Lithuania’s government has announced a package of measures worth nearly €800 million aimed at strengthening financial security for families and improving conditions for raising children.

The package forms part of the government’s wider social policy agenda and includes measures directed at families, children and older people.

One of the priorities is expanding support for children and families. The government plans to introduce free meals for all primary-school pupils, with the programme focused on providing nutritious food during the school day.

The government is also preparing changes affecting older people who have lost their ability to live independently. A more integrated long-term care system is being developed to bring social and healthcare services together according to individual needs.

The measures are being presented alongside broader government priorities covering economic competitiveness, public services and national security.

The government also plans changes intended to reduce administrative burdens associated with public procurement. Another proposed measure would expand the framework for large-scale investment projects in Lithuania.

A free economic zone is also being proposed for Visaginas. The government says the initiative is intended to attract investment and create additional employment opportunities in the region.

Human-resource development is another component of the government’s programme. A proposed national law would focus on developing skills needed for higher-value employment and improved earning opportunities.

The family-support package therefore forms part of a broader set of government measures addressing social protection, education, healthcare, investment and economic development.

The government has submitted more than one hundred legislative proposals for consideration during the autumn parliamentary session. These proposals cover several areas of public policy and are intended to implement the government’s programme.

The latest package places family financial security and child welfare among the government’s key policy priorities while also linking social measures with longer-term economic and public-service reforms.