System In Lithuania Research Articles

Comparative Analysis of the Party Systems Development in Russia and Lithuania

On the basis of factors such as ideology, the degree of populism, political leadership and form of the government a complex comparative analysis of the formation and development of the party system in Lithuania and Russia in the post-communist period was carried out. Summing up, it should be noted that both Russian and Lithuanian party parliamentarism are being progressively consolidated. At the same time they continue to suffer from many shortcomings owing to negative historical heritage, characterized by authoritarian single-party system, cult of the leader, ideological populism and undeveloped civil society, and also because of the prolonged transition period of young democracies. Speaking about the prospects of the development of the party systems of two countries, it can be assumed that in the medium term the current situation should not change dramatically.

The impact of notional defined contribution system (NDC) from the point of view of individual

Retirement benefit plans are the relevant theme in the world and in Lithuania as well. The demographic challenges such as ageing and shrinking labour force cause the problem which usual PAYG system is not able to solve. Whereas this problem is very important in Lithuania simulation of notional defined contribution system is suggested. The influence of new pension system to individuals is analysed in this paper. 
 The analysis of theoretical works showed that NDC system is defined contribution (DC) system financed as in pay-as-you-go (PAYG) system. This pension scheme is different from others because of it accounting mechanism: contributions of individuals are accumulated on their individual accounts but whereas real capital is not accumulated the balance is notional. All accumulated sum is converted to pension benefit when individuals are at retirement age depending on cohort’s life expectancy. It is said that NDC pension system helps to solve problems such as sensitivity to changes in economic growth, decreasing volume of savings or create a better link between contributions and benefits. Nevertheless it is recognized that benefit return in NDC pension system is less than in usual defined contribution system.
 The results of simulation have showed that notional defined contribution system in Lithuania would not be the way out from problems in pension system. The system would be balanced in 30-year period and indexation would be acceptable for individuals but from 2040 interest rate would be reduced by the relevant part of the balance ratio. Depending on the changes in interest rate from 2040 notional capital would be less than all sum of contribution paid and it would negatively impact individuals’ finances. It was found that the more years individuals spend in labour market the bigger capital they accumulate and the bigger benefit get when they are at retirement age. Nevertheless it was noticed that replacement rate would be approximately 25 percent and it would not be adequate for the required use of retirees.

Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Lithuania and Slovakia: Does Size Structure Matter?

We compare characteristics of local self-government systems in Lithuania and Slovakia in the article and try to identify main differences and similarities within the field of inter-municipal cooperation. We suppose that size structure of local governments has impact on inter-municipal cooperation – the more consolidated structure, the less intensive inter-municipal cooperation. We base our hypothesis on a statement that inter-municipal cooperation is considered a crucial instrument to overcome shortages linked to fragmented structure of local governments. For this purpose we analyze data obtained by means of interviews with local officials. Besides, we analyze content of various relevant legal and planning documents.

Analysis of the renewable energy promotion in Lithuania in compliance with the European Union strategy and policy

Abstract The article outlines the analysis of the renewable energy sources (RES) promotion in Lithuania in compliance with the European Union (EU) strategy and policy. Energy consumption from RES in 2005, progress in 2011 and targets for 2020 years for Lithuania and the EU-27 countries are compared. Lithuanian targets of RES shares are the following: total final energy consumption – 23%, 10% – in transport, 20% – in electricity consumption, and 60% – in district heating. The overview of available RES support instruments for electricity, heat and cooling, and transport in Lithuania and EU countries is carried out. Lithuanian RES policy, strategic directions, objectives and tasks are discussed. The recent tendencies of energy use in Lithuania are revealed. The distribution of gross inland and renewable fuel and energy consumption for the period 2005–2011 is shown. Expected gross final energy consumption for heating and cooling, electricity and transport sectors, and RES contribution to each sector of the final energy consumption up to 2020 are foreseen. A feed-in tariff system in Lithuania, the measures for power and heat generation, and the support schemes to promote the use of energy from RES in transport are described. The measures taken to ensure availability of necessary funding to achieve the Lithuanian targets for the share of RES are shown.

The Regulation of State Social Insurance: Structure and Choices of Beneficiaries

The main focus of this article is on parental leave and allowance system in Lithuania. This study analyses main changes in this system, when in 2011 new version of Sickness and maternity social insurance law was adopted in Lithuania. Article presents and discusses theoretical models of family policy, analyses Lithuanian family policy and job/paternity reconciliation problems. With reference to different authors’, the article is based upon theoretical discussion of family policy models. Traditional male breadwinner model is opposed to other models: caregiver-parity model, dual-earner model and dual-carer model. Analysis of state social insurance parental allowance system and beneficiaries in Lithuania is conducted based on data sets from State Social Insurance Fund Board and expert interviews. There are two main questions answered in the article: what is the structure of parental leave beneficiaries and how did it change after amendment of Sickness and maternity social insurance law; what are the typical choices of those going for parental leave. What work/family model is induced by these changes and does it comply with the aims of the new Sickness and maternity social insurance law. Analysis of Lithuanian state social insurance parental allowance system and choices of beneficiaries showed clear policy tendencies to move forward to more male breadwinner model. With the emphasis on long periods of absence from work and relatively small compensations, new parental leave policy devalues family care in relation to employment and does not provide choices for women to (re-)move from family care to employment.

Lobbying and Lobbying Activity Tendencies in Lithuania 2000–2013

In academic discussions it is widely noticed that lobbying is one of the public policy elements indicating quality of governance. However, in practise the concept often acquires negative connotations. The article discusses the lobbying phenomenon in Lithuania, examines the tendencies of lobbying activity and its development in 2000–2013 and analyses challenges for the public policy embedded by various interest groups in Lithuania. The analysis is based on the results of semi-structured in depth interviews with lobbying experts carried out in 2013. The study revealed the challenging issues about the gaps in lobbying legal regulation system in Lithuania. Despite the fact that Lithuania is one of a few countries in Europe which has legal regulation of lobbying activity, as a result of above mentioned issues it could be noticed that the official numbers of registered lobbyists do not represent the amount of lobbying activity in reality.

Non-Fermentative Gram-Negative Bacteria in Drinking Water

The description of a microbiological community of drinking water distribution systems is intended for a safe and proper use of drinking water. These studies were aimed at characterising the microbial condition of the drinking water supply system in Lithuania by means of culture-based methods and biochemical techniques. Samples of drinking water (in cities supplied in centralised way from taps, wells, and boreholes) were collected in different locations in Lithuania. Seeking to grow microflora present in water the membrane filtration method was applied to study the samples. Most often water samples were studied to identify coliform bacteria (Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Serratia spp.), Escherichia coli (or faecal coliform), Enterococci (or fecal Streptococcus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (other non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria) according to the international ISO standards. Large amounts of non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria were found in centralised urban water. The investigation showed that more than 50% of the wells under study had increased microbial contamination with faecal coliform bacteria and faecal Streptococcus. Bacteria of the Pseudomonas group, CDC group and other non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria were detected in more than 30% samples of centralised urban water studied.

Nelegalaus darbo kontrolės efektyvumo problema Lietuvoje

The aim of this article is to assess the current situation of the undeclared work control system in Lithuania and specify problem solving directions. The authors of the article seek to identify main problems and possible solutions associated with undeclared work control efficiency. Theoretical analysis is based on the Lithuanian laws and other legislation analysis, European Union document analysis, systematic analysis of scientific literature, analysis of statistical data. The research was conducted in January 2014, by using semi-structured expert survey. Inspectors of the Lithuania State Labour Inspection participated in this survey. An expert survey showed that in Lithuania there are two causes of undeclared work: State Control of socio-economic policy and the people’s attitude to undeclared work. The hypothesis was rejected. The undeclared work control efficiency problem can be solved by transforming the state’s socio-economic policy, undeclared work control legislation, increasing the qualifications of control officers, improving controls institutions material, information and technical databases, improving institutional coordination control measures.

PARTY IDENTIFICATION IN LITHUANIA: THE OUTCOME OF FAMILY SOCIALISATION, POLITICAL CLEAVAGES, OR HABIT?

Why do people tend to vote for the same political party many years, despite the fact that parties change their electoral programs, their leaders and their candidates in elections? Why do they tend to justify the actions of the party much more easily than others? The answer to those questions is provided by the party identification theory originating in the prominent Michigan school of electoral behaviour research.While there is some evidence that party identification is decreasing in Western countries, the concept is still widely discussed and used in electoral research. There is a huge amount of literature on the measurement issues, changing level of partisanship in US, Europe and other countries, on the determinants and the effects of party identification. The empirical evidence on the formation of the party identification in new democracies, however, is scarce. The case of Lithuania, therefore, is interesting and informative.The aim of the article is to examine the factors of the emergence of party identification in Lithuania, trying to reveal the mechanisms of the formation of partisanship in the emergent state of party system formation. The analysis is based on the data from the representative face-to-face post-electoral survey carried out in 13 November – 10 December 2012 (N = 1500) for the Lithuanian National Election Study.In the first part of the article, the two rival theories of party identification are introduced and hypotheses about the factors of party identification formation are presented. In the second part, the methodological issues of measurement of party identification are discussed and the level of party identification in Lithuania is examined. The third part of the article focuses on the determinants of party identification. Three main hypotheses are tested. The first hypothesis presumes that party identification derives from the political socialisation in family and depends on the party identification of parents. Family socialisation in Lithuania, however, should only have an impact on those who were born after 1972 because they received their political socialisation in democratic regime. The second hypothesis is related to the theory of social cleavages. It states that the probability of having party identification is bigger for those who feel the salient social cleavage in the society and recognize its political relevance. Finally, the third hypothesis, based on the theoretical claim of Philip Converse, is that party identification depends on the length of democratic experience of electorate.Careful analysis of the level of party identification reveals that no less than a third of Lithuanian electorate could be characterised as party identifiers. Only half of them, however, have an affective relation with their party. The partisanship of the others seems to be based on rational evaluation rather than psychological attachment. The three parties that have most of partisan supporters are the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the Labour Party and the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats.The results of the analysis reveal that consistent party identification of parents has an impact on the party identification of their children. The effect, however, is not different for those who are born before and after 1972. It suggests that this is the effect of social network rather than family socialisation. The probability to have a party identification is higher for those who are most anti-communist as it is the dominant political cleavage in Lithuania. The impact, however, is mediated by age and moderated by interest in politics.The impact of age on party identification is considerable but not consistent with the hypothesis. The theory presumes that the probability to have a party identification should consistently grow until the age of 40 and afterwards it should remain constant. The results of the logistic regression, however, reveal that the highest probability to have a party identification is in the 50–59 age group rather than 30–39, even after controlling other variables such as interest in politics, political sophistication and salience of political cleavages. One possible explanation of this finding suggests that party identification is strongest for the generation that was most active in the formation of democratic political system in Lithuania in 1988–1991.

Konfidencialumo ir konspiracijos principai baudžiamajame procese

The restoration of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania on 11 March 1990 ipso facto implies the beginning of buildup of the new legal system in Lithuania and succession of the best Western values legal traditions. At the same time it is considered to be the starting point for the legal system of the Republic of Lithuania from which it has been beginning to evolve and develop into the direction of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. This is clearly reflected in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania adopted by citizens of the Republic of Lithuania in the Referendum of 25 October 1992. The preamble of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania provides that one of the most significant aims of the Lithuanian nation is to strive for an open and harmonious civil society and law-based state. The social nature of human beings pushes them for social interaction and each human being has his own interests which may not always coincide with interest of other individuals. Therefore, a state’s high priority task is to ensure that every human being and the whole society is protected by state from unlawful acts. The state is forced to take legal means to disclose the criminal acts committed by the individuals, and limitation of human rights and fundamental freedoms is inevitable. For this purpose, legislation has granted law enforcement authorities the right to use special investigative techniques in conducting the prosecution. It should be noted that the special investigation techniques such as controlled delivery, covert surveillance, electronic surveillance of all forms are legitimate and internationally recognized e.g., 1988 The United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic In Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. That encourage national lawmakers transform special investigation methods from criminal surveillance law to criminal procedure law.

METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATING WATER LOSSES / VANDENS NUOSTOLIŲ ĮVERTINIMO METODIKA

A reduction in water losses is significant for improving the efficiency of water supply systems and sustainable water use. The major part of water supply companies does not have enough experience in reducing water losses; therefore, a lack of information about practically applied measures for reducing water losses can be noticed. The article presents a method for determining water losses implemented under real conditions. The conducted research defines minimum night-time water consumption for a single user, which is 0.9 L/h/user and presents a methodology for calculating unavoidable background and real water losses that may occur in the water supply network. The above described method for detecting water losses has been practically tested in several water supply systems in Lithuania. Article in Lithuanina. Santrauka Siekiant gerinti vandens tiekimo sistemų efektyvumą ir užtikrinti tvarų vandens vartojimą, labai svarbu yra mažinti vandens nuostolius. Dauguma vandens tiekimo įmonių dar neturi pakankamai praktikos efektyviai mažinti nuostolius, trūksta informacijos apie praktiškai pritaikytas vandens nuostolių mažinimo priemones. Pateikiamas realiomis sąlygomis išbandytas vandens nuostolių dydžio nustatymo metodas. Tyrimo metu nustatytas minimalus naktinis vienam abonentui tenkantis suvartojamo vandens kiekis (0,9 litrai/h/butui), pateikta foninių nuostolių vandentiekio tinkle skaičiavimo metodika ir realių vandens nuostolių apskaičiavimo būdas. Aprašytasis vandens nuostolių nustatymo metodas buvo praktiškai patikrintas keliuose šalies vandentiekiuose.

Is the neighbour’s grass greener? Comparing family support in Lithuania and four other New Member States

To what extent can a country’s effectiveness in reducing child poverty be attributed to the size of family cash transfers (that is, both benefits and tax advantages) or to their design? In this paper, we disentangle the importance of each of these two factors, focusing on the family support system in Lithuania and comparing it with four other new member states. Both single parent and large families are increasingly susceptible to poverty in Lithuania. This contrasts with other former communist countries, namely Estonia, Hungary, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, which protect these family types much better. This paper examines whether their family transfer systems would achieve similar results in Lithuania. We employ the EUROMOD microsimulation tax-benefit model to swap family policies across countries and test whether size or design has greater effects on child poverty reduction in Lithuania. Hungarian, Slovenian and Czech policies would considerably improve the poverty situation among large families. Single parent families would only gain if Lithuanian spending on family transfers increased radically. Estonian policies would lead to mixed results: small gains for large families and losses for single parent families.

Lithuanian health protection system in comparison with countries of Baltic Sea Region

Improving health conditions of population and development of effective health protection system is the main social target of sustainable development. An effective system for public health care aims to ensure adequate health care and improvement in population’s health status. However, investments in the health policy, improving the competencies of public health specialists, infrastructure development, the building of the communities’ health improvement capacities, etc., provide for different results in the Baltic Sea Region countries. Therefore, it is important to analyse the efficiency of health protection systems in the BalticSea Region and to define the main factors having impact on health status in specific countries. The aim of the presentation is to review health care resources and health protection systems’ impacts on the health status in Lithuania and other countries in the Baltic Sea Region.The main tasks in order to achieve this aim are:· To compare health care resources and state financing of health protection systems in Lithuania and other Baltic Sea Region countries;· To compare health indicators in Lithuania and other Baltic Sea Region countries;a· To define the efficiency of health protection systems in Lithuania and other BalticSea Region countries in terms of achievements in improving health status of the population;· To analyse Lithuanian health protection system and to identify the major gaps and drawbacks;· To discuss the results and findings.

Skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemos koncepcinis modelis: Lietuvos patirtis

Siekiant padidinti skaitmeninimo veiklų valdymo efektyvumą, Lietuvos kultūros paveldo skaitmeninimo, skaitmeninio turinio saugojimo ir prieigos strategijoje (2009–2013) buvo numatyta sukurti kultūros paveldo skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemą ir nuolat vykdyti Lietuvos kultūros paveldo skaitmeninio stebėsenąbei vertinimą. Straipsnyje supažindinama su skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemos koncepciniu modeliu, grindžiamu pagrindiniais sistemų teorijos principais bei sisteminiu požiūriu paremta vertinimo teorija. Koncepcinis modelis integruoja skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistemos apibrėžties ir jos paskirties aprašymą, modelio kūrimo principus ir metodologiją, stebėsenos rodiklių pasirinkimą bei jų aprobavimo rezultatus.Pagrindiniai žodžiai: koncepcinis modelis, metodologija, stebėsenos rodikliai, skaitmeninimas, skaitmeninimo stebėsenos sistema.A conceptual model of the digitization monitoring system: the Lithuanian experienceRegina Varnienė-Janssen, Jonas Juškys, Neringa Račkauskaitė Summary The article presents a conceptual model for a digi­tization monitoring system, which will be used as the basis for implementing a digitization monitor­ing system in Lithuania. The conceptual model, which is based on the systems theory and evalu­ation theory principles, involves the description of the digitization monitoring system and its scope, principles for the creation of the model, and the choice of the monitoring indicators and their ap­probation results. The key factor influencing the creation of such a system is digitization performed by numerous independent institutions subordinate to different ministries. The creation of a system for monitoring the digitization of cultural heritage objects aims at preventing the duplication of digitization activities, ensuring an effective use of technical equipment and software for performing the digitization of cul­tural heritage objects, applying the best practice of coordinated digitization activities and appropriate standards and formats, as well as a convenient and prompt access to information and statistical data on the results of the activities being performed. The digitization monitoring system is created in line with recommendations of the Feasibility Study for the Creation of a Digitization Monitoring Sys­tem, prepared on demand of the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, and requirements of the Specification for the Creation of Software for a Digitization Monitoring System in which, as one of its main requirements, was the creation of a manual of digitization monitoring. The article builds on the above-mentioned feasibility study. The rationale for the creation of a digitization monitoring system conforms with this system’s the­ory principles which require that the modelling of a system activities should involve an analysis of the input, process, and output, as well as feedback evalu­ation. The conceptual model of digitization monitor­ing is based on the following principles: • the system’s activity is shaped and organized by a holistic evaluation of the existing ap­proaches to the creation of such systems; real­ization that a system aggregates multiple ele­ments (interacting institutions and their units) which interact among themselves and with the environment; and abstraction of all elements and their interactions and merging them into a conceptual model. • indicators within a digitization monitoring system are determined through defining the existing state and problems of digitization ac­tivities, investigating the monitoring demands and requirements for such systems, and evalu­ating the conceptual model of this system, based on the results of a discussion. • The main criteria for selecting the indicators of digitization monitoring are clarity, rel­evance, efficiency, and possibility to monitor. A conceptual model based on the holistic appro­ach allows designing a system able to monitor digiti­zation activity results, standards and formats of me­tadata and access, identification and distribution of tasks, and tracking implementation of goals. It also enables institutions performing digitization activities to acquire information on digitization initiatives and current and (or) intended projects, on resources held by other institutions and the characteristics of these resources, on trainings, conferences or other events related to digitization that are on the agenda, also, it enables to successfully monitor and keep under re­view the realization of initiatives, programmes, and strategies, to facilitate a quality evaluation and per­formance improvement, to assess the risks, to im­prove supervision activities, efficiency, and manage­ment processes, to prepare accounts, to substantiate resources and expenses, to increase performance im­pact, and to monitor digitization initiatives as well as current and (or) intended projects.

MOKSLINĖS TIRIAMOSIOS VEIKLOS PLĖTOTĖ: KELETAS ŠTRICHŲ

Scientific research activity (SRA) in comprehensive school is not a new phenomenon. Similar actions have been paid attention at various stages of education. Changes in the quali-ty and quantity of the current stage of society development show a different situation: the pace of life increases, the “turbulence” of the surroundings is observed, globalization and so-cial and economical changes in various segments of society gain more power. At the moment, the education system in Lithuania and other countries is facing different changes. As for the reorganization of Lithuanian education system within the period of the last two decades, it seems to be an intensive and ambiguous process. Lithuania had to pose two fundamental challenges: first, to proceed from the so called “soviet” system of education the one based on national identity and experience, and second, to adapt the new system to the needs for mod-ern society fully integrating the experience of international education. The adjustment of na-tional and international components has remained the major problem of Lithuanian educa-tion system up to now. Progress in acquiring the abilities of scientific research activity closely correlates with the development of critical thinking, a choice in strategies for dealing with problems and ap-plying them in practice, the effective use of different information sources, data processing, analysis, synthesis and interpretation and proposing hypotheses and alternatives. In terms of education, an important point is that students should not only better acknowledge natural phenomena, facts and laws but also were able to align them with everyday experience and adapt to different situations. Scientific research activity creates the right conditions for a simi-lar type of integration. Moreover, this is not only theoretical or practical knowledge but also feelings and remarkable discoveries that, first of all, are very important to the child him/herself. In other words, such activity integrates and positively manifests an emotional component of a personality. It is worth mentioning that the process of scientific research ac-tivity fully discloses individual interests and abilities of students. Key words: abilities, comprehensive school, scientific research activity.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIVITY AS THE BASIC COMPONENT OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

Scientific research activity (SRA) in comprehensive school is not a new phenomenon. Similar actions have been paid attention at various stages of education. Changes in the quality and quantity of the current stage of society development show a different situation: the pace of life increases, the “turbulence” of the surroundings is observed, globalization and social and economical changes in various segments of society gain more power. At the moment, the education system in Lithuania and other countries is facing different changes. As for the reorganization of Lithuanian education system within the period of the last two decades, it seems to be an intensive and ambiguous process. Lithuania had to pose two fundamental challenges: first, to proceed from the so called “soviet” system of education the one based on national identity and experience, and second, to adapt the new system to the needs for modern society fully integrating the experience of international education. The adjustment of national and international components has remained the major problem of Lithuanian education system up to now.

Lietuvos švietimo stebėsenos transformacija: linkmės ir prielaidos

Docentė, daktarėLietuvos edukologijos universitetasStudentų g. 39-327, LT-08106 VilniusEl. paštas: dalia.survutaite@vpu.ltMob. tel. 8 686 63339Lietuvos švietimo sistemoje siekiama ne tik veiksmingai įgyvendinti vyriausybės švietimo politiką, bet ir kreipti reformas švietimo paslaugų kokybės tobulinimo link. Per pastarąjį dešimtmetį mokyklų veiklos (įsi-)vertinimas tapo įprastine visų švietimo įstaigų darbo dalimi. Vadovaujantis gerąja pasaulio patirtimi Nacionalinės mokyklų vertinimo agentūros pastangomis sukurtas savitas išorinio mokyklos veiklos vertinimo modelis.Straipsnyje apibūdinamos Lietuvoje diegiamos mokyklų veiklos kokybės vertinimo sistemos ypatybės, pateikiamos kai kurios kokybinio tyrimo (2010 m.) išvados remiantis pedagogų nuomone apie mokyklų veiklos išorinį vertinimą, aptariamos mokyklų veiklos kokybės išorinio vertinimo sistemos kaitos ir atsinaujinimo galimybės.

Consulting the European Central Bank in the Regulatory Field of the National Central Bank of the Member State of the European Union

Article 127(4) and Article 282(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (the TFEU) and Article 4 of the Protocol (No. 4) on the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank (the ESCB/ECB Statute) establish legal grounds for consulting the European Central Bank (the ECB) by Union bodies and national authorities.Article 2, Paragraph 1, of Council Decision 98/415/EC of 29 June 1998 on the consultation of the European Central Bank by national authorities regarding draft legislative provisions (Council Decision 98/415/EC) provides a list of the groups of legal relations subject to consultation. The ECB should be consulted on currency matters, means of payment; national central banks; the collection, compilation and distribution of monetary, financial, banking, payment systems and balance of payments statistics; payment and settlement systems; rules applicable to financial institutions insofar as they materially influence the stability of financial institutions and markets.In accordance with Article 2, Paragraph 2, of Council Decision 98/415/EC, the authorities of the Member States, which have not introduced single currency of the EU, the euro, should consult the ECB on any draft legislative provisions on the instruments of monetary policy.Article overviews the experience of the EU Member States in regulating the order for consultation with the ECB in national law systems. The inquiry takes into account the principles of priority of EU primary and secondary law and exclusive competence of the Court of Justice of the EU as laid down in Article 19(3) of the EU Treaty and Article 267 of the TFEU.In the conclusion it is advised to lay in detail the discussed question in the legal system of Lithuania and thus ensure the application of imperative legal norms of the EU law.

Development of Police Personnel Training System in Lithuania in 1990–2010

The paper deals with the development of the police personnel training system in Lithuania in the period of 1990‑2010. Assessing cultural and social circumstances of the formation and functioning of police institution, the degree of modernization of police management and personnel policy implemented in the system, the reasons of inefficiency in training police officers have been revealed. The problems discussed in the paper have been revealed investigating the development of personnel training system by conditionally dividing it into two stages in which the prevailing cultural and social environment and the former model of police institution management had determined the implementation of the officers training policy. The findings of the research showed that in Lithuania inefficient implementation of the reforms in the police system and insufficient cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and universities are the reasons of failure to create a modern police officers training system, which secures the efficient preparation of police officers. http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ppaa.10.3.638

Trends in Avoidable Mortality in Lithuania During 2001–2008 and Their Impact on Life Expectancy

The process of the restructuring of health care system in Lithuania demonstrates the need to continue the monitoring of changes in avoidable mortality. To assess the level of avoidable mortality as well as its changes over time in Lithuania during 2001-2008 and to define the impact of avoidable mortality on life expectancy. The mortality data were taken from the Lithuanian Department of Statistics. Twelve avoidable causes of deaths (treatable and preventable) were analyzed. Mortality trends were assessed by computing the average annual percent change (AAPC). The shortening of average life expectancy was computed from survival tables. During the period 2001-2008, the avoidable mortality was increasing more significantly (AAPC 3.0%, P<0.05) than the overall mortality (AAPC 1.7%, P<0.05) in the population aged 5-64 years. The increasing trend was mainly determined by mortality from preventable diseases (AAPC 4.6%, P<0.05). The avoidable causes of death reduced the life expectancy by 1.77 years (preventable by 1.12 and treatable by 0.63 years). Diversity in trends in mortality of different avoidable causes was disclosed. A declining trend in mortality caused by chronic rheumatic heart disease and lung cancer was observed for males (AAPC -22.6% and -2.1%, respectively; P<0.05). However, the mortality caused by liver cirrhosis was increasing for both genders (AAPC 16.1% for males and 17.6% for females, P<0.01) and that caused by tuberculosis - only for females (AAPC 7.8%, P<0.05). An increasing trend in avoidable mortality was observed. Deaths caused by the diseases that could have been prevented had the greatest impact on the increasing mortality and decreasing life expectancy.