Update July 2000: Lithuania

1. National Regulatory Agency

On the 30th May Lithuanian Government issued the Decree No  617 for the reorganisation of the State Radio Frequency Service (www.radio.lt) in to National Regulatory Agency (NRA). The NRA functions, prescribed in the Law on Telecommunications, were carried out until now by the Department of Communications under the Ministry of Transport and Communications. On the 19th June, Lithuanian Government created a special Commission to co-ordinate the establishment of NRA. The Chairman of this Commission is Mr Jonas Usas, Head of the Department of Communications. The final date of the establishment of NRA is October 1st 2000.

2. Relevant Organisations to IS

The Ministry of Social Security and Labour (http://www.socmin.lt) is responsible for implementing social security and labour policies. The Lithuanian Labour Exchange Information System, Labour Exchanges, and training centres in the main cities were created under PHARE support. Mrs Irena Degutiene is the Minister of Social Security and Labour.

The Ministry of Health (Minister Mr Raimundas Alekna) carries out the functions of State administration in the sphere of health care as well as the implementation of the state policy in that area. The restructuring of health care and implementation of National Health Concept are being currently undertaken. A Health Care Information System is under development. All information about more than 10 programs and projects, activities and health statistics can be found at http://www.sam.lt.

The Lithuanian Standards Department (www.std.lt) under the Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Local Authorities is responsible for the implementation of Lithuania’s State policy in the standardisation sector and the development of national standards. Law on Standardisation is under preparation. The head of the Lithuania Standards Department is Mr Brunonas Sickus.

3. Other changes

UAB Taide, one of the Internet pioneers in Lithuania, was splited into two parts. Internet services, distribution of network equipment, design and management of networks were the main Taide activities. The Internet part of Taide was merged to Delfi (the owner is Estonian company Microlink). The Delfi has ambitious plans for achieving the leading position among Internet providers. Other part of Taide, the group of high quality networks specialists merged to Cygate (Swedish company). Internet services, IP telephony, firewalls, wireless communications and e-business solutions are Cygate activities in Lithuania. President of Cygate CEO is Mr Goran Marby. Local representative is General Manager Zana Jakeviciene.

4. On-going developments

The main event of the second half of the year 2000 could be the restructuring and partial privatisation of Lietuvos Energija (Lithuania Power). The Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) issued already all Laws needed for the reorganisation of Lietuvos Energija in the year 2000.

According to the Law on Telecommunications, the Lithuanian President Mr Valdas Adamkus will appoint the Head of the National Regulatory Agency and 5 members before the next October 1st.