| Abstract [eng] |
The final project of this master’s study analyses the problems concerning the implementation of corruption prevention policy in Lithuania and the Vilkaviškis District Municipality. The importance of the project: Lithuania aims to become an advanced, economically developed, legal state. However, the prevailing issues of corruption interfere with this aim. Corruption cannot be tolerated in the state policy and state institutions. The state traditionally uses three measures to fight corruption: the punitive persecution, anti-corruption education, and the prevention of corruption. All these three measures are equally important and need to be implemented at the same time. The state’s battle against corruption programs, strategies and other necessary anti-corruption legislation acts are implemented due to these measures. The fight against corruption should firstly start from local government institutions, which are the closest to people. Lithuanian researchers have examined the phenomenon of corruption, but very few studies have been done which cover the implementation of corruption prevention policy. This current situation contributed to the reason for the interest in implenting corruption prevention policy in Vilkaviškis District Municipality. The object of this study: Corruption prevention policy. The subject of this study: the implementation of the corruption prevention policy in Vilkaviškis District Municipality. The aim of this project is to analyse the problems concerning the implementation of corruption prevention policy in Vilkaviškis District Municipality. The objectives of the project: 1. to analyse the corruption phenomenon and the problems of implementing anti-corruption policy; 2. to analyse legal regulations in charge of the prevention of corruption; 3. to examine corruption prevention policy issues in Vilkaviškis District Municipality; 4. present corresponding conclusions and recommendations on dealing with issues found in corruption prevention policies. Research methods: the analyses of scientific literature, legislation acts, content, secondary data, the methods of comparative research, structured interview. The first part of the project analysis the concept of corruption, the assumptions on corruption, various types and forms of corruption, and further outlines the problems of the implementation of corruption prevention policy. The second part analysis the legal framework already in place for dealing with corruption. The third part deals with the qualitative analysis which evaluates corruption prevention policy issues in Vilkaviškis District Municipality. The main conclusions of the study: 1. Corruption should be understood as a complex, negative social phenomenon lowering the public's trust in state institutions which is connected with achieving illegal benefits for themselves or others. 2. Lithuania has a consistent legal framework to fight corruption and continuous to improve it. The state’s anti-corruption policy is implemented relying on the state strategy documents, the most important of them is the national anti-corruption program. 3. Anti-corruption policy in Lithuania and Vilkaviškis District Municipality is effectively implemented due to coordination punitive measures with non-criminal measures. The most commonly applied penalty for corruption-related offenses in Lithuania and Vilkaviškis District Municipality is pecuniary penalty. The lack of public awareness on corruption-related harm and consequences can be defined as one of the essential problems faced by Lithuania and the Vilkaviškis District Municipality, along with low levels of civic values in our society. The citizens are not actively involved in state governance and decision making; they are unaware of their civil rights, thus causing difficulties when implementing anti-corruption policies. |
