Seimas begins 1.2 million euro renovation ahead of EU Council presidency

Lithuania’s Seimas parliament is renovating its corridors, historic March 11 Hall and other spaces ahead of the country’s presidency of the Council of the European Union next year, LRT reported. The work is expected to cost about 1.2 million euros.

Workers are carrying out the renovations between parliamentary sessions, with almost the entire first Seimas building covered in protective sheeting to reduce dust. Delegations attending presidency-related events will usually arrive through the courtyard, which is also being renovated.

Seimas Chancellor Algirdas Stončaitis said all services had been procured through public tenders. He said relatively few companies wanted to take on the work because it had to be completed within a short period between sessions. The spring session lasted longer than planned, while sittings are also scheduled for the end of August.

The Seimas received only one bid for the courtyard renovation.

Many presidency events will be held in the March 11 Hall. Because the hall is a historic heritage space, major changes cannot be made there. Its walls were cleaned and its benches and flooring renewed last year. This year, the lighting and ventilation systems are being updated, along with other elements, including structures in the balconies.

Some previously unused spaces will also be put into use. The main cloakroom is being renovated to accommodate the hundreds of participants expected at presidency events. Nearby public toilets are also being refurbished, with five toilets planned in total.

Some stairwells will be repainted and the press centre will receive minor repairs, although those works have not yet begun.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas said the renovations were intended to maintain the building, improve accessibility and prepare it to receive visitors. He said the work involved practical changes rather than luxury improvements and expressed hope that it would be completed by the autumn session.

Stončaitis estimated the total cost of the renovation at about 1.2 million euros.