Groen licht uit Brussel voor sociaal zekerheidsstelsel voor Litouws zeespersoneel (en)

The Commission has today approved the introduction of a mechanism in Lithuania to refund employers' social insurance contributions in respect of EU seafarers working on vessels carrying the Lithuanian flag. The mechanism allows for the partial or full refund of employers contributions. The authorised scheme will run from January 2006 to end 2011 and is expected to cost up to €4.63 million per annum.

The measure, which is designed to stimulate the Lithuanian shipping sector by making the hiring of EU seafarers on Lithuanian ships more attractive, is in the form of a full or partial refund of social insurance payments by the State in respect of seafarers whose wage is higher than 1626 LTL (470.9 Euro) per month. In any case, this reduction will not exceed the total amount of taxes and social contributions collected from shipping activities and seafarers in order to avoid possible cumulative effects with other fiscal regimes.

The Commission considers that this scheme complies with Community rules and has approved it in the context of its maritime policy which aims, inter alia, at preserving and boosting the employment of EU seafarers. This instrument should also decrease flagging-out of the EU maritime fleet and preserving employment and maritime know-how in Europe.