“The Seimas shall ratify or denounce the following international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania: 1) on the alteration of the boundaries of the State of the Republic of Lithuania; 2) on political co-operation with foreign states; mutual assistance treaties; as well as treaties of a defensive nature related to the defence of the State; 3) on the renunciation of the use of force or threatening by force; as well as peace treaties; 4) on the presence and status of the armed forces of the Republic of Lithuania on the territories of foreign states; 5) on the participation of the Republic of Lithuania in universal international organisations and regional international organisations; 6) multilateral or long-term economic treaties. Laws, as well as international treaties, may also provide for other cases when the Seimas ratifies international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania. International treaties ratified by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania shall be a constituent part of the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania.”
This article lists the international treaties that the Seimas ratifies or denounces: on changing state borders, political co-operation and defence, renunciation of force and peace, the presence of Lithuanian armed forces abroad, participation in international organisations, and multilateral or long-term economic treaties. Laws and treaties may provide further cases. Treaties ratified by the Seimas form part of Lithuania's legal system.
A treaty on Lithuania's membership in an international organisation or on sending Lithuanian troops on a mission abroad takes effect only after the Seimas ratifies it. Once ratified, the treaty becomes part of Lithuanian law and courts can apply it.
Remember that the Seimas ratifies treaties, not the President or the Government, and that ratified treaties are part of the legal system. Questions may ask which category is on the list, for example treaties changing state borders.
Practice with questions about this article