February
2001
Lithuania
Summary Report (1999 - 2000)
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Lithuania Summary Report (1999 - 2000) |
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1. Lithuania Information Society Development Programme
In 1999, the Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Local Authorities drafted a Programme on Information Society in Lithuania in line with EC Directives. The Programme has been submitted for inter-ministerial clearance, reviewed and commented by experts. In October 2000, the Ministry presented the new draft of the Programme. The Programme is based on the 1999 Draft, new EC documents, Lithuanian Government Programme and other documents. The Program announced the state policy, IS developments plans, financing and co-ordination. This document determines the long term Lithuanian IS development strategy, formulates the main goals, ways of realisation and national level activities.
The Part I of the Programme presents the concept of IS, and the aims and structure of this document. According to the Programme's definition, "the Information Society is an open, educated and learning society. The members of IS must have possibilities and capabilities for effective use of advanced information technologies and applications, national and international information resources in all areas of activities. State and local administration institutions ensure citizens reliable access to public information" (see http://www.iid.lt/dokumentai).
The Part II presents the current IS infrastructure, trends of development, problems and availability for IS developments and applications. The Programme analyses the latest trends of IS development in Europe and Lithuania. The main tasks of the State Information Policy are the development of public access to public information sources and possibilities to use information and knowledge as strategic resources in all areas. The Programme emphasises the necessity of a Lithuanian IS co-ordinating body, similar to ISPO in EU. Currently two departments, the Department of Communication of the Transport Ministry and the Department of Information and Informatics (Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Local Authorities) are providing some types of IS development co-ordinating actions.
The Part III analyses the current situation, future vision, tasks and actions in:
The Program was presented to IS commissions, experts and scientists. It is expected that the approval of the Program by a new, elected in October 2000, Lithuanian "Seimas" and Government. The full text of the Programme is available at http//www.iid.lt.
The remarkable activities of the Lithuanian Government, which aim at the implementation of "e-Europe" actions in Lithuania, started in middle of 2000. The Department of Information and Informatics (Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Local Authorities) prepared the "Lithuanian Information Society development strategy". The IS strategy was approved by the high level State Information Policy Advisory Commission. This Program announced the strategic directions of the IS development for a period of three years. In order to prepare plans for realisation and for co-ordination of finances, a working group was established. The working group presented proposals to the Lithuanian Government in September 2000. One of the strategic Programme directions is the development of science, education, language and culture in Information Society, the computerisation of the Lithuanian schools and connection of Lithuanian schools to the single Educational Network until 2003. The computerisation of Lithuanian schools became the first step towards practical implementation of "e-Europe" actions in Lithuania.
In the middle of 2000, the Lithuanian Government, following the European Commission "E-Europe initiative", announced about the e-vyriausybe (e-government) project. Prime Minister issued the Act No 164 Kubilius on the 16th August for the establishment of a working group to prepare the conception of e-vyriausybe, to provide easy and fast access to Government Information sources.
In the year 2001, the Lithuanian Government foresees, for the first time, a separate paragraph in the budget for financing directly IS development. The money will be allocated to the support of the most important IS projects.
Lithuanian President Mr Valdas Adamkus, in his Annual Address (April 2000) to Seimas, reported about ideas of the new Lithuanian policy, and the orientation of Lithuania’s economy towards new information technologies. The New Lithuanian policy means to follow the practice of Western and Central European economies and revitalise and expand business consulting and information systems. Special attention was paid to the development of Information Society in Lithuania, computerisation of Lithuanian schools, reforms of science education. More information can be found at http://www.president.lt.
The Lithuanian Government Program for 1999-2000 declared state priorities in the establishment of an infrastructure for Information Society and computerisation of Lithuanian schools. Other trends of Government activities important to IS development are:
The Lithuanian Government established a special "Sunrise Committee" for the promotion of business. Over 130 experts in 10 working groups of the Committee have drafted proposals, which, if implemented, would improve the business environment. The Lithuanian Government has plans for the allocation of over 2 billion Lt (500 MEURO) in the years 2000-2002 for state investments. So far only those projects which would be difficult to hold are being financed, while debts from last year are being paid off by state borrowing on the domestic market. About 398 MLt (100 MEURO) were allocated for projects in the Information Technology sector (co-ordination by Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Local Authorities). The most important IT projects are:
More information can be found at http://www.ekm.ltINVEST/
In November 2000, after the election of "Seimas", the new-formed Government announced the Government Programme for the years 2000-2004. The Programme foresees fast liberalisation of economy, destroying of bureaucratic barriers, fostering of IS development, modernisation of science and education, and the continuation of the integration policy into EU and NATO. The Programme stressed the development of Information Society as a strategic task in need for urgent solutions. For the implementation of IS development the Lithuanian Government foresees:
The full text of the Government Programme for the years 2000-2004 and the Governmental Plan of urgent measures is available at the Prime Minister Office, http://www.lrvk.lt.
In the year 2000, the Lithuanian Government announced the strategic directions of IS development :
According to the Lithuanian Government priorities, the Ministry of Science and Education drafted a Strategy for the implementation of advanced Information Technologies in Lithuanian Education. The Strategy describes the current situation, future vision and goals of modernisation, priorities and ways of realisation. More details can be found at http://www.ipc.lt.
In the science and education area, the Lithuanian Government supports two long-term projects:
The first version of the White Book on Science and Technology was presented at the annual session of the Academy of Sciences, which took place in Vilnius 22 September. The Book was prepared by a group of scientists and experts, established in 1999.05.14 by Government Decree. The leader of the group is the Academician Eduardas Vilkas, Director of the Institute of Economy and Chairman of the State Privatisation Council. The Book describes d the development of science and technologies as the most important part of the country development strategy. The main topics are:
7. Non-governmental organisations
7.1. Lithuanian Computer Society
The Lithuanian Computer Society (http://www.liks.lt) and INFOBALT, Association of the largest IT companies (http://www.infobalt.lt), are the most active in promoting Information Society, forming the state IS policy and public opinion in Lithuania.
The areas of activity and main goals of the Lithuanian Computer Society are:
INFOBALT was founded in July 1994 to facilitate Lithuania's transition to market economy while protecting the interests of the country's IT and telecommunications companies. Currently the Association includes 133 member companies. These companies cover at least 85% of the Lithuanian computing, infosystems and office equipment market.
Strategic tasks of the Association INFOBALT:
The main events of the years 1999-2000, dedicated to Information Society, were the 1st and 2nd International Conferences INFORMATION SOCIETY'99 and INFORMATION SOCIETY'2000. The international conferences were launched by the association INFOBALT (http://www.infobalt.lt), under the support of the Lithuanian "Seimas" and Government, that took place in Vilnius in the last decades of October, before the annual International Trade IT Fair. The Association INFOBALT expanded the scope of the mission of the growing international exhibition InfoBalt that is being successfully organised for the sixth year by turns. The goals of the 1999 Conference (extract from Mr. R. Tamulevicius, Chairman of Organising Committee report) were:
The Conference was very successful and, according to experts, achieved the expected goals. The Chairman of "Seimas", Government and President office representatives, leaders of all main political parties, quests from EU, specialists and businessmen took part the Conference discussions.
The most important IS promotional event in the year 2000 was the 2nd International Conference "Jump into the new e – Economy" which took place in Vilnius, 23rd October 2000. The subject of the conference was the new e-economy and the information society: state, science, education, business and investment, knowledge management and the future of globalisation.
The aim of the conference was to introduce the main tendencies of the new e-economy and the development of knowledge management in the information society as well as the impact of information technologies and their place in the contemporary society at the international level.
Public persons, politicians and specialists took part in the conference Information Society '2000, representing the interests of state and international organisations, science, business and investment. The key speakers introduced the possibilities to implement local and international projects in the fields of the new e-economy, state and knowledge management, public welfare, and education by means of the most recent technologies.
The issues of reports at the conference covered theoretical and practical possibilities of the new e-economy and the information society as well as its trials, challenges, risks and other specific problems in this field. The Conference reports introduced the main tendencies of the new economy and the development of the knowledge management in the information society as well as the impact of information technologies and their place in the contemporary society at the international level. The reports at the plenary session were made in Lithuanian and English. The simultaneous interpretation was performed into English as well as French and German. After the plenary session the work was organised in 5 parallel sections in Lithuanian and English.
The topics of parallel sections:
The event was widely presented in all newspapers, radio and TV broadcasts. The reports of key speakers and other information are available at http://www.infobalt.lt.
Annual International Trade Fair of Information Society Technologies, 25-28 October 2000, Vilnius. The main goals of the Conferences are: to introduce the most recent information technologies, Baltic States information technologies and telecommunications market as well as the intellectual potential of Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian and foreign partners. The International Trade Fair of Information Society Technologies is the largest fair of information technologies and telecommunications in the Baltic States. The International Trade Fair of Information Society Technologies enjoys the largest number of visitors. The estimated 73 thousand people paid a visit to the fair in 1999. 81 percent of the companies, which participated in the INFOBALT'99, took part in the year 2000 exhibition.
The exhibition space since 2000 was broadened and divided into specialised areas according to the major technological themes:
The first time a new project under the name e-FUTURE was introduced in 2000. In a separate pavilion (Hall 5), companies demonstrated and sold products, services designed both for the general public and especially for youth - multimedia, Internet innovations, computer games etc. This brand-new project brought an exceptional opportunity to stay on top in supplying the market's growing needs for leisure, entertainment, self-education. (More at http://www.infobalt.lt).
9. Memorandums on Information Society Development
During the 1st Conference the Memorandum, named "Establishment of Information Society in Lithuania", for support of the IS and IT development between Lithuanian Parliament Parties and Association Infobalt was signed.
The main idea of the Memorandum is to consolidate political parties on the strategic development of the IS, to realise permanent political support independent from changes in the Lithuanian "Seimas" and Government. Memorandum declared the necessity:
to destroy barriers for the development of IS projects related to few ministries, to change financing rules for such projects, seeking effective use of resources;
The Memorandum was signed by the leaders of the 5 largest Lithuanian parties and the President of Infobalt Association. The Memorandum was free for joining new parties and associations. Currently more than 20 organisations including the Lithuanian Computer Society, Lithuanian Association of Telecommunication and Electronic, Lithuanian Radio and TV Association, International Advertisement Association, joined the Memorandum.
Following the tradition of the 1st Conference, the Organisational Committee of the Conference addresses the Lithuanian society in response to the initiative of the Lithuanian President about the right of every citizen to use the Internet. "The modern state must ensure, in addition to other human rights, the right of every citizen to the Internet and to ensure the right of the society to make use of possibilities of the virtual market" (Lithuanian President speech, 12, October 2000).
The Memorandum "Declaration of the Rights to the Internet" is a guideline for the development of the Information Society in Lithuania with a view to implement the Memorandum on Development of the Information Society in Lithuania signed at the first Conference"99. According to the Memorandum 2000, the Internet is the most important factor that can speed up the development of the Information Society and information Technologies in Lithuania. The development of the Internet is an efficient way to promote initiatives of the private sector as well as may help Lithuania in seeking membership in the European Union and NATO. The Declaration announces:
The text of Memorandum "Declaration of the Rights to the Internet" is available at http://www.infobalt.lt.
On 2-3 February 2000 - the annual Conference "Information Technologies'2000", related to the Information Society, took place in Kaunas University of Technology (http://www.ktu.lt). The Lithuanian scientists and experts, Government and Lithuanian "Seimas", industry and business representatives took part in the Conference. The participants of the Conference discussed urgent tasks for Lithuanian science and industry, readiness of Lithuania’s integration to the EU, importance of science and technologies for the Lithuanian economy, development of strategy and priorities. The Conference prepared recommendations for Government, Science and Research institutions, Industry and business areas. More information can be found at http://www.ktu.lt.
In 2000 the Ministry of Public Administration Reforms and Local Authorities drafted a Programme on Information Society in Lithuania in line with EC Directives. The Program was presented to IS commissions, experts and scientists. The approval of the Program by the new, elected in October 2000 Lithuanian "Seimas" and Government, is expected in 2001 year.
Taking into account the decisions of the 1999 Helsinki European Council, the Government has adopted measures to complete the process of administrative preparation for membership negotiations and drafting of negotiating positions having in view the starting of negotiations in 2000. Lithuania’s integration into European communications and information networks will continue and an Information Society will be consistently developed. Lithuania’s efforts will be directed to the further liberalisation of the telecommunications’ services market, reduction of the number of licensed services and the creation of prerequisites for the upgrading of communications - the introduction of digital radio and TV, electronic trade and payments, other communication and information services.
Main information sources:
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