On October 13, 2005, the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) held a ceremony to celebrate its fifteenth anniversary. More than one hundred of LFMI’s supporters, fellows, foreign partners, prominent politicians, and media representatives participated in the anniversary event to manifest their support for the mission pursued by the only free-market oriented think-tank in Lithuania and one of the oldest liberal NGOs in entire Europe. LFMI was also the first centre established in Lithuania after restoring its independence that started to provide independent economic analysis.

(from the left) LFMI's President Ugnius Trumpa and Dr. Jose Pinera

LFMI was deeply honoured to host Dr. Jose Pinera, the architect of the Chilean pension reform--"the pension world's equivalent of Placido Domingo" as the London Sunday Telegraph wrote - as the distinguished guest speaker of LFMI's anniversary event. During the dinner, Mr. Pinera spoke on the topic "Effective solidarity versus proclaimed solidarity in the fight against poverty and injustice". In his speech Dr. Pinera wished the Lithuanian Free Market Institute great success and explained what role he envisages for LFMI in the near future: "In the first fifteen years, you have helped create an independent and free country -- my deepest respect for that. You have helped Lithuania become a part of Europe-- also my deepest respect for that. But now you have another extraordinary challenge-- how to make Lithuania join the Euro area without the labour rigidities and the Bismarckian welfare state that are burdening Western European countries. I believe you will rise to the challenge and will be at the front in this cause. Remember the three principles: love of country as the force, the power of ideas as the compass, and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as the noble goals."

Among the guests was Adviser to President of Lithuania Dr. Ramunas Vilpisauskas who read the President‘s greetings to LFMI. In his official letter President Valdas Adamkus stressed that LFMI team’s weighty and constructive contribution to essential reforms and public debates has been visible from the very start of the Institute’s activity: “You have always managed to find a healthy balance between a critical approach towards all administrations who based their policies on entirely different ideologies, and a constant dialog with government institutions.” President Adamkus also said in his letter to LFMI: “I can unequivocally state that the Lithuanian Free Market Institute has already made a conspicuous trace in the history of Lithuania who regained its independence only fifteen years ago. […] I believe the Lithuanian Free Market Institute will remain one of the leading participants in the debates over economic realities in Lithuania and beyond its boundaries. I believe that your critical and rational voice will continue to be heard in the future well.”

(from the left) Adviser to President of Lithuania Dr. Ramunas Vilpisauskas and LFMI's President Ugnius Trumpa

A welcoming letter also came from Vilnius' city Mayor Arturas Zuokas who pointed that people from the Lithuanian Free Market Institute taught Lithuanian people to think and act freely from the first years of the country’s independent life. “Remain as free from short-term political conjuncture and pressure as until now. Only free people can protect the free market,” – Vilnius Mayor signed.

To mark the fifteenth anniversary, LFMI released a book "Laisves algoritmai" ("Algorithms of Liberty") presenting a collection of the most valuable articles by LFMI written during fifteen years of its activity. The publication of almost 400 pages not only reflects LFMI’s work since its foundation but also mirrors the most significant events and processes in Lithuania’s economic, social and political life after its independence was restored (in the photo on the left: LFMI's President Ugnius Trumpa presents the book "Laisves algoritmai" to the guests of LFMI's ceremony). The Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) is an independent non-profit organization established in 1990 to promote the ideas of individual freedom and responsibility, free market and limited government.

(from the left) Ambassador of the United Kingdom Colin Roberts and General Manager of the National Radio and Television Kestutis Petrauskis

(from the left) LFMI's President Ugnius Trumpa, Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour Audrone Morkuniene, Advisor to Vilnius Mayor, LFMI's Associated Policy Analyst Ruta Vainiene and Secretary General of F. A. v. Hayek Institut in Vienna Dr. Barbara Kolm-Lamprechter. A. Morkuniene and R. Vainiene both come from the LFMI team

In the fifteen years of existence LFMI has addressed a variety of core issues confronting the economic reform process, enriching public debates, making a profound impact on the legislative outcome, and strengthening the democratic process. LFMI promoted the idea of a currency board and provided decisive input to the Law on Litas Credibility. LFMI led the creation of the legal and institutional framework for the securities market and contributed significantly to the privatisation legislation. LFMI initiated and participated in the policy-making process on private pension insurance through pension funds. LFMI's recommendations have adopted in legislation on commercial banks, the Bank of Lithuania, credit unions, insurance, and foreign investment. LFMI have influenced significantly the improvement of company, bankruptcy and competition law. LFMI have developed a conceptual proposal for tax and budget reform. Proposals from LFMI have been adopted in policy debates on income taxation, real estate tax, inheritance and gift taxes, and others. In recent years LFMI has been closely working on business deregulation, a process, initiated by the institute, worked actively in creating the legal framework for telecommunications market, formulated and proposed a step-by-step plan for health care reform, and took an active part in the debates over Lithuania’s accession to the European Union.

(from the left) Director of Institute Relations, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Dr. Jo Kwong and General Manager of "Reval Hotel Lietuva" Juha Mahonen

(from the left) Vice President of New Economic School, Georgia, Gia Jandieri, Program Officer of CIPE, U.S.A, Elena Suhir and LFMI’s President Ugnius Trumpa

(from the left) Journalist Virgis Valentinavicius and Member of Parliament and one of LFMI's founders Petras Austrevicius

(from the left) Secretary General of F. A. v. Hayek Institut in Vienna Dr. Barbara Kolm-Lamprechter and Research Director of Institut Constant de Rebecque in Switzerland Dr. Alphonse Crespo

(from the left) Advisor to President of Lithuania, LFMI’s shareholder Skirmante Kondratiene and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Social Affairs and Labour Algirdas Sysas

(from the left) Active free-marketeer Virginijus Daukas, LFMI's Vice President Guoda Steponavièienë and the head of the World Bank's Office in Lithuania Mantas Nocius

Executive Director of Institute for Market Economics in Bulgaria Krassen Stanchev (left) and Senior Fellow from Atlas Economic Research Foundation Gabriel Sanchez-Zinny (right)

(from the left) LFMI's Chair of the Board and one of the founders Elena Leontjeva and Dr. Jose Pinera

(from the left) President of holding "MG Baltic" and one of LFMI's founders Darius Mockus and LFMI's President Ugnius Trumpa

(from the left) LFMI's Vice President Guoda Steponavicienë, Director of Logistics Dpt. of one of the leading holdings "Achemos grupë" Otonas Tikuiðis and Research Director of Institut Constant de Rebecque in Switzerland Dr. Alphonse Crespo

(from the left) Dr. Jose Pinera, Director General of "Libra Holding" Tomas Juska and Director of Institute Relations, Atlas Economic Research Foundation, Dr. Jo Kwong

(in the middle) Head of Academic Affairs, Centre for the New Europe, Dr. Hardy Bouillon with wife (on his right)

(from the left) exPrime Minister Mindaugas Stankevicius, LFMI's shareholder, director of law firm "A.Abiðala ir partneriai" Aleksandras Abiðala, Member of the Board of "SEB Vilniaus bankas" Arturas Feiferas and Director of F. A. Hayek Institute in Slovakia Dr. Jan Oravec

(from the left) LFMI's Vice President Dr. Remigijus Simasius and Member of Parliament Raimundas Palaitis