Lithuanian parliament establishes permanent senior affairs committee

The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has established a permanent committee dedicated to senior affairs, as reported by LRT.

On Tuesday, lawmakers approved amendments to the Statute outlining the formation of the new Standing Committee on Senior Affairs. The initiative, proposed by Social Democrat Kęstutis Vilkauskas, received support from 93 MPs, with no votes against and seven abstentions.

The committee will address the material and financial living conditions of people aged 60 and over, as well as issues related to their healthcare, guardianship, support, and social services. It will also focus on senior education, cultural matters, leisure, and their integration into the labor market.

Its responsibilities include assessing whether state and municipal policies meet the needs and social justice requirements of seniors, as well as promoting their social inclusion. The committee will submit proposals to the Seimas, the government, and other state and municipal institutions. It will also draft and present legislation, analyze foreign laws and experiences, and conduct parliamentary oversight.

Under the Statute amendments, the committee will be required to submit an annual activity report to the parliament.

The Seimas currently has several other standing committees, including those on Ethics and Procedures, Petitions, Parliamentary Oversight of Criminal Intelligence, Freedom Struggles and Historical Memory of the State, and Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

ELTA notes that on June 25, the Seimas adopted the Law on the Fundamentals of Senior Policy to create favorable conditions for senior participation in public life. The law, which will take effect next year, aims to ensure active and healthy aging by providing opportunities for seniors to engage in personal, professional, economic, social, and cultural activities.

The law emphasizes the need to protect the rights of seniors and prevent age-based discrimination. It also highlights the importance of developing the silver economy, creating conditions and incentives for seniors to seek employment, and encouraging employers to hire and retain them. The document defines the responsibilities of ministries, municipalities, and other state institutions in the field of senior policy. It also provides for the establishment of a Senior Affairs Council under the government.