The master's thesis analyses anti-corruption recommendations issued to Lithuania during the period from 2005 to 2015 by international organisations – Council of Europe (GRECO), European Union and United Nations – and examines their role in reducing corruption in Lithuania. Part one examines the issue of definition and measurement of corruption, formation of collective "anti-corruption" identity, internalisation of international norms and compliance with them, following the theory of constructivism. Part two analyses three anti-corruption assessment mechanisms applied in Lithuania, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, collecting and systemising the recommendations issued to Lithuania by them. Part three explains the methodology of empirical research conducted to assess the role of anti-corruption recommendations in Lithuania. Part four analyses and summarises findings of qualitative research based on an in-depth individual interview with research participants who have had previous experience of working with international assessment mechanisms and implementation of the anti-corruption recommendations issued by them.
The master's thesis analyses anti-corruption recommendations issued to Lithuania during the period from 2005 to 2015 by international organisations – Council of Europe (GRECO), European Union and United Nations – and examines their role in reducing corruption in Lithuania. Part one examines the issue of definition and measurement of corruption, formation of collective "anti-corruption" identity, internalisation of international norms and compliance with them, following the theory of constructivism. Part two analyses three anti-corruption assessment mechanisms applied in Lithuania, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, collecting and systemising the recommendations issued to Lithuania by them. Part three explains the methodology of empirical research conducted to assess the role of anti-corruption recommendations in Lithuania. Part four analyses and summarises findings of qualitative research based on an in-depth individual interview with research participants who have had previous experience of working with international assessment mechanisms and implementation of the anti-corruption recommendations issued by them.
The master's thesis analyses anti-corruption recommendations issued to Lithuania during the period from 2005 to 2015 by international organisations – Council of Europe (GRECO), European Union and United Nations – and examines their role in reducing corruption in Lithuania. Part one examines the issue of definition and measurement of corruption, formation of collective "anti-corruption" identity, internalisation of international norms and compliance with them, following the theory of constructivism. Part two analyses three anti-corruption assessment mechanisms applied in Lithuania, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, collecting and systematising the recommendations issued to Lithuania by them. Part three explains the methodology of empirical research conducted to assess the role of anti-corruption recommendations in Lithuania. Part four analyses and summarises findings of qualitative research based on an in-depth individual interview with research participants who have had previous experience of working with international assessment mechanisms and implementation of the anti-corruption recommendations issued by them.
The master's thesis analyses anti-corruption recommendations issued to Lithuania during the period from 2005 to 2015 by international organisations – Council of Europe (GRECO), European Union and United Nations – and examines their role in reducing corruption in Lithuania. Part one examines the issue of definition and measurement of corruption, formation of collective "anti-corruption" identity, internalisation of international norms and compliance with them, following the theory of constructivism. Part two analyses three anti-corruption assessment mechanisms applied in Lithuania, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, collecting and systematising the recommendations issued to Lithuania by them. Part three explains the methodology of empirical research conducted to assess the role of anti-corruption recommendations in Lithuania. Part four analyses and summarises findings of qualitative research based on an in-depth individual interview with research participants who have had previous experience of working with international assessment mechanisms and implementation of the anti-corruption recommendations issued by them.
In this work, in accordance with international and European legal standards, the regulatory development and issues of institute of forms of work organisation in Lithuania are analysed. The basic form of work organisation is a non-term employment contract. From other forms of employment it is distinguished by the following characteristics: the relations between parties are bilateral (employee and employer), constant, based on remuneration, subordination and are performed in the premises of employer. These abovementioned relations can be called as typical and conventional. It should be noted that they reflect the best interests of both parties. However, due to the changes of labor market in the 21st century, standard rules, created in the first half of the 20th century, are dysfunctional and must be adapted to the modern labor relations. The development of flexible employment policy of the European Union, the economic globalization and related changes of employment, the need to promote employment, to integrate women, young and elderly people into the labor market and various other socio-economic factors inspire the emergence and implementation of flexible forms of organisation of work in the Lithuanian labor law. Next to a common employment contract more flexible forms of employment are distinguished in Labour Code of Republic of Lithuania. These forms are analysed in this work as well: a part-time work, fixed-term contracts, teleworking, etc. Legal regulation of the employment through temporary employment agencies and such work relations is also the intention. Due to the practical need for more flexible forms of employment, the aim of this thesis is to find our whether international standards and European Union regulations, governing major non-standard forms of work organisation, are properly implemented. The work is comprised of three parts that consistently owerview the main aspects of forms of employment: the concept of forms of work organization, the main legal form of employment is identified, the evolution of forms of legal regulation is summarized and factors that influence the emergence of new forms of forms of employment. The paper mostly focuses on the analysis of legal framework of flexible forms of organisation of work, the peculiarity and the problems. The need of obvious and accurate regulation of forms of employement organisation is presented. The analysis and conclusions submitted should be useful for further examination of theoretical and practical issues of forms of work organization, the regulatory challenges in pursuit for the harmonization of national legislation with the international and European law, as well as for the development and improvement of national legislation.
In this work, in accordance with international and European legal standards, the regulatory development and issues of institute of forms of work organisation in Lithuania are analysed. The basic form of work organisation is a non-term employment contract. From other forms of employment it is distinguished by the following characteristics: the relations between parties are bilateral (employee and employer), constant, based on remuneration, subordination and are performed in the premises of employer. These abovementioned relations can be called as typical and conventional. It should be noted that they reflect the best interests of both parties. However, due to the changes of labor market in the 21st century, standard rules, created in the first half of the 20th century, are dysfunctional and must be adapted to the modern labor relations. The development of flexible employment policy of the European Union, the economic globalization and related changes of employment, the need to promote employment, to integrate women, young and elderly people into the labor market and various other socio-economic factors inspire the emergence and implementation of flexible forms of organisation of work in the Lithuanian labor law. Next to a common employment contract more flexible forms of employment are distinguished in Labour Code of Republic of Lithuania. These forms are analysed in this work as well: a part-time work, fixed-term contracts, teleworking, etc. Legal regulation of the employment through temporary employment agencies and such work relations is also the intention. Due to the practical need for more flexible forms of employment, the aim of this thesis is to find our whether international standards and European Union regulations, governing major non-standard forms of work organisation, are properly implemented. The work is comprised of three parts that consistently owerview the main aspects of forms of employment: the concept of forms of work organization, the main legal form of employment is identified, the evolution of forms of legal regulation is summarized and factors that influence the emergence of new forms of forms of employment. The paper mostly focuses on the analysis of legal framework of flexible forms of organisation of work, the peculiarity and the problems. The need of obvious and accurate regulation of forms of employement organisation is presented. The analysis and conclusions submitted should be useful for further examination of theoretical and practical issues of forms of work organization, the regulatory challenges in pursuit for the harmonization of national legislation with the international and European law, as well as for the development and improvement of national legislation.
SUMMARY Stirring international military activity has become one of the most important tasks of Lithuanian foreign policy implementation. Intensive international military collaboration and participation in peace keeping process are the main means to implement that task. The main aim of the paper is to detect geographical peculiarities of Lithuanian international military activity. It is defined that Lithuanian international military activity is reasoned not only politically, but also has a geographical validity. Bilateral and multilateral military collaboration of Lithuania clearly reveals it's priorities given to the most of the Baltic Sea region countries. Especially active cooperation in military range Lithuania holds with other Eastern Baltic countries – Latvia and Estonia. The main geographical factors of such collaboration peculiarity are: the Baltic Sea and the need of geopolitical balance. Moreover, according to Lithuania's increased activity in international peace making operations, it's very important to have a good military staff preparation system for such aims. Perhaps a combatant preparation is in a high level, but geographical preparation is insufficient. It becomes especially important when the country sends peacemakers to the geographically distant regions. Membership in NATO and other international organizations obligate Lithuania to be an active associate in peace keeping process. Lithuania was taking part in military operations that were prosecuted in four regions of Europe and Asia: The Balkans, Persian Gulf region, Caucasus and South and Central Asian region. The priority is given to the geographically closest region – The Balkans, where Lithuania have sent the biggest part of it's international peacemakers, that served in five countries of the region. Furthermore, consideration of Lithuanian activity in peace keeping process shows that the country gives priority to NATO, European Union and USA, which is the most important strategic partner of Lithuania, supervising military missions. Finally, Lithuania is participating in peace keeping operations not because of it's own national interests in the "hot" regions. It is more determined to the obligations to NATO and other international organisations and regarding to the position of strategic partners. Military and political benefit also remains as a very important factor of participating in the chosen peace keeping operations.
SUMMARY Stirring international military activity has become one of the most important tasks of Lithuanian foreign policy implementation. Intensive international military collaboration and participation in peace keeping process are the main means to implement that task. The main aim of the paper is to detect geographical peculiarities of Lithuanian international military activity. It is defined that Lithuanian international military activity is reasoned not only politically, but also has a geographical validity. Bilateral and multilateral military collaboration of Lithuania clearly reveals it's priorities given to the most of the Baltic Sea region countries. Especially active cooperation in military range Lithuania holds with other Eastern Baltic countries – Latvia and Estonia. The main geographical factors of such collaboration peculiarity are: the Baltic Sea and the need of geopolitical balance. Moreover, according to Lithuania's increased activity in international peace making operations, it's very important to have a good military staff preparation system for such aims. Perhaps a combatant preparation is in a high level, but geographical preparation is insufficient. It becomes especially important when the country sends peacemakers to the geographically distant regions. Membership in NATO and other international organizations obligate Lithuania to be an active associate in peace keeping process. Lithuania was taking part in military operations that were prosecuted in four regions of Europe and Asia: The Balkans, Persian Gulf region, Caucasus and South and Central Asian region. The priority is given to the geographically closest region – The Balkans, where Lithuania have sent the biggest part of it's international peacemakers, that served in five countries of the region. Furthermore, consideration of Lithuanian activity in peace keeping process shows that the country gives priority to NATO, European Union and USA, which is the most important strategic partner of Lithuania, supervising military missions. Finally, Lithuania is participating in peace keeping operations not because of it's own national interests in the "hot" regions. It is more determined to the obligations to NATO and other international organisations and regarding to the position of strategic partners. Military and political benefit also remains as a very important factor of participating in the chosen peace keeping operations.
SUMMARY Stirring international military activity has become one of the most important tasks of Lithuanian foreign policy implementation. Intensive international military collaboration and participation in peace keeping process are the main means to implement that task. The main aim of the paper is to detect geographical peculiarities of Lithuanian international military activity. It is defined that Lithuanian international military activity is reasoned not only politically, but also has a geographical validity. Bilateral and multilateral military collaboration of Lithuania clearly reveals it's priorities given to the most of the Baltic Sea region countries. Especially active cooperation in military range Lithuania holds with other Eastern Baltic countries – Latvia and Estonia. The main geographical factors of such collaboration peculiarity are: the Baltic Sea and the need of geopolitical balance. Moreover, according to Lithuania's increased activity in international peace making operations, it's very important to have a good military staff preparation system for such aims. Perhaps a combatant preparation is in a high level, but geographical preparation is insufficient. It becomes especially important when the country sends peacemakers to the geographically distant regions. Membership in NATO and other international organizations obligate Lithuania to be an active associate in peace keeping process. Lithuania was taking part in military operations that were prosecuted in four regions of Europe and Asia: The Balkans, Persian Gulf region, Caucasus and South and Central Asian region. The priority is given to the geographically closest region – The Balkans, where Lithuania have sent the biggest part of it's international peacemakers, that served in five countries of the region. Furthermore, consideration of Lithuanian activity in peace keeping process shows that the country gives priority to NATO, European Union and USA, which is the most important strategic partner of Lithuania, supervising military missions. Finally, Lithuania is participating in peace keeping operations not because of it's own national interests in the "hot" regions. It is more determined to the obligations to NATO and other international organisations and regarding to the position of strategic partners. Military and political benefit also remains as a very important factor of participating in the chosen peace keeping operations.
SUMMARY Stirring international military activity has become one of the most important tasks of Lithuanian foreign policy implementation. Intensive international military collaboration and participation in peace keeping process are the main means to implement that task. The main aim of the paper is to detect geographical peculiarities of Lithuanian international military activity. It is defined that Lithuanian international military activity is reasoned not only politically, but also has a geographical validity. Bilateral and multilateral military collaboration of Lithuania clearly reveals it's priorities given to the most of the Baltic Sea region countries. Especially active cooperation in military range Lithuania holds with other Eastern Baltic countries – Latvia and Estonia. The main geographical factors of such collaboration peculiarity are: the Baltic Sea and the need of geopolitical balance. Moreover, according to Lithuania's increased activity in international peace making operations, it's very important to have a good military staff preparation system for such aims. Perhaps a combatant preparation is in a high level, but geographical preparation is insufficient. It becomes especially important when the country sends peacemakers to the geographically distant regions. Membership in NATO and other international organizations obligate Lithuania to be an active associate in peace keeping process. Lithuania was taking part in military operations that were prosecuted in four regions of Europe and Asia: The Balkans, Persian Gulf region, Caucasus and South and Central Asian region. The priority is given to the geographically closest region – The Balkans, where Lithuania have sent the biggest part of it's international peacemakers, that served in five countries of the region. Furthermore, consideration of Lithuanian activity in peace keeping process shows that the country gives priority to NATO, European Union and USA, which is the most important strategic partner of Lithuania, supervising military missions. Finally, Lithuania is participating in peace keeping operations not because of it's own national interests in the "hot" regions. It is more determined to the obligations to NATO and other international organisations and regarding to the position of strategic partners. Military and political benefit also remains as a very important factor of participating in the chosen peace keeping operations.
The article analyses the administrative supervision of local self-government in the context of good governance in the Republic of Lithuania. Administrative supervision of local authorities is the requirement of the Rule of Law. In accordance with the theory, documents of international organisations, and international and Lithuanian acts of law, the Rule of Law is one of the main principles of good governance. The analysis of the Rule of Law principle helps to disclose the importance of the administrative supervision of local self-government. The research has shown that the institutions of local self-government have to follow the Constitution and the laws both in enacting legal acts and in their daily work. The Government Representative in the County is the main officer who exercises the administrative supervision of local authorities, ensuring that local authorities act in compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Lithuania and that they carry out the decisions of the Government.
The article analyses the administrative supervision of local self-government in the context of good governance in the Republic of Lithuania. Administrative supervision of local authorities is the requirement of the Rule of Law. In accordance with the theory, documents of international organisations, and international and Lithuanian acts of law, the Rule of Law is one of the main principles of good governance. The analysis of the Rule of Law principle helps to disclose the importance of the administrative supervision of local self-government. The research has shown that the institutions of local self-government have to follow the Constitution and the laws both in enacting legal acts and in their daily work. The Government Representative in the County is the main officer who exercises the administrative supervision of local authorities, ensuring that local authorities act in compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Lithuania and that they carry out the decisions of the Government.
The institutions of European Union offen use the experience and knowledge of seconded national experts. Thus executive abilities of institutions are improved, efficiency of work is increased and national experts get a better opportunity to upgrade their working skills as well as familiarize with the international institutions. The secondment is also used for building the political networks or a specific bridge between European Union and the member states. However, recently more and more weaknesses of secondment are being found. First of all, it does not necesarily guarantee expert's promotion or bring a benefit to national institutions either. Moreover, the political networks built by seconded national experts mostly are nondurable. The applicants for the secondment must meet the strict requirements and pass both national and european selections. The secondment lasts from six months to two years and can be renewed up to a total period not exceeding four years. All this period the national employer who sent the experts on the secondment continues to pay salary and guarantees their position and social security. Whereas EU institution pays only the additional expenses of secondment. Despite this, the seconded national experts have to be loyal to the EU institution under whose supervision they work and do not privilege their national employer or state. The possibility of clash of interests is decreased by restricting the discretion of the seconded national experts. The concept of secondment is based on the assumption that seconded national experts return to their national employer after the termination of their secondment. However, according to the statistics many of seconded national experts choose further career in EU institutions or private sector instead of returning to their home organisation, which can not offer career opportunities that seconded national experts expect. It is forbidden seconded national experts to take any direction from member state or to represent it. Nevertheless, the decision-making behaviour of the experts can be divided into intergovernmental, supranational, departmental and epistemic. The studies demonstrated that most of seconded national experts give their preferences to departmental and epistemic behaviour, while the intergovernmental behaviour occurs least.