FROM INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE „BUSINESS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES“
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