Policy analysts of the Lithuanian Free Market Institute are taking an active part in the Sunset Commission, a broad initiative of the current administration, which has been brought to life for a second time, again under the leadership of Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius. The Commission is charged with the task of eliminating unnecessary bureaucracies and reducing the number of regulatory authorities.
In March LFMI’s policy analysts participated and completed work in the following task forces of the Commission: 1) the Drug Control Department and the State Tobacco and Alcohol Control Service; 2) the Qualifications Service; 3) the State Gaming Control Commission. The task forces analysed the goals and results of these institutions and submitted their proposals to the Sunset Commission. LFMI‘s President Rūta Vainienė is a member of the Commission.
The Sunset Commission has already adopted decisions to liquidate the Qualifications Service, to merge the Chief Administrative Disputes Commission and the Commission on Tax Disputes under the Government of Lithuania, which would be accountable to the Ministry of Justice, to change the subordination of the State Gaming Control Commission (to be accountable to the Finance Ministry) and to reduce the number of jobs in this Commission, and a number of other proposals. On March 30, the Lithuanian Government approved many of these proposals, the implementation of which would save over 10 million Litas.
Back in 1999, a new cabinet formed by Prime Minister Kubilius started its term by launching a Sunset Commission to get rid of unnecessary bureaucracies. At that time LFMI proposed a strategy and an action plan for curbing bureaucracy and government functions. Another initiative, designed to improve Lithuania‘s business environment, was named Sunrise. LFMI played an important role in analysing how to simplify capital market, employment, land purchase and building regulations. Yet, as political will to carry on this business deregulation programme dissipated, LFMI withdrew from the Sunrise Commission regretting that a good initiative was allowed to go adrift.
