Brussels, 03/12/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission decided to confer the management of Sapard (pre-accession agriculture and rural development) aid to the Lithuanian authorities. Under Sapard, Lithuania will be entitled to EUR 30.3 million annually and payment of the first advance can now be made (maximum 49% of the annual sum). Lithuania is the fourth Central and Eastern European candidate country to move into the operational stage of the Sapard initiative.