The Ministry of Culture: Cytacki should take and pass an exam from the Lithuanian language

The Ministry of Culture claims that a request from a citizen of Poland Mariusz Cezary Cytacki, who works in the local government of the Vilnius Region to know the Lithuanian language is justified.

This is the reply of the ministry for the European Commission. Earlier Cytacki in the EC challenged the mandatory exam from Lithuanian language because he is a citizen of Poland.

The Ministry explains that Cytacki, who works as a superior controller in the area’s transportation in accordance with his duties should write down the protocols of the violations of administrative law, explain to a person his rights and obligations, answer questions. Because of it, the demand of sufficient knowledge of the Lithuanian language is proportionate.

The Ministry emphasizes that in connection with a failed exam from the Lithuanian language Cytacki had not been dismissed or subjected to a fine. He only received  a warning and a deadline for passing the exam. So far, Cytacki has not delivered any documents proving that he had learned the Lithuanian language, he also didn’t try to take an exam. Since the above mentioned admonition has passed 16 months.

In March Cytacki explained it in such a way “I am a citizen of Poland. On 1 April 2011, I concluded an employment contract with the Vilnius region local government. Neither in the agreement, nor in the other documents governing my work  is mentioned that I should know the language of the Lithuanian state in accordance with II language category “- justified Cytacki.

In July Cytacki, who was working for the European Commission, filed a complaint for imposing the penalty on him for having refused to take an exam from the Lithuanian language.

The EuropeanCommission, DG Employment  has asked the Department of European Law at the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice to clarify the requirements of the Lithuanian language.

The law on the state language provides that the employees of the institutions, agencies and departments of the state and local governments, as well as employees and police officers ,law and order services, communication, transport, health and social care and other institutions workers should know the state language at the level set by the government.

 According to the European Commission, such regulations may leave no possibility to take into account the specific requirements of work and they asked the Lithuanian government institutions to prove that such a requirement is justified from the public interest point of view.