Several ministries and state institutions have expressed opposition to the Education, Science and Sport Ministry’s proposal to postpone by another year the requirement for Ukrainians granted asylum in Lithuania to speak Lithuanian before entering the labor market.
The Ministries of Culture, Social Security and Labor, and Interior, as well as the State Lithuanian Language Commission and the State Language Inspectorate, have voiced dissatisfaction with the government resolution, which is being submitted for a third time. The Justice Ministry has also submitted comments.
“The postponement for four years, I think, is not fully justified,” Culture Minister Šarūnas Birutis told BNS on Tuesday, adding that state institutions should work actively to ensure that Ukrainians have the opportunity to learn Lithuanian and meet qualification requirements.
He emphasized that a good command of the Lithuanian language is essential for strengthening the state, fostering citizenship, and countering disinformation.
According to the draft government resolution submitted by the Education Ministry for further coordination, foreigners granted temporary protection in Lithuania would be exempt from state language proficiency requirements for four years from the date of protection, but no later than December 31, 2028.
Education, Science and Sport Minister Raminta Popovienė told BNS the proposal is based on the fact that war refugees in Lithuania are protected until March 2026. Additionally, the European Commission is proposing a one-year extension of Ukrainian refugees’ right to remain in the European Union.
She said the aim is to create an effective system for teaching and testing Lithuanian during the grace period, while also reducing the required proficiency level.
“The main purpose of this postponement is to create a functioning system. We’ve discussed that the A2 level is too high and too difficult, so we’ve decided to work toward developing A1-level requirements. We will allocate funding for this. We’re still discussing whether the postponement should be one year or six months to ensure the system functions properly,” Popovienė said.
However, other ministries and institutions argue that the deadline has already been extended once—from two to three years—and further delay is unjustified.
The Ministry of Social Security and Labor warns that the longer individuals are exempt from learning the state language, the greater the risk that their integration into society and the labor market will be hindered, potentially worsening their social situation.
The Interior Ministry also objects to extending the current three-year deadline, asserting that it is sufficient time for foreigners to learn Lithuanian and reach the required proficiency level for their job functions.
According to the ministry, nearly 50,000 foreigners with temporary protection currently hold valid residence permits in Lithuania, many of whom are employed in the service sector.
The State Language Inspectorate states that foreigners are informed about language learning opportunities upon arrival in the country, including the importance of language skills, where to register for courses, and access to online tools for self-assessment and preparation.
The inspectorate also notes rising public frustration with the frequent use of Russian in public spaces and increasing complaints that Russian speakers are unwilling to speak Lithuanian and expect others to switch to Russian.
The State Lithuanian Language Commission argues that another postponement would undermine the efforts of Ukrainians who are motivated to learn Lithuanian upon arrival, and could exacerbate public dissatisfaction over the growing prevalence of the Russian language in everyday life.
Source: BNS
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