REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON THE TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA AND THEIR BOUNDARIES Chapter 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. Territorial Administrative Units of the Republic of Lithuania and Residential Areas The territory of the Republic of Lithuania is divided into administrative units, which consist of residential areas. The territorial administrative unit of the Republic of Lithuania is a part of the territory, the govAerning thereof is organised by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or the institutions of local authorities. The territorial administrative unit has its boundaries, centre and name. The territorial administrative units of the Republic of Lithuania are the counties and the municipalities. The residential areas of the Republic of Lithuania are divided into urban and rural residential areas. Towns shall be attributed to urban residential areas and small towns and villages shall be attributed to rural residential areas. Article 2. The Concept of the Territorial Administrative Unit of the Republic of Lithuania The municipality is a territorial administrative unit of the Republic of Lithuania, which is governed by institutions of local authorities, elected by the local community pursuant to the Law on Local Self - Government of the Republic of Lithuania and other laws. The municipality shall be formed out of the residential areas. The basic criteria for the formation of a municipality are its preparedness to manage and maintain its environment, municipal economy, to provide communal services to local inhabitants and to perform other functions provided for in the Law on Local Self-Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The county is the higher territorial administrative unit of the Republic of Lithuania, the governing of which shall be organised by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania pursuant to the Law on the Governing of the County and other laws. The county shall be formed out of the territories of the municipalities that have common social, economic, and ethnic and cultural interests. Article 3. The Concept of the Populated Areas of the Territory of the Republic of Lithuania The towns are compactly built up residential areas, the population of which exceeds 3000, and more than 2/3 of all the working population of which are employed in industry, business and production and social infrastructure. The towns of the Republic of Lithuania, the population of which is less than 3000, regional towns and urban-type settlements which had the status of town, as residential areas shall be considered as towns even after the coming into effect of the Law on the Territorial Administrative Units of the Republic of Lithuania and their Boundaries. Small towns are compactly built up residential areas, the population of which is from 500 up to 3000, more than a half of the working population of which is employed in industry, business and production and social infrastructures, as well as traditional small towns. Villages are other residential areas having no characteristic features of a town and a small town. Chapter 2 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION OF THE TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA Article 4. The Municipalities of the Republic of Lithuania The following municipalities shall be established during the first stage of the reform of the territorial administrative units of the Republic of Lithuania: Vilnius city, Alytus city, Bir÷tonas city, Druskininkai city, Kaunas city, Klaipóda city, Marijampoló city, Neringa city, Palanga city, Panevóýys city, öiauliai city, Visaginas city, Akmenó district, Alytus district, Anyk÷ßiù district, Birýai district, Ignalina district, Jonava district, Joni÷kis district, Jurbarkas district, Kai÷iadorys district, Kaunas district, Kódainiai district, Kelmó district, Klaipóda district, Kretinga district, Kupi÷kis district, Lazdijai district, Marijampoló district, Maýeikiai district, Molótai district, Pakruojis district, Panevóýys district, Pasvalys district, Plungó district, Prienù district, Radvili÷kis district, Raseiniai district, Roki÷kis district, Skuodas district, öakiai district, öalßininkai district, öiauliai district, öilaló district, öilutó district, öirvintos district, övenßionys district, Tauragó district, Tel÷iai district, Trakai district, Ukmergó district, Utena district, Varóna district, Vilkavi÷kis district, Vilnius district, Zarasai district. Article 5. The Counties of the Republic of Lithuania and their Territories There shall be the following counties in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania: Alytus - county centre is Alytus city, including the municipal territories of Alytus and Druskininkai cities andAlytus, Lazdijai, and Varóna districts; Kaunas - county centre is Kaunas city, including the municipal territories of Kaunas and Bir÷tonas cities and Jonava, Kai÷iadorys, Kaunas, Kódainiai, Prienai, and Raseiniai districts; Klaipóda - county centre is Klaipóda city, including the municipal territories of Klaipóda, Neringa and Palanga cities and Klaipóda, Kretinga, Skuodas, and öilutó districts; Marijampoló - county centre is Marijampoló city, including the municipal territories of Marijampoló city and Marijampoló, öakiai, and Vilkavi÷kis districts; Panevóýys - county centre is Panevóýys city, including the municipal territories of Panevóýys city, Birýai, Kupi÷kis, Panevóýys, Pasvalys, and Roki÷kis districts; öiauliai - county centre is öiauliai city, including the municipal territories of öiauliai city and Akmenó, Joni÷kis, Kelmó, Pakruojis, Radvili÷kis, and öiauliai districts. Tauragó - county centre is Tauragó city, including the municipal territories of Jurbarkas, öilaló, and Tauragó districts; Tel÷iai - county centre is Tel÷iai city, including the municipal territories of Maýeikiai, Plungó and Tel÷iai districts; Utena- county centre is Utena city, including the municipal territories of Visaginas city, Anyk÷ßiai, Ignalina, Molótai, Utena, and Zarasai districts; Vilnius -county centre is Vilnius city, including the municipal territories of Vilnius city, öalßininkai, öirvintos, övenßionys, Trakai, Ukmergó, and Vilnius districts. Chapter 3 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND CHANGING OF their BOUNDARIES Article 6. The Establishment of the Counties and the Changing of its Boundaries The counties shall be established and abolished, as well as their boundaries and centres shall be set or changed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The county boundaries must be changed when the number of municipalities or their boundaries change. The territory of the municipality shall not be divided by county boundaries. Article 7. The Establishment of the Municipalities and Changing of their Boundaries The municipalities shall be established and abolished, as well as their boundaries and centres shall be set and changed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, taking into consideration the proposals of the local authorities. Chapter 4 PROCEDURE FOR GIVING AND CHANGING THE NAMES TO THE TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS Article 8. Names of the Counties and Municipalities The names of counties shall be given and they shall be changed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the proposal of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The names to the municipalities shall be given and they shall be changed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania upon the proposal of the Government, taking into consideration the proposals of the municipal councils. Article 9. Giving to and Changing of the Names of the Residential Areas and Objects Located therein The names to residential areas shall be given and they shall be changed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the proposal of the municipal council, taking into consideration the proposals of the local inhabitants. Streets, buildings, structures and other objects owned by municipalities and lying in their territory shall be named or their names shall be changed by the decision of the relevant municipal council, upon the approval by the State Commission of the Lithuanian Language (Amended on 14 September 1995). The names to facilities belonging to the state shall be given and they shall be changed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. Buildings attributed streets in the residential area and appartments shall be numbered or their numbers shall be changed by the executive bodies of local authorities. The procedure for numbering, changing of the numbers and registration shall be established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. The names of streets, buildings and other facilities shall be registered in accordance with the procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania. (Amended on 14 September 1995). Article 10. The Abolishment of Populated Areas and Changing of their Boundaries The residential areas shall be abolished and the boundaries of their territories shall be set and changed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the recommendation of municipalities. Chapter 5 THE REGISTRATION AND RECORDS OF THE TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS AND RESIDENTIAL AREAS Article 11. Registration and Records of the Counties and Municipalities The counties and municipalities established pursuant to this Law shall be registered and the changes in their territories shall be recorded in the Register