State social policy in Lithuania in the lead up to entry into the EU

Straipsnyje apžvelgiami svarbiausi pastarųjų metų įvykiai, susiję su Lietuvos pasirengimu integruotis į Europos Sąjungą (ES) bei darbu tarptautinėse organizacijose, tarptautinių sutarčių sudarymu, dvišalių santykių su užsienio šalimis plėtra, gaunama technine pagalba. Pabrėžiamas svarbus Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerijos vaidmuo harmonizuojant Lietuvos įstatymus ir teisės aktus su ES direktyvomis socialinės ir darbo politikos srityje. Parodomas ministerijos vaidmuo Lietuvos pasirengimo tapti ES nare procese: koordinuojant derybų procesą, socialinės politikos ir užimtumo, laisvo darbuotojų judėjimo, profesinių kvalifikacijų pripažinimo, socialinių sistemų (įskaitant medicininę priežiūrą) klausimus. Straipsnyje nurodomi Socialinės apsaugos ir darbo ministerijos pradėti įgyvendinti nauji ir tęsiami ankstesnieji tarptautiniai projektai, skirti socialinės apsaugos teisinei bazei ir institucijoms tobulinti. Pateiktas Europos Tarybos ir Tarptautinio darbo biuro ekspertų vertinimas apie Lietuvos integracijos į ES proceso eigą, konkrečių ES teisės aktų įgyvendinimo Lietuvoje rezultatus.The aspiration of Lithuania to become the member of European Union, the integration to international organizations determined the expansion of bilateral and multilateral international connections of the Ministry for social protection and labour. The Ministry plays an increasing role in the process of preparation for integration to European Union. The Ministry becomes more active participant in the activities of international organizations, is spreading bilateral contacts between the institutions of Lithuania and foreign countries, is signing the treaties on giving a job in foreign countries and social guarantees. The help of foreign experts and of foreign experience have a positive effect upon the quality of decisions on social and labour policy, improves the activity of Lithuanian institutions. The year 2001 was successful, because of the enforcing in Lithuania of the fundamental document of the European Council - The Social Charter of Europe. After the ratifying this charter, according to accepted engagements, Lithuania will have to seek better results in all spheres of social life, consecutively accomplish the laws, to improve the social policy. In 2001 negotiations on „The social policy and employment", „The mobility of people" were finished. Previous international projects directed on the improvement of law bases and institutions proceeds and new ones started. The Ministry for social protection and labour received lots of technical help from European Union and other countries. The adopted ES PHARE projects were continued and the new ones started. On the meeting of Subcommittee of European Commission on „The regional expansion and social policy" in October 2001 the delegation of Lithuania introduced the changes in the sphere of labour law, equal opportunities, employees' protection and health, social support, co-ordination of the system of social protection, antidiscrimination, social dialogue and employment. The representatives of European Union appraised positively the progress of Lithuania, introduced new EU law deeds and EU programs in the sphere of social policy and employment. The Government of Lithuania passed the program „The preparation for membership in EU in 2001-2003" supposing the continuing undertaken duties in the sphere of social policy