Suchergebnisse

One of the biggest problems in the social and economic environment is contradictions between human activities and nature. Irrational use of natural resources as well as pollution of air, soil and water have caused the effects that emerge all over the planet. Compliance with integrated environmental requirements may help to protect and conserve nature. It also allows for the development of the material public welfare, because compliance with these requirements brings real material benefits. The aim of this study is to determine how the integrated environmental requirements are satisfied at farms. Based on examination of scientific literature and other sources of information, the role of compliance with environmental requirements at farms is presented and agriculture is related to sustainable development. It deals with the advantages of fulfilment of integrated environmental requirements. Šiauliai region farmers' opinion about integrated environmental requirements satisfaction measures and their benefits is presented. Sustainable farming must be profitable, economically right to the public in the same generation and between generations as well, moreover, it must be environmentally friendly. Farmers, processors, traders, government representatives as well as consumers themselves are responsible for sustainable agricultural development. Agricultural consultants help to meet the integrated requirements. During consultations the farmers are supplied with information that may help to determine the real economic situation of the farm, understand the essence of problems, choose the right solution for economic development, investment and participation in support programs, and fulfilment of environmental protection, animal welfare and other obligations. Consulting develops the skills of the beneficiaries to pursue activities more efficiently. [.]

One of the biggest problems in the social and economic environment is contradictions between human activities and nature. Irrational use of natural resources as well as pollution of air, soil and water have caused the effects that emerge all over the planet. Compliance with integrated environmental requirements may help to protect and conserve nature. It also allows for the development of the material public welfare, because compliance with these requirements brings real material benefits. The aim of this study is to determine how the integrated environmental requirements are satisfied at farms. Based on examination of scientific literature and other sources of information, the role of compliance with environmental requirements at farms is presented and agriculture is related to sustainable development. It deals with the advantages of fulfilment of integrated environmental requirements. Šiauliai region farmers' opinion about integrated environmental requirements satisfaction measures and their benefits is presented. Sustainable farming must be profitable, economically right to the public in the same generation and between generations as well, moreover, it must be environmentally friendly. Farmers, processors, traders, government representatives as well as consumers themselves are responsible for sustainable agricultural development. Agricultural consultants help to meet the integrated requirements. During consultations the farmers are supplied with information that may help to determine the real economic situation of the farm, understand the essence of problems, choose the right solution for economic development, investment and participation in support programs, and fulfilment of environmental protection, animal welfare and other obligations. Consulting develops the skills of the beneficiaries to pursue activities more efficiently. [.]

Relatively weak interdependence of the states and unwillingness to limit one's sovereignty determines inefficiency of global environmental regimes. This fact forms the main problem of the MA thesis. The MA thesis is based on the presumption that regional cooperation which is determined by the interdependence of the states allows to resolve current issues easier. Certain regions which have intentions to cope with common environmental threats may be especially interested in cooperation and establishment of environmental security complexes. Therefore, cooperation may encourage the further integration. The key question of the MA thesis is when and in what circumstances the environmental threats encourage regional integration? The additional question is what factors restrict the processes of regional cooperation on the basis of the environmental threats? The analytical parts encompass the analysis of cases of Nile and Mekong regions. The object of the research is the regional cooperation and its institutionalized forms, as a consequence of the environmental threats. The aim of the analytical parts of the thesis is to examine whether the environmental threats encourage the regional cooperation on three main conditions: - the environmental threats are regarded as existential issues by the states of the certain region; - cooperation in the environmental field creates an opportunity for the economic development of states; - the regions are influenced by the external actors, which provide a stimulus for environmental cooperation. The answer of the additional question is given a presumption that the national interests and unilateral policy of the states are the key subjects which restrict the processes of environmental cooperation. In order to answer the questions arose and to achieve the purpose of the thesis, the following tasks were set: - to discuss the concept and relevance of the environmental threats, the development of global environmental politics, the efficiency problems of the environmental regimes and the key aspects of the environmental security; - to review the causes of the international conflicts and environmental cooperation as well as integration in the international river basins; - to present the aspects of the regional security complexes' theory which are relevant to the MA thesis; - to distinguish the criteria for the selection of the cases; - to review the historical context of the regions selected for the analysis indicating the cases of dispute between the states of region and estimating the potential of the regional integration; - to discuss and estimate the environmental threats related to the water scarcity in the selected regions; - to analyse the forms of cooperation concerning water scarcity in the selected regions. The research confirms the presumption that regional cooperation is encouraged by the relevance of the environmental threats, the expectations of the economic development of the states and the influence of external actors. The results of the analysis demonstrates that the main factor which restrains the processes of the environmental cooperation is the policy of the most powerful actors related to the national interests in the field of transboundary water management. MA thesis can be significant in grounding, verifying and elaborating the theory of regional security complexes and applying it to the research of the environmental cooperation. The thesis also provides with new insights which specify and complement the academic studies of environmental cooperation. MA thesis is intended to accentuate the whole of essential factors which is necessary for the proceeding of cooperation in anarchical atmosphere. On the other hand, academic literature lack research involving prognostic element which is related to the evaluation of the regional integration's potential. Therefore, the MA thesis is intended to evaluate the perspectives of regional integration in the selected cases.

Relatively weak interdependence of the states and unwillingness to limit one's sovereignty determines inefficiency of global environmental regimes. This fact forms the main problem of the MA thesis. The MA thesis is based on the presumption that regional cooperation which is determined by the interdependence of the states allows to resolve current issues easier. Certain regions which have intentions to cope with common environmental threats may be especially interested in cooperation and establishment of environmental security complexes. Therefore, cooperation may encourage the further integration. The key question of the MA thesis is when and in what circumstances the environmental threats encourage regional integration? The additional question is what factors restrict the processes of regional cooperation on the basis of the environmental threats? The analytical parts encompass the analysis of cases of Nile and Mekong regions. The object of the research is the regional cooperation and its institutionalized forms, as a consequence of the environmental threats. The aim of the analytical parts of the thesis is to examine whether the environmental threats encourage the regional cooperation on three main conditions: - the environmental threats are regarded as existential issues by the states of the certain region; - cooperation in the environmental field creates an opportunity for the economic development of states; - the regions are influenced by the external actors, which provide a stimulus for environmental cooperation. The answer of the additional question is given a presumption that the national interests and unilateral policy of the states are the key subjects which restrict the processes of environmental cooperation. In order to answer the questions arose and to achieve the purpose of the thesis, the following tasks were set: - to discuss the concept and relevance of the environmental threats, the development of global environmental politics, the efficiency problems of the environmental regimes and the key aspects of the environmental security; - to review the causes of the international conflicts and environmental cooperation as well as integration in the international river basins; - to present the aspects of the regional security complexes' theory which are relevant to the MA thesis; - to distinguish the criteria for the selection of the cases; - to review the historical context of the regions selected for the analysis indicating the cases of dispute between the states of region and estimating the potential of the regional integration; - to discuss and estimate the environmental threats related to the water scarcity in the selected regions; - to analyse the forms of cooperation concerning water scarcity in the selected regions. The research confirms the presumption that regional cooperation is encouraged by the relevance of the environmental threats, the expectations of the economic development of the states and the influence of external actors. The results of the analysis demonstrates that the main factor which restrains the processes of the environmental cooperation is the policy of the most powerful actors related to the national interests in the field of transboundary water management. MA thesis can be significant in grounding, verifying and elaborating the theory of regional security complexes and applying it to the research of the environmental cooperation. The thesis also provides with new insights which specify and complement the academic studies of environmental cooperation. MA thesis is intended to accentuate the whole of essential factors which is necessary for the proceeding of cooperation in anarchical atmosphere. On the other hand, academic literature lack research involving prognostic element which is related to the evaluation of the regional integration's potential. Therefore, the MA thesis is intended to evaluate the perspectives of regional integration in the selected cases.

Urban sprawl is recognized to have strong negative impacts on environmental, social and economic aspects. The expansion of the urban areas has important effects on energy and water consumption, air and water pollution, human health problems, soil and land consumption and degradation, as economic and social segregation and exclusion. The aim of this paper is to study the Vilnius public perception about urban sprawl in the environmental, social and economic dimensions, according to the age and professional occupation of the respondents. The results showed that the participants were concerned about urban sprawl effects. However, there were differences among ages and professional occupations. Younger people that worked in NGO and municipality gave more importance to the problem, and older government and municipally workers claimed for a better regulation. The perception of urban sprawl impacts on the environment were specially observed in consumption, pollution and human health, and less in soil, land degradation and resource depletion. Younger respondents valued more the impacts on air pollution, whereas government workers valued more the impacts in traffic aspects. The social and economic questions were considered all very important. Younger respondents were more concerned with the long distance travels and household expenditure than the older respondents. This last group claimed for more regulations and rated high the effects of urban sprawl in the rural environment, while young respondents – in urban areas.

Urban sprawl is recognized to have strong negative impacts on environmental, social and economic aspects. The expansion of the urban areas has important effects on energy and water consumption, air and water pollution, human health problems, soil and land consumption and degradation, as economic and social segregation and exclusion. The aim of this paper is to study the Vilnius public perception about urban sprawl in the environmental, social and economic dimensions, according to the age and professional occupation of the respondents. The results showed that the participants were concerned about urban sprawl effects. However, there were differences among ages and professional occupations. Younger people that worked in NGO and municipality gave more importance to the problem, and older government and municipally workers claimed for a better regulation. The perception of urban sprawl impacts on the environment were specially observed in consumption, pollution and human health, and less in soil, land degradation and resource depletion. Younger respondents valued more the impacts on air pollution, whereas government workers valued more the impacts in traffic aspects. The social and economic questions were considered all very important. Younger respondents were more concerned with the long distance travels and household expenditure than the older respondents. This last group claimed for more regulations and rated high the effects of urban sprawl in the rural environment, while young respondents – in urban areas.

Available studies indicate a strong negative correlation between poverty and social expenditures in EU countries. It means that the country's at-risk-of-poverty rate tends to erode with increasing social expenditure. However, the studies have demonstrated that the impact of government spending on poverty may vary according to the sector of spending, how well it is targeted, and the way in which it is financed. Some countries manage to achieve a rather significant poverty rate reduction even with relatively low, in the context of other Member States, social expenditure (percentage of GDP). This suggests that in order to reduce poverty rates, it is important to consider not only the amount allocated to social spending, but also the areas the social transfers are channelled to. The article aims to analyse how the composition and the extent of social spending/transfers may affect poverty reduction in EU countries. The analysis showed that social protection transfers reduce the percentage of people at-risk-of-poverty in all countries, however, to a very different extent. Regression analysis demonstrated that social exclusion and family/children expenditure was found to be the most important predictor for a relative antipoverty effect of social transfers: even a small percentage increase in such expenditure allows quite a significant increase in the relative antipoverty effect of social transfers.

Available studies indicate a strong negative correlation between poverty and social expenditures in EU countries. It means that the country's at-risk-of-poverty rate tends to erode with increasing social expenditure. However, the studies have demonstrated that the impact of government spending on poverty may vary according to the sector of spending, how well it is targeted, and the way in which it is financed. Some countries manage to achieve a rather significant poverty rate reduction even with relatively low, in the context of other Member States, social expenditure (percentage of GDP). This suggests that in order to reduce poverty rates, it is important to consider not only the amount allocated to social spending, but also the areas the social transfers are channelled to. The article aims to analyse how the composition and the extent of social spending/transfers may affect poverty reduction in EU countries. The analysis showed that social protection transfers reduce the percentage of people at-risk-of-poverty in all countries, however, to a very different extent. Regression analysis demonstrated that social exclusion and family/children expenditure was found to be the most important predictor for a relative antipoverty effect of social transfers: even a small percentage increase in such expenditure allows quite a significant increase in the relative antipoverty effect of social transfers.

Available studies indicate a strong negative correlation between poverty and social expenditures in EU countries. It means that the country's at-risk-of-poverty rate tends to erode with increasing social expenditure. However, the studies have demonstrated that the impact of government spending on poverty may vary according to the sector of spending, how well it is targeted, and the way in which it is financed. Some countries manage to achieve a rather significant poverty rate reduction even with relatively low, in the context of other Member States, social expenditure (percentage of GDP). This suggests that in order to reduce poverty rates, it is important to consider not only the amount allocated to social spending, but also the areas the social transfers are channelled to. The article aims to analyse how the composition and the extent of social spending/transfers may affect poverty reduction in EU countries. The analysis showed that social protection transfers reduce the percentage of people at-risk-of-poverty in all countries, however, to a very different extent. Regression analysis demonstrated that social exclusion and family/children expenditure was found to be the most important predictor for a relative antipoverty effect of social transfers: even a small percentage increase in such expenditure allows quite a significant increase in the relative antipoverty effect of social transfers.

Available studies indicate a strong negative correlation between poverty and social expenditures in EU countries. It means that the country's at-risk-of-poverty rate tends to erode with increasing social expenditure. However, the studies have demonstrated that the impact of government spending on poverty may vary according to the sector of spending, how well it is targeted, and the way in which it is financed. Some countries manage to achieve a rather significant poverty rate reduction even with relatively low, in the context of other Member States, social expenditure (percentage of GDP). This suggests that in order to reduce poverty rates, it is important to consider not only the amount allocated to social spending, but also the areas the social transfers are channelled to. The article aims to analyse how the composition and the extent of social spending/transfers may affect poverty reduction in EU countries. The analysis showed that social protection transfers reduce the percentage of people at-risk-of-poverty in all countries, however, to a very different extent. Regression analysis demonstrated that social exclusion and family/children expenditure was found to be the most important predictor for a relative antipoverty effect of social transfers: even a small percentage increase in such expenditure allows quite a significant increase in the relative antipoverty effect of social transfers.

Master Work, analysing social efficiency of implementing environmental law in Lithuania, is relevant in understanding why environmental laws, though comprehensive and strict, often seem to fail proving their social efficiency. Analysing Nord stream pipeline project, one can reveal any amount of basic environmental principles and guidelines. Also to be emphasized, that Nord Stream project nowadays is one of the most controversial environmental, as well as political, social, economical issue in the Baltic Sea region. The object of the research is to analyse and assess the efficiency of environmental laws. The aim of the research is to analyse and assess the social efficiency of implementing ecological law in Lithuania, as subject of international and EU law. Main tasks in achieving the mentioned aim: to assess the efficiency of international environmental policy solving environmental problems worldwide; to analyse main streams and efficiency of EU and Lithuanian environmental laws; to assess the project of Nord Stream in the context of international and EU, including Lithuanian laws; also to analyse the actions of Lithuania in the process of Nord Stream project planning and ensuring the embodyment of environmental laws. The hypothesis is posed, that international, EU and Lithuanian environmental laws seem not to be effective according to the fact, that states usually follow the criterias of economical and political benefits rather than provisions of environmental law. In this research, case study and document analysis methods are used. The research leads to conclusions, that: provisions of environmental law in the EU are rather strict, but that does not always guarantee their efficiency; the environment protection system of Lithuania is abundant in laws, but measures for implementing them are lacking; the project of Nord stream pipeline contradicts the main common principles of environmental law. Proposals that follow: environmental laws must include specific measures for implementing them; Lithuanian environmental laws must be harmonized; specific laws must be adopted – in this case, a law for regulation pollution from pipelines.

Master Work, analysing social efficiency of implementing environmental law in Lithuania, is relevant in understanding why environmental laws, though comprehensive and strict, often seem to fail proving their social efficiency. Analysing Nord stream pipeline project, one can reveal any amount of basic environmental principles and guidelines. Also to be emphasized, that Nord Stream project nowadays is one of the most controversial environmental, as well as political, social, economical issue in the Baltic Sea region. The object of the research is to analyse and assess the efficiency of environmental laws. The aim of the research is to analyse and assess the social efficiency of implementing ecological law in Lithuania, as subject of international and EU law. Main tasks in achieving the mentioned aim: to assess the efficiency of international environmental policy solving environmental problems worldwide; to analyse main streams and efficiency of EU and Lithuanian environmental laws; to assess the project of Nord Stream in the context of international and EU, including Lithuanian laws; also to analyse the actions of Lithuania in the process of Nord Stream project planning and ensuring the embodyment of environmental laws. The hypothesis is posed, that international, EU and Lithuanian environmental laws seem not to be effective according to the fact, that states usually follow the criterias of economical and political benefits rather than provisions of environmental law. In this research, case study and document analysis methods are used. The research leads to conclusions, that: provisions of environmental law in the EU are rather strict, but that does not always guarantee their efficiency; the environment protection system of Lithuania is abundant in laws, but measures for implementing them are lacking; the project of Nord stream pipeline contradicts the main common principles of environmental law. Proposals that follow: environmental laws must include specific measures for implementing them; Lithuanian environmental laws must be harmonized; specific laws must be adopted – in this case, a law for regulation pollution from pipelines.

Sustainable farming and usage of natural resources is vital for food security and quality of life of current and future generations. A positive effect of agri-environmental measures on the environment is obvious, consequently their development is planned in the future. The research is relevant, because EU Member States are obliged to monitor and assess environmental and socio-economic impacts of the agri-environmental measures implemented. The currently used Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is criticized by the scientists, while it does not include relevant indicators for the implementation of agri-environmental measures evaluation and, insufficiently disclose the impact of those measures. This leads to the problem of the lack of methodology, enabling quantitatively assess the impact of agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector. Topicality of the research is also confirmed by the relatively high and constantly increasing financial resources, allocated for their implementation. The objective of this research is to assess the impact of agri-environmental measures on Lithuanian agricultural sector. The study presents the essence of agri-environmental measures, historical and political retrospective, and the impact ssessmentof those measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector. Results. In order to contribute to the scientific debates on the impact of agri-environmental measures on agricultural sector and support policy decisions, the impact assessment methodology, based on qualitative and quantitative methods, and enabling a comprehensive impact assessment of all agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector, was prepared. It also may provide agri-environmental policy priorities that allocated funds are not fragmented and inefficient. The key element of the developed methodology is linear mathematical programming model, by which the impact of agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector was quantitatively assessed, as well as relevant scenario analysis was carried out. The results provide policy makers with objective, scientifically based knowledge on the impact of agri-environmental measures on Lithuanian agricultural sector. In addition, it helps to perceive how the realization of agri-environmental objectives of the CAP indirectly affects the economic behaviour of farmers. The prepared mathematical programming model of the quantitative assessment can be used in the academic community as a methodical training subject. The impact of compensatory payments to the willingness of participation in the agri-environmental measures is also estimated. The proposals for the agricultural policy within the field of agri-environment improvement are provided.

Sustainable farming and usage of natural resources is vital for food security and quality of life of current and future generations. A positive effect of agri-environmental measures on the environment is obvious, consequently their development is planned in the future. The research is relevant, because EU Member States are obliged to monitor and assess environmental and socio-economic impacts of the agri-environmental measures implemented. The currently used Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is criticized by the scientists, while it does not include relevant indicators for the implementation of agri-environmental measures evaluation and, insufficiently disclose the impact of those measures. This leads to the problem of the lack of methodology, enabling quantitatively assess the impact of agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector. Topicality of the research is also confirmed by the relatively high and constantly increasing financial resources, allocated for their implementation. The objective of this research is to assess the impact of agri-environmental measures on Lithuanian agricultural sector. The study presents the essence of agri-environmental measures, historical and political retrospective, and the impact ssessmentof those measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector. Results. In order to contribute to the scientific debates on the impact of agri-environmental measures on agricultural sector and support policy decisions, the impact assessment methodology, based on qualitative and quantitative methods, and enabling a comprehensive impact assessment of all agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector, was prepared. It also may provide agri-environmental policy priorities that allocated funds are not fragmented and inefficient. The key element of the developed methodology is linear mathematical programming model, by which the impact of agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector was quantitatively assessed, as well as relevant scenario analysis was carried out. The results provide policy makers with objective, scientifically based knowledge on the impact of agri-environmental measures on Lithuanian agricultural sector. In addition, it helps to perceive how the realization of agri-environmental objectives of the CAP indirectly affects the economic behaviour of farmers. The prepared mathematical programming model of the quantitative assessment can be used in the academic community as a methodical training subject. The impact of compensatory payments to the willingness of participation in the agri-environmental measures is also estimated. The proposals for the agricultural policy within the field of agri-environment improvement are provided.

Sustainable farming and usage of natural resources is vital for food security and quality of life of current and future generations. A positive effect of agri-environmental measures on the environment is obvious, consequently their development is planned in the future. The research is relevant, because EU Member States are obliged to monitor and assess environmental and socio-economic impacts of the agri-environmental measures implemented. The currently used Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is criticized by the scientists, while it does not include relevant indicators for the implementation of agri-environmental measures evaluation and, insufficiently disclose the impact of those measures. This leads to the problem of the lack of methodology, enabling quantitatively assess the impact of agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector. Topicality of the research is also confirmed by the relatively high and constantly increasing financial resources, allocated for their implementation. The objective of this research is to assess the impact of agri-environmental measures on Lithuanian agricultural sector. The study presents the essence of agri-environmental measures, historical and political retrospective, and the impact ssessmentof those measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector. Results. In order to contribute to the scientific debates on the impact of agri-environmental measures on agricultural sector and support policy decisions, the impact assessment methodology, based on qualitative and quantitative methods, and enabling a comprehensive impact assessment of all agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector, was prepared. It also may provide agri-environmental policy priorities that allocated funds are not fragmented and inefficient. The key element of the developed methodology is linear mathematical programming model, by which the impact of agri-environmental measures on the technical, economic and social indicators in agricultural sector was quantitatively assessed, as well as relevant scenario analysis was carried out. The results provide policy makers with objective, scientifically based knowledge on the impact of agri-environmental measures on Lithuanian agricultural sector. In addition, it helps to perceive how the realization of agri-environmental objectives of the CAP indirectly affects the economic behaviour of farmers. The prepared mathematical programming model of the quantitative assessment can be used in the academic community as a methodical training subject. The impact of compensatory payments to the willingness of participation in the agri-environmental measures is also estimated. The proposals for the agricultural policy within the field of agri-environment improvement are provided.