A citywide petition gained over 22,500 signatures, sparking debate over a proposed A2 Lithuanian requirement for non EU residents seeking long term residency.

A petition launched by the Mayor of Vilnius calling for foreigners to have mandatory knowledge of Lithuanian was signed by more than 22,500 people.

According to LRT, the petition was confirmed by the local news service; it was also noted that the signature drive lasted one month.

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas proposed introducing a rule: citizens of countries not part of the EU who wish to reside in Lithuania for more than three years must have Lithuanian at least at level A2.

According to him, for foreign citizens who plan to live long-term in Vilnius and Lithuania, this is a reality, but they must take on the responsibility of learning the basics of the state language.

“This is a principle that makes sense, and it is supported by the majority. Unfortunately, when I spoke about it, the Minister of Internal Affairs politely shelved my proposal in the long drawer. Therefore, having a mandate for changes from tens of thousands of residents of Vilnius and Lithuania, I sent the minister a letter proposing a meeting. The Minister of Internal Affairs said that he invites me to come to the ministry, so I hope he keeps his word”

– Valdas Benkunskas

The government’s plans include further steps for integrating foreigners: creating conditions for learning the state language in the most convenient way – from self-study and informal sessions to academic courses.

They also report that the ministry is already preparing amendments to legal acts that will encourage foreigners to learn Lithuanian.

In this context, Lithuania’s authorities continue to discuss possible language-integration measures and the corresponding steps to facilitate foreigners’ adaptation.

Language integration and future steps

As expected, the government discussion on language requirements for newcomers continues: the goal is to make the process of learning the Lithuanian language more accessible and useful for all who wish to settle in Lithuania.