| Abstract [eng] |
SUMMARY THE ROLE AND ACTIVITIES OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IN LITHUANIA Regional policy of the EU is one of the main EU policies. The thesis aims at the analysis of regional development issues in Lithuania. The subject of the research is the development of regional policy in Lithuania in 1998-2005. The aim of the thesis is to value the activities and role of regional development centers in Lithuania. As far as regional development in Lithuania follows the EU model, the thesis focuses on those indicators that, in terms of evaluation of regional development, are regarded as priority by the EU. By using EU comparability criteria, the thesis analyses key indicators used to evaluate the impact of regional development on regions. Apart from the mentioned indicators, key factors influencing them are used for the purposes of more accurate description of regions. The survey focuses on the following main indicators: GDP, FDI, occupancy rate, average salary and migration. The survey draws on regional indicators available at the Department of Statistics of the Republic of Lithuania. The work makes a statement that principles and requirements of the EU regional policy had a major influence on the development of regional policy in Lithuania. Regional policy in Lithuania took shape under the direct influence of the EU and in the course of preparation to the accession to the EU and, more particularly, with the purpose to be ready for the absorption of the EU structural funds. Seeking to solve the problem of effectiveness of absorption of the structural funds, Lithuania had opted for a centralized model. The following centers of regional development could be singled out: region-counties, regional development agencies, Euro regions. Usually activities of regional development centers are carried out by employing EU supported projects. Interregional socio-economic differences in Lithuania are growing bigger, with the situation being worst in Tauragė and Marijampolė regions and the best in Vilnius and Klaipėda. |
