and  February  201947,  Lithuania 
carried out 6 824 checks on domestic timber operators. 
It  also  carried  out  63  checks  on  operators  importing 
timber.  It 
is  estimated  that  Lithuania  had  17 000 
operators placing domestic and 1 481 operators placing 
imported  timber  types  onto  the  internal  market  over 
the reporting period. 

to 

the 

According 
Environmental  Crime  Directive 
problem in Lithuania48. 

impact  assessment 

for 
logging 

the 
is  a 

illegal 

The  new  Deforestation  Regulation 49  will  repeal  and 
replace  the  EU  TR,  as  it  will  essentially  integrate  and 
improve  the  existing  system  to  check  the  legality  of 
timber. 

Invasive alien species (IAS) 

IAS  are  key  drivers  of  biodiversity  loss  in  the  EU 
(alongside 
use, 
sea 
overexploitation, climate change and pollution). 

changes 

land 

and 

in 

Besides  inflicting  major  damage  on  nature  and  the 
economy, many invasive alien species also facilitate the 
outbreak  and  spread  of  infectious  diseases,  posing  a 
threat to humans and wildlife. 

The  implementation  of  the  EU  Invasive  Alien  Species 
legislation  must  be 
Regulation  and  other  relevant 
stepped  up.  The  biodiversity  strategy  for  2030  aims  to 
manage  recognised invasive alien species and decrease 
the number of “red list” species they threaten by 50%.  

The  core  of  Regulation  EU)  1143/2014  on  IAS  (‘IAS 
Regulation)50 is the list of IASs of concern.  

The  total  number  of  IAS  of  Union  concern  is  currently 
66,  of  which:  30  are  animal  species;  36  are  plant 
species;  41  are  primarily  terrestrial  specie;  23  are 
primarily  freshwater  species;  1  is  a  brackish-water 
species and 1 is a marine species. 

According  to  a  2021  report51 on  the  implementation  of 
the  IAS  Regulation,  progress  was  being  made  towards 
certain  objectives  such  as  creating  a  coherent 

47 COM/2020/629 final 
48 SWD(2021) 465 final/2, p.18 
49 Proposal for a Regulation on the making available on the EU market 
and  export  of  products  associated  with  deforestation  and  forest 
degradation. 
50 
51 Report  from  the  Commission  to  the  European  Parliament  and  the 
Council  on  the  review  of  the  application  of  Regulation  (EU)  No 
1143/2014  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  22 
October 2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction 
and spread of invasive alien species, COM(2021) 628 final, 13.10.2021. 

Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014. 

Lithuania  14 

framework for addressing IAS at EU level and increasing 
awareness of the problem of invasive alien species. The 
report  also  identified  some  challenges  and  areas  for 
improvement.  However,  given  that 
implementation 
deadlines  for  the  IAS  Regulation  were  staggered  from 
July  2016  to  July  2019,  it  is  still  too  early  to  draw 
conclusions on several aspects of implementation. 

A 2021 report52 on the baseline distribution shows that 
of the 66 species on the  EU list, 14 have been observed 
in  the  environment  in  Lithuania.  The  spread  can  be 
checked in Figure 13. 

Figure 13: Number of invasive alien species of EU 
concern, based on available georeferenced 
information for Lithuania, 2021 

An infringement case is ongoing for Lithuania as it failed 
to draw up and implement action plans by 13 July 2019 
and communicate them to the Commission  as required  
by  Article  13  of  the  IAS  Regulation.  Lithuania  plans  to 
adopt these action plans in summer 2022. 

2022 priority actions 

 

Complete the Natura 2000 designation process and 
site-specific 
put 

in  place 

defined 

clearly 

52 Cardoso  A.C.,  Tsiamis  K.,  Deriu  I.,  D'  Amico  F.,  Gervasini  E.,  EU 
Regulation 1143/2014:  assessment  of  invasive  alien species of  Union 
concern  distribution,  Member  States  reports  vs  JRC  baselines,  EUR 
30689  EN,  Publications  Office  of  the  European  Union,  Luxembourg, 
2021, ISBN 978-92-76-37420-6, doi:10.2760/11150, JRC123170.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
and 

the  necessary 
conservation  objectives 
conservation  measures  for  all  the  sites;  provide 
adequate  resources  for  their  implementation  to 
maintain/restore 
of 
Community interest with a favourable conservation 
status. 
Ensure 
implementation  of  priority  measures 
identified  in  the  prioritised  action  framework  for 
2021-2027.  

habitats 

species 

and 

 

Lithuania  15 

Lithuania’s 

Commission 

2018 
assessed 
The 
determinations  of  GES  for  each  of  the  MSFD’s  11 
descriptors55 and determined their level of adequacy  in 
relation to the Commission GES Decision. A good or very 
good score indicates that the national determinations of 
GES  are  well  aligned  with  requirements  of  the 
Commission  GES  Decision,  providing  qualitative  and 
quantitative national environmental objectives for their 
marine waters. 

Figure 14: Level of adequacy of GES determination by 
Lithuania (BAL region) with criteria set under the 
Commission GES Decision – Article 9 (2018 reporting 
exercise)56 

  Reduce  pressure  from  the  agricultural  sector  on 
natural  resources  by  cutting  ammonia  emissions, 
increasing  soil  organic  carbon  content,  better 
nutrient  management  and  increasing  nutrient  use 
efficiency. 
Improve the incentives for foresters and farmers to 
better protect forest and grassland habitats. Ensure 
sustainable  forest  management  through  effective 
planning with due consideration for the ecosystem 
services provided by forests. 

 

Take the necessary steps to ensure full compliance with 
the  requirements  specified  in  Article  13  of  the  IAS 
Regulation. 

Marine ecosystems 

aims 

strategy  2030 

EU  biodiversity 

The 
to: 
(i)substantially reduce the negative impacts on sensitive 
species  and  habitats  in  marine  ecosystems;  (ii)  achieve 
good  environmental  status  as  well  as  eliminate  or 
reduce the incidental catches of protected, endangered, 
threatened  and  sensitive  species  to  a  level  that  allows 
species recovery and conservation53. 

The  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive  (MSFD) 54 
requires Member States to achieve good environmental 
status (GES) for their marine waters.  

To  that  end,  Member  States  must  draw  up  marine 
strategies  for  their  marine  waters  and  cooperate  with 
Member States sharing the same marine region or sub-
region. These marine strategies comprise different steps 
to be developed and implemented over six-year cycles. 

requires  Member 

The  MSFD  also 
States  by 
15 October 2018 to draw up a set of GES characteristics 
for  each  descriptor  (Article 9),  and  to  provide  an  initial 
assessment of their marine waters (Article 8).  

The Commission then assesses whether this constitutes 
an appropriate framework to meet the requirements of 
the Directive. 

Lithuania  has  one  marine  sub-region,  -Baltic  Sea  (BAL). 
In this marine sub-region, 7 out of 11 determinations of 
GES  were  assessed  as  good  or  very  good.  The  national 
determination of GES by Lithuania is coherent for 7 out 
of 11 descriptors. 

The MSFD also requires that Member States  assess the 
current  environmental  status  of  their  marine  waters  in 
relation  to  the  determination  of  GES.  A  good  or  very 
good  score  indicates  that  Member  States  are  well  able 
to assess their marine environment  in accordance with 
the  requirements  set  out 
in  the  Commission  GES 
Decision. 

53 The  EU  Common  Fisheries  Policy  (CFP)  aims  to  contribute  to  the 
achievement  of  the  objectives  of  the  environmental  legislation  for 
marine ecosystems. 
54 Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC 

55 Annex I of Directive 2008/56/EC. 
56   Assessment  carried  out  by  the  European  Commission  of  the  data 
reported by the Member States, January 2022. Please note that only 
two sub-sections of descriptor D1 are displayed (D1-M Mammals and 
D1-B Birds). For the analysis, these two sub-sections were considered 
as a whole after averaging them. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Figure 15: Level of adequacy of national assessment of 
Lithuania’s marine environment (BAL region) with 
criteria set under the Commission GES Decision – 
article 8 (2018 reporting exercise)57 

Of  the  11  descriptors,  7  were  scored  as  good  or  very 
good. Lithuania’s assessment of its marine environment 
is  consistent  with 
the 
Commission GES Decision for 7 out of 11 descriptors. 

requirements  under 

the 

Lithuania  is  missing  data  for  D11  Energy,  including 
underwater noise and D1 Mammals. 

In  the  2019  EIR,  the  Commission  suggested  that 
Lithuania  provide  timely  report  on  the  different 
elements under the MSFD. 

the  Commission’s 
the  MSFD 58 ,  while 

report  on 
As  highlighted 
in 
implementation  of 
regional 
cooperation  has  improved  since  the  adoption  of  the 
is  needed  to  attain  full 
MSFD,  more  cooperation 
regional coherence of the marine strategies, as required 
by the Directive. 

Furthermore, in March 2022, the European Commission 
published a  Communication  with recommendations for 
Member States. The Commission assessment  highlights 
that  Member  States  need  to  step  up  their  efforts  to 
determine  the  good  environmental  status  and  the  use 
of  the  criteria  and  methodological  standards  according 
to 
the  Commission  GES  Decision.  The  above 
considerations  form  the  basis  for  the  2022  priority 
actions. 

Lithuania  16 

2022 priority actions 

 

 

Ensure  regional  cooperation  with  Member  States 
sharing  the  same  marine  (sub)region  to  address 
predominant pressures. 
Implement  the  recommendations  made  by  the 
in  the  staff  working  document 59 
Commission 
accompanying 
 on 
Communication
recommendations per Member State and region on 
the 2018 updated reports for Articles 8, 9 and 10 of 
the MSFD. 

the 

60

Ecosystem assessment and accounting  

The  EU  Biodiversity  Strategy  for  2030  calls  on  Member 
States  to  better  integrate  biodiversity  considerations 
into  public  and  business  decision-making  at  all  levels 
and to develop natural capital accounting. The EU needs 
a  better  performing  biodiversity  observation  network 
and  more  consistent  reporting  on  the  condition  of 
ecosystems . 

Lithuania  has 

Since  2017, 
some  major 
developments  in  this  area  -  on  both  the  ecosystem 
assessment process and ecosystem services integration 
in general. 

seen 

In  terms  of  national  policy,  most  notably,  ecosystem 
assessment  was  included  in  the  previous  Lithuanian 
government’s work programme for 2016-2020. 

A  national  project  ‒  LINESAM  (Lithuanian  national 
ecosystem  services  assessment  and  mapping)  2017-
2021  was  carried  out  in  Lithuania  by  an  international 
team  based  at  Mykolas  Romeris  University,  working 
closely  with  the  Ministry  of  the  Environment.  Outputs 
included a geoportal  where the data  layers, interactive 
maps,  assessments  and  various  other  publications  are 
published.  A  major  update  of  ecosystem  service  layers 
was  implemented  in  September  2021.  Newly  uploaded 
services  visualize  drivers  of  change  scenarios,  such  as 
land use change and habitat quality change. 

Lithuania  has  provided  updated 
information  and 
significant  progress  has  been  recorded  since  January 
2016 
is  based  on 
27 implementation  questions  and  is  updated  every  6 
months. 

(Figure  16).  This  assessment 

57   Assessment  carried  out  by  the  European  Commission  of  the  data 
reported  by  the  MS,  January  2022.  Please  note  that  only  two  sub-
sections  of  descriptor  D1  are  displayed  (D1-M  Mammals  and  D1-B 
Birds). For  the analysis, these two sub-sections were considered as  a 
whole after averaging them.  
58 COM(2020)259  

59 SWD(2022)1392. 
60 COM(2022)550. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Figure 16: ESMERALDA MAES Barometer (March 
2021)61 

been  established  at  EU  level64 and  in  some,  but  not  all 
Member States.  

Lithuania  17 

Lithuania has not yet established such a platform. 

Lithuania  has  not  yet  signed  and  ratified  the  Nagoya 
Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and 
equitable  sharing  of  benefits  arising 
their 
utilization  (ABS)  to  the  Convention  on  biological 
diversity. 

from 

2022 priority action 

 

Continue  supporting  the  mapping  and  assessment 
of  ecosystems  and  their  services,  and  ecosystem 
accounting  development, 
through  appropriate 
indicators 
integrating  ecosystem  extent, 
for 
condition  and  services  (including  some  monetary 
values) into national accounts; continue supporting 
the  development  of  national  business  and 
biodiversity  platforms, 
including  natural  capital 
accounting  systems  to  monitor  and  evaluate  the 
impact of business on biodiversity. 

64 Business  and  Biodiversity,  The  European  Business  and  Biodiversity 
Campaign aims to promote the business case for biodiversity in the EU 
Member  States  through  workshops,  seminars  and  a  cross  media 
communication strategy. 

progress 

accounting 
National 
implementation is assessed based on  13 questions (see 
Figure 17). 

ecosystem 

on 

Figure 17: Ecosystem accounting Barometer, 
September 202162 

Business  and  Biodiversity  platforms,  networks  and 
communities of practice are key tools for promoting and 
facilitating  natural  capital  assessments  (NCAs)  among 
business and financial service providers for instance via 
the  natural  capital  protocol  of  the  Natural  Capital 
Coalition 63 .  NCAs  help  private  business  to  better 
understand  and  value  not  only  their  impacts  but  also 
their dependencies on nature and thereby contributing 
to  the  EU  biodiversity  strategy.  Such  platforms  have 

61 European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Publication Office, EU 
Ecosystem  assessment:  summary  for  policymakers,  page  80,  May 
2021.  MAES:  mapping  and  assessment  of  ecosystems  and  their 
services. 

62 MAIA  Portal,  Mapping  and  assessment  for  Integrated  Ecosystem 
Accounting (EU Horizon 2020 project), 2022. MAIA uses the System of 
Environmental  Economic  Accounting  –  Experimental  Ecosystem 
Accounting (SEEA-EEA) as the methodological basis for the ecosystem 
accounting. The SEEA EA is an integrated an comprehensive statistical 
framework  that  is  based  on  five  core  accounts:  ecosystem  extent, 
condition, services and monetary ecosystem asset. 
63 Natural Capital Coalition, Natural Capital Protocol 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Lithuania  18 

3. Zero pollution

to  projections,  it  will  not  meet  its  2020-2029  emission 
reduction  commitments  for  NOX,  non-methane  volatile 
organic  compounds  (NMVOCs)  or  NH3,  or  the  emission 
reduction  commitments  for  NOX  and  NMVOCs  for  2030 
onwards.  The 
inventory  data  submitted  by 
Lithuania,  which  have  not  yet  been  reviewed  by  the 
Commission, indicate that in 2020 Lithuania has complied 
with  its  emission  reduction  commitments  for  SO2  and 
PM2.5  but  not  with  its  emission  reduction  commitments 
for NOX, NMVOC and NH3. 

latest 

Lithuania  submitted  its  national  air  pollution  control 
programme on 2 June 2019. 

Figure 18: Emission trends of main pollutants/ GDP 
2005-2019 in Lithuania72 

Clean air 

its 

EU  clean  air  policies  and  legislation  need  to  significantly 
improve air quality in the EU, moving the EU closer to the 
quality recommended by the WHO and curbing emissions 
of key air pollutants. 
Air  pollution  and 
impacts  on  ecosystems  and 
biodiversity  should  be  further  reduced  with  the  long-
term  aim  of  not  exceeding  critical  loads  and  levels.  This 
requires  strengthening  efforts  to  reach  full  compliance 
with EU clean air legislation and defining strategic targets 
and actions for 2030 and beyond. 
The 2030 zero pollution action plan targets are to reduce 
the health impacts of air pollution by 55% and to reduce 
the  EU  ecosystems  threatened  by  air  pollution  by  25% 
compared to 2005. 

The EU has developed a comprehensive suite of clean air 
legislation,  which 
sets  health-based  air  quality 
standards65 and  emissions-reduction  commitments 66 by 
Member State for a number of air pollutants. 

Air  quality  in  Lithuania  continues  to  be  generally  good 
with  some  exceptions.  The 
latest  available  annual 
estimates  (for  2019)  by  the  European  Environment 
Agency 67  point  to  about  2 500  premature  deaths  or 
lost  (YLL))  attributable  to  fine 
27 900  years  of 
particulate  matter  concentrations68,  and  90  premature 
deaths or 1 100 YLL to ozone concentration6970. 

life 

(see  graph).  According 

Emissions  of  key  air  pollutants  have  decreased 
significantly  in  Lithuania  in  recent  years,  as  GDP  growth 
continued 
latest 
projections,  as  submitted  under  Article 10(2)  of  the 
National  Emission  Reduction  Commitments  Directive 
(NECD)71, Lithuania  expects  to  meet  emission  reduction 
commitments  for  SO2  and  PM2.5 for  2020-2029  and  for 
SO2, NH3 and PM2.5 for 2030 onwards. However, according 

the 

to 

Figure 19: PM2.5 and NOx emissions by sector in 
Lithuania, 201973 

65 
European Commission, 2016. Air Quality Standards 
66 
European Commission, Reduction of National Emissions. 
67 
European Environment Agency, Air Quality in Europe  –2021 
Rapport.  See  details  in  this  report  on  the  underpinning  methodology, 
p. 106. 
68 
Particulate  matter  (PM)  is  a  mixture  of  aerosol  particles 
(solid  and 
liquid)  covering  a  wide  range  of  sizes  and  chemical 
compositions.  PM10  refers  to  particles  with  a  diameter  of  10 
micrometres  or  less.  PM2.5  refers  to  particles  with  a  diameter  of  2.5 
micrometres  or  less.  PM  is  emitted  from  many  human  sources, 
including combustion. 
69 
pollution. 
70 
Please  note  that  these  figures  refer  to  the  impacts  of 
individual pollutants, and to avoid double-counting cannot be added up 
to derive a sum. 
71 Directive 2016/2284/EU. 

Low-level  ozone  is  produced  by  photochemical  action  on 

72 European Environment Agency. 
73 European Environment Agency. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Lithuania  19 

Industrial  Emissions  Directive  (IED)76.  The  Commission 
tabled a proposal  in April  202277. The revision seeks to 
improve the Directive’s contribution to the zero-pollution 
objective, as well as its consistency with climate, energy 
and circular economy policies. 

The  below  overview  of  industrial  activities  regulated  by 
the  IED  is  based  on  data  reported  to  the  EU  Registry 
(2018)78. 

In  Lithuania,  around  230 
installations  are 
required  to  have  a  permit  based  on  the  IED.  The 
distribution of installations is shown in the figure below. 

industrial 

The industrial sectors in Lithuania with most installations 
in 2018 were intensive rearing of poultry and pigs (37%), 
followed  by  the  waste  management  sector,  including 
landfills (29%), the energy sector (11%) and the food and 
drink industries (8%). 

limit  values 
For  2020,  no  exceedances  above  the 
established  by  the  Ambient  Air  Quality  Directive  were 
registered. However, for two air quality zones the target 
values  regarding  ozone  concentration  have  not  been 
met74. 

In  2019,  Lithuania  was  called  on,  as  a  priority  action,  to 
further  reduce  emissions 
from  the  main  sources. 
Although  some  measures,  notably  for  transport  and 
industry75, have been put in place under air quality plans, 
so  far,  they  have  not  yielded  the  expected  result. 
Therefore, this priority action is still valid. 

2022 priority actions  

 

take 

steps 

(NAPCP), 

  As  part  of  the  national  air  pollution  control 
programme 
towards 
reducing  emissions  from  the  main  sources 
mentioned above. 
Ensure  full  compliance  with  EU  air  quality 
standards  and  maintain  downward  emissions 
trends  for  air  pollutants,  to  reduce  adverse  air 
pollution impacts on health and economy with a 
view  to  reaching  WHO  guideline  values  in  the 
future. 

Industrial emissions 

 The main objectives of EU policy on industrial emissions 
are to:  
(i) protect air, water and soil;  
(ii) prevent and manage waste;  
(iii) improve energy and resource efficiency;  
(iv) clean up contaminated sites.  
To  achieve  this,  the  EU  takes  an  integrated  approach  to 
the  prevention  and  control  of  routine  and  accidental 
industrial emissions. The cornerstone of the policy is the 

74  European Environment Agency, Eionet Central Data Repository. 
75 
Europe, fig.2. 16.2.2022. 

European  Environment  Agency.  Managing  Air  Quality  in 

the  mineral  and  chemical 

76 Directive  2010/75/EU  covers  industrial  activities  carried  out 
above  certain  thresholds.  It  covers  the  energy  industry,  metal 
production, 
industry,  waste 
management,  and  a  wide  range  of  industrial  and  agricultural 
sectors  (e.g.  intensive  rearing  of  pigs  and  poultry,  pulp  and 
paper production, painting and cleaning). 
77 
 European Commission, proposal for a revision of the Industrial 
Emissions  Directive,  4  April  2022.  The  revision  of  the  IED  is 
performed  in  parallel  to  the  revision  of  Regulation  (EC)  No 
166/2006  on  the  European  Pollutant  Release  and  Transfer 
Register (E-PRTR). 
78 European Environment Agency, European Industrial Emissions Portal. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Figure 20: Number of IED industrial installations per 
sector in Lithuania, 201879  

Figure 21: Emissions to air from IED sectors and rest of 
national total air emissions in Lithuania, 201880 

Lithuania  20 

The  industrial  sectors 
identified  as  contributing  the 
largest  burden  to  the  environment  for  emissions  to  air 
were the energy sector for sulphur oxides (SOx), Nitrogen 
Oxides  (NOx)  and  NMVOCs;  the  mineral  industries  for 
arsenic  (As)  and  mercury  (Hg);  intensive  rearing  of 
poultry  and  pigs  for  ammonia  (NH3);  food  and  drink 
industries  for  NMVOCs;  other  industrial  product  use  for 
copper  (Cu)  and  lead  (Pb),  and  the  waste  management 
sector  for  particulate  matter  (PM2.5)  and  dioxins.  The 
breakdown is shown in the following graph. 

In  Lithuania,  no  releases  to  water  have  been  reported 
from  industrial  activities  under  the  European  pollutant 
release and transfer register (E-PRTR). 

The  EU  approach  to  enforcement  under  the  IED  creates 
strong  rights  for  the  public  to  have  access  to  relevant 
information  and  to  participate  in  the  permitting  process 
for potentially polluting installations. This empowers the 
public and NGOs to ensure that permits are appropriately 
granted  and  that  the  conditions  of  these  permits  are 
complied  with.  As  part  of  environmental  inspection, 
competent  authorities  undertake  site  visits  to 
IED 
installations  to  take  samples  and  to  gather  necessary 
information.  According  to  Article 23(4)  of  the  IED,  site 
visits  must  be  carried  out  between  once  every  year  and 
once  every  3  years,  depending  on  the  environmental 
risks  posed  by  the  installations.    In  2018,  Lithuania 
undertook  228  site  visits,  mostly  to  installations  for  the 
intensive rearing of poultry or pigs (37%), followed by the 
waste  management  sector,  including  landfills  (29%),  the 
energy  sector  (11%)  and  the  food  and  drink  industries 
(8%). 

79 European  Environment  Agency,  EU  Registry,  European  Industrial 
Emissions Portal (data retrieved on 3 November 2021). 

80 European Environment Agency, LRTAP (data retrieved on 3 November 
2021). 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
Figure 23: Number of inspections in IED installations in 
Lithuania in 201881 

The  development  of  best-available-technique 
(BAT) 
reference  documents  (BREFs)  and  BAT  conclusions 
ensures  good  collaboration  between  stakeholders  and 
enables better implementation of the IED82. Since the last 
EIR  report,  BAT  Conclusions  were  adopted  for:  (i)  waste 
incineration;  (ii)  the  food,  drink  and  milk  industries;  and 
(iii)  surface  treatment  using  organic  solvents  including 
the  preservation  of  wood  and  wood-products  with 
chemicals. 

. 

The  Commission  relies  on  the  efforts  of  national 
competent  authorities  to  implement  the  legally  binding 
BAT  conclusions  and  associated  BAT  emission  levels  in 
environmental permits. This should result in considerable 
and continuous reduction in pollution. 

In  2019,  Lithuania  received  the  priority  action  to  review 
permits  and  to  strengthen  control  and  enforcement  to 
ensure compliance with newly adopted BAT conclusions. 
The  Commission  has  been  monitoring  progress,  as 
reported  by  Lithuania  to  the  EU  registry.  No  non-
compliant permits have been reported in the most recent 
reports. 

In  2022,  Lithuania’s  reporting  to  the  E-PRTR  is  still 
experiencing delays and should be improved. 

2022 priority action 

 

Improve  reporting to the E-PRTR.  

Major industrial accidents prevention – 
SEVESO 

The main objectives of EU policy on  

81 European  Environment  Agency,  EU  Registry,  European  Industrial 
Emissions Portal (data retrieved on 3 November 2021). 
82 

European Commission BAT reference documents. 

Lithuania  21 

the prevention of major industrial accidents are to: 
(i)  control  major  accident  hazards  involving  dangerous 
substances, especially chemicals; 
(ii)  limit  the  consequences  of  such  accidents  for  human 
health and the environment; 
(iii)  continuously  improve  prevention,  preparedness  and 
response  to  major  accidents.  The  cornerstone  of  the 
policy is Directive 2012/18/EU (the Seveso-iii directive)83. 

The below overview of industrial plants regulated by  the 
Seveso-III Directive (‘Seveso establishments’), is based on 
data  reported  to  the  eSPIRS  database  (2018)84 and  the 
Lithuania report on the implementation of the Seveso-III 
Directive for the period 2015-201885. 

Of  the  44  Seveso  establishments  in  Lithuania,  25  are 
categorised as  lower-tier establishments (LTE) and 19 as 
upper-tier establishments (UTE)  – based on the quantity 
of  hazardous  substances  likely  to  be  present.  The  UTEs 
are  subject  to  more  stringent  requirements.  The  growth 
in  the  number  of  Seveso  establishments  is  presented  in 
Figure 24. 

Figure 24: Number of Seveso establishments in 
Lithuania, 2011, 2014 and 201886 

Many  Seveso  establishments  are  required  to  draw  up 
(EEPs).  These  EEPs  are 
external  emergency  plans 
essential  to  allow  proper  preparation  and  effective 
implementation  of  the  necessary  actions  to  protect  the 
environment  and  the  population  should  a  major 
industrial accident occur at them. According to Lithuania, 
EEPs  are  required  for  19  UTEs.  In  2018,  19  UTEs  had  an 
EEP and 11 of these EEP had been tested over the last 3 
years. The summary is shown in Figure 25.. 

83  Directive  2012/18/EU  on  the  control  of  major-accident  hazards 
involving dangerous substances 
84 European Commission, Seveso Plants Information Retrieval System. 
85 As provided for by Article 21(2) of the Seveso-III Directive 
86 European Commission, Assessment and summary of Member States’ 
implementation  reports  for 
Implementing  Decision  2014/896/EU 
(implementing  Directive  2012/18/EU  on  the  control  of  major  accident 
hazards involving dangerous substances), 2022. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
Figure 25: Situation regarding EEP in Lithuania (2018)87 

The  public  information  referred  to  in  Annex  V  to  the 
Seveso-III  Directive  –  especially  about  how  the  public 
affected  will be warned in case of a  major accident; the 
appropriate  behaviour  in  the  event  of  a  major  accident; 
and  the  date  of  the  last  site  visit  –  is  permanently 
available  for  100%  of  the  Seveso  establishments  in 
Lithuania. 

The  share  of  UTE  for  which  information  on  safety 
measures  and  requisite  behaviours  were  actively  made 
available  to  the  public  in  recent  years  is  presented  in 
Figure 26. This is an important provision of the Seveso-III 
Directive  as  public  knowledge  of  this  information  public 
could  reduce  the  consequences  of  a  major  industrial 
accident. 

Figure 26: Share of UTE for which information on safety 
measures and requisite behaviours was actively made 
available to the public in Lithuania, 2011, 2014 and 
201888 

2022 priority actions 

 

Strengthen  monitoring  and  enforcement  to  ensure 
compliance  with  the  Seveso-III  Directive,  especially 

87 Idem. 
88 Idem. 

Lithuania  22 

its  provisions  on  information  for  the  public  and  the 
external emergency plan. 

Noise 

The  Environmental  Noise  Directive  provides  for  a 
common  approach  to  avoid,  prevent  and  reduce  the 
harmful  effects  of  exposure  to  environmental  noise 
although  it  does  not  set  noise  limits  as  such.  Its    main 
instruments  in  this  respect  are  strategic  noise  mapping 
and planning. A key  target under the 2030 zero pollution 
action  plan  is  to  reduce  by  30%  the  share  of  people 
chronically  disturbed  by  transport  noise  compared  to 
2017. 

Excessive noise from aircraft, railways and roads is one of 
the  main  causes  of  environmental  health‐related  issues 
in  the  EU.  It  can  cause  ischeamic  heart  disease,  stroke, 
interrupted sleep, cognitive impairment and stress89. 

limited  set  of  data 90 , 
In  Lithuania,  based  on  a 
environmental  noise  is  estimated  to  cause  at  least 
around 200 premature deaths and 500 cases of ischaemic 
heart disease annually91. Moreover, some 30 000 people 
suffer  from  disturbed  sleep.  In  Lithuania,  the  number  of 
people  exposed  to  noise  pollution  fell  by  15%  between 
2012 and 2017. Based on the latest full set of information 
that  has  been  analysed,  noise  mapping  and  planning  of 
agglomerations, roads and railways is complete. 

Water quality and management 

EU  legislation  and  policy  requires  that  the  impact  of 
pressures  on  transitional,  coastal  and  fresh  waters 
(including  surface  and  ground  waters)  be  significantly 
reduced.  Achieving,  maintaining  or  enhancing  good 
status  of  water  bodies  as  defined  by  the  Water 
Framework Directive  will  ensure that  EU citizens benefit 
from good quality and safe drinking and bathing water,. It 
will  further  ensure  that  the  nutrient  cycle  (nitrogen  and 
phosphorus)  is  managed  in  a  more  sustainable  and 
resource-efficient way. 

89 WHO 2018, Environmental noise guidelines for the European region 
90 For  further  information:  European  Environment  Agency,  noise  fact 
sheets 2021. 
91 These  figures  are  an  estimation  by  the  European  Environmental 
Agency  based  on  :  (i)  the  data  reported  by  Member  States  on  noise 
exposure  covered  by  Directive  2002/49/EC;  (ii)  ETC/ATNI,  2021,  Noise 
indicators under the Environmental Noise Directive 2021: Methodology 
for  estimating  missing  data,  ETC/ATNI  Report  No  2021/06,  European 
Topic Centre on Air Pollution, Transport, Noise and Industrial Pollution; 
(iii)  the  methodology  for  health  impact  calculations,  ETC/ACM,  2018, 
Implications of environmental noise on health and wellbeing in Europe, 
Eionet  Report  ETC/ACM  No  2018/10,  European  Topic  Centre  on  Air 
Pollution and Climate Change Mitigation. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
                                                                 
Water Framework Directive 

(WFD) 92  is 

The  Water  Framework  Directive 
the 
cornerstone of EU water policy in the 21st century93. The 
legislation 94  set  the 
WFD  and  other  water-related 
framework 
integrated  water 
sustainable  and 
management, which aims at a high level of protection of 
water resources, prevention of further deterioration and 
restoration to good status. 

for 

By  March 2022,  Member  States  had to report   the third 
set  of  river basin  management  plans  (RBMPs) under the 
WFD. Lithuania has not yet  reported it. The Commission 
will  assess  the  reported  status  and  progress,  checking 
what  measures  have  been  taken  in  response  to  findings 
identified when the second RBMPs95 were assessed. 

In  December  2021,  the  Commission  published  the  sixth 
implementation  report,  which  assesses  implementation 
of  the  WFD  and  the  Floods  Directive 96.  This  report 
includes  an 
interim  assessment  of  progress  on:  (i) 
implementation of the programmes of measures; and (ii) 
the  new  priority  substances.  The  assessment  report  for 
Lithuania97 found that progress on implementation of the 
second  management  cycle  measures  was  difficult  to 
evaluate.  There  were  no  mechanisms  for  ongoing 
implementation  and  no 
monitoring  of  progress  on 
country  reports  on  WFD 
implementation  had  been 
produced  since.  Nevertheless,  Lithuania  reported  that 
implementation  of  measures  had  started,  along  with 
some pilot projects investigating the effectiveness of the 
measures to restore river hydromorphology. 

The  second  set  of  RBMP  reports  and  data  published  in 
202098 reveal that in Lithuania 51.9% of all surface water 
bodies99 have  good  ecological  status  and  99.0%  have 
good  chemical 
(with  0.1%  unknown). For 
groundwaters,  100%  achieve  both  good  chemical  and 
quantitative status. 

status 

includes  the  Groundwater  Directive 

92 The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). 
93 The EU Water Policy. 
94  This 
(2006/118/EC),  the 
Environmental  Quality  Standards  Directive  (2008/105/EC),  the  Floods 
Directive  (2007/60/EC),  the  Bathing  Water  Directive  (2006/7/EC),  the 
Urban  Waste  Water  Treatment  Directive  (91/271/EEC),  the  new 
Drinking  Water  Directive  (2020/2184/EC),  the  Nitrates  Directive 
(91/676/EEC),  the  Marine  Strategy  Framework  Directive  (2008/56/EC), 
the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) and the new Regulation 
on minimum requirements for water reuse (2020/741). 
95 
Detailed information can be found in the 5th Report from the 
Commission on the implementation of the Water Framework Directive 
and the Floods Directive, as well as in the 2019 EIR. 
96 
97 
for 
Environment,  Assessment  of  Member  States’  progress  in  programmes 
of measures during the second planning cycle of the Water Framework 
Directive. Member State: Lithuania, 2022. 
98 

See the 6th WFD and FD implementation report FD. 
European 

Directorate-General 

Commission, 

99 

WISE Freshwater (europa.eu) 
River, lake, transitional, coastal, territorial. 

Lithuania  23 

The  figure  below  illustrates  the proportion  of  surface 
water  bodies in Lithuania and  other  European  countries 
that failed to achieve good ecological status.  

Figure 27. Proportion of surface water bodies (rivers, 
lakes, transitional and coastal waters) in less than good 
ecological status per River Basin District100  

The  following  figure  shows  the  percentage  of  surface 
water  bodies  in  Lithuania  and  other  European  countries 
failing to achieve good chemical status. For Lithuania the 
percentage  is  0.9%,  irrespective  of  whether  or  not  the 
figures  include  water  bodies  failing  due  to  ubiquitous 
PBTs (persistent, bio-accumulative, toxic substances). 

Figure 28. Percentage of surface water bodies not 
achieving good chemical status101 

Over  the  last  decade,  Lithuania  has  achieved  a  72.4% 
reduction  in  releases  of  heavy  metals  like  cadmium, 

100 European Environment Agency, 2021.    
101 European Environment Agency, December 2019.  

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
 
                                                                 
mercury,  nickel  and  lead  into  water  and  an  86.4% 
reduction in total organic carbon releases102. 

Figure 30: Water exploitation index plus (WEI+) inside 
EU, 2017106  

Lithuania  24 

to 

the  2019  baseline) 

A  total  of  267.44  hm3  of  water  is  abstracted  annually 
in  Lithuania 
from  surface  and  groundwater  sources 
(corresponding 
(European 
Environment Agency (EEA), 2022; the figure quoted is the 
2019 baseline). The percentage for water abstraction per 
sector is 21.58% for agriculture, 51.11% for public water 
supply,  4.69% 
for 
manufacturing,  6,36%  for  manufacturing  cooling  and 
4.71%  for  mining  and  quarrying,  as  illustrated  in  the 
following Figure. Lithuania uses a register to record water 
abstractions.  The  water  register  is  updated  regularly, 
although not all information is registered. Exemptions are 
not recorded. 

for  electricity  cooling,  11.55% 

One  positive  development  is  the  LIFE  MarshMeadows 
project  (start  date:  Oct.  2021)  that  aims  to  restore  the 
hydrological  regime  on  630 ha  in  Lithuania  which  would 
facilitate  the  conservation  and  management  of  habitats 
and species. 

Figure 29. Water abstraction per sector in Lithuania103 

Floods Directive 

As mentioned above, in December 2021, the Commission 
published  the  sixth  implementation  report.  It  includes  a 
flood  risk 
review  and  update  of  the  preliminary 
assessments during the second cycle (2016-2021). 

and 

impact 

consequences. 

The  assessment  report107 showed  that    Lithuania  should 
establish  clearer  criteria  for  the  significance  of  potential 
flood 
term 
developments  should  be  taken  into  consideration  in  the 
assessment  of  adverse  consequences  of  future  flood 
events and the effectiveness of existing man made flood 
defence  infrastructures  should  be  considered.  Lithuania 
has carried out a detailed assessment of potential climate 
change  impacts.  Since  it  was  done  some  time  ago,  an 
update is recommended. 

Long 

Lithuania has not yet  reported the second generation of 
flood  risk  management  plans  (FRMPs)  under  the  Floods 
Directive. The European Commission will assess progress 
since the adoption of the first  FRMPs and publish a new 
report, as done in 2019. 

Drinking Water Directive 

On  the  Drinking  Water  Directive108,  no  new  assessment 
of  the  quality  of  drinking  water  is  available  since  the 
2019EIR.  The  quality  of  drinking  water  in  Lithuania  has 
not been indicated as an area of concern. 

The  recast  Directive 109entered  into  force  on  12  January 
2021, and Member States have until 12 January 2023 to 

106 European Environment Agency, Water exploitation Index Plus, 2022.  
107  European  Commission,  Directorate-General 
for  Environment, 
Assessment  of  Second  Cycle  Preliminary  Flood  Risk  Assessments  and 
Identification  of  Areas  of  Potential  Significant  Flood  Risk  under  the 
Floods Directive : Member State : Lithuania, 2022 
108 OJ L 330, 5.12.1998, p. 32–54. 
109 OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, p. 1–62. 

In Lithuania, the water exploitation index plus (WEI+)104 is 
0.38%,  far  below  the  20%  generally  considered  as  an 
indication of water scarcity105. 

The bar below presents the WEI+  index  in  Lithuania and 
other European countries. Lithuania is ranked 24th (from 
high  to  low  index)  in  EU  level  in  terms  of  water 
exploitation. 

European Environment Agency, June 2021. 

102 
103.  European  Environment  Agency,  Water  abstraction  by  source  and 
economic sector in Europe, 2022. 
104 The Water Exploitation Index plus (WEI+) is a measure of total fresh 
water  use  as  a  percentage  of  the  renewable  freshwater  resources 
(groundwater and surface water) at a given time and place. It quantifies 
how  much  water  is  abstracted  and  how  much  water  is  returned  after 
use to the environment. 
105 By  May  2022,  EEA  will  develop  seasonal  WEI+  at  river  basin  and 
NUTS2  level,  which  provide  a  more  complete  picture  of  water  stress 
and water scarcity for each Member State. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
implement  it  in  national  law.  Lithuania  will  have  to 
comply with these reviewed quality standards. 

Figure 32: Lithuania, Bathing water quality 2017-2020114 

Lithuania  25 

Bathing Water Directive 

On the  Bathing Water Directive, Figure  32  shows that  in 
2020,  out  of  the  120  Lithuanian  bathing  waters,   85.8% 
were of excellent  quality110.  Detailed information on the 
Lithuanian  bathing  waters  is  available  from  a  national 
website 111 and  via  an  interactive  map  viewer  produced 
by the European Environment Agency 112. 

Figure 31:   Bathing water quality in Europe in the 2020 
season113 

Nitrates Directive 

The latest Commission Report on the implementation of 
the  Nitrates  Directive115,  for  2016-2019116,  warns  that 
nitrates are still causing harmful pollution to water in the 
EU.  Excessive  nitrates  in  water  are  harmful  to  both 
human health and ecosystems, causing oxygen depletion 
and  eutrophication.  Where  national  authorities  and 
farmers  have  cleaned  up  waters,  it  has  had  a  positive 
impact on drinking water supply and biodiversity, and on 
the  sectors  that  depend  on  them  such  as  fisheries  and 
tourism.  Nevertheless,  excessive  fertilisation  remains  a 
problem  in  many  parts  of  the  EU.  Compliance  with  the 
Nitrates  Directive  is  a  prerequisite  for  reducing  nutrient 
losses by at least 50% by 2030, the target set by the EU’ s 
biodiversity  and  farm  to  fork  strategies.  Rapid  action  is 
required,  starting  with  the  enforcement  of  the  related 
legislation. 

Regrettably,  Lithuania  has  not  provided 
information 
about  nitrogen  discharges  from  agriculture  into  in  the 
aquatic environment for the 2016-2019 reporting period. 

Lithuania  has  a  well-developed  network  of  monitoring 
stations.  Groundwater  quality  is  good,  however    a  large 
number  of  groundwater  monitoring 
stations  are 
detecting  an  increasing  trend.  A  high  number  of  the 
surface waters are found to be eutrophic. Eutrophication 
is  affecting  both  inland  and  marine  (Baltic  Sea)  waters. 
The  Ministers  of  Agriculture,  Fisheries  and  Environment 
from the Baltic Sea Member States responded to the very 
acute  eutrophication  problem  which  affects  97%  of  the 

114 European  Environment  Agency,  European  Bathing  Water  Quality  in 
2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.  
115 Council Directive 91/676/EEC 
116 COM(2021) 1000 final 

110 European  Environment  Agency,  2021.  State  of  bathing  water  — 
European Environment Agency (europa.eu)  , p. 17. 
111 http://www.smlpc.lt/lt/aplinkos_sveikata/maudyklos/ 
112 EEA,  State  of  bathing  waters  in  2020  —  European  Environment 
Agency (europa.eu) 
113 European Environment Agency, Bathing Water Quality in 2020, 2022. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Baltic Sea117when they met at the ‘Our Baltic Conference’ 
on  28  September  2020. 
In  a  common  political 
declaration, they committed to boosting efforts to ensure 
a  good  environmental  status  for  the  Baltic  Sea  by 
reducing key pressures, especially from nutrients. 

Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 

Lithuania  has,  over  the  years,  encountered  a  few 
difficulties  in  meeting  its  obligations  under  the  Urban 
Waste  Water  Treatment  Directive  (UWWTD).  According 
to  the  last  available  data,  the  overall  compliance  rate  in 
Lithuania  is  99%,  which  is  considerably  higher  than  the 
EU average of 76% in 2018 (see figure 33). Lithuania has 
met  its  target  for  collection,  biological  treatment  and 
biological treatment with nitrogen  of urban waste water 
and phosphorus removal. Lithuania reuses 36% of waste 
water sludge in agriculture and 39.6% for other purposes. 

Figure 33: Proportion of urban waste water that meets 
all requirements of the UWWTD (collection, biological 
treatment, biological treatment with nitrogen and/or 
phosphorus removal) in compliant urban areas of the 
UWWTD (‘compliance rate’)118 

Lithuania  26 

 
 

 

 

mitigation measures must be considered. 
Facilitate implementation of measures (in particular  
on  restoring  river  hydromorphology)  aimed  at 
achieving the WFD objectives. 
Improve  coordination  of  measures  to  implement 
policies on water, marine and nature. 
Complete 
implementation  of  the  Urban  Waste 
Water Treatment Directive for all agglomerations, by 
building up the necessary infrastructure. 

  Reinforce  action  programme  under  the  Nitrates 
Directive to better address eutrophication of surface 
waters where agriculture pressure is significant. 

Chemicals 

The EU seeks to ensure that chemicals are produced and 
used  in  a  way  that  minimises  any  significant  adverse 
effects  on  human  health  and  the  environment. 
In 
October  2020,  the  Commission published  its  chemicals 
strategy  for  sustainability  – 
‘Towards  a  Toxic-Free 
Environment’119 which  led  to  some  systemic  changes  in 
EU  chemicals  legislation.  The  strategy  is  part  of  the  EU 
zero  pollution  ambition  –  a  key  commitment  of  the 
European Green Deal. 

legislation 120  provides  baseline 
The  EU’s  chemicals 
protection for human health and the environment. It also 
ensures  stability  and  predictability 
for  businesses 
operating within the internal market. 

and 

the  Member 

States’ 
enforcement 

labelling  and  packaging 
In  December  2020, 

Since 2007, the Commission has gathered information on 
enforcement  of  the  Regulation  on  the  registration, 
evaluation,  authorisation  and  restriction  of chemicals 
the  Regulation  on 
(‘the  REACH  Regulation’)  and 
(‘the  CLP 
classification, 
the  Commission 
Regulation’). 
assessed 
the 
reports  on 
these 
implementation 
Regulations121,  in  line  with  Article 117(1)  of  the  REACH 
Regulation  and  Article 46(2)  of  the  CLP  Regulation. 
According 
latest  available  data,  national 
enforcement structures have not changed much in recent 
years. However, it is apparent from this report that there 
are  still  many  disparities  in  the  implementation  of  the 
REACH  and  CLP  Regulations,  and  notably  on 
enforcement.  Recorded  compliance  levels  in  Member 
States seem to be quite stable over time, but with a slight 
worsening  trend,  which  is  likely  due  to:  (i)  enforcement 
in  detecting  non-
authorities  being  more  effective 

the 

to 

of 

119 

COM(2020) 667 final 

120REACH: OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p.1. -  CLP: OJ L 252, 31.12.2006, p.1  
121 
European  Commission,  Final  Report  on  the  operation  of 
REACH  and  CLP, Final  report_REACH-CLP  MS  reporting_2020.pdf 
(europa.eu). 

Despite the  steady improvement in compliance  over the 
years,  for  which  EU  funding  has  been  fundamental,  the 
implementation  of  the  UWWTD 
incomplete. 
Lithuania is taking steps to address issues related to the 
use  of  individual  and  other  appropriate  systems  across 
the country and needs to verify the compliance of a now-
reconstructed urban waste water treatment plant in one 
agglomeration (Kėdainiai). 

is  still 

2022 priority actions 

  Assess new physical modifications to water bodies in 
In  these 
line  with  Article  4(7)  of  the  WFD. 
assessments  alternative  options  and  appropriate 

117 
118 European Commission, WISE Freshwater, 2021. 

idem. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Lithuania  27 

compliant  products/companies;  and  (ii)  more  non-
compliant products being put on the EU market.  

In August 2021, the Commission published a quantitative 
assessment  of  the  enforcement122 of  the  two  main  EU 
Regulations on chemicals (the REACH Regulation and the 
CLP  Regulation)  using  a  set  of  indicators  on  different 
aspects of enforcement.   

Responsibility  for  checking  compliance  with  REACH  in 
Lithuania lies with the following authorities123:  

 

 

 

 

Environmental  Protection  Department  under  the 
Ministry of the Environment. 
State Consumer Rights Protection Authority under 
the Ministry of Justice. 
Customs  Department  under  the  Ministry  of 
Finance. 
State  Labour  Inspectorate  under  the  Ministry  of 
Labour and Social Security. 

offences.  If  the  infringement  is  sufficiently  serious,  the 
relevant  authority  may  decide  to 
further 
penalties  in  addition  to  a  fine.  That  authority  may 
also, where  necessary, order  the  provisional  seizure  of 
assets and documents. 

impose 

In  Lithuania,  74  staff  members 
(coordinators  and 
territorial or regional inspectors) are allocated to REACH 
and  CLP  enforcement125. Almost  1  000  REACH  and  CLP 
controls  were  carried  out.  Most  REACH  controls  are 
proactive (inspections), compared with reactive/non-routine 
controls  (i.e. 
in  response  to  complaints, 
referrals).  The  percentage  of  non-
accidents  and 
compliance cases out of the total number controls almost 
equals the EU average. 

investigations 

Figure 34: % of non-compliance cases out of the total 
number of REACH and CLP controls during 2019 per 
Member State and compared to the EU average126 

The  State  Consumers  Rights  Protection  Authority  under 
the Ministry of Justice has carried out market surveillance 
of non-food products (including chemicals) since January 
2016  after  the  reorganisation  of  the  State  Non-Food 
Products  Inspectorate.  The  draft  Law  on  Amendment  of 
the  Law  on  Chemicals  (submitted  in  November  2019) 
aims  to  strengthen  the  national  enforcement  system  on 
the  chemicals  management.  Once  the  amendment  is 
adopted,  implementing  acts  will  clearly  lay  down  the 
responsibilities  and  powers  of  all  national  enforcement 
authorities 
in  enforcing  chemicals 
legislation  (including  the  REACH  Regulation).  In  June 
2019,  the  Ministry  of  the  Environment  submitted 
proposals  for  strengthening  the  capacities  of  the  NEAs 
involved  in  enforcing  chemicals  legislation  (including 
proposals  for  staff  increases,  strengthening  human  and 
technical resources).  

involved 

(NEAs) 

Lithuania has devised and implemented both  the REACH 
and the CLP enforcement strategies124 that consist of: 

 
 

 

an annual enforcement plan drawn up by each NEA; 
identification  of  priorities  based  on  risk  assessment 
of companies (analysis of non-compliance, effects of 
non-compliance,  target  group,  legal  obligations  and 
tasks,  Customs  information  on  import,  information 
from  national  database  on  chemicals)  and  risk 
assessment  of  chemicals  (annual  tonnage,  possible 
adverse effects, hazardous, exposure, etc.); and 
an annual report on enforcement activities. 

As  a  rule,  all  infringements  of  REACH  are  classed  as 
serious  or  very  serious  environmental  administrative 

2022 priority actions 

  Upgrade  the 

implementation  and  enforcement 
administrative capacities towards a zero tolerance to 
non-compliances. 

122  European  Commission,  REACH  and  CLP  enforcement:  EU  level 
enforcement indicators 
123 Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting_2020.pdf (europa.eu), p. 70 
124Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting_2020.pdf (europa.eu), p. 76 

125 European Commission, Final Report, on the operationof REACH and 
CLP, Final report_REACH-CLP MS reporting_2020.pdf (europa.eu), p. 75. 
126 European Commission, Final Report, on the operation of REACH and 
CLP, pp.87-88, 2022. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
Lithuania  28 

4. Climate Action 

Key national climate policies and strategies  

Lithuania has an integrated national energy and climate 
plan  for  2021-2030.  The  work  is  consistent  with  the 
long-term  strategy.  Lithuania  is  bound  to  reaching 
climate neutrality in line with the EU general target. The 
national objective is to become climate neutral by 2050.  

Lithuania  adopted  a  strategy  for  national  climate 
management  policy  2013-2050  in  2012.  This  is  an 
integrated  strategy,  which  covers  both  adaptation  and 
mitigation.  To  update  climate  change  policy  for  the 
period  from  2020,  in  2021  national  climate  change 
management  agenda  was approved which  replaces the 
former  strategy  (2012).  The  Agenda  sets  targets  and 
objectives for climate change mitigation and adaptation 
for  the  short  term  (up  to  2030),  medium  term  (up  to 
2040)  and  long  term  (up  to  2050).  The  goals  of  the 
agenda are: (i) to form a long-term vision for Lithuania’s 
climate  change  management  policy  to  achieve  climate 
neutrality  by  2050;  (ii)  to  ensure  that  Lithuania’s 
economy  and  ecosystems  are  resilient  to  the  changes 
caused  by  climate  change  and,  through  sustainable 
financing  and  investment,  to  develop  a  competitive, 
low-carbon economy and create new green jobs; (iii) to 
implement  eco-innovative  technologies,  increase  the 
efficiency  of  energy  production  and  consumption  and 
the use of renewable energy resources in all sectors of 
the  country's  economy  (energy,  industry,  transport, 
agriculture, etc.). 

In  its  RRP,  Lithuania  allocates  37,8%  of  the  plan  to 
climate  objectives  and  outlines  crucial  reforms  and 
investments  to  further  the  transition  to  a  more 
sustainable,  low-carbon  and  climate-resilient  economy, 
including  renewable  energy,  sustainable  transport  and 
building renovation. 

Lithuania  has  reduced 
its  GHG  emissions  by  58% 
between 1990 and 2020, significantly more than the EU 
average. 

law  also 

In  line  with  the  Paris  Agreement  and  as  part  of  the 
European  Green  Deal,  the  European  Climate  Law  sets 
the EU target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and 
reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% by 
2030  compared  to  1990.  The 
limits  the 
contribution  that  carbon  removals  can  make  towards 
emission  reductions  in  2030  to  ensure  that  there  is 
sufficient  mitigation  effort.  The  EU  and  its  Member 
States  submitted  updated  Nationally  determined 
Contribution  (NDC)  to  the  UNFCCC  in  December  2020. 
The EU is working across all  sectors and policies to cut 
GHG  emissions  and  make  the  transition  to  a  climate-
neutral and sustainable economy, as well as addressing 
unavoidable consequences of climate change.  

EU  Climate  legislation  has  been  adopted  to  incentivize 
emissions  reductions  from  power  generation,  industry, 
transport, the maritime sector and fluorinated gases (F-
gases) used in products.  

For  road  transport,  EU  legislation  requires  the  GHG 
intensity  of  vehicle  fuels  to  be  cut  by  6%  by  2020 
compared  to  2010127 and  sets  binding  GHG  emission 
standards for different vehicle categories128. 

Under  the  F-gas  Regulation,  the  EU’s  F-gas  emissions 
will  be  cut  by  two  thirds  by  2030  compared  with  2014 
levels. 

From 2021, emissions and removals of GHGs from land 
use,  land  use  change  and  forestry  (LULUCF)  have  been 
included in the EU emission reduction efforts. 

The  EU  adaptation  policy  is  an  integral  part  of  the 
European  Green  Deal.  From  2021,  Member  States  are 
required  to  report  on  their  national  adaptation 
policies129,  as  the  European  Climate  Law  recognises 
adaptation as a key component of the long-term global 
response  to  climate  change.  Member  States  will  be 
required  to  adopt  national  strategies  and  the  EU  will 
regularly  assess  progress  as  part  of 
its  overall 
governance  on  climate  action.  The  updated  EU 
adaptation  strategy,  published  in  February  2021,  sets 
out how the EU can adapt to the unavoidable impacts of 
climate change and become climate resilient by 2050. 

127 
The Fuel  Quality  Directive Directive (98/70/EC)  sets  strict 
quality  requirements  for  fuels  used  in  road  transport  in  the  EU  to 
protect human health and the environment, and to make road travel 
across the EU safer. 
128 
129 

Directive 98/70/EC. 
Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
Figure 35: Total GHG emissions (incl. international 
aviation) in Lithuania 1990-2020  

Figure 36: Emissions and targets under the Effort 
Sharing Decision/ Effort Sharing Regulation in 
Lithuania, 2020 and 2030 as % change from 2005 

Lithuania  29 

Figure 37: Emissions, annual emission allocations 
(AEAs) and accumulated surplus/ deficit of AEAs under 
the Effort Sharing Decision in Lithuania, 2013-2020  

Effort sharing target  

For  emissions  not  covered  by  the  EU  ETS,  Member 
States  have  binding  national  targets  under  the  Effort 
Sharing  legislation130.  Under  EU  legislation.  Lithuania 
has a target not to increase GHG in the non-ETS sectors 
(buildings,  road  and  domestic  maritime  transport, 
agriculture,  waste  and  small  industries)  by  more  than 
15% by 2020. The target now is to reduce emissions by 
9%  by  2030  compared  to  2005  levels.  Lithuania  is 
estimated  to  have  overachieved  its  2020  target.  The 
country’s  effort  eharing  emissions  in  2019  were  lower 
than  its  2020  target.  In  its  national  energy  and  climate 
plan,  Lithuania  intends  to  exceed  its  current  effort 
sharing target for 2030 of -9%. 

Key sectoral developments 

road 

In  2019, 
in  Lithuania 
accounted  for  29%  of  total  GHG  emissions.  Emissions 
increased by 56% compared to 2005. 

transport  emissions 

In  road  transport,  the  GHG  intensity  of  vehicle  fuels  in 
Lithuania  fell  by  2,2%  between  2010  and  2019.  The 
country  needs  to  act  swiftly  to  meet  this  target.  There 
are several types of action that Member States can take 
in this regard, for example: (i) further expanding the use 
of electricity in road transport; (ii) supporting the use of 
biofuels,  and  advanced  biofuels 
in  particular;  (iii) 
incentivising  the  development  and  deployment  of 
renewable  fuels  of  non-biological  origin;  and  (iv) 
reducing upstream emissions before refining processes. 

130 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure 38: GHG emissions by sector131 – historical 
emissions in Lithuania, historical data 1990-2020, 
projections 2021-2030132 

Figure 39: Reported and accounted emissions and 
removals from LULUCF in Lithuania 133 

Lithuania  30 

further 

reduce  building  emissions,  energy 
To 
renovations are needed. Lithuania’s RRP focuses on the 
renovation  multi-apartments  buildings,  which  is  in  line 
with Lithuania’s long term renovation strategy.  

On  agriculture,  the  share  of  agriculture  in  total  GHG 
emissions  is  the  third  highest  in  the  EU,  with  more 
limited mitigation opportunities available.  

In  the  Land  Use,  Land  Use  Change  and  Forestry 
(LULUCF)  sector,  Lithuania’s  projects  a  similar  level  of 
net  removals  by  2030.  Reported  quantities  under  the 
Kyoto Protocol for the LULUCF sector in Lithuania show 
net removals of, on average, -6.7 Mt CO2-eq for 2013 to 
2019.  With  this,  Lithuania  accounts  for  1.9%  to  the 
annual  average  sink  of  -344.9  Mt  CO2-eq  of  the  EU-27. 
Accounting for the same period depicts average annual 
net credits of -1.2 Mt CO2-eq, which represents 1.1% of 
the  EU-27  accounted  sink  of  -115.0  Mt  CO2-eq. 
Reported net removals show a sharply decreasing trend. 
The  same  trend  is  shown  for  accounted  net  credits 
between  2013  and  2017  becoming  net  debits  in  2018 
and 2019. Lithuania is one of 14 EU Member States that 
show net debits for at least one year in this preliminary 
accounting exercise. 

Use of revenues from the auctioning of EU 
ETS allowances 

The  total  revenues  from  the  auctioning  of  emission 
allowances under the EU ETS over the years 2012-2021 
were EUR 458,6 millionIn Lithuania, revenues are put in 
a  Climate  Change  fund  that  is  only  for  climate  action 
and  only  funded  by  auctioning  revenues,  and  spent  on 
climate and energy projects. 

2022 priority actions   

 

 

 

Seize  renewable  energy  potential.  Lithuania 
would  further  benefit  from  ambitious  offshore 
wind developments.  
Enhance  sustainable  transport  and  increase  the 
number of electric vehicles  
Improve  measures  addressing  energy  efficiency 
and  renewable  energy  in  buildings,  in  particular 
through the modernisation of heating systems. 
  Maximise  the  role  of  waste  heat  and  remain 
vigilant regarding the sustainability of biomass 
Increasing  environmental  taxes  and  scrapping 
exemptions  would  help  to  green  the  Lithuanian 

 

131 The sectors in the figure correspond to the following IPCC sectors: 
Energy  supply:  1A1,  1B  and  1C.  Energy  use 
in  manufacturing 
industries:  1A2.  Industrial  processes  and  product  use:  2.  Transport: 
1A3.  Other  energy  use:  1A4,  1A5  and  6.  Agriculture:  3.  Waste:  5. 
International aviation: 1.D.1.a. 
132  European  Environmental  Agency,  Total  GHG 
projections. 

trends  and 

133 The  differences  between  reported  and  accounted  emissions  from 
LULUCF  under  the  Kyoto  Protocol  are  described  in  the  ‘explanatory 
note on LULUCF – accounted and reported quantities under the Kyoto 
Protocol’.   

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
economy.  Environmental  taxes  in  Lithuania  are 
mostly  collected  from  taxes  on  energy  and  are 
significantly  below  the  EU  average,  although 

recently  the  government  has  taken  action  to 
increase pollution taxes. 

Lithuania  31 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
Lithuania  32 

Part II: Enabling framework: implementation tools

5. Financing

Environmental investment needs in the 
European Union 

Financing  environmental  measures  is  essential  for  their 
success.  Although  most  financing  comes  from  national 
sources, various EU funds contribute significantly, helping 
to close the financing gaps between countries. 

Post-2020,  environmental  measures  will  also  be 
supported by the EU’s  COVID-19 Recovery Fund (via the 
‘do  no 
Recovery  and  Resilience  Facility)  and  the 
significant  harm’  principle,  which  runs  across  the  EU 
budget. 
The  renewed  commitments  made  at  COP26  (Glasgow, 
October-November 
Biodiversity 
Convention  (April-May  2022)134 will  also  be  reflected  in 
the EU budget. 

2021) 

and 

the 

Overall environmental investment gaps (EU27) 

The EU’s investment needs for the green transition cover 
a  range  of  interlinked  areas.  The  additional  investment 
needs  over  the  baselines  (i.e.,  the  gap  between  what  is 
needed  and  what  is  forecast  to  be  invested  if  no 
additional  action 
is  taken)  for  climate,  energy  and 
transport  were  estimated  in  2021  at  EUR 390  billion  a 
year  (EU-27)135,  with  a  further  EUR 130 billion  a  year  to 
deliver  the  EU’s  core  environmental  objectives136.  The 
costs of climate change adaptation can also be significant 
and  are  estimated  to  reach  a  total  of  EUR 35-62  billion 
(narrower  scope)  or  EUR 158-518  billion  (wider  scope) 
investment  needs  reflect  the 
per  year 137 .  Those 
implementation  objectives  to  2020  and  to  2030  (except 
for  climate  change  adaptation,  the  costs  of  which  are 
expected to last over a longer time horizon). 

A  preliminary  update  of  the  EU’s  core  environmental 
investment gap is provided in the Table 1 138. Almost 40% 
of the environmental investment needs relate to dealing 
with  pollution,  which  accounts  for  nearly  two-thirds  of 

SWD(2021)621,  accompanying  proposal  COM(2021) 557  to 

The  Convention  on  Biological  Diversity  (cbd.int); Post-2020 

134 
Global Biodiversity Framework | IUCN. 
135 
amend the REDII Directive (EU) 2018/2001. 
SWD(2020) 98 final/2. 
136 
137 
SWD(2018)292 
138 With  decreases  due  to  Brexit  and  some  reconciliation  among  the 
objectives.  Source:  DG  ENV  ”Study  supporting  EU  green  investment 
needs  analysis”  (ongoing,  2021-2023)  and  DG  ENV  internal  analysis 
”Environmental  investment  needs  and  financing  in  the  EU’s  green 
transition” July 2020. 

the  total    investment  gap 
if  combined  with  water 
management.  The  investment  gap  in  circular  economy 
and  waste  is  estimated  between  EUR    13-28  billion  a 
year, depending on levels of circularity implemented. The 
annual  biodiversity  financing  gap  is  estimated  at  around 
EUR  20 billion. 

Table 1: Estimated breakdown of the EU27’s 
environmental investment gaps, by environmental 
objective, 2021-2030 (per year)139 

Estimated investment gap (EU-27, 
p.a.)  

Environmental 
objective 

Pollution  prevention 
& control 

Water  management 
& industries 

Circular  economy  & 
waste 

 EUR million 

 42.8 

 26.6 

 13.0 

Biodiversity 
ecosystems 140 

& 

 21.5 

R & D & I and other 

 6.2 

Total 

 110.1 

 % 

 39% 

 24% 

 12% 

 20% 

 6% 

 100% 

Environmental investment needs in Lithuania 

Investments  in  the  circular  economy  are  a  priority  in 
Lithuania, 
followed  by  protection  of  nature  and 
biodiversity  as  well  as  sustainable  water  services. 
Investments  to  reduce  air  pollution  should  also  be 
investment 
considered.  The  following  environmental 
needs have been identified by sector.    

139 European Commission, DG Environment, ”Study supporting EU green 
investment needs analysis” (ongoing, 2021-2023) and DG Environment 
internal analysis ”Environmental Investment needs and financing in the 
EU’s green transition“,  July 2020.  

140 To  meet  the  needs  of  the  2030  Biodiversity  Strategy  (Natura  2000, 
green infrastructure), at least EUR 20 billion a year should be unlocked 
for  nature  (COM/2020/380  final)  while  to  fully  cover  the  strategy 
(including  restoration)  EUR  30-35  billion  may  be  needed,  indicating  a 
gap  of  EUR  10-20  billion  a  year  compared  to  current  baseline 
expenditure. 

 Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
 
Lithuania  33 

Pollution prevention & control 

The  EU’s  First  Clean  Air  Outlook141 under  the  Clean  Air 
Programme estimated that the total air pollution control 
costs for Lithuania to reach the NECD emission reduction 
requirements142 by  2030  amount  to  EUR  401  million  per 
year,  including,  EUR  286  million  for  capital  investment 
(assuming the 2030 climate and energy targets are met). 

The  second  Clean  Air  Outlook  suggests 143  that  the 
EU would  largely  achieve  the  reductions  of  air  pollutant 
emissions  that  correspond  to  the  obligations  under  the 
NEC  Directive  for  2030  if:  (i)  all  relevant  legislation 
adopted  up  to  2018  is  implemented  (including  all  air 
pollution  legislation  and  the  2030  climate  and  energy 
targets  set 
in  2018);  and  (ii)  Member  States  also 
implemented  the  measures  announced  in  their  national 
air  pollution  control  programmes.  The  only  exception  is 
for  ammonia  (NH3)  for  15  Member  States,  including 
Lithuania. 

Water management  

According  to  the  OECD  study  ‘Financing  a  Water  Secure 
Future’  (2022)144,  an  estimated  6%  of  the  population 
lacks access to improved sanitation and 4% to improved 
drinking  water,  mainly  in  rural  areas.  The  frequency  of 
heavy  rainfall,  storm  surges  and  strong  winds  are 
projected  to 
increase.  EU  funding  has  provided  a 
significant  share  of  past  public  funding  over  the  past 
decade 145 .  Up  to  2030,  the  cumulative  additional 
investment need for Lithuania was estimated at EUR 861 
million  euro  (around  EUR 86  million  per  year)  over 
baseline  levels,  with  around  90%  of  that  relating  to 
wastewater146.  Whilst  Lithuania  reported  some  planned 
measures  as  part  of  the  river  basin  management  plan 
under  the  Water  Framework  Directive  completed  for  all 
river basin districts 147 , the first programme of measures 
has  not  been  fully  implemented.  A  lack  of  adequate 
finance  is  also  likely  to  continue  to  present  an  obstacle 
also to implementing the  second  (2015-2021148) and  the 

141 International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Progress 
towards  the  achievement  of  the  EU's  air  quality  and  emissions 
objectives, 2018.  
142  Covering  the  reductions  of  and  the  emission  ceilings  for  5 
atmospheric  pollutants,  SOx,  NOx,  PM2.5,  NH3  and  VOC  by  2030, 
compared  to  2005.  Source:  Progress  towards  the  achievement  of  the 
EU’s  air  quality  and  emissions  objectives,  IIASA  2018.  (page  29). 
Requirements "Directive (EU) 2016/2284.  
143 
144 OECD,  Financing  Water  Supply,  Sanitation  and  Flood  Protection: 
Challenges and Options, 2020. 
145 OECD,  Financing  Water  Supply,  Sanitation  and  Flood  Protection: 
Challenges and Options, 2020.  
146  OECD,  Lithuania-  Country  fact  sheet-  Financing  Water  Supply, 
Sanitation and Flood Protection. 
147 WFD  and  FD  Implementation  Reports  -  Environment  -  European 
Commission (europa.eu) 
148 Not yet evaluated 

COM(2021) 3 Final and Report Annex. 

third  (2021-2027)  programme  of  measures.  In  its  water 
sector  development  programme,  Lithuania 
reports 
financing needs by 2023 of EUR 72 million, of which EUR 
18  million  are  high  priority,  EUR  32  million  low  priority 
and  EUR  22  million  earmarked  for  additional  road 
protection measures. 149  Moreover, the recent 6th Water 
Framework 
Directive 
Implementation  Report150 and  the  financial  -  economic 
study151 accompanying  it,  are  also  a  relevant  source  of 
information in this domain. 

Directive 

Floods 

and 

Waste & circular economy 

According  to  a  Commission’s  study 152  to  meet  the 
recycling  targets  for  municipal  waste  and  packaging 
waste,  Lithuania  still  needs  to invest  an  additional  EUR 
127 million (around 18.1 million per year) between 2021 
and  2027 over  baselines 
recycling 
reprocessors, biowaste treatment, waste sorting facilities 
and  waste  registry  digitalisation.   The  costs  of  replacing 
biowaste  treatment  facilities  (EUR  3.9  million  in  2021-
2027) are included in this amount, though it excludes the 
investment  necessary  for  other  key  waste  streams 
(plastics,  textiles,  furniture)  and  to  increase  circularity 
and waste prevention across the economy. 

collection, 

in 

Biodiversity & ecosystems 

Lithuania  officially  submitted  the  prioritised  action 
framework (PAF) of Natura 2000 funding needs for 2021-
2027 on 21 March 2022. According to the final version of 
the  document  the  annual  funding  needs  of  the  Natura 
2000  network  in  Lithuania,  together  with  its  green 
infrastructure  and  funding  needs  for  species  amount  to 
EUR 122 million a year. This excludes additional costs  to 
implement  the  biodiversity  strategy  to  2030,  including 
spending on increased protection and restoration. 

The biggest financial needs relate to the management of 
grasslands, 
site 
designation and management and prevention, mitigation 
or compensation of damage caused by protected species. 

cross-cutting  measures 

including 

149  European  Commission,  Directorate-General 
for  Environment, 
Economic  data  related  to  the  implementation  of  the  WFD  and  the  FD 
and the  financing of measures : final report, Publications Office, 2021, 
https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2779/163850.  
150 WFD and FD Implementation Reports – DG Environment – European 
Commission. 
151  European  Commission,  Directorate-General 
for  Environment, 
Economic  data  related  to  the  implementation  of  the  WFD  and  the  FD 
and the financing of measures, Final report. Publications Office, 2021. 

152 OECD, Financing a Water Secure Future, 2022. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
EU environmental funding 2014-2020 

Figure 40: ESI Funds allocated to Lithuania, including 
environmental investments, 2014-2020156 

Lithuania  34 

The MFF for 2014-2020 allocated almost  EUR 960 billion 
(in  commitments,  2011  prices)153 for  the  EU  to  spend 
over  this  period.  The  commitment  in  this  2014-2020 
MMF  to  the  green  transition  included  a  20%  climate 
spending  target.  It  also  included  funding  opportunities 
for  the  environment,  in  particular  under  the  European 
Structural  and  Investment  (ESI)  Funds154.  The  2014-2020 
MFF  budget  was  subsequently  topped  up  with  over 
EUR 50 billion  (in  current  prices)  from  the  REACT-EU 
programme.  for  cohesion  policy  action  against  COVID-
19155. 

in 

invest 

Lithuania  received  EUR  9.3  billion  from  the  ESI  Funds 
over  2014-2020  to 
job  creation  and  a 
sustainable  and  healthy  European  economy  and 
environment. 
The  planned  direct  environmental 
investment  amounted  to  EUR  830.8  million  with  further 
EUR  611.5  million  identified  as  indirect  environmental 
investment  value,  totalling  to  EUR  1.4  billion.  Figure  41 
shows  an  overview  of  (planned)  individual  ESI  Funds 
earmarked  for  Lithuania  (EU  amounts,  without  national 
amounts). 

Table 2: Direct and indirect environmental investments 
under the ESI Funds in Lithuania, 2014-2020157 

Instrument 

Under Cohesion policy (ERDF + CF) 
Direct environmental investments 
water 
waste 
air quality 
biodiversity and nature 
land rehabilitation 
climate and risk management 
Indirect environmental investments 
renewable energy 
energy efficiency 
other energy158 

Allocations  
for the environment  
(EUR million) 

1 338.2 
731.0 
350.9 
155.7 
14.3 
55.7 
18.0 
136.4 
607.2 
80.1 
185.7 
53.6 

Policy 

Funds 

(COWI, 

2017), Regulation 

156  European  Commission,  DG  Environment  -  Data  analysis,  DG 
Environment  analysis  based  on  ESI Funds Open  Data  Portal 
(cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu), Integration  of  environmental  concerns  in 
Cohesion 
(EU)  No 
1303/2013,Regulation  (EU)  2021/1060 and Implementing  Regulation 
(EU)  No  215/2014. Cut-off  date 
for  data:  December  2021. 
Environmental investments here are captured via the combined use of 
intervention  fields  and  coefficients  under  the Regulation  (EU)  No 
1303/2013 and Regulation (EU) 2021/1060  allowing for a more precise 
identification  and  valuation  of  relevant environmental investments. 
N.B.  Indirect  environmental  investments  are  valued  using  the  Annex  I 
(EU)  2021/1060 (as 
environmental  coefficients  of  the Regulation 
opposed to full value).    
157 The  values  of  environmental  investments  identified  here  in  the 
specific  environmental  areas  may  differ  from  the  tracking  values  at 
cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu, e.g. for clean air or biodiversity due to two 
factors:  the  set  of  environmental  coefficients  used  and  the  range  of 
funds assessed. DG Environment’s analysis here covered the full range 
of ESI Funds. See also previous footnote.  

153 Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1311/2013. 
154 
The European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds include 
the  European  Regional  Development  Fund  (ERDF),  the  Cohesion  Fund 
(CF),  the  European  Social  Fund  (ESF)  with  the  Youth  Employment 
Initiative  (YEI),  the  European  Agricultural  Fund  for  Rural  Development 
(EAFRD) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). 
155 Regulation (EU) 2020/2221. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
  
                                                                 
sustainable transport 
sustainable tourism 
business development, R&I 

Under EAFRD/rural development 
Direct environmental investments 
climate and risk management 
Indirect environmental investments 
renewable energy 

Under EMFF 
Direct environmental investments 
environment  protection  &  resource 
efficiency 
Indirect environmental investments 
business development, R&I 

Under ESI Funds total  
Direct environmental investments 
Indirect environmental investments 

188.2 
32.3 
67.2 

86.8 
82.6 
82.6 
4.1 
4.1 

17.3 
17.2 
17.2 

0.1 
0.1 

1 442.3 
830.8 
611.5 

Funding for the environment from the ESI Funds has also 
been  supplemented  by  other  EU  funding  programmes 
available  to  all  Member  States  such  as  the  LIFE 
programme,  Horizon  2020,  and 
some  European 
Investment Bank (EIB) loans that add up to an estimated 
total of EUR 1.6 billion of EU environmental financing for 
Lithuania in 2014-2020.  

The  LIFE  programme 159  is  entirely  dedicated 
to 
environmental  and  climate  objectives. 
finances 
demonstration  and  best  practice  actions  for  green 
solutions  to  be  deployed.  In  the  2014-2020  period, 
Lithuania received EU support for seven LIFE projects (for 
nature  and  environment)  for  an  amount  of  EUR  24.6 
million  (out  of  1  028  EU27  LIFE  projects  with  a  total  EU 
contribution of EUR 1.74 billion) 160. 

It 

In  2014-2020,  Horizon  2020  allocated  about  EUR  3.6 
million  to  Lithuania  (in  particular,  for  circular  economy) 
which  is  about  3.8%  of  Lithuania’s  total  allocation.161 
From the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), 
Lithuania 
indirect 
environmental  investments  out  of  its  total  allocation 
(EUR 232.6 million) 162. Lithuania received EUR 85.5 from 
the EIB for direct environmental investments, specifically, 
for  waste)  out  of  the  total  EIB  loans  for  Lithuania  (EUR 

received  EUR  56  million 

for 

158  Intelligent  energy  distribution  systems  (smart  grids)  and  high 
efficiency  co-generation  and  district  heating,  based  on  intervention 
field  53  and  54  respectively  (with  40%  environmental  coefficients)  of 
REGULATION (EU) 2021/1060, Annex I. 
159 European Commission, LIFE Programme. 
160 CINEA. 
161 Source: https://sc5.easme-web.eu/, accessed: 15-12-2021. 
162  Approved  and  signed  EFSI  financing  -  EIB,  2015-2020:  Source: 
https://www.eib.org/en/products/mandates-
partnerships/efsi/index.htm. 

Lithuania  35 

2.3 billion) 163. The country ranks 20th in the EU in  terms 
of total EIB lending. 

In  2020,  the  EIB  provided  EUR  24.2  billion  in  funding 
across Europe to fight climate change at EU level, 37% of 
its total financing.  It also provided EUR 1.8 billion (3% of 
its financing) for broader environmental lending and EUR 
1.8 billion (3% of its financing) for the environment 164165. 

EU environmental funding  2021-2027 

The 2020 European Green Deal investment plan calls for 
EUR 1 trillion in green investments (public and private) to 
be made across the EU by 2030. The 2021-2027 MFF and 
the NextGenerationEU spending programme will mobilise 
EUR 2.018  trillion  (in  current  prices)  to  support  the 
long-term 
from  COVID-19  and  the  EU’s 
recovery 
including  environmental  protection 166 . 
priorities, 
Following the EU Green Deal’s167 pledge to ‘do no harm’ 
and  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  on  the  2021-2027 
MFF168, 30% of the EU budget  in 2021-2027 will support 
climate efforts, while biodiversity will receive 7.5% of the 
EU budget as of 2024 and 10% as of 2026. To reach these 
targets,  more  financial  resources  will  need  to  be 
allocated  to  biodiversity,  specifically  under  the  2021-
2027  cohesion  policy  and  the  2023-2027  CAP  to  reach 
those targets. 

(by  developing 

Sustainable  finance  significantly  increases  transparency 
on environmental sustainability (a goal promoted by the 
EU  Taxonomy) 169 . 
It  also  strengthens  non-financial 
reporting  requirements  and  facilitates  the  issuance  of 
green  bonds 
the  EU  green-bond 
standard) 170 .  Reinforced  by  the  renewed  sustainable 
finance  will 
finance  strategy 
increase 
the 
flows 
environment. The new strategy on adaptation to climate 
change172 can help to close the insurance-protection gap, 
which  currently  leaves  many  risks  from  climate-related 

(2020) 171  sustainable 

climate  and 

investment 

to 

that 

finance 

several  programs 

163 EIB loans in EU countries in 2014-2020. Source: EIB Open Data Portal: 
https://www.eib.org/en/infocentre/eib-open-data.htm 
164 The  EIB  Group  jointly  works  with  the  European  Commission  in 
implementing 
environmental 
implementation: InvestEU,  the  successor  of  EFSI, Pillar  II  and III  of  the 
Just Transition Mechanism. The EIB Group stands as a key implementing 
partner for InvestEU with responsibility for managing 75% of the overall 
budgetary capacity of the mandate. 
165 EIB 2021 Activity Report. 
166  European  Commission,  2021-2027 
NextGenerationEU. 
167 COM/2019/640 final 
168 Interinstitutional Agreement, OJ L 433I 
 169

 https://ec.europa.eu/info/business-economy-euro/banking-and-

long-term  EU  budget  & 

finance/sustainable-finance/eu-taxonomy-sustainable-activities_en   
170 EU Green Bond Standard - 2021/0191 (COD). 
171 COM (2021) 390 Final - European Commission, Strategy for Financing 
the Transition to a Sustainable Economy.  
172 COM(2021) 82 final 

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events uninsured173. The EIB will align 50% of its lending 
for climate and environment  projects by 2025174 with an 
EUR  250  billion  contribution  to  the  Green  Deal 
Investment plan by 2027. 

Table  3  gives  an  overview  of  the  EU  funds  earmarked 
specifically  for  Lithuania  for  2021-2027.  These  funds  are 
also  supplemented  by  other  EU  funding  programmes 
available to all Member States. 

Table 3: Key 2021-2027 EU funds allocated to Lithuania 
(current prices), 2021-2027 

Instrument 

Country funding allocation  

(million EUR) 

Total: 6 102.4175 
3 464.3 
1 418.7176 
1 136.4 
83177 

273.2178 

977.5180 

61.2181 

2 224.2183 (grants) 

Cohesion policy 
ERDF 
CF 
ESF+ 
ETC (ERDF) 

Just Transition Fund 

EAFRD/rural 
development  
under  CAP  Strategic 
Plans 2023-2027179 

European  Maritime, 
and 
Fisheries 
Aquaculture 
Fund 
(EMFAF) 

Recovery 
and 
Resilience Facility (RRF)  
2021 – 2026182  

In  Lithuania,  programming  for  most  of  EU  funds 
is 
(cohesion  policy 

funds,  EAFRD  and  EMFAF) 

173  The  strategy  would  support  improved  insurance  gap  coverage 
including through the natural catastrophe markets as reflected with the 
EIOPA  (the  Association  for  European  Insurance  and  Occupational 
Pension Authorities) dashboard on insurance protection gap for natural 
catastrophes. See: The pilot dashboard on insurance protection gap for 
natural catastrophes | Europa (europa.eu). 
174 EIB Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025, November 2020 
175  European  Commission,  2021-2027  Cohesion  policy  EU  budget 
allocations. 
176 The  transfer  to  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility  (Transport)  is  not 
included. 
177 Interreg  initial  allocations  per  MS  including  ETC  transnational  and 
ETC cross-border co-operation.  
178  European  Commission,  2021-2027  Cohesion  policy  EU  budget 
allocations. 
179 European Commission, CAP strategic plans.  
180 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, Annex XI.  
181 Regulation (EU) 2021/1139, Annex V. 
182 The  actual  reforms  and  investments  under  the  RRF  have  to  be 
implemented until 31 December 2026.   
183 Council Implementing Decision, FIN 565. 

Lithuania  36 

ongoing.   However, 
concluded under the RRF. 

the  negotiations  have  been 

The  RRP  consists  of  30  measures,  covering  investments 
and  reforms  supported  by EUR 2.22 billion  in  grants. 
37.8% of the plan will support  climate objectives. Of the 
plan’s  fund  allocation,  37.8%  will  go  to  support  climate 
objectives. In terms of green transition, the plan includes 
EUR 218  million’s  worth  of  reforms  and  investments  in 
energy  efficiency renovations  for  a  sustainable  urban 
environment and EUR 242 million for the generation and 
energy. 
storage 
of renewable 
invested 
Furthermore, EUR 347 million 
in sustainable  mobility, supporting  the  replacement  of 
improving  public 
polluting  road  transport  vehicles, 
transport 
charging/refilling 
services, 
infrastructure  for  vehicles  using  alternative  fuels,  and 
developing alternative fuels sectors (biomethane, second 
generation  liquid  biofuels,  hydrogen).  The  plan  also 
supports  the restoration  of  degraded  peatlands  (EUR  16 
million)  and  increased  resource  efficiency through  the 
adoption of the circular economy action plan184. 

installing 

will 

be 

Figure 41: Climate tagging in the RRPs185  

Under  the NextGenerationEU, the Commission will issue 
up to EUR 250 billion of EU green bonds (one third of all 
bonds  issued  under  NextGenerationEU)  until  2026  that 
will  comply  with  the  general  spirit  of  the  ‘do  no 
significant harm’ principle. However, this EUR 250 billion 
in  green  bonds  will  not  be  subject  to  the  currently 
developed  delegated  acts  related  to  the  EU  Taxonomy 
and will not fully align with the proposed EU standard for 
green bonds. 

The  EIB  Group  adopted  the  climate  bank  roadmap 
outlining the role of the institution in climate action and 
environmental  sustainability  for  the  next  decade,  and 

184 European Commission, Lithuania recovery and resilience plan.  
185 European Commission. The contributions to climate objectives have 
been calculated using Annexes VI of the RRF Regulation (EU) 2021/241. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
setting  out  to  align  50%  of  its  lending  activity  with  that 
role  by  2025.  The  EIB's  contribution  to  the  European 
Green  Deal  Investment  Plan  is  expected  to  amount  to 
around  to  EUR  250  billion  up  to  2027  in  terms  of 
investments  in  EU  mandates  (i.e.  under  EU  instruments 
and through the EU budget). 

National environmental protection 
expenditure 

Total expenditure on environmental protection (including 
all  relevant  current  and  capital  expenditure)186 in  the 
EU-27 was EUR 272.6 billion in 2020, representing 2% of 
EU-27  GDP.  This  percentage  has  remained  quite  stable 
over  time.  Although  the  largest  absolute  amounts  of 
expenditure  are  concentrated  in  a  few  countries,  most 
countries  spend  1-2%  of  their  GDP  on  environmental 
protection, as is the case in Lithuania (1.4%). 

Of  this  spending,  the  EU-27’s  capital  expenditure  on 
environmental protection (i.e., investment) amounted to 
EUR 56.3  billion  in  2018,  falling  to  EUR 54.5  billion  in 
2020,  representing  around  0.4%  of  EU-27  GDP.  Most 
Member  States 
in 
environmental  protection,  including  Lithuania  (0.3%). 
During  2014-2020,  this  amounted  to  around  EUR 376 
billion of environmental-investment in the EU-27, and to 
EUR 118.5 million for Lithuania. 

invested  0.2-0.5%  of  their  GDP 

Lithuania  37 

Figure 42: Direct and indirect environmental protection 
investments in the EU-27 (EUR million and % of GDP), 
2018187 

protection 

investments 

institutional  sector,  around  27%  of  Lithuania’s 
By 
environmental 
(capital 
expenditure)  came  from  the  general  government,  a 
further 39% from specialist  producers (of environmental 
protection services, e.g. waste and water companies) and 
34%  from  the  classical  industry  (or  business)  sector  that 
normally  pursues  environmental  activities  as  ancillary  to 
their  main    activities.    At  EU  level,  37%  comes  from 
governments,  33%  from  specialist  producers  and  30% 
from industry (business). 

level, 

including  final  consumption, 

186  At  economy 
intermediate 
consumption and  capital  expenditure  of  households,  corporations  and 
governments related to environmental protection goods and services. It 
excludes  EU  funds,  while  may  include  some  international  expenditure 
beyond  domestic.  Data  source:  Environmental  Protection  Expenditure 
Accounts (EPEA), Eurostat. EPEA accounts are based on the CEPA 2000 
classification, excluding climate, energy and circular economy. 

187 Eurostat, Environmental Protection Expenditure Account, 2021.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
Figure 43: EU-27 Member States' environmental 
protection investments (Capex) by institutional sectors 
(Total economy = 100%), 2018188 

A  breakdown  of  investment  by  environmental  topic  is 
partially available, at the level of institutional sectors only 
(rather than at economy level), due to different reporting 
patterns 189.  At  Lithuania’s  general  government  level,  a 
significant  proportion  of  Lithuania’s  general  government 
investment  in  environmental  protection,  42%,  went  to 
biodiversity  protection,  followed  by  waste  management 
(17%)  and  air  protection  (15%).  Of  investment  from  the 
country’s specialist producers, 58% went on wastewater, 
30%  on  waste  management  and  12%  on  air  protection. 
For  Lithuania’s 
industry  (businesses),  the  two  main 
priorities  were  wastewater  (45%)  and  air  protection 
(43%) to name the most significant areas. 

In  2020,  the  total  annual  issuance  of  European  green 
(including  some  non-EU  countries) 190  was 
bonds 
(EUR 137  billion)
USD 156 billion 
from 
USD 117 billion (EUR 105 billion) in 2019. Looking only at 

up 

191

, 

188

 Eurostat, 

Environmental  Protection 

Expenditure  Accounts 

(env_epe).  

189 Data  reporting  differs  for  the  3  institutional  sectors,  leading  to 
aggregation  difficulties.  Specialist  companies  provide  comprehensive 
data  across  all  environmental  areas  (CEPA  1-9),  while  this  is  less  the 
case  for  general  government  and  industry  that  often  report  (the  non-
obligatory)  data  in  merged  categories  only  (with  difficulty  to  split)  or 
not at all. 
190 
Green  bonds  were  created  to  fund  projects  that  have 
positive  environmental  and/or  climate  benefits.  Most  green  bonds 
issued are green ‘use of proceeds’ or asset-linked bonds. The very first 
green  bond  was  issued  in  2007  with  the  AAA-rated  issuance  from 
multilateral  institutions,  the  European  Investment  Bank  (EIB)  and  the 
World Bank. 
191 At Eurostat’s annual average EUR/USD exchange rates. 

Lithuania  38 

EU-27 Member States, green-bond issuance in 2020 was 
EUR 124  billion.  In  2014-2020,  83%  of  the  green  bonds 
issued  by  European  countries  served  objectives 
in 
energy, buildings or transport, while 8% supported water 
and waste, with a further 6% supporting sustainable land 
use,  with 
to  ecosystem  conservation  and 
restoration.  These  data  are  based  on  the  climate-bonds 
taxonomy,  which 
the  EU 
Taxonomy 192 .  Of  the  2020  EU  green-bond  issuance, 
Lithuania accounted for EUR 46.3 million. 

is  broadly  similar 

links 

to 

Figure 44: Annual EU green bond issuance in 2020 (EUR 
billion)193 

Green budget tools 

Green taxation and tax reform 

Lithuania  revenue  from  environmentally-related  taxes 
was  still  among  the  lowest  in  the  EU  in  2020  at  around 
EUR 954.4 million, as shown in Figure 46. It accounted for 
just  1.93%  of  GDP  (compared  to  the  EU  average  of 
2.24%).  Within  this,  energy  taxation  represents  the 
highest  share  with  90%  in  2020,  while  transport  tax 
accounts for 5.3% and pollution/resources tax for 4.6%. 

192  Interactive  Data  Platform  at  www.climatebonds.net.  Further 
information 
Taxonomy: 
Bonds 
https://www.climatebonds.net/standard/taxonomy. 
193 Climate Bonds Initiative, 2022. 

Climate 

on 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
 
 
                                                                 
 
Figure 45: Environmental taxes in the EU-27, 2020194 

Environmentally-harmful subsidies 

Lithuania  39 

Addressing  and 
subsidies is a further step towards wider fiscal reforms. 

removing  environmentally-harmful 

Fossil  fuel  subsidies  are  costly  for  public  budgets  and 
make it difficult to achieve the Green Deal objectives. In 
many  cases,  these  subsidies  also  counteract  incentives 
for  green  investments.  Annual  fossil  fuel  subsidies  have 
been  around  EUR 55  billion  in  the  EU  since  2015.  They 
rose  by  4%  between  2015  and  2019,  although  some 
countries (such as Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Greece and 
Ireland) managed to decrease them in this period. In the 
EU,  subsidies  for  petroleum  products  in  sectors  such  as 
transport  and agriculture continued to increase in 2015-
2019. However, subsidies for coal and lignite decreased, 
due  to  the  diminishing  role  of  solid  fuels  in  electricity 
generation. As a share of GDP, fossil fuel subsidies ranged 
from 1.2% in Hungary to less than 0.1% in Malta in 2019 
(with  an  EU  average  of  0.4%).  In  2019,  total  fossil  fuel 
subsidies  in  Lithuania  amounted  to  EUR 0.2 billion,  or 
0.37% of GDP. 

In 2020, the EU-27’s total amount of fossil fuel subsidies 
decreased  to  EUR 52  billion  (due  to  falling  consumption 
trends  amid  the  COVID-19-related  restrictions).  Without 
Member  State  actions,  these  subsidies  are  likely  to 
rebound as economic activity picks up from 2020199. 

However,  Lithuania  allocates  more  than  the  EU  average 
to  fossil  fuel  subsidies  –  and  more  than  it  does  to 
renewable-energy  subsidies200.  Lithuania  is  planning  to 
phase  out  environmentally-harmful  subsidies  for  coal, 
gasoil and natural gas, as well as pollution tax reduction. 

The  2019  European  Green  Deal  underlines  that  well-
designed  tax  reforms  can  boost  economic  growth  and 
resilience,  foster  a  fairer  society  and  promote  a  just 
transition. Tax reforms can contribute to this by sending 
the right price signals and incentives to economic actors. 
The  Green  Deal  creates  the  context  for  broad-based  tax 
reforms, the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, and a shift in 
the  tax  burden  from  labour  to  pollution.  It  achieves  this 
while 
social 
taking 
considerations.  The  Green  Deal  promotes  the  ‘polluter-
pays  principle’195,  which  stipulates  that  polluter  should 
bear  the  cost  of  measures  to  prevent,  control  and 
remedy  pollution.  The  polluter-pays  principle 
is 
facilitated  by  the  European  Commission’s  Technical 
Support  Instrument  (TSI)  flagship  project  on  greening 
taxes196. 

simultaneously 

account  of 

According to a Commission’s study on green taxation and 
other  economic 
instruments  (2021)  Lithuania  could 
increase  the  landfill  tax  to  further  address  particular 
areas  of  environmental  concern197.  Lithuania  could  also 
consider introducing a scheme for biodiversity offsetting 
to  improve  the  situation.  To  be  economically  efficient 
such a scheme must require offsetting payments at least 
equal  in  value  to  any  ecosystem  services  which  are 
lost198. 

194 Eurostat, Environmental taxes accounts (env_eta). 
195 Article 191(2)  of  the  Treaty  on  the  Functioning  of  the  European 
Union:  ‘Union  policy  on  the  environment  (…)  shall  be  based  on  the 
precautionary  principle  and  on  the  principles  that  preventive  action 
should  be  taken,  that  environmental  damage  should  as  a  priority  be 
rectified at source and that the polluter should pay’. 
196  European  Commission,  Greening  taxes-  applying  polluter  pays 
principle in practice,  green budgeting TSI participation. 
197  European  Commission,  Green  taxation  and  other  economic 
instruments, 2021.  
198 European Commission, Ensuring that polluters pay Lithuania.  

199 See  table  on  EU  FFS  data  in  2019  which  is  based  on  (for  info) 
COM(2021) 950 and Annex. 
200 European  Court  of  Auditors,  Energy  taxation,  carbon  pricing  and 
energy subsidies, 2022. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
                                                                 
 
                                                                 
Figure 46: Trends in natural gas, petroleum products, 
electricity and coal subsidies in Lithuania201  

% GDP 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017 

2018 

2019 

2020 

Electricity 

0,00 

0,00 

0,01 

0,00 

0,00 

0,00 

0,00 

0,00 

Natural 
gas 

0,18 

0,18 

0,18 

0,17 

0,13 

0,14 

0,20 

0,13 

Petroleum   0,36 

0,40 

0,29 

0,41 

0,41 

0,39 

0,37 

0,32 

Coal 

0,01 

0,01 

0,01 

0,01 

0,01 

0,00 

0,00 

0,00 

Current green budgeting practices 

Green  budgeting  encompasses  various  climate  and 
environmental tagging and tracking practices in budgets. 
Some EU Member states already use  

certain  green-budgeting  practices 202.  Green  budgeting 
helps  identify  and  track  green  expenditure  and  green 
revenues to increase transparency on the environmental 
implications  of  budgetary  policies.  This  is  aimed  at 
improving policy coherence and supporting green policies 
(including climate and environmental objectives)203. 

The Commission has also drawn up climate-proofing and 
sustainability-proofing guidance as tools to assess project 
eligibility and a project’s compliance with environmental 
legislation  and  criteria204.  The  Commission  developeda 
green  budgeting  reference  framework205 and  launched  a 
TSI  project  on  green budgeting in 2021 to  help Member 
States  develop  national  green  budgeting  frameworks  to 

201 OECD, Fossil fuel Subsidy Tracker. 
202 European  Commission,  Green Budgeting  Practices  in the  EU:  A  First 
Review, 2021. 
203  European  Commission,  European  Commission  Green  Budgeting 
Reference  Framework.  European  Commission,  Green  Budgeting  in  the 
EU Key insights from the 2021 Commission survey. 
204 European Commission, Technical guidance on sustainability proofing 
for the InvestEU Fund. 
205  European  Commission,  Green  Budgeting  Reference  Framework, 
based  on  the  review  of  the  OECD  Paris  Collaborative  on  Green 
Budgeting initiative, 2017. 

Lithuania  40 

improve  policy  coherence  and  the  green  transition. 
Lithuania  participates 
the  Commission’s  green 
budgeting TSI project, which started in 2021. 

in 

Overall financing compared to the needs 

The  overall  financing  for  environmental  investments  is 
estimated  to  have  reached    0.6-0.7%  of  GDP  in  2014-
2020  comprising  both  major  EU  funds  and  national 
financing.  This  ranged  from  0.23%  (Ireland)  to  1.7% 
(Bulgaria),  depending  on  the  level  of  environmental 
challenges in different Member States. In 2021-2027, it is 
estimated that the EU’s environmental-investment needs 
will  reach  0.9-1.5%  of  projected  GDP  (2021-2027), 
suggesting  a  potential  environmental  financing  gap  of 
0.6-0.8%  of  GDP  at  EU  level,  compared  to  previous 
financing levels and patterns assumed 206. 

Figure 47: Total environmental financing baseline (2014-
2020) and estimated needs (2020-2030) in the EU27 (% 
of GDP)207 

206 Source: DG Environment data analysis. EU financing sources covered: 
ESI  Funds  (ERDF,  CF,  ESF,  YEI,  EAFRD,  EMFF),  Horizon  2020,  LIFE,  EFSI 
(EU amount), EIB loans. National financing: total national environmental 
protection  capital  expenditure  (investments)  -  source:  Eurostat  EPEA 
dataset.  Cut-off  date  for  data:  end  2021.  N.B.  The  total  financing  may 
be  higher,  in particular  through further  indirect  investments,  requiring 
further analysis in the future.   
207 Eurostat, ESI Funds Open Data, 2021. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                 
 
 
                                                                 
Lithuania  41 

2022 priority actions  

  Devise  an  environmental  financing  strategy  to 
maximise  opportunities  for  closing  environmental 
implementation  gaps,  bringing  together  all  relevant 
administrative levels. 
Increase financing for the environment, in particular 
from  private  sources  (currently  around  33%),  to 
cover  investment  needs  across  the  environmental 
objectives  and  preventing  or  closing  investment 
gaps.  

 

overall 

financing 

environmental 

Lithuania’s 
for 
investments  is  estimated  to  have  been    1.18%  of  GDP 
(above  the  EU  average  of    0.7%)  in  2014-2020,  from  a 
balanced  combination  of  EU  and  national  sources. 
Environmental-investment  needs 
for  2021-2027  are 
expected  t  to  be    over    1.68%  of  the  country’s  GDP 
is 
(reflecting  needs  where  country-level  breakdown 
available), suggesting a potential environmental financing 
gap  of    at  least    0.5%  of  GDP,  likely  higher  when  also 
accounting for needs estimated currently at EU-level only 
(e.g.  water  protection,  circularity,  biodiversity  strategy 
etc.) – to be addressed through additional environmental 
financing measures.  

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lithuania  42 

6. Environmental governance 

Information, public participation and access to 
justice 

Citizens  can  more  effectively  protect  the  environment  if 
they  can  rely  on  the  three  ‘pillars’  of  the  Aarhus 
Convention: 
(i) access to information; 
(ii) public participation in decision-making; 
(iii) access to justice in environmental matters. 

It is of crucial importance to public authorities, the public 
and businesses that environmental information is shared 
efficiently  and  effectively208.  Public  participation  allows 
authorities  to  make  decisions  that  take  public  concerns 
into account. Access to justice is a set of guarantees that 
allows  citizens  and  NGOs  to  use  national  courts  to 
protect the environment209. It includes the right to bring 
legal challenges (‘legal standing’)210. 

Environmental information 

This section focuses on the Lithuania’s implementation of 
the  INSPIRE211 Directive.  The  INSPIRE  Directive  aims  to 
establish European spatial data infrastructure for sharing  
environmental  spatial 
information  between  public 
in  policymaking 
authorities  across  Europe,  assisting  
across  borders  and  facilitating  public  access  to  this 
information.  Geographic  information  is  needed  for  good 
governance  at  all  levels  and  should  be  readily  and 
transparently available. 

As  part  of  a  general  compliance  promotion  exercise  on 
the  accessibility  of  priority  data  sets  for  reporting,   a 
letter of formal notice was sent to Lithuania on 8 March 
2019. Lithuania has responded well and has significantly 
improved its implementation.  

Lithuania’s  implementation  of  the  INSPIRE  Directive  is 
good.  Its  performance  has  been  reviewed  based  on  its 

the 

the  public.  This  EIR 

(Directive 2003/4/EC) and 

208 The  Aarhus  Convention,  the  Access  to  Environmental  Information 
INSPIRE 
Directive 
Directive, (Directive 2007/2/EC) together  create  a  legal  foundation  for 
the  sharing  of  environmental  information  between  public  authorities 
and  with 
focuses  on implementation  of 
the INSPIRE Directive. 
209 The  guarantees  are  explained  in  Commission  Notice  on  access  to 
justice  in  environmental  matters,  OJ L  275,  18.8.2017  and  a  related 
citizen’s guide. 
210 This EIR report  focuses on measures taken by the Member State  to 
guarantee access to justice, legal standing and to overcome other major 
barriers to bringing cases on nature and air pollution. 
211 INSPIRE  -  infrastructure  for  spatial  information  in  the  European 
Community 

2021 country fiche212. Good progress has been made on 
identifying  data  and  documentation.Table  4:  Country 
dashboard  on  the 
INSPIRE 
Directive , 2016-2020213 

implementation  of  the 

2016 

2020 

Legend 

Effective  coordination  and  data 
sharing 

Ensure  effective 
coordination  

■  ■ 

Data 

without obstacle   ■  ■ 

sharing 

INSPIRE performance indicators 

i.  Conformity  of 
metadata  

■  ■ 

ii.  Conformity  of 
spatial 
data 
sets214 

iii. Accessibility of 
spatial  data  sets 
through view and 
download 
services 

■  ■ 

■  ■ 

iv.  Conformity  of 

network services  ■  ■ 

■ 
Implementation  of 
is  well 
this  provision 
advanced 
(nearly) 
or 
completed.  Outstanding 
issues  are  minor  and  can 
be 
easily. 
Percentage: >89% 

addressed 

■ 
Implementation  of 
this  provision  has  started 
and  made 
some  or 
substantial  progress  but 
is  still  not  close  to  be 
complete. 
Percentage: 
31–89% 

■ 
Implementation  of 
this  provision 
is  falling 
significantly behind or has 
not  even  started.  Serious 
efforts  are  necessary  to 
implementation 
close 
gap. Percentage: <31% 

Public participation 

Information  on  environment  impact  assessment  (EIA) 
procedures  and  their  results 
is  available  on  the 
Environmental  Protection  Agency  website215,  including 
not  only  decisions,  but  information  on  meetings  of 
relevant  authorities.  Consultation  documents  (such  as 
proposals  and  comments)  are  reflected  in  decisions, 
protocols on EIA documentation and in a final EIA report. 
In  2020,  EIA  procedures 216 were  amended.  The  new 

212 https://inspire.ec.europa.eu/INSPIRE-in-your-Country/LT 
213 INSPIRE knowledge base 
214 The deadlines for implementation of the spatial data interoperability 
were  in  2016  still  in  the  future:  23/11/2017  for  Annex  I  data  and 
21/10/2020 for Annex II and III data. It must be also considered that this 
conformity indicator will in many cases never reach 100% conformity as 
majority  of  the  countries  provide  as-is-data  sets  in  addition  to  the 
INSPIRE harmonised data sets. 
215 See Environmental Protection Agency website  
216 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures, (Lietuvos Respublikos 
aplinkos  ministro  2017 m.  spalio  31  d.  įsakymas  Nr.  D1-885  ‘Dėl 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
 
  
  
                                                                 
 
that 

stipulated 

information  about  EIA 
provisions 
documentation must be published on the municipalities’ 
website and that discussions on proposals and comments 
on  EIA  documentation  may  be  held  remotely  when  in-
person  meetings  are  not  possible  in  an  emergency 
situation. 

in,  EIA  and 

However, there do not appear to be general information 
campaigns  aimed  at  improving  public  awareness  of,  and 
participation 
strategic  environmental 
assessment  (SEA)  processes.  In  addition,  although  the 
recent amendments might have improved levels of public 
participation  in  these  processes,  there  is  no  publicly 
available statistical information supporting this. 

Several  issues  around  public  involvement  were  noted  in 
the  conformity  study  on  implementation  of  the  EIA 
Directive  into  national  law,  several  issues  on  public 
participation  were  observed.  The  main  problems 
concerned  the  incomplete  implementation  of  Articles 
6(2)(c), 7(1), and 11(5). 

The  2019  EIR  recommended  that  Lithuania  to  facilitate 
public  participation 
implementation  of  EU 
legislation.  Since  2019,  Lithuania  has 
environmental 
made some progress on this issue. 

in  the 

Access to justice  

NGOs  do  not  have  to  prove  an  interest  when  launching 
an  environmental  court  case  or  in  cases  which  have 
significant effects on the environment, but they do have 
to  meet  some  conditions  in  connection  with  their  legal 
status and operation. 

The  administrative  courts  review  the  procedural  and 
substantive  legality  of  all  administrative  decisions.  The 
findings  and 
courts  study  the  material,  technical 
calculations when they are considered as relevant to the 
decision. The court is obliged to participate „actively”  in 
proceeding by asking for evidence, appointing witnesses, 
experts, etc. The court has no  limits to its control. It can 
review all aspects of the contested decision. 

The  public  and  NGOs  have  experienced  difficulties  in 
mounting  legal  challenges  in  the  courts  relating  to  the 
following  an 
in  Lithuania.  However, 
environment 
infringement procedure launched by the Commission, on 
27 May  2021,  the  Lithuanian  Parliament  amended 
Article 112(1) of the Law on  Administrative Proceedings. 
The  amended  law  now  gives  affected  members  of  the 

planuojamos  ūkinės  veiklos  poveikio  aplinkai  vertinimo  tvarkos  aprašo 
patvirtinimo’),  adopted  by  the  Order  No  D1-885  of  the  Minister  of 
Environment of 31 October 2017. 

Lithuania  43 

public  the  right  to  ask  administrative  courts  to  consider 
whether or not a regulatory administrative act relating to 
the  environment  complies  with  the 
law  or  with  a 
regulatory act by the government. This law entered into 
force on 2 July 2021. 

In 2019, priority actions  were addressed to Lithuania  on 
access to justice, in particular, to provide broader access 
to the public. Substantial progress appears to have been 
made. 

2022 priority actions 

 

linkages  between  the 

Improve  access  to  spatial  data  and  services  by 
making  stronger 
federal 
INSPIRE  website  and  regional  portals,  identify  and 
document  all  spatial  datasets  required  for  the 
implementation  of  environmental  law217,  and  make 
the data and documentation at least accessible 'as it 
is' to other public authorities and the public through 
the  digital  services  provided  for  in  the  INSPIRE 
Directive. 

  Provide better public information on access to justice 
rights,  in  particular  by  referring  to  the  Commission 
in 
eJustice 
environmental matters on judicial and administrative 
websites 218. 

fact  sheets  on  access 

justice 

to 

  Amend procedures on public information. 

  Make  a  greater  effort  to  inform  environmental 
stakeholders 
their 
environmental  rights  (in  particular,  oncompliance, 
monitoring and participation). 

about  ways 

enforce 

to 

  Assess the level of public engagement in the EIA and 
SEA  processes  and  consider  options  for  improving 
public participation. 

Compliance assurance  

Environmental compliance assurance covers all the work  
that 
undertaken  by  public  authorities 
industries, farmers and others fulfil obligations to protect 
water,  air  and  nature,  and  manage  waste219.  It  includes 
support measures provided by the authorities such as: 
(i) compliance promotion220; 

to  ensure 

217 European Commission, INSPIRE. 
218

https://e-
justice.europa.eu/content_access_to_justice_in_environmental_matter
s-300-en.do  
219 The  concept  is  explained  in  detail  in  the  Communication  on  ‘EU 
actions  to 
improve  environmental  compliance  and  governance’ 
COM(2018) 10  and  the  related  Commission  Staff  Working  Document, 
SWD(2018)10. 
220 This EIR focuses on the help given to farmers to comply with nature 
and nitrates legislation. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
 
                                                                                                        
 
 
                                                                 
(ii) inspections and other checks that they carry out,  i.e., 
compliance monitoring221; 
(iii)  the  steps  that  they  take  to  stop  breaches,  impose 
sanctions  and  require  damage  to  be  remediated,  i.e., 
enforcement222. 
223.  Citizen  science  and  complaints  enable  authorities  to 
liability 224 
better  focus  their  efforts.  Environmental 
ensures that the polluter pays to remedy any damage.  

Compliance promotion and monitoring 

As noted in the 2019 report, the website of the Ministry 
of  Agriculture  has  a  page  with  detailed  information  on 
what  farmers  can  do  to  improve  compliance  with  the 
Nitrates Directive225, including guidelines on fertilizer use 
and  management  of  manure  for  livestock  operations. 
There is less information targeted at farmers available on 
the  Nature  Directive,  although  the  Ministry  of  the 
Environment  website  provides  full  information  on  legal 
requirements,  and  the  national  common  agricultural 
policy paying agency provides a 39-page brochure on the 
good 
condition 
requirements.  Information  campaigns  are  more  focused 
on broader public awareness issues.  

environmental 

agricultural 

and 

Inspection plans, which are based on the risks associated 
with  installations,  are  published  annually226,  and  include 
general  information  on  inspection  results.  Reports  on 
inspections carried out are published on a quarterly basis 
but  provide  little  detail.  The  annual  plans  and  reports 
generally 
information,  mainly 
indicating the number of inspections planned and carried 
out, without providing details on the inspection results. 

include  very 

limited 

Complaint handling and citizen science 

The  Department  of  the  Environment’s  website  explains 
where to find information on cases of environmental law 
compliance227. While online tools are not prioritised, the 
public  actively  uses  the  Department’s  dedicated  phone 
‘hotline’  24/7 
to  complain  about  environmental 
problems. The general emergency number 112 may now 
also  be  used  for  this  purpose.  Complaints  can  also  be 
submitted in person, in writing, and by email. In addition, 
the national CAP paying agency allows for online or app-

221 This EIR focuses on inspections of major industrial installations. 
222  This  EIR  focuses  on  the  availability  of  enforcement  data  and 
coordination between authorities to tackle environmental crime. 
223 This  EIR  focuses  on  the  availability  of  enforcement  data  and  co-
ordination between authorities to tackle environmental crime. 
224  The  Environmental  Liability  Directive,  2004/35,  creates  the 
framework. 
225  The  Ministry  of  Agriculture  of  the  Republic  of  Lithuania, 
Implementation of Nitrates Directive. 
226  See  https://aad.lrv.lt/lt/administracine-informacija/ukio-subjektu-
prieziura 
227 See https://aad.lrv.lt/lt/pranesk-apie-aplinkosauginius-pazeidimus 

Lithuania  44 

based submission of environmental infringements in the 
agricultural sector.  

While  information  on  complaints  processes  is  actively 
promoted,  there  appears  to  be  little  concerted  use  of 
data  on  citizen  reports  of  environmental  incidents,  and 
no active policies on citizen science.  

Enforcement  

The  Lithuanian  National  Courts  Administration  publishes 
annual statistics of civil, criminal and administrative court 
cases 228 , 
including  environmental  cases.  As  regards 
administrative  procedures,  only  general  statistics  are 
available,  without  detail  on  the  specific  environmental 
issues  concerned.  Data  on  criminal  cases  is  provided  for 
each  article  of  the  Criminal  Code.  The  Environmental 
information  on 
Protection  Department  provides 
individual  cases  (e.g.  initiation  of  court  proceedings; 
outcomes)  on  an  ad  hoc  basis  as  well  as  a  weekly 
overview of number of complaints and quarterly reports. 
The lack of systematic information on outcomes of cases, 
combined  with  the  lack  of  detailed  information  on  the 
outcome  of  inspections,  makes  it  difficult  to  track  the 
effectiveness  of  enforcement  action 
in  the  field  of 
environment. 

in  preventing  and 

the  Department  of 

Memorandums  of  understanding  were  adopted  in  2019 
between 
the  Environmental 
Protection  and,  respectively,  the  Police  Department229 
and the State Border Guard Service230. While the texts of 
these  memorandums  are  not  publicly  available  it  is 
disclosed that they provide for coordination of activities, 
investigating 
joint  operations 
environmental  offences,  exchange  of  information  on 
infringements  and  on  legal  and  natural  subjects,  joint 
capacity  building  and  education  activities.  Other 
memorandums  of  understanding 
the 
Department of the Environmental Protection involve the 
State  Territorial  Planning  and  Construction  Inspectorate 
and  the  State  Forest  Service,  and  discussions  are  in 
progress  with  other 
relevant  public  bodies.  This 
represents  a  significant  increase  in  official  cooperation 
compared  with  the  situation  described  in  the  previous 
EIR report. 

signed  by 

Environmental Liability Directive  

There  does  not  appear  to  be  systematic  information 
available,  or  published,  on  Environmental  Liability 
(ELD)  cases.  While  the  Ministry  of  the 
Directive 

228

See 

https://www.teismai.lt/lt/visuomenei-ir-

ziniasklaidai/statistika/106 
229  See  https://aad.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/pasirasyta-aplinkos-apsaugos-ir-
policijos-departamento-bendradarbiavimo-sutartis 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania 

 
                                                                 
                                                                 
 
Lithuania  45 

information,  usually 
Environment  publishes  ad  hoc 
monthly,  this  is  not  systematised.  There  is  no  publicly 
available  database  on  environmental  incidents.  Though, 
an  interinstitutional  secure  system  for  criminal  case 
management  does  exist,  it  is  not  specifically  focused  on 
environmental issues, and its information is not available 
to the public. 

The  2019  EIR  recommended  that  Lithuania  to  improve 
financial  security  for  liabilities  and  ELD  guidance  and 
publish  information  on  environmental  damage.  Since 
2019, Lithuania hasmade some progress on those issues. 

information  and  communication  technology  businesses 
to environmental sustainability. 231 

Coordination and integration  

The  Commission  encourages  the  streamlining  of  the 
environmental  assessments  to  reduce  duplication  and 
avoid  overlaps  in  environmental  assessments  applicable 
to  projects.  Moreover,  streamlining  helps  to  reduce 
unnecessary  administrative  burden  and  accelerates 
is 
decision-making, 
done  without 
compromising 
the  environmental 
assessment procedure. 

provided 
it 
the  quality  of 

2022 priority actions 

 

Provide  better  public  information  on  how  to  make 
damage, 
complaints 
compliance 
their 
environmental rights. 

issues  or  how 

environmental 

to  enforce 

about 

  Develop  and 

implement  a  systematic  approach 
towards existing environmental data that would not 
only  link  various  types  of  environmental  data  with 
each other as well as with other types of data  (e.g., 
geospatial  data)  but  would  also  give  environmental 
stakeholders easier access to the data. 
Publish  detailed  and  structured  information  on  the 
outcomes of enforcement action. 

 

  Make  information  more  available  on  follow-up  to 
environmental  incidents,  including  cases  under  the 
Environmental Liability Directive. 

Effectiveness of environmental 
administrations  

Those  involved  in  implementing  environment  legislation 
at  EU,  national,  regional,  and  local  levels  need  to  have 
the  knowledge,  tools,  and  capacity  to  ensure  that  the 
legislation  and  the  governance  of  the  enforcement 
process bring about the intended benefits. 

Administrative capacity and quality 

Overall, the compliance of the Lithuanian legislation with 
EU  environmental  legislation  is  good.  Once  informed 
about  existing  non-compliance  issues,  Lithuania  resolves 
them  relatively  quickly,  often  without  a  need  to  trigger 
enforcement action at EU level.  

According to the 2021 Digital Economy and Society Index 
(DESI),  Lithuania  scores  above  average  both  on  e-
the  contribution  made  by 
government  and  on 

Lithuania  has  notified  the  Commission  that  the  revised 
EIA  Directive232 has  been  implemented  in  national  law. 
this 
The  Commission 
implementation complies with EU law.  

is  currently  checking 

that 

Reforms through the Commission’s technical 
support instrument (TSI) 

The Commission supports environmental implementation 
and  the  green  transition,  not  only  through  the  EU 
financing  programmes,  but  also  granting  technical 
assistance such as the TSI. 

In  2020,  the  Commission’s  TSI  supported  a  project  in 
Lithuania on reform of the water supply and wastewater 
treatment sector through consolidation of utilities (to be 
completed 
In  2021,  Lithuania  made  two 
requests for support related to the reform of all economy 
sectors  towards  climate  neutrality  by  2050  and  to  the 
efficiency of construction supervision system. 

in  2022). 

TAIEX EIR peer to peer projects 

The Commission has launched the TAIEX EIR peer-to-peer 
tool 
learning  between 
environmental authorities 

facilitating  peer-to-peer 

to 

In  2019,  Lithuania  participated  in  three  multi-country 
Taiex-EIR  peer-to-peer  workshops  on:  air  pollution  from 
household heating;  the EU Timber Regulation for Nordic 
Baltic  competent  authorities  and  on  Life  cycle  approach 
and  circularity  in  policy  and  procurement  planning.  In 
2021,  Lithuania 
two  multi  country 
workshops:  the  first  on  ammonia  reducing  technology 
and measures, the second on zero pollution. 

took  part 

in 

231 DESI 2021 
232 Directive  2014/52/EU  of  16 April  2014  amending  Directive 
2011/92/EU  on  the  assessment  of  the  effects  of  certain  public  and 
private projects on the environment. 

Environmental Implementation Review 2022 – Lithuania