Ar galima mediacija administraciniame procese Lietuvos Respublikoje? ; Whether mediation is available in Lithuanian administrative process?
Administrative Disputes, which arises between public administration agencies and private parties, is one of the areas which belong to administrative process. In most cases procedure starts by conducting internal reviews. However practice shows that internal reviews are just a beginning of long administrative procedure, which finally finishes in administrative courts. Such a long procedure is one of the reasons why society distrusts government agencies and court system. Therefore, in order to change current situation, state have to search for the alternatives means to traditional administrative complaint hearings. The solution of this problem, could be mediation, which main features such as flexibility, cost-effective, confidentiality, restoration of social and legal peace, would change current situation. Mediation in solving administrative disputes between private parties and public administration agencies is popular in United States. However, in continental Europe, mediation as an alternative to traditional administrative disputes resolution, is viewed with caution. Lithuania is not exception to continental Europe countries. However because of the changes in public needs and the caseloads in administrative courts, ability of using mediation in Lithuanian Republic administrative process, has to be analyzed by making comprehensive scientific research. Mediation is popular in resolving civil law disputes, where the civil law principles and mediation principles perfectly interact with each other. Meanwhile, when dispute arises in administrative process, parties must use administrative law and process principles. It is not clear, whether mediation principles or its advantages could prevail. Also it is not clear, whether mediation could be used in disputes, which arises concerning individual and general administrative acts. [.]
