Abstract
There are two types of regional policy - EU regional policy and national (state) regional policyin place in Lithuania. The common goal of these policies is the same - social and economic cohesion, however, in an EU context, Lithuania is regarded as a single region, while the focus of national regional policy is to address the interregional social and economic imbalances in Lithuania. To achieve balanced development as much in Lithuania as a whole as in its regions, the co-ordinated implementation of both policies is very important. The aim of this article is to analyse EU regional policy. as well as the effect of EU structural funds on regional policy in Lithuania, and in this way to highlight the problem of unequal regional social and economic development. Particular attention is given to the provisions of Lithuanian regional policy and the mechanisms of its implementation.Research aims. To analyse EU regional policy as well as the effect of EU structural assistance on variations in Lithuanian regional policy. highlighting the most important contributing factors. Research object. Lithuanian regional policy and EU structural assistance. Research methods and resources. The following research methods were used: an analysis of academic literature; information comparison, grouping, elaboration and summation, data analysis techniques. Resources used include academic literature, EU regulations, normative acts of the Republic of Lithuania regulating regional policy and the use of structural funds, and data from the Department of Statistics to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the Ministry of Finance.
Highlights
EU regional policy is implemented byallocating EU countries financial assistance in the fonn of EU structural funds and cohesion funds, which need to be used in accordance with strictly set guidelines
Considering the low level ofeconomic development in Lithuania and the current EU provision that the greatest assistance should be directed towards the poorest EU regions, the EU structural fund reforms are expected to affect Lithuania's receiving assistance from EU structural funds over the 2007-2013 period, because our population's GDP per capita does not reach 75 per cent of the EU average
The assistance is allocated to Lithuania over the 2004-2006 programming period according to the Single Programming Document, whose tasks were set out based on an analysis of the advantages, disadvantages, potentials and dangers of Lithuania's economy
Summary
The standout feature of the economies of all transitional countries is rapid and wide-ranging changes. Article 158 of the EU treaty shows that in an effort to strengthen its social and economic cohesion, the European Community must aim to reduce differences in levels of regional development, as well as the unfavourable conditions and backwardness apparent in rural areas. It is important to note that a country is granted EU structural assistance for the purpose of reducing social and economic imbalances among EU regions and to ensure even and balanced development across the whole EU territory. National regional policy is formulated by countries themselves where they aim to solve interior territorial development problems It seeks to reduce social and economic imbalances in the regions and ensure their development. Its budget makes up 213 billion EUR for the period 2000-2006 (Nakrosis, 2003)
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