To disseminate free market ideas and gain passage for policy proposals, LFMI's team members participate in, and testify before, cabinet meetings, parliamentary committee sittings, policy-drafting groups, non-governmental forums, and public events. The LFMI has cultivated a friendly relationship with mass media and is regarded as a source of valuable information and analysis for reporters. LFMI's policy analysts publish and comment extensively in periodicals. Advantages of live communication are exploited through appearances on radio and television. These tools have proved constructive in enriching public debates, making a profound impact on the legislative outcome and strengthening the democratic process.

Private Enterprise

LFMI evaluated a draft law on competition and submitted comments and proposals to the parliamentary Economic Committee. Elena Leontjeva and Remigijus Šimašius testified before the committee on December 7. LFMI's proposals not to restrain free competition and enterprise more than required by EU law were accepted. Certain operational constraints were lifted and responsibility for violations of competition on the part of governmental agencies was spelled out.

On December 22 LFMI and Friedrich Naumann Foundation co-sponsored a conference "The Business Environment, Deregulation and Effects on Human Welfare." The primary aim of the conference was to change official attitudes to private sector development and regulatory functions as well as to present proposals for removing constraints to business growth and competition. The conference drew over 80 participants, including members of parliament, top government executives, representatives of political parties, entrepreneurs, lawyers, academics, and reporters. The issues addressed included forms of state regulation, employment and licensing regulations as well as the benefits of and proposals for business deregulation (The conference will be related in more detail in The Free Market No 2).

Reports about the conference were released by the BNS and ELTA news agencies. Several reports were broadcast on the Lithuanian Radio, M1 Plius and Znad Wilii radios. LFMI's Vice President Ugnius Trumpa appeared live twice on the Lithuanian Radio. The conference was covered by TV3 and Vilnius TV, which also broadcast an interview with LFMI's President Elena Leontjeva. The conference was highlighted in the renowned business Verslo Žinios paper of December 23.

Fiscal Policy

Elena Leontjeva was a guest on Baltijos Television discussing tax and budget reform, a recent increase in excise duties and other economic issues, December 15. The interview was published in the Lietuvos Rytas daily.

LFMI continued to comment on the recent increase in excise duties on fuel, tobacco and other products. Rūta Vainienė appeared on the Lithuanian Radio, January 11.

Elena Leontjeva and Rūta Vainienė testified December 23 before the Finance Ministry on the new draft law on income tax and taxation of representation costs and interest.

Other Economic Policy Issues

Guoda Steponavičienė and Rūta Vainienė attended December 7 a round table on macroeconomic indicators hosted by the Department of Statistics. The round table focused on the objectives and peculiarities of LFMI's survey of macroeconomic variables as well as methodologies of independent research. The event was highlighted in the December 8 Respublika.

In October through December 1998 LFMI conducted research on the quality, structure and changes in social policy in Lithuania. The aim was to investigate and generalise the methods of the current social policy, to assess their effectiveness and to identify priorities for future social security in Lithuania. The research areas included pension insurance, labour policy, family assistance, and social insurance benefits. To preserve a systematic view on social security, LFMI also looked at other levers of state policy, such as taxes. Based on research results, LFMI formulated proposals for needed changes in Lithuania's social security system. The study was presented to the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labour at a seminar on February 9. The event and LFMI's project were featured on LNK television as well as in Litovskij Kurjer and Respublika of February 10.

Elena Leontjeva received a World Bank mission to discuss changes in Lithuania's economic affairs, December 4.

Elena Leontjeva spoke on the implications of the introduction of euro for the international and Lithuanian business communities at a discussion hosted by the Bank of Lithuania and the Centre for the Studies of European Integration, December 15.

Elena Leontjeva appeared on Vilnius Television December 15 on expected developments in Lithuania's economy in 1999. Interviews with the LFMI's president were published in the Litovskij Kurjer and Echo Litvy of December 30-31.

Elena Leontjeva commented on the change of the anchor currency for litas in the December 17 Respublika.