Lithuanian president calls for investigation into EU-funded empty training sessions

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has urged Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė to investigate reports that her public advisor Vigilijus Jukna’s institution is receiving EU funds for agricultural training sessions that allegedly take place without participants, LRT reports.

“If this is indeed true, I view it very negatively,” Nausėda told journalists on Tuesday. “An investigation should answer all questions. I believe it is now time for the prime minister herself to pay closer attention and examine the information more thoroughly. If it is true, this certainly does not reflect well on the Government Chancellery, and clear decisions must be made.”

Ruginienė responded that the matter should be assessed by law enforcement, stating, “This is definitely not something I should be evaluating.”

According to an investigation by news portal 15min, Jukna’s institution, Mokslinės paslaugos (Scientific Services), is currently implementing two large EU-funded projects covering 51 municipalities. One project, focused on sustainable livestock farming and animal welfare, plans to issue 1,155 certificates and hold 77 training sessions. The other, addressing sustainable livestock and plant protection, commits to 130 training sessions and 1,980 certificates, with €298,935 allocated for the sessions.

Despite regulations requiring at least 12 participants per session, 15min journalists monitored 13 training sessions over several months and found no attendees. Calls to nine venues rented for training last autumn revealed that no one had shown up for the pre-registered sessions.

Jukna did not respond to 15min’s questions about his institution or the empty training rooms. The National Paying Agency, responsible for overseeing the training, reported no serious violations but conducted its checks remotely and with prior notice.

Genovaitė Beniulienė, director of the Rural Development, Fisheries Programs, and Support Department, told journalists that if the allegations are confirmed, it could constitute a “violation of support conditions,” likely resulting in sanctions.

Nausėda acknowledged broader concerns about the quality of EU-funded training, stating, “Often, these trainings are done pro forma—providers take the money, but there are no results, and we simply waste state budget funds. We must fight against such practices.”

Ruginienė’s advisor, Ignas Dobrovolskas, confirmed that Jukna will be asked to provide explanations following the published investigation. “The details revealed today about Jukna’s activities, unrelated to his work in the Government, are new, though media interest in this topic existed earlier—I received an inquiry about it as far back as January,” Dobrovolskas told ELTA. “After the investigation, Mr. Jukna will be asked to provide explanations. He must first answer the questions raised, and the prime minister’s team will await his clarifications.”