After interagency disagreements, Lithuania’s cabinet on Wednesday accepted a revised proposal to delay a requirement that Ukrainian refugees working in the country speak the Lithuanian language.
Under the decision, the language requirement will be suspended for at least six more months – until the temporary protection status granted to Ukrainians expires.
Currently, Ukrainian refugees are covered by the EU’s temporary protection through March 4, 2026, though this period can be extended, as has been the case since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Temporary protection is coordinated at the EU level for displaced Ukrainians.
The Education Ministry said the revised proposal reflects feedback given during a July 2 government meeting. At that meeting, ministers again postponed a decision on whether to defer the language requirement for another year, amid objections from other ministries and public institutions.
Initially, the ministry sought a four-year exemption from the language requirement for refugees with temporary protection. It later proposed ending the exemption in 2028, but withdrew the idea after institutional pushback.
Culture Minister Šarūnas Birutis previously argued that postponing the language requirement was not justified. In a written statement shared Wednesday by his spokesperson, Birutis said the ministry’s new proposal is a “balance between necessity and real possibility”.
“Lithuanian language proficiency is a key factor in successful integration into Lithuanian society,” Birutis said. “Postponements do not accelerate this process, nor do they help individuals access the labour market or public services more effectively.”
Since February 2022, Lithuania has registered approximately 96,000 Ukrainian refugees, according to the Migration Department. As of September 2024, about 33,900 Ukrainians were employed in Lithuania.
Data from the State Language Inspectorate indicates that around 6,800 people have completed Lithuanian language courses so far.
The ministry cited practical challenges in providing sufficient access to language classes and state exams for foreign nationals. Changes made to national regulations in 2022 and again in early 2024 had previously extended the language exemption period from two years to three.
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