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RESEARCH JOURNALS

 

INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH JOURNAL OF MYKOLAS ROMERIS UNIVERSITY
"INTELLECTUAL ECONOMICS"
ISSN 1822-8011 (print), ISSN 1822-8038 (online)

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lithuanian

FROM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE „BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES“ povilauskiene

In November 15-16, 2007 the Department of Customs Activity Faculty of Economics and Finance Management initiated and organized an international scientific- practical conference “Business and public administration: problems and perspectives” at Mykolas Romeris University.
The conference was noticed by academic and business societies, civil servants and officials. The goal of the conference was to review legal and administrative instruments of the Lithuanian customs for encouragement of business competitiveness, to discuss problems related to management of business and governmental institutions, to analyze practice and perspectives of the CD and associated business structures understanding memos, to reveal tendencies of the EU common trade policy, international trade services.
Reports were made by the deputy- president of the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, Executive General, Mr. Rimas Varkulevičius, by Mr. Antanas Venskus, the attaché of 133 Committee of the Foreign Trade Policy Department of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, by Mr. Boris Melnikas, habilitated doctor, professor of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, by Mr. Algimantas Belzus, Head of the Customs Evaluation Division of the Customs Department. Guests from neighboring countries also participated in the conference: representatives from Warsaw School of Economics, from Riga Technical University, professors from Kazakhstan State Pedagogical University During the conference. Lecturers from the Department of Customs Activity Faculty of Economics and Finance Management of Mykolas Romeris University were also participating in the conference.
The future development of the customs which is implementing the EC duties and international trade policy was discussed at the conference. Mr. Rimutis Klevečka, the Director of the Customs Department, in his report “Legal and administrative instruments of Lithuanian customs for encouragement of business competitiveness” defined the customs as the significant “factor of the EU business competitiveness”. Its role is important in the EU market for setting a balance between private and public interests. It is necessary for business that goods move quickly and fluently, with the minimum control and intervention from the state into business. The public interest which is security, by safeguarding citizens from the terrorism and falsified goods at the same time making code of customs simple and modern and by introducing e-customs. In order to achieve these goals it is necessary to acquire effective working methods applied in the EU, to standardize and simplify customs procedures. For example, the Export Control System (ESC) was introduced in July 1, 2007. In the nearest future the Import Control System (ISC) will be developed as well as a common system of registration of financial operations executers (EORI) and other informational systems. A new requirement to provide in advance the information concerning the imported and exported goods is a compulsory measure, necessary to ensure the security. Undoubtedly, the application of this requirement will create certain inconveniences for business. On the other hand, entrepreneurs, who have proved to be reliable, from January 1, 2008, will be able to benefit from the status of an authorized executor of economical operations. It was noted in the report that efforts were made in order to apply and implement modern methods, like the Single Window principle, One- Stop-Shop principle or centralized customs formalities principles, when organizing activities of the customs and other institutions responsible for control of goods. Thus, the provision is being implemented that business people have to have the access to the information portal – a common e-access for import and export dealsindependently in which EU member state the deals start. Lithuania is one of the leading EU member states, implementing the Single Window principle, however, in order to have it working in Lithuania it is absolutely necessary to cooperate with neighbouring countries, in particular with the Russian Federation and Belarus. It is pivotal to develop international cooperation not only on the EU level, but also with the third countries by exchanging the information and using risk analysis methods. Mr. Varkulevičius in his report “Problem solving and evaluation of relations between business and public administration” thoroughly reviewed coordinated interaction between customs offices and associated business structures in important for the both sides spheres of international trade regulation.
At present, the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists (LCI) unites 38 branches and 8 regional associations, over 3000 various enterprises in total. The activities of the LCI members cover all the main branches of industry: nearly all goods manufactured in Lithuania are their products. The objective of the Confederation is the strengthening of the national economy: while expanding markets for products, improving conditions of exports of Lithuanian products, representing entrepreneurs and defending their social and legal interests, encouraging social dialogue, making contacts between Lithuanian manufacturers and their counterparts abroad. As the speaker noticed at the conference, these and other objectives are achieved in cooperation with governmental institutions.
The report “Understanding memos of the Customs Department and associated business structures: practice and perspectives” Mr. A. Belzus analysed relations between the Lithuanian customs and business structures. It was noticed that while improving business environment cooperation with Lithuanian trade associations is fostered. Memos of understanding and agreements for cooperation have been signed in various spheres of customs activity. While applying tariff and non tariff regulating measures of the international trade the customs defend local producers from goods which break rights of the intellectual property, flows of imports, while citizens are defended from dangerous or insecure products. In order to consolidate powers of governmental institutions and business, the Customs Consultation Committee of the Customs Department and its regional subcommittees’ activities are being developed. Topical issues of customs activity, implementation of strategic questions are discussed with representatives of governmental institutions and associated business structures. Interaction in important for the both sides spheres of international trade regulation between customs offices and associated business structures is coordinated.
In his report “New challenges in developing business and public management” professor B. Melnikas defined social problems of the modern state, consistent pattern of the development of the society. He also stressed that inner changes are necessary for state institutions which are being established as management state institutions, for public administration of institutions. Professors from foreign countries, from Mykolas Romeris University made speeches on improvement of management of state institutions while introducing market regulating mechanisms, while implementing a new mission of institutions, trade and duties policy, ensuring security of persons and that of the intellectual property in the international trade, etc.
Professor A. Laurinavičius summed up the reports and discussions of the conference. He stressed that impact of globalization of economics is particularly felt in Lithuania just like in other Eastern EC states. Trade liberalization, increasing scope of international trade, modernization of certain types of goods and transport services, as well as growing e-commerce present new challenges for the customs and administrations of other governmental institutions and business. It comes altogether with other significant difficulties, i.e. the integration into the western civilization while overcoming difficult heritage of the past. Administrative capacities of the customs improve while acquiring experience from the EU member states customs, participating in activities of the EU institutions, WCO and WTO, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. The participants of the conference expressed their belief that similar scientific- practical conferences are very sound way to evaluate the present situation, to clarify the priorities in science and practice while improving the management of business and state institutions, their cooperation in solving problems related to economical cohesion.
The conference was supported by Lithuanian Customs’ Brokers Association and the Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania.

Danguolė Povilauskienė
Mykolas Romeris University,
Lithuania







Responsibilities for information Dalė Dzemydienė
E-mail: int.economics@mruni.lt