VILNIUS, April 10 (RAPSI) – The Lithuanian parliament voted on Thursday to initiate a referendum on the sale of land to foreign individuals and businesses. 79 lawmakers voted in favor of the referendum, with four against and 19 abstentions.

The referendum also will propose a vote to amend the constitution in order to lower the threshold for signatures needed to initiate future referendums from 300,000 to 100,000

Upon joining the European Union, Lithuania was obligated to allow the sale of land plots to companies owned by foreigners, with a transitional period which suspended this law until May 2014. However, a group of citizens managed to canvass the required 300,000 signatures to put the matter to a referendum.