Contemporary Problems of Governance Transformation of Counties and Regions in Lithuania

Abstract

Aiming to identify the trends of county and regional governance transformation after the Parliamentary
elections of 2008, the article analyses the guidelines of the following documents: the election programmes
of different political parties, the agreement of the ruling coalition, and the Government Programme. The
discussion regarding the future of the counties is finalized in the Government Programme, which states
that counties have to be dissolved. It is stated that the Government speaks up for the assignment of the
county functions to municipalities; it is planned to give self-government rights to regions; institutions of
the regions should be formed on the principle of delegation. A two tier territorial self-government system
should be formed in Lithuania. The article shows that a detailed plan of implementation of the county and
regional governance reform does not yet exist.