Suchergebnisse

The territorial issue is one of the key aspects of EU structural policy, which emphasizes the need for a strategic planning process to take advantage of the location, physical, human and social capital and natural resources. It is also increasingly recognized the need to promote cooperation of different levels of government, organizations and people, as well as dialogue and partnership between local actors, directly linked to the enlargement process. European Commission Communication - The Green Paper on territorial cohesion - addressed a question to the territorial diversity converting into strength. Territorial cohesion is seen as the promotion of sustainable development of all areas of the EU and as the objective for the inhabitants to make the best use of the local characteristics. In essence, this is a means of converting diversity into an advantage, which is useful for sustainable development across the EU. Especially, given the fact that local competitiveness increasingly depends on its actors' ability to make better use of their local advantages. Territorial rather than sectoral position on local development is the core principal of the LEADER method, which is defined as an endogenous approach to rural development, allowing the domination of territorial dimension in the rural development policy. The changing role of the rural areas as well as diminishing differences between cultural contexts induce the development and fostering of local identity, which is gaining a special significance as an identifying element, finding and highlighting the local uniqueness and benefits, acting positively on the competitiveness, attractiveness, and quality of life. In Lithuania 51 local action groups (LAGs) have introduced local development strategies in each rural area.

The territorial issue is one of the key aspects of EU structural policy, which emphasizes the need for a strategic planning process to take advantage of the location, physical, human and social capital and natural resources. It is also increasingly recognized the need to promote cooperation of different levels of government, organizations and people, as well as dialogue and partnership between local actors, directly linked to the enlargement process. European Commission Communication - The Green Paper on territorial cohesion - addressed a question to the territorial diversity converting into strength. Territorial cohesion is seen as the promotion of sustainable development of all areas of the EU and as the objective for the inhabitants to make the best use of the local characteristics. In essence, this is a means of converting diversity into an advantage, which is useful for sustainable development across the EU. Especially, given the fact that local competitiveness increasingly depends on its actors' ability to make better use of their local advantages. Territorial rather than sectoral position on local development is the core principal of the LEADER method, which is defined as an endogenous approach to rural development, allowing the domination of territorial dimension in the rural development policy. The changing role of the rural areas as well as diminishing differences between cultural contexts induce the development and fostering of local identity, which is gaining a special significance as an identifying element, finding and highlighting the local uniqueness and benefits, acting positively on the competitiveness, attractiveness, and quality of life. In Lithuania 51 local action groups (LAGs) have introduced local development strategies in each rural area.

The territorial issue is one of the key aspects of EU structural policy, which emphasizes the need for a strategic planning process to take advantage of the location, physical, human and social capital and natural resources. It is also increasingly recognized the need to promote cooperation of different levels of government, organizations and people, as well as dialogue and partnership between local actors, directly linked to the enlargement process. European Commission Communication - The Green Paper on territorial cohesion - addressed a question to the territorial diversity converting into strength. Territorial cohesion is seen as the promotion of sustainable development of all areas of the EU and as the objective for the inhabitants to make the best use of the local characteristics. In essence, this is a means of converting diversity into an advantage, which is useful for sustainable development across the EU. Especially, given the fact that local competitiveness increasingly depends on its actors' ability to make better use of their local advantages. Territorial rather than sectoral position on local development is the core principal of the LEADER method, which is defined as an endogenous approach to rural development, allowing the domination of territorial dimension in the rural development policy. The changing role of the rural areas as well as diminishing differences between cultural contexts induce the development and fostering of local identity, which is gaining a special significance as an identifying element, finding and highlighting the local uniqueness and benefits, acting positively on the competitiveness, attractiveness, and quality of life. In Lithuania 51 local action groups (LAGs) have introduced local development strategies in each rural area.

The territorial issue is one of the key aspects of EU structural policy, which emphasizes the need for a strategic planning process to take advantage of the location, physical, human and social capital and natural resources. It is also increasingly recognized the need to promote cooperation of different levels of government, organizations and people, as well as dialogue and partnership between local actors, directly linked to the enlargement process. European Commission Communication - The Green Paper on territorial cohesion - addressed a question to the territorial diversity converting into strength. Territorial cohesion is seen as the promotion of sustainable development of all areas of the EU and as the objective for the inhabitants to make the best use of the local characteristics. In essence, this is a means of converting diversity into an advantage, which is useful for sustainable development across the EU. Especially, given the fact that local competitiveness increasingly depends on its actors' ability to make better use of their local advantages. Territorial rather than sectoral position on local development is the core principal of the LEADER method, which is defined as an endogenous approach to rural development, allowing the domination of territorial dimension in the rural development policy. The changing role of the rural areas as well as diminishing differences between cultural contexts induce the development and fostering of local identity, which is gaining a special significance as an identifying element, finding and highlighting the local uniqueness and benefits, acting positively on the competitiveness, attractiveness, and quality of life. In Lithuania 51 local action groups (LAGs) have introduced local development strategies in each rural area.

One of the main European programmes is LEADER – EU 'Community initiative' for funding pilot projects for rural development schemes. It is designed to help rural actors to consider the long-term potential of their local area and to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality and original strategies for sustainable development. Since 1991 the EU LEADER programme has encouraged the adaptation of participatory bottomup approaches to development, in particular to harness innovation, creativity and solidarity in rural communities, create subsidiarity in decision-making, decentralize policy implementation, introduce integrated sustainable rural development programmes and illustrate new directions that rural development can take. This particular programme has promoted exchange of experiences, strategies and knowhow and has facilitated cross border co-operation between rural areas. It has also enabled thousands of communities, families and individuals across the EU to engage in selfhelp projects that enable them to acquire new skills and confidence. An original approach of LEADER method is convergence between those responsible for interventions and potential beneficiaries while establishing links between areas, sectors and activities. Local action (partnership) group as a social infrastructure object creates conditions for high level of investments by creating environment that supports activity and stimulates formation of local capital, skill development, community labour efficiency increase and introduction of new social technologies. Integrated local development strategies content component elements and their content, depending on how properly they are formulated, how they are expressed in the principles of the LEADER approach, motivate or demotivate local development actors to get involved and participate in preparing and implementing a local development strategy. [.]

One of the main European programmes is LEADER – EU 'Community initiative' for funding pilot projects for rural development schemes. It is designed to help rural actors to consider the long-term potential of their local area and to encourage the implementation of integrated, high-quality and original strategies for sustainable development. Since 1991 the EU LEADER programme has encouraged the adaptation of participatory bottomup approaches to development, in particular to harness innovation, creativity and solidarity in rural communities, create subsidiarity in decision-making, decentralize policy implementation, introduce integrated sustainable rural development programmes and illustrate new directions that rural development can take. This particular programme has promoted exchange of experiences, strategies and knowhow and has facilitated cross border co-operation between rural areas. It has also enabled thousands of communities, families and individuals across the EU to engage in selfhelp projects that enable them to acquire new skills and confidence. An original approach of LEADER method is convergence between those responsible for interventions and potential beneficiaries while establishing links between areas, sectors and activities. Local action (partnership) group as a social infrastructure object creates conditions for high level of investments by creating environment that supports activity and stimulates formation of local capital, skill development, community labour efficiency increase and introduction of new social technologies. Integrated local development strategies content component elements and their content, depending on how properly they are formulated, how they are expressed in the principles of the LEADER approach, motivate or demotivate local development actors to get involved and participate in preparing and implementing a local development strategy. [.]

In order to evaluate involvement of the actors of national and non-governmental level of Lithuania into European decision-making on common agricultural and rural development policies, specifics of European decisions on agriculture, interest group role and typical features of involving Lithuania's actors have been overviewed. Research methods, such as interview with national level agricultural experts and officials, poll of local government politicians and administrative persons, focus group interviews, as well as analysis of legal acts and statistical data, have been used. The research has been conducted in relation with different theoretical approaches (inter-governmental, rational choice, multi-level governance, and new institutionalism).

In order to evaluate involvement of the actors of national and non-governmental level of Lithuania into European decision-making on common agricultural and rural development policies, specifics of European decisions on agriculture, interest group role and typical features of involving Lithuania's actors have been overviewed. Research methods, such as interview with national level agricultural experts and officials, poll of local government politicians and administrative persons, focus group interviews, as well as analysis of legal acts and statistical data, have been used. The research has been conducted in relation with different theoretical approaches (inter-governmental, rational choice, multi-level governance, and new institutionalism).

In order to evaluate involvement of the actors of national and non-governmental level of Lithuania into European decision-making on common agricultural and rural development policies, specifics of European decisions on agriculture, interest group role and typical features of involving Lithuania's actors have been overviewed. Research methods, such as interview with national level agricultural experts and officials, poll of local government politicians and administrative persons, focus group interviews, as well as analysis of legal acts and statistical data, have been used. The research has been conducted in relation with different theoretical approaches (inter-governmental, rational choice, multi-level governance, and new institutionalism).

Having defined the problem, that in public discussion attention is mainly paid to the model of local self-government, concerning municipality's competences, functions and financial aspects, but there are little analysis about decentralization, which makes better possibilities for new actors to participate in public decision-making and implementation, the author of the work notes than more attention should be paid to decentralization and public participation in the local level. It is maintained that in Lithuania traditional "top-down" decision-making and implementation mechanisms should be changed by a great alternative – partnership group, based on "bottom-up" approach. Problems could be resolved in the collaboration with local community, private organizations and state government institutions. So, the major subject of this work is a partnership group – the Local action group (LAG), uniting the public sector, private organizations and non-governmental organizations. The main aim of this work is to disclose local action groups possibilities to promote decentralization process and community participation in local self-government. To reach this aim, there are formulated four tasks: to disclose the conception of decentralization, concerning its importance in local self-government; to introduce European Union's Initiative Leader+; to analyze the aspects of Local action group's formation, administration and preparation of the development strategy; to define local action groups possibilities to promote decentralization process and community participation in local self-government. Three following hypotheses have been formulated and on the basis of the accumulated knowledge and acquired experience proven: I. Implementation of Leader+ measure in Lithuania encourages the formation of new and innovative social structures. Precisely of this program, Lithuania is establishing a new local self-government partnership model, when local government institutions, private organizations and local community are combined to implement integrated and successful local development policy. II. Local action groups contribute the development of decentralization and local self government principle. First of all, it is stated that decentralization is a multi-faceted phenomenon that encompasses assignment of public decision-making and implementation powers to the representatives of territorial municipalities, private sector and non-governmental organizations. It is defined, that LAG implements principle of self-government, according to which responsibility and decision making are transferred to local level. Endowed with a team of practitioners, decision-making powers and a fairly large budget, the LAG represents a new model of organization that can considerably influence the institutional and political balance of the area concerned. III. Wherewith various community participation in government are used and wherewith "bottom-up" public decision-making and implementation is realized, the more local self-government is real. In work it is maintained, that real local self-government might be characterized by community participation in government. Local action group is recognized as local development "agency", which complement public administration model, as it develop integrated planning methodology in local level, implement rural development policy and stimulate local community participation in local self-government. According to analysis, the author of the work acknowledge, that effective all sectors' collaboration, local government's goodwill and successful management of the development strategy, are factors in the success of the local partnership. Only because of this partnership more possibilities have rose for reorganization of different partners' roles, engagement, consultation and partnership working.

Having defined the problem, that in public discussion attention is mainly paid to the model of local self-government, concerning municipality's competences, functions and financial aspects, but there are little analysis about decentralization, which makes better possibilities for new actors to participate in public decision-making and implementation, the author of the work notes than more attention should be paid to decentralization and public participation in the local level. It is maintained that in Lithuania traditional "top-down" decision-making and implementation mechanisms should be changed by a great alternative – partnership group, based on "bottom-up" approach. Problems could be resolved in the collaboration with local community, private organizations and state government institutions. So, the major subject of this work is a partnership group – the Local action group (LAG), uniting the public sector, private organizations and non-governmental organizations. The main aim of this work is to disclose local action groups possibilities to promote decentralization process and community participation in local self-government. To reach this aim, there are formulated four tasks: to disclose the conception of decentralization, concerning its importance in local self-government; to introduce European Union's Initiative Leader+; to analyze the aspects of Local action group's formation, administration and preparation of the development strategy; to define local action groups possibilities to promote decentralization process and community participation in local self-government. Three following hypotheses have been formulated and on the basis of the accumulated knowledge and acquired experience proven: I. Implementation of Leader+ measure in Lithuania encourages the formation of new and innovative social structures. Precisely of this program, Lithuania is establishing a new local self-government partnership model, when local government institutions, private organizations and local community are combined to implement integrated and successful local development policy. II. Local action groups contribute the development of decentralization and local self government principle. First of all, it is stated that decentralization is a multi-faceted phenomenon that encompasses assignment of public decision-making and implementation powers to the representatives of territorial municipalities, private sector and non-governmental organizations. It is defined, that LAG implements principle of self-government, according to which responsibility and decision making are transferred to local level. Endowed with a team of practitioners, decision-making powers and a fairly large budget, the LAG represents a new model of organization that can considerably influence the institutional and political balance of the area concerned. III. Wherewith various community participation in government are used and wherewith "bottom-up" public decision-making and implementation is realized, the more local self-government is real. In work it is maintained, that real local self-government might be characterized by community participation in government. Local action group is recognized as local development "agency", which complement public administration model, as it develop integrated planning methodology in local level, implement rural development policy and stimulate local community participation in local self-government. According to analysis, the author of the work acknowledge, that effective all sectors' collaboration, local government's goodwill and successful management of the development strategy, are factors in the success of the local partnership. Only because of this partnership more possibilities have rose for reorganization of different partners' roles, engagement, consultation and partnership working.

The object of this thesis is bottom-up strategy for culture-led urban development process and policy. The goal of this thesis is to examine the notion and practice of creative placemaking as a method bottom-up strategy for culture-led urban development and to discuss the possibility of incorporation of creative placemaking principles into urban development policy implementation. The methodology of the research includes review of interdisciplinary literature, development of a conceptual framework that defines the practice and concept of placemaking. This framework is applied into an empirical research: a content analysis of official statements, articles and documents of biggest placemaking organizations; a case study of selected placemaking initiatives, and suggestions for incorporation of placemaking principles into implementation of urban development policy. The research concludes on complexity of concepts and notions of culture and development in regard to urban policy as unvisitable condition in the context of volatile and fluid relationships that characterize the field. In this regard, the main principles that creative placemaking follows, make it a valuable method for bottom-up culture-led urban development. These principles include participation, communication, activation of local community, reinvention of tools and mechanism. The controversy of the notion of placemaking is presented as a characteristic of intersectoral field that is function within. Theoretical and empirical discussions, done in this thesis, open a possibility to talk about creative placemaking, as a process and movement with its own political agenda, presenting new modes of production, communication and cooperation

The object of this thesis is bottom-up strategy for culture-led urban development process and policy. The goal of this thesis is to examine the notion and practice of creative placemaking as a method bottom-up strategy for culture-led urban development and to discuss the possibility of incorporation of creative placemaking principles into urban development policy implementation. The methodology of the research includes review of interdisciplinary literature, development of a conceptual framework that defines the practice and concept of placemaking. This framework is applied into an empirical research: a content analysis of official statements, articles and documents of biggest placemaking organizations; a case study of selected placemaking initiatives, and suggestions for incorporation of placemaking principles into implementation of urban development policy. The research concludes on complexity of concepts and notions of culture and development in regard to urban policy as unvisitable condition in the context of volatile and fluid relationships that characterize the field. In this regard, the main principles that creative placemaking follows, make it a valuable method for bottom-up culture-led urban development. These principles include participation, communication, activation of local community, reinvention of tools and mechanism. The controversy of the notion of placemaking is presented as a characteristic of intersectoral field that is function within. Theoretical and empirical discussions, done in this thesis, open a possibility to talk about creative placemaking, as a process and movement with its own political agenda, presenting new modes of production, communication and cooperation

The object of this master thesis is the functioning legal system of EU that defines and regulates such a category of intellectual property rights as geographical indications. The goal of the thesis — conduct a comprehensive discussion and provide an overview of the EU regulatory system in the framework of the relevant EU legislature. Main tasks of the thesis: assess the impact of the current GI protection regime in the EU; determine the goals and the vector of further development of GIs; establish the relevance of GIs for European consumers, manufacturers and sellers. The methodology used in the work involves an analysis of the relevant legal framework, which includes international law, functioning on the example of multilateral treaties and bilateral trade agreements, and also European law and established case law, and it also involves a review of the scientific literature regarding GIs. Special attention is paid to EU foreign policy priorities and international relations on the matters of protection of GIs. A specific position in this work is occupied by the study of particular case law and the analysis of empirical data during the application and modification of the concept of GI by European manufacturers, state authorities, the European Court of Justice, and other EU legal institutions. The crucial findings of the study are that the EU seeks to promote quality and innovation in agriculture and pursue successful trade policies both within the European community and worldwide. In this context, GIs play an important role in promoting rural development, increasing the value of traditional agricultural products and producer incomes, preserving cultural and biological diversity, and providing reliable information to consumers. Being collective intellectual property rights, GIs require effective management attainable by the good faith cooperation and interaction between local actors in a joint dialogue with national authorities.

The object of this master thesis is the functioning legal system of EU that defines and regulates such a category of intellectual property rights as geographical indications. The goal of the thesis — conduct a comprehensive discussion and provide an overview of the EU regulatory system in the framework of the relevant EU legislature. Main tasks of the thesis: assess the impact of the current GI protection regime in the EU; determine the goals and the vector of further development of GIs; establish the relevance of GIs for European consumers, manufacturers and sellers. The methodology used in the work involves an analysis of the relevant legal framework, which includes international law, functioning on the example of multilateral treaties and bilateral trade agreements, and also European law and established case law, and it also involves a review of the scientific literature regarding GIs. Special attention is paid to EU foreign policy priorities and international relations on the matters of protection of GIs. A specific position in this work is occupied by the study of particular case law and the analysis of empirical data during the application and modification of the concept of GI by European manufacturers, state authorities, the European Court of Justice, and other EU legal institutions. The crucial findings of the study are that the EU seeks to promote quality and innovation in agriculture and pursue successful trade policies both within the European community and worldwide. In this context, GIs play an important role in promoting rural development, increasing the value of traditional agricultural products and producer incomes, preserving cultural and biological diversity, and providing reliable information to consumers. Being collective intellectual property rights, GIs require effective management attainable by the good faith cooperation and interaction between local actors in a joint dialogue with national authorities.