Regional Formation and Development Studies

The introduction of the Maastricht criteria was a crucial step in ensuring fiscal discipline and economic stability in the European Union. However, the crises of recent decades, including the Great Recession, the sovereign debt crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the energy crisis, have revealed the limitations of these rules. Strict fiscal requirements have hindered countries’ responses to economic challenges, highlighting the need for a more flexible and adaptive fiscal policy to better withstand future economic shocks. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of the European Union’s fiscal rules over the 20-year period, analysing GDP growth differences between the EU and the Eurozone, as well as the fiscal performance of individual member states. It also seeks to

The article focuses on problems of the integration of migrants in Lithuania from the perspective of social workers working in NGOs. The research highlights various difficulties that migrants face during their transition from migration to integration, such as mental, physical, socioeconomic, spiritual and other challenges. Also, language, housing, health care, education, socio-economic integration and self-identity were identified as common challenges faced by all groups of migrants during integration, with those from Third World countries facing more complex issues. These difficulties include issues related to financing, resettlement, access to hospitals and state institutions, nutrition, communication, identification, and more. The research emphasises the importance of a third party to ensure that the needs of migrants are met, and that they are treated normally and without discrimination. It also emphasises the need for migrants to be able to participate in decision-making, to prevent situations like mass demonstrations or attempts to create a state within a state. Social workers in NGO settings play a crucial role in helping migrants integrate into Lithuanian society, and policymakers must develop policies and programmes that address the unique challenges faced by Third World migrants.

he article examines the process of youth transition from the education system to the labor market in Lithuania. It discusses the context of social policy and the regulation of legal and strategic documents. The main focus is on the European Union’s Youth Guarantee program, aimed at reducing youth unemployment, particularly among NEET (youth not in employment, education, or training). The article addresses the theoretical assumptions of the transition process and analyzes various theoretical perspectives, such as status change and human capital theory, which are used to assess youth integration into the labor market. In the Lithuanian context, the transition from the education system to the labor market is not a linear process. Youth transition is often accompanied by periods of unemployment and inactivity. The article distinguishes three youth segments: labor market-active youth, inactive individuals (studying but not working), and NEET youth. Special attention is given to the NEET indicator, which has increased over the long term in Lithuania, although it has fluctuated in different periods. The study also highlights the connections between youth employment and unemployment indicators with the NEET group, as well as correlational relationships showing that fluctuations in youth unemployment rates are closely related to changes in the NEET indicator. Additionally, the impact of educational attainment on youth employment is analyzed, noting that higher education does not always ensure successful employment. The article provides conclusions and recommendations on how to improve youth opportunities for successful integration into the labor market.

European Union support for Lithuania undoubtedly makes a positive impact on economic growth and it structure. But there is even more important that a considerable funds flowing to different regions of Lithuania, and are focused to their economic development, the promotion of cohesion and human resources development. From the beginning of Lithuania’s independence the territorial differences of regional development began to emerge, which progressively deepened over time. These differences affected the sector of human resources: the economic activity of the population, education, knowledge, skills and other areas.The development of human resources is one of the objectives of European Union’s regional policy. Therefore, the aim of the study – to analyze the changes in use of European Union funds in Lithuania’ municipalities over the 2007–2013 period.

This study aims to reveal the evolution of the EU-Japan relations towards a comprehensive and fully formalized strategic partnership, the main determinants of that process, as well the importance of the political and economic alliance. In the evolution of the EU-Japan relations, there were identified four stages – 1960–1990, 1991–2000, 2001–2010, 2011–2018 – which had led up to a strategic partnership regulated under the framework of political and economic agreements. In future, the Strategic Partnership Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreement might enhance the regional and global influence of the EU and Japan.