Emigration

Following disagreements among some of the members of the ruling political group of the Farmers and Greens Union and the government, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis on Tuesday met with Gabrielius Landsbergis, the leader of the opposition conservatives.

Lithuania's economic indicators are no longer having an impact on emigration flows, a new trend that has been observed in recent years, the head of the Vilnius office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis sees no need for an agreement on curbing emigration, saying that measures aimed at doing so are envisaged in the government's program.

The largest parliamentary Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union will seek that the agreement to curb emigration is signed by both political parties and public organizations and associated structures.

Over 50,000 people emigrated from Lithuania last year, in addition to nearly 14,000 in the first two months of 2017, shows official statistics.

BNS Lithuania news agency lists the most important 2017 projected events on the political and public arena in Lithuania.

Employers are struggling for employees still remaining in Lithuania and are raising wages at the fastest rate in the European Union, but emigration is hurting long term economic growth.

Mass emigration from Lithuania has become a key topic in this year's general elections, with most political parties vowing to create more well-paid jobs to lure people back home, but laying emphasis on different aspects of achieving this goal.

Emigration has been a perennial headache for the Lithuanian government and businesses for more than a decade now. Departures of young and educated people are a particular drain on the country's resources.

With data showing that emigration from Lithuania has increased even more this year, the cabinet has drafted a plan to reduce emigration and encourage repatriation. Economists, however, are sceptical that it will work.

New data released by Statistics Lithuania show that even more people emigrated from the country over the first half of this year than in January-June 2015. Demographers say the figures are alarming, but may be inflated due to Brexit. To read this article, try a €5.99 monthly subscription by clicking...

Lithuania's cabinet of ministers has endorsed a plan to address massive emigration which has been a drain on the country's population and labour force. To read this article, try a €5.99 monthly subscription by clicking here.

In a striking example of the demographic problems facing Lithuania's small villages, a woman in Viešvilė is giving away an apartment she owns for free after failing to find any buyers. To read this article, try a €5.99 monthly subscription by clicking here.

Lithuanian institutions' anti-emigration policies have had little effect – statistics indicate that last year, more people left Lithuania than during the year before. To read this article, try a €5.99 monthly subscription by clicking here.