CELEX: 52011SC0823
Language: en
Date: 2011-06-07 00:00:00
Title: Recommendation for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on the National Reform Programme 2011 of Lithuaniaand delivering a Council opinionon the updated Convergence Programme of Lithuania, 2011-2014

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		52011SC0823
		
			Recommendation for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION on the National Reform Programme 2011 of Lithuaniaand delivering a Council opinionon the updated Convergence Programme of Lithuania, 2011-2014 /* SEC/2011/0823 final */
			
				
		
		
			
			   	Recommendation for a
COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION
on the National Reform Programme 2011 of
Lithuania
and delivering a Council opinion
on the updated Convergence Programme of Lithuania, 2011-2014
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 121(2) and 148(4)
thereof,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No
1466/97 of 7 July 1997 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary
positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies[1],
and in particular Article 9(3) thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation of the European
Commission[2],
Having regard to the conclusions of the
European Council,
Having regard to the opinion of the
Employment Committee,
After consulting the Economic and Financial
Committee,
Whereas:
(1)              
On 26 March 2010, the European Council agreed to
the European Commission's proposal to launch a new strategy for jobs and
growth, Europe 2020, based on enhanced coordination of economic policies, which
will focus on the key areas where action is needed to boost Europe’s potential
for sustainable growth and competitiveness.
(2)              
On 13 July 2010, the Council adopted a
recommendation on the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member
States and the Union (2010 to 2014) and on 21 October 2010, adopted a decision
on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States[3],
which together form the “integrated guidelines”. Member States were invited to
take the integrated guidelines into account in their national economic and
employment policies.
(3)              
On 12 January 2011, the Commission adopted the
first Annual Growth Survey, marking the start of a new cycle of economic
governance in the EU and the first European semester of ex-ante and integrated
policy coordination, which is anchored in the Europe 2020 strategy. 
(4)              
On 25 March 2011, the European Council endorsed
the priorities for fiscal consolidation and structural reform (in line with the
Council’s conclusions of 15 February and 7 March 2011 and further to the
Commission’s Annual Growth Survey). It underscored the need to give priority to
restoring sound budgets and fiscal sustainability, reducing unemployment
through labour market reforms and making new efforts to enhance growth. It
requested Member States to translate these priorities into concrete measures to
be included in their Stability or Convergence Programmes and National Reform
Programmes.
(5)              
On 25 March 2011, the European Council also
invited the Member States participating in the Euro Plus Pact to present their
commitments in time to be included in their Stability or Convergence Programmes
and their National Reform Programmes.
(6)              
On 28 April 2011, Lithuania submitted its
updated 2011 Convergence Programme covering the period 2011-2014 and its 2011
National Reform Programme. In order to take account of the interlinkages, the two programmes have been assessed at the same time. 
(7)              
The Lithuanian economy is recovering from a
severe economic crisis, during which GDP contracted by 17% from peak to trough
as the collapse in domestic demand was amplified by a slump in global trade. The
labour market reacted rapidly to the crisis, and unemployment rose to a record
high, peaking at 18.3% by mid 2010 from as low as 4.2% at the beginning of
2008. A strong commitment to the currency board arrangement, underpinned by
substantial fiscal consolidation alongside adjustment in private sector wages
and measures aimed at strengthening financial system stability, helped
stabilise the economy. As the global economy recovered, and the economy
benefitted from regained competitiveness, exports surged and economic growth
resumed in 2010. In 2011, the recovery is gathering pace as domestic demand
picks up. However, even though unemployment is expected to decline at a rapid
pace, it will remain at double digit level.
(8)              
Based on the assessment of the updated
convergence programme pursuant to Regulation Council Regulation (EC) No 1466/97,
the Council is of the opinion that the macroeconomic scenario underlying the 2011
Convergence Programme is plausible. While based on somewhat more favourable
growth assumptions for 2011, it is broadly in line with the latest Commission
forecast for 2012. The programme plans to bring the deficit below the 3%
reference value by 2012, the deadline set by the Council, but is not
sufficiently underpinned by measures for 2012. The accelerating economic
momentum may lead to better 2011 budgetary outcomes than expected in the
programme. However, if temporary consolidation measures that will expire at the
end of 2011 are not renewed and complemented by sizable permanent measures, the
programme's budgetary targets for 2012 risk not being met despite the improving
macro-economic outlook. The average annual fiscal effort over the period of
2010-2012 is well below the 2.25% of GDP recommended by the Council under the excessive
deficit procedure (EDP) adopted on 16 February 2010. As economic growth
and tax revenues are substantially stronger than expected at the time of the
Council EDP Recommendation, implementation of the required fiscal effort should
allow for faster deficit reduction and progress towards the medium term objective
(MTO). The medium-term objective of a structural surplus of 0.5% of GDP is not
foreseen to be achieved within the programme period. 
(9)              
In view of the sizable adjustment required to
meet the 2012 EDP target and make progress towards the MTO, and the need to secure
the necessary co-financing in order to frontload the absorption of EU
structural funds and increase productive investment in the economy, identifying
further consolidation measures will be a challenge. Improvements in public
sector efficiency could create additional room for expenditure adjustments
without compromising the quality of public services. In the absence of further reform,
age‑related expenditure will increase at a rate above the EU average over
the next few decades. In June 2010, the government approved the broad outline
of a comprehensive social security and pension system reform. The proposal
included significant increases in the pensionable age, changes to the way
pensions are calculated and the integration of state pensions into the general
scheme of social insurance. The approval and successful implementation of all
aspects of these proposals will be critical for long term fiscal sustainability
and could help increase the labour supply by providing stronger incentives to
work for older workers while ensuring the adequacy of pensions. Moreover,
long-term fiscal sustainability would also require a stronger fiscal framework.
In particular, in the run-up to the crisis, the fiscal framework did not
prevent recurrent sizeable revisions of expenditure targets and pro-cyclical
expenditure growth financed by revenue windfalls. Excessive expenditure growth
financed by boom-related revenues was at the origin of the large fiscal
imbalances that emerged during the crisis. They also contributed to overheating
the economy. 
(10)          
The unemployment rate in Lithuania is one of the
highest in the EU. The immediate concern is to ensure that this rapid increase
does not become structural. Very strict labour regulations and disincentives to
work within the social assistance system are compromising the functioning of
the labour market. When combined with sufficiently funded active labour market
policies, measures taken in these domains, would help reduce
the risk of high unemployment becoming structural, and reduce the sizeable
shadow economy. 
(11)          
Lithuanian State-Owned Enterprises represent
about 18% of GDP. They remain prone to inefficiencies with unsatisfactory
financial returns. The successful reform of state-owned enterprises would also
enhance competition and improve the business environment. In 2010 Lithuania
began a reform in five major sectors. The reform set out transparency
guidelines for state-owned enterprises, providing a basis for government
accountability. The Government's Resolution on Improvement of Efficiency in
December 2010 provided a further credible framework for the reform.
Nevertheless these remain only frameworks and guidelines, and the Resolution
lacks a number of key measures initially proposed, and which would have ensured
the separation of regulatory and ownership functions. 
(12)          
The energy intensity of the Lithuanian economy
is one of the highest in the EU. This is to a large extent related to household
heating where poorly maintained multi-apartment buildings account for the bulk
of the problem. Despite the introduction of a strategy to address this dating
back to 2004, few investments have been made. Moreover,
levels of car ownership have increased rapidly, whilst revenues from energy and
transport taxes have fallen relative to GDP and to taxes on labour (considerably
above the EU average). Addressing low energy tax rates, including those for the
registration and ownership of transport vehicles, would support fiscal
consolidation in the short-term, whilst also incentivising more efficient
energy use. 
(13)          
While Lithuania has a business regulatory
framework that is favourable overall, it scores relatively poorly on start-up
conditions, the time and cost involved in issuing construction permits, and the
protection of investors. Improvements to regulations in these areas would help
stimulate job creation and growth. Competition policy reform would further
improve the environment, but progress is slow, especially in the energy and
food retail sectors. The completion of the revised national energy independence
strategy will help address concerns over security of supply and support greater
competition in electricity generation. The implementation of the Third Package
of EU electricity and gas market legislation would improve retail energy market
competition. Within the food retail sector, Lithuanian passed a law in 2009 on
the prohibition of unfair operations of retail trade undertakings. However, the
food retail sector continues to show an insufficient level of competition, due
partly to its structure and inefficiencies in market regulation. Concentration
in the food retail chains has been on an upward trend, with the share of the
four largest retailers reaching 72% of the total sales in 2008.
(14)          
Lithuania has made a number of commitments under
the Euro Plus Pact[4]. To strengthen fiscal
sustainability, Lithuania will adopt laws to facilitate
the accumulation of funds in the State Treasury reserve for difficult economic
periods and promote a responsible anti-inflationary budgetary policy. A number of important measures to reform the pension and social
security system have also been announced. Employment measures focus on fostering
employment, combating illegal and undeclared work, and promoting flexible employment agreements. To improve
the business environment a number of commitments have been made to strengthen business
inspectorates, increase transparency and reduce the administrative burden on
business. These commitments relate to all four areas of the pact. Overall, they reflect the reform agenda outlined in the Convergence
Programme and the National Reform Programme. The range of measures in the
employment domain would, if implemented, provide a welcome contribution to
generating demand for labour. These commitments have
been assessed and taken into account in the recommendations.
(15)          
The Commission has assessed the Convergence
Programme and National Reform Programme, including the Euro Plus Pact commitments[5].
It has taken into account not only their relevance for sustainable fiscal and
socio-economic policy in Lithuania but also their conformity with EU rules and
guidance, given the need to reinforce the overall economic governance of the
European Union by providing EU level input into future national decisions. In
this light, the Commission considers that measures to ensure compliance with
the budgetary targets for 2012 will need to be specified. Further steps should
be also taken to reform the pension system in order to improve fiscal
sustainability and to encourage longer working lives, improve the functioning
of the labour market, implement the state-owned-enterprises reform package,
improve energy efficiency and address low taxes on energy, and strengthen
competition in certain sectors. 
(16)          
In light of this assessment, also taking into
account the Council Recommendation under Article 126(7) Treaty on the
Functioning of the European Union of 2 June 2010, the Council has examined the
2011 update of the Convergence Programme of Lithuania and its opinion[6]
is reflected in particular in its recommendation under (1) and (2) set out
below. Taking into account the European Council conclusions of 25 March 2011,
the Council has examined the National Reform Programme of Lithuania,
HEREBY RECOMMENDS that Lithuania
should take action within the period 2011-2012 to:
(1)                   
Adopt additional fiscal measures of a permanent
nature by the time of the 2012 budget to correct the excessive deficit.
Reinforce tax compliance and take full advantage of the economic recovery to
further accelerate deficit reduction and ensure progress towards the Medium
Term Objective by at least 0.5% of GDP annually.
Strengthen the fiscal framework, in particular by introducing enforceable and
binding expenditure ceilings in the medium-term budgetary framework.
(2)                   
Adopt the proposed implementing legislation on
Pension System Reform. In order to enhance participation in the labour market,
remove fiscal disincentives to work for people at or
approaching pensionable age. 
(3)                   
Enhance labour market flexibility by amending
the Labour Code to make it more flexible and to allow better use of fixed-term
contracts. Amend the relevant legislation, in particular the Law on Cash Social
Assistance, to ensure that the social assistance system does not contain
disincentives to work.
(4)                   
Implement all aspects of the State-Owned
Enterprise reform package by the end of 2011, ensuring a separation of
ownership and regulatory functions, clear enterprise objectives, enhanced
transparency and a separation of commercial and non-commercial activities.
(5)                   
Improve the energy efficiency of buildings
through a rapid implementation of the Holding Fund and take steps to shift
taxation towards energy use, starting with taxes on
registration and ownership of passenger transport vehicles.
(6)                   
Take steps to improve start-up conditions, the
delivery of construction permits, and to strengthen competition in the energy
and retail sectors.
Done at Brussels,
                                                                       For
the Council
                                                                       The
President
[1]               OJ L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 1.
[2]               OJ C , p. .
[3]               Maintained for 2011 by Council Decision 2011/308/EU
of 19 May 2011.
[4]               More details on the commitments made under the Euro
Plus Pact can be found in SEC(2011) 723.
[5]               SEC(2011) 723.
[6]               Foreseen in Article 9(3) of Council Regulation (EC)
No 1466/97.