Paper/Speech Details of Conference Program for the 27th NISPAcee Annual Conference Program Overview WG4: Inter-regional Cooperation and Development Author(s) Arvydas Mikalauskas Vytautas Magnus University Kaunas Lithuania Title Inter-municipal cooperation in Lithuania: the dilemma of compatibility between local and regional benefits File Paper files are available only for conference participants, please login first. Presenter Arvydas Mikalauskas Abstract The aim of the paper is to demonstrate the extent of cooperation between municipalities from different regions (counties) in the provision of public services, the incentives for it, and the related issues Even though Lithuania still has some of the largest municipalities (both in population and area size) in Europe, rapid decline in population has highlighted the issues of regional politics and municipal cooperation which, until now, were basically ignored throughout the entire period of independence so far. It is evident that Lithuania’s municipalities struggle to adapt to the challenges of globalization: by losing populations, they lose their economic potential and possibilities to ensure effective provision of public services. To some degree, the arising issues of the costs of municipality management are addressed by the central government, which prepares projects that bring the state and the municipalities together for the fulfilment of a number of general functions. In spite of rather strong external reasons, the development of cooperation between municipalities nevertheless primarily depends on the institutions of the municipalities themselves, as well as the views and the leaderships of their political and administrative heads. The article will be based on quantitative and qualitative research data, which were gathered during the implementation of project Intermunicipal cooperation and implementation of public services: options for network governance and public interest dilemma in Lithuania.
