On Tuesday, the Seimas approved a draft resolution authored by former agriculture minister, Conservative MP Kazimieras Starkevičius, in the first reading with 53 votes in favor, four votes against, and 18 abstentions. The draft will be introduced for the second reading on May 9.
The draft resolution calls on the government to reopen talks with the European Union (EU) on the extension of a ban on the sale of land to foreigners until the time when the direct payments to farmers in all EU Member States are brought into line.
Agriculture Minister Vigilijus Jukna admitted last week that Lithuania sought possibilities to extend the ban on the sale of land to foreigners once again. He also admitted that the country might fail to do that, so he he proposed to envisage more legislative safeguards against mass sale of land to foreigners.
The existing ban on the sale of land to foreigners expires in May 2014.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has said on Tuesday he supports a five-year extension of a ban on the sale of land to foreigners.
"I'm now a supporter of an extension of the ban for foreigners to purchase land for at least another five years," he told LRT Radio.
