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Objective: To analyse the productivity of post-Soviet countries, adjusted by population, in terms of research papers published and the proportions of those papers indexed by Scopus and the Web of Science. Methods: Relevant data on the journals indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science were analysed. Where required, data were also extracted from Russian Science Citation Index databases and websites of journals. Results: On average, the post-Soviet countries had 31 researchers per 10,000 people. The average numbers of publications per researcher in journals indexed by Scopus was 1.04 and the corresponding figure for the Web of Science was 0.87. In terms of the number of journals indexed in Scopus and the Web of Science, the leading countries were Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Conclusion: Although the post-Soviet countries differed considerably in terms of bibliometric indices, the overall values were low. Main features of the journals were as follows: articles published in national languages - in Russian in many cases - and in English, articles mostly by authors within the region, and only a minority of foreigners as members of editorial boards. Thus most of the journals cannot be considered international. All the journals examined have websites in a national language and/or in English and invariably carry information on ethical practices, although such information is not given in a uniform format and varies from country to country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition and English Edition) continually received manuscripts, in which some authors are from China and some are from Pakistan, Lithuania, Morocco, South Africa, etc. The authors of these manuscripts, according to the viewpoint and method of Miall's paper (1985), selected rocks from each bed in the clastic sections of their study areas and induced some rock types, such as conglomerates, sandstones and fine-grained stones, and considered them as lithofacies. It does not conform to the definition of lithofacies. I wrote some papers, i.e., Feng (2018, 2019, 2020), to point out the problems and hope that the authors worldwide, especially Chinese authors, will not continually cite, spread and follow Miall's paper (1985) viewpoint and method blindly. Prof. Miall is the first person who considered rocks (in fact, the sediments) as lithofacies and proposed a facies analysis method. His viewpoint and facies analysis method confused the definition of facies and facies analysis method. My current paper is a special article to discuss the principal problems of Miall's paper (1985), i.e., he considered the sediments as lithofacies and utilized lithofacies to analyze facies, but not to discuss the contributions and less strictness of architectural elements of his paper. Here, I have to declare that the facies in my current paper is the facies of sedimentary petrology, but not of other geological disciplines, such as igneous petrology, metamorphic petrology, palaeontology, stratigraphy, geophysics, geochemistry. Certainly, the definitions of facies and lithofacies are controversial. My current paper will adhere to the policy of "A hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend". I hope that through academic discussions, contends and geological practice, these problems will be solved gradually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introductory paper, reflecting the Thematic Cluster of four papers, brings together two themes that are important for migration studies: return migration and embedding. Beyond any simplistic assumptions of settlement and permanent integration back into the origin country, following return, or notions of ongoing unfettered mobility back and forth over time, this article knits together data from the cluster papers, focusing on Lithuania and Poland, to explore factors that lead to return, or indeed non-return, and subsequent experiences in the 'home' country for those who do return. Moreover, using mixed methods, including longitudinal research, we advance a theoretical framework facilitating an examination of how returnees negotiate their lives in the origin society and whether they intend to stay, or migrate again, through the conceptual lens of embedding. While emphasising agency and effort, embedding also recognises structural constraints that may impede migrants' expectations and aspirations. Hence, return migration may involve parallel processes of re-embedding but also experiences of dis-embedding as the hoped for return project encounters unexpected obstacles and may result in further migration. In mapping the field of return migration, through the concept of embedding, we focus on the impact of Brexit as 'an unsettling event'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the eighteenth century professional astronomy started in Lithuania, and over time the first extensive astronomical publications appeared. The tradition of publishing a periodical astronomical Bulletin started in 1921, when Vilnius Astronomical Observatory was led by Polish astronomer Professor Władysław Dziewulski. The outbreak of the Second World War stopped the publication of Bulletins, and 1960 was a crucial year in the rebirth of astronomy in Lithuania. The revitalization of the Bulletin was very important for the Observatory's research and the expansion of the library. During the Soviet occupation, Lithuanian astronomers had limited links abroad. Thus, the Bulletin served as a way to disseminate astronomical research and establish links with international research institutions. This paper examines the history, personalities, contributions and importance to the scientific community of the Bulletin of the Vilnius Astronomical Observatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discloses the situation, specifics, tendencies, and limitations of employers' adjustment to employee financial participation (sharing shares) in companies in Lithuania. Three main tools are analyzed: the issuance of employee shares (known since 1990); a share granting (effective since 2018); and employee stock options. The empirical part of the paper is based on interviews conducted in 2019 and repeated in 2022–2023 with expert lawyers from Lithuanian law firms, alongside a survey of Lithuanian companies. The following aspects were analyzed: employers' knowledge of the possibilities of involving employees in company management (activities); instruments used by employers to implement employee financial participation; reasons that prevent successful employee involvement and barriers from the perspective of employees; tax-related issues; and measures that could facilitate greater employee involvement within the company. The research results show that there is a tendency that promotion via shares is becoming more popular and that business culture is slowly evolving. Employee stock options are the most used instrument, surpassing the use of statutory tools to grant shares to employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore how the competence-based vocational education and training (VET) curricula facilitate shaping of work values of VET students. It discusses methodological and ideological orientations of competence-based VET in teaching work values and discloses the typical characteristics of teaching work values in the VET system of Lithuania. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach leading to a survey method is adopted to investigate how VET students acquire and apply work-related values and attitudes to work. Findings: The survey of the VET students has disclosed that students are open to accepting different values of work, including cognitive values, social prestige and altruist values. However, orientation of the VET curricula to and provision of instrumental values lead to relatively weak internalization of the work values related to societal and spiritual dimensions. Originality/value: The paper provides empirical evidence regarding the implications of the competence-based curricula for teaching students work values in the school-based VET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article presents the newly introduced model for EU policy-making, based on combined 'bottom-up' and 'place-based' approaches by establishing rural science-society-policy interfaces – Multi-Actor Platforms (MAPs). MAPs are open forums for exchanging relevant ideas in solving region's most urgent place-based challenges, performing co-learning, and acting as knowledge co-creation platforms for the contribution of creating reflective research and policy agendas for the future of Europe's rural areas. The main aim of this paper is to explore the challenges and prospects for the determinants of socioeconomic development (i.e., entrepreneurship, social economy, and sustainable and resilient value chains) in rural areas, based on SHERPA science-society-policy interface co-learning and co-creation results in Lithuanian MAP. Research results show that the combined bottom-up and place-based approaches with the help of regional MAPs as science-society-policy rural interfaces hold high potential to be applied to develop reflective research and policy agendas for the regions in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector is receiving increasing attention in climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission offsetting. The sector itself and measures applied to mobilize this sector in order to tackle climate change are dominant in nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement as well as in national strategies, as in the case of Lithuania. Lithuania has set the goal of becoming a carbon-neutral country in 2050, reducing GHGs by 80% compared to 1990 and offsetting the remaining 20% through the LULUCF sector. Therefore, this paper aims at analyzing historical land-use changes in 1990–2021, as reported for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, and LULUCF's potential to achieve climate change mitigation goals, taking into account different land-use change scenarios (business as usual, forest development, forest development + additional measures and forest land 40% + additional measures) for 2030 and 2050 in Lithuania. The scenarios are based on historical and potential future policy-based land-use changes. Projections of GHG emissions/removals for different scenarios are prepared according to the Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (2006) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The results indicate that land-use changes over the period 1990–2021 remained rather stable, with some increases in forest area and grassland at the expense of cropland. The whole LULUCF sector acted as a carbon sink in most cases, forests being a key category for removal. However, reaching climate neutrality in 2050 might be challenging, as the goal to offset 20% of remaining GHG emission compared to 1990 through LULUCF would not be met in any of the scenarios analyzed, even the scenario of maximal forest-area development and additional measures. Considering the high historical GHG-removal fluctuations and the uncertainties of the sector itself, caution should be taken when relying on LULUCF's potential to reach the set goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this paper is to identify how small powers can make a difference by taking up a role at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as non-permanent members. This research takes a closer look at the Baltic states, Lithuania and Estonia, and give a perspective for Latvia too. This paper examines whether these states use strategies that have made other small powers successful at the Security Council. Most of the materials used were documents from foreign services and the UNSC, and the methods employed were qualitative document analysis and interview. Lithuania was successful at making resolutions and highlighted topics, such as small arms and protection of journalists, whereas Estonia was successful at agenda setting and highlighted cyber security and environment security. Small powers can successfully work at the UNSC by setting the agenda and working on resolutions. However, their time as part of the UNSC is limited and their abilities to solve military conflicts depend on the support of the great powers. The Baltic states used some strategies that other small powers have successfully used, although they lacked influence for mediation and coalition building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of the research into the participation of scouts and scouting associations present in three countries. Three Baltic states (BS) - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - have been chosen as the subject of the research. The goal of this paper was to answer the questions of how the scouts perceive their role in the national defensive education system, and what the older scouts want to teach the youth. Based on this, we have attempted an appraisal of whether - and to what degree - scouting organizations contribute to increasing the level of defensive education in a given community. The paper has avoided strictly system-wide solutions, as the latter form a mere backdrop for the results of the research. In order to achieve the goal of the current research, the following research questions were formulated: Does participation in a scouting association represent a form of defensive education? Are the skills obtained from one's membership in them helping increase the mentioned indicators? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mechanism of individual constitutional complaints has been in place in most European states. In the constitutional legal practice of European states, constitutional complaints as the specific procedural instrument for protecting a person's constitutional rights and freedoms have become an increasingly acceptable, applicable, and justifiable measure. However, Lithuania has introduced this mechanism of human rights protection only with constitutional amendments of 2019. This article examines the legal regulation governing the institution of constitutional complaints, as well as the use of this institution in Lithuania in 2019-2022. The research aims to shed light on the choice of the Lithuanian model of constitutional complaints and its main features, as well as to identify the problematic aspects of this model. Methods: To reveal theoretical and practical aspects of the question under consideration, this article combines different methods of scientific inquiry, including analysis of documents, as well as the logical, systemic, critical, comparative, teleological, and linguistic methods of analysis. The method of document content analysis was used to analyse the content of relevant normative and jurisprudential research sources. This approach used the text of the analysed documents to identify relevant words and phrases, contextualise their usage, and link the acquired data to statements in specialised literature. The analysis hinged on theoretical methods, particularly systemic and logical analysis, used to analyse virtually all the aspects discussed in the paper. Comparative analysis was used to compare the legal regulation of the constitutional complaint model in other Central and Eastern European countries and the Lithuanian legal regulation on similar issues. Teleological and linguistic methods of analysis have been used to clarify the content of the ambiguously understood provisions governing the individual constitutional complaint model, the true intentions of the legislator, and the meaning of the concepts contained in the legislation. The paper also analyses the statistical information on the admissibility of constitutional complaints in Lithuania and other aspects of using this human rights protection mechanism in 2019-2022. Results and conclusion. The paper concludes that after the amendments to the Constitution concerning the consolidation of individual constitutional complaints entered into force in 2019, Lithuania can no longer be categorised among the states with a limited scope of entities entitled to apply to the constitutional court and that the consolidation of the institution of individual constitutional complaints in Lithuania was undoubtedly a necessary step. The paper also concludes that most of the elements of the Lithuanian constitutional complaint model in the context of effective human rights protection should be viewed positively and align with the tendencies existing in other Central and Eastern European states. However, it's essential to acknowledge that Lithuania's national model of constitutional complaints falls short in providing certain effective legal remedies that have proved to be successful in other states of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The results and ideas in this paper have a high practical significance, thus can easily be applied by grid operators and any other interested parties. Firstly, the discovered principles of voltage sags propagation can be used for the planning and implementation of a PQ monitoring system, as has successfully been carried out in Lithuania. Secondly, the created BRELL-based test scheme can be used and expanded in further researches. Thirdly, the proposed methodology, involving both reliability indexes and probabilistic analysis of the primary causes of faults in the PQ field, can be used by grid operators, while the method created for the estimation of functions (distributions) similarity can be used universally. Fourthly, in a wider context, the findings will be useful for grid planning, the framework of national energy strategies and legal documents, also as a PQ database for machine learning in anticipation of AI algorithms. Nowadays, voltage sag continues to remain a critical PQ issue in the industry. Since it is not possible to install a voltage analyzer on every node, optimal monitoring locations must be determined. However, during the PQ monitoring campaign of the Lithuanian DSO grid, the execution of this task was inhibited by the lack of knowledge and literature about the fundamentals of voltage sags propagation. Therefore, the first part of this paper investigates the propagation paths of voltage sags by using a voltage sag matrix method on the created test grid, which for the first time is BRELL-based. This paper is the first to not only investigate voltage sags propagation paths (both downward and upward) in detail, but also to investigate them complexly, encompassing all four types of short-circuits, both voltages (phase-to-phase and phase-to-ground), and interconnections with other PQ events (interruption, transient, unbalance). The result has established a generalization of voltage sags propagation mechanisms by inductive reasoning and laid the foundation for the further development of PQ theory. The second part of this paper focuses on the Lithuanian DSO grid and is one of the first to investigate voltage sags/interruptions through the prism of both relationship with reliability indexes (SAIFI and SAIDI) and primary causes. For this purpose, we created our own scientific methodology, applying known probabilistic and statistical methods along with newly proposed approaches, in particular for ACR success evaluation and estimation of functions similarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to assess events related to the huge scale of the influx of migrants in the summer of 2021 at the Belarusian borders with Lithuania, Poland and Latvia. The involvement of the Belarusian government had a key impact on the nature of the events and led to Belarus' violation of its international obligations. In particular, Belarus has violated the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951), the 1967 additional Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1966 UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime of 2000 and the Protocols Thereto (Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children and Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air). The illegal actions taken by Belarus were described as a hybrid attack aimed at destabilizing Europe. Minsk's creation of an engineered migration pressure on the border with the EU can be considered part of a hybrid strategy - one of the dominant methods in geopolitical confrontation and the struggle for influence in international relations. The present paper verifies the research hypothesis that Belarus has deliberately violated international law by inducing engineered migration at the border with the EU in order to paralyse the migration situation in the neighbouring EU Member States. The violation of international law has not resulted in any major international consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following previous research on management efficiency of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Lithuania, this paper continues previous discussion via extension of the observed time period seeking to continuously analyze the impact of corporate governance principles to the management effectiveness of Lithuanian SOEs. For the purpose of this study, elements of corporate governance principles established in the initial reform of the SOEs in Lithuania are used as key dependent variables to measure and quantify the dynamics of corporate governance culture and its impact to the management efficiency of SOEs. Analysis performed is of a special importance as it covers the 10-year period (2010-2020) and could serve as a case study in analyzing practical implications of managerialism principles in public sector and SOEs specifically. New public management paradigm (Politt, 1993) combined with policy learning theory (Bennett, Howlett, 1992) are used as the theoretical background to explain the initiation and logical framework of SOE reform as well as the selection of variables used in this study. Additionally, principles of corporate governance established by OECD and other international organizations (OECD, 2015) are also used to enrich the analytical framework. The results of the analysis do not only prove that the implementation of corporate governance principles has a positive influence on the efficiency of management of SOEs, but also reveals additional factors that were not identified in the previous research - this impact is not static, but rather dynamic changing in accordance with the maturity of managerial practices within SOEs. The revealed dynamic nature of effects of the SOE policy should lead to the continuation of research seeking to expand it both geographically and vertically including other governmental organizations into the scope of future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes the arguments and counterarguments within the scientific discussion on the issue of inter-sectoral and inter-organizational cooperation in long-term care service policy-making, organizing and delivery with a specific focus on NGO role in it. The main purpose of the research is to explore the current situation, with a specific focus on NGO role in it, and look into some drivers of stakeholder cooperation in LTC organising and delivery and to compare them across public and private LTC providers and NGOs. Systematization of the literary sources and approaches indicates that NGOs' role in stakeholder cooperation is unique due to the nature of their non-profit philosophy. The relevance of this scientific problem decision is that inter-organisational LTC cooperation with and by tertiary sector organisations has to date received very modest research attention, and is inconclusive and fragmented. This leads to not meeting growing needs for LTC services and increasing public costs. Investigation of the topic first offers empirical evidence on stakeholder cooperation in LTC policy development, organising and delivery across multiple stakeholder groups in three sectors -- public, private and NGOs. In addition, it pays specific attention to NGOs role and engagement in LTC and identifies stronger and weaker areas of cooperation with other stakeholders. The paper also identifies several cooperation drivers and measures them in LTC field. The study builds on the findings of a survey of key LTC stakeholders in Lithuania (n=215). Results show that current NGO engagement in cooperation is lower in comparison to public and private LTC service providers and their cooperation is mainly limited to the sphere of LTC service delivery at an individual level, and family members, social workers and other NGOs make key stakeholder groups they cooperate with. The research empirically confirms that NGOs are outliers in cooperation in long-term care policy development, organising and delivery across multiple stakeholder groups. The results of the research can be useful for all the stakeholders in LTC policy field and service provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to investigate prisoners' rights to use and access the Internet, focusing on the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The study's principal objective is to assess the fundamental rights aspects of Internet access, particularly within the context of relevant EU legislation, and to interpret how the digital divide impacts prisoners. The study primarily relies on a thorough review of pertinent literature and legal materials, and it incorporates case studies from Estonia, Lithuania and Türkiye to contextualize the literature findings within specific legal jurisdictions. The research findings suggest that prisoners' Internet access should be evaluated in accordance with fundamental rights, including Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Regarding the digital divide, the study concludes that limiting prisoners' access to the Internet could exacerbate the already existing societal gap, potentially hindering their reintegration into society. The particular focus on the above three countries stems from the fact that as per the precedent of the ECtHR, only four countries are involved in cases concerning restriction of access to the Internet (Estonia, Lithuania, Türkiye and Russia); however, Russia ceased to be a party of the European Convention on Human Rights, so analyzing the future of the issue of Internet acces there is highly limited. Our research contributes significantly to the literature on the digital divide, particularly in terms of its legal implications. The study's comprehensive approach, which integrates both theoretical and practical aspects, is beneficial for domestic legal professionals and researchers engaged in interdisciplinary investigations of EU law and fundamental rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although remote criminal proceedings have existed in Lithuania for some time, they have never been used as extensively as during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic demonstrated that remote criminal proceedings could help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and at the same time facilitate the criminal justice process by eliminating, for example, the need to spend time travelling to the location of the proceedings or wasting other resources. For this reason, even after the COVID-19 pandemic, remote criminal proceedings remained popular. However, the remote criminal process is not a neutral substitute for the in-person criminal proceedings. It has an impact on the traditional paradigm of criminal proceedings that is not always positive. This article discusses the regulation of remote criminal proceedings in Lithuania by presenting the findings of an empirical study of Lithuanian lawyers' perspectives on the remote criminal process which surveyed more than 100 Lithuanian lawyers (judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and pre-trial investigation officers). The article discusses the main advantages and disadvantages of remote criminal proceedings noted by the professionals and identifies legal problems caused by such mode of proceedings. The paper seeks to demonstrate that the development of remote criminal proceedings should be carried out with caution, taking into account its impact on the quality of criminal proceedings and the rights of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improved and efficient recovery methods are investigated as possible candidates to arrest the production decline and to improve the injection capacity in hydrocarbon fields in Lithuania. The data show that the Cambrian reservoirs in Lithuania are mixed to oil-wet in nature, which results in poor water-flooding efficiency. Wettability alteration could help in improved water injection and, at the same time, it could help recover additional oil from the residual oil saturation zone of the reservoir. In this paper, a screening exercise is conducted to help alter reservoir wettability, improve water injection efficiency, and to improve oil recovery. Analytical and machine-learning supported methods are used for screening. Based on the screening results, dilute surfactant-based injection techniques are suggested as a potential method to improve injectivity and, thereby, recovery from the field. An initial experimental analysis targets the wettability of the rock from the field, followed by testing for wettability-altering surfactants. Based on the findings of the screening study and experimental analysis, it is recommended that we initiate a core flooding experimental program to investigate wettability changes and enhance injection and recovery from the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the impact of relative endowments of skilled labour and physical capital on the location choices of multinational firms (MNEs). We demonstrate potential methodological issues and possible solutions related to the identification of vertical MNE activity when using aggregate country-level data. To support our analysis, we introduce data matching and various assumptions with respect to the degree of profit shifting activities of MNEs that we apply to study unilateral inward foreign direct investment (FDI) across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Our choice of data is motivated by various legislation gaps, taxation specificities, and growing equity stocks in sectors related to profit shifting in the aforementioned economies. Ultimately, we highlight the importance of international tax differences and the growing discrepancy between real and reported cross-country FDI data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver birch, a widely distributed deciduous tree native to Europe, is valued for its wood applications in construction, furniture making, and paper production. In Lithuania, silver birch ranks as the third most common forest-tree species, comprising 22% of the forested areas, and is an important species for tree breeding due to its potential and adaptability. This study was focused on assessing the mechanical properties of wood (sample and log hardness, wood density, dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn), static modulus of elasticity (MOE) and bending strength (MOR)) in silver birch (Betula pendula L. Roth.) trees from different half-sibling families. Two experimental plantations of the progenies of Lithuanian populations (half-sib families) of silver birch from different regions were analysed. From these plantations, four genetic families were selected for mechanical properties evaluation. The study findings revealed significant variability in various wood properties among different genetic families, although the static modulus of elasticity did not exhibit significant differences between the chosen genetic families. All measured wood properties decreased from the bottom to the top of the model trees. Wood hardness displayed a moderately negative correlation for wood density and weak correlations for MOE and MOR. Given the weak correlations between wood hardness and other wood mechanical properties, it is suggested that MOEdyn would be a more suitable trait for genetic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the most common cause of mortality due to cancer for women both in Lithuania and worldwide. The chances of survival after diagnosis differ significantly depending on the stage of disease at the time of diagnosis and other factors. One way to estimate survival is to construct a Kaplan–Meier estimate for each factor value separately. However, in cases when it is impossible to observe a large number of patients (for example, in the case of countries with lower numbers of inhabitants), dividing the data into subsets, say, by stage at diagnosis, may lead to results where some subsets contain too few data, thus causing the results of a Kaplan–Meier (or any other) method to become statistically incredible. The problem may become even more acute if researchers want to use more risk factors, such as stage at diagnosis, sex, place of living, treatment method, etc. Alternatively, Cox models can be used to analyse survival data with covariates, and they do not require the data to be divided into subsets according to chosen risks factors (hazards). We estimate the chances of survival for up to 5 years after a breast cancer diagnosis for Lithuanian females during the period of 1995–2016. Firstly, we construct Kaplan-Meier estimates for each stage separately; then, we apply a (stratified) Cox model using stage, circumstance of diagnosis, and year of diagnosis as (potential) hazards. Some directions of further research are provided in the last section of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithuania is located on the East of Baltic sedimentary basin and has a geothermal anomaly situated in the southwestern region of the country. There are two primary geothermal complexes within the anomaly, composed of Cambrian and Devonian aquifers. The Cambrian formation is composed of sandstones that have a reservoir temperature reaching up to 96 °C (depth > 2000 m). The Devonian aquifer is composed of unconsolidated sands of Parnu–Kemeri and has a reservoir temperature of up to 46 °C (depth > 1000 m). Historically, both formations have been investigated for geothermal energy production. In this article, we present a detailed literature review of the geothermal work carried out on both formations, including past, present, and some possible future studies. The study presented in this paper highlights the key findings of previous research work, summarizes the research gaps, and then elaborates on the possible applications of emerging technologies to bridge the research gaps and improve our understanding of geothermal complexes in Lithuania. Although it is not the main aim of this article, this article also touches upon the important need to develop 2D/3D numerical models, to quantify uncertainties, in the evaluation of the geothermal potential in Lithuania for commercial development. This study also highlights possibilities of extending geothermal development to depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs through repurposing the high-water-production wells. Moreover, from the literature review, it can be concluded that the Lithuanian geothermal aquifers are hyper-saline in nature and temperature changes lead to the deposition of salts both upstream and downstream of the reservoir. Therefore, there is a need for developing multiphysics thermo-mechanical–chemical (THMC) models for evaluation of reservoir behavior. The literature also describes the potential use and development of the THMC model as a part of future work that must be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors determined the morphological composition of refuse derived fuel (RDF) produced in Latvia and Lithuania by manually sorting. The parameters of RDF (moisture, net calorific value, ash content, carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulphur, chlorine, metals) was determined using the EN standards. Comparing obtained results with data from literature, authors have found that the content of plastic is higher but paper and cardboard is lower than typical values. Results also show that the mean parameters for RDF can be classified with the class codes: Net heating value (3); chlorine (3); mercury (1), and responds to limits stated for 3rd class of solid recovered fuel. It is recommended to separate biological waste at source to lower moisture and ash content and increase heating value for potential fuel production from waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to provide an overview of the interrelationships between public knowledge, attitudes, and practical behaviours in the context of a global pandemic and the risk management measures used by the government. By reviewing some of the key trends in crisis management in Lithuania, it seeks to explore the response of society. The aim of the paper is to analyse the interrelationship among subjective public informativeness, attitudes, and behaviours according to different socio-demographic aspects. To meet the main objective of the paper, a representative public survey (N-804) on attitudes towards COVID-19 was conducted (at the end of 2020). The survey sought to explore individual self-protection measures, attitudes towards the dangerousness of the virus, the measures used by the government to combat the pandemic, and prevalent stereotypes and their implications on personal behaviour. The paper discusses the indicators, which are divided into separate blocks, on the basis of which the responses of the study participants are summed up and evaluated on a three-level (good, average, poor) rating scale, followed by correlation analyses on various socio-demographic parameters. The survey revealed that a higher proportion of Lithuanian society behaved responsibly, even being moderately informed and characterised by diverse attitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern Baltic region represents the world's most northerly limit of successful broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum) (hereafter, millet) cultivation in the past, yet this crop has been almost forgotten today. The earliest millet in the eastern Baltic region has been identified from macrobotanical remains which were directly dated to ca 1000 BCE. Between 800 and 500 BCE, millet was one of the major staple foods in the territory of modern-day Lithuania. Millet continued to play an important role in past agriculture up until the 15th century, with its use significantly declining during the following centuries. This paper analyses both the archaeobotanical records and written sources on broomcorn millet cultivation in Lithuania from its first arrival all the way through to the 19th century. The manuscript reviews the evidence of millet cultivation in the past as documented by archaeobotanical remains and historical accounts. In light of fluctuating records of millet cultivation through time, we present the hypothetical reasons for the decline in millet use as human food. The paper hypothesizes that the significant decrease in broomcorn millet cultivation in Lithuania from the 15th century onwards was likely influenced by several factors, which include climate change (the Little Ice Age) and the agricultural reforms of the 16th century. However, more detailed research is required to link past fluctuations in millet cultivation with climatic and historical sources, thus better understanding the roots of collapsing crop biodiversity in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Architecture criticism of Soviet Lithuania has not been properly addressed in scientific research. The novelty of the work relates to the branch of architecture criticism as part of the history of arts, particularly in the context of the historiography of 20th-century modern architecture. This paper is to uncover the various forms of architectural criticism and its agents among the vocational and scientific publications aimed at other architects of the Lithuanian SSR. Using a systematic approach and qualitative research methods, a database of 100 critical articles is constructed. The phenomena of architecture criticism are explored using the theoretical framework of W. Attoe from his book "Architecture and Critical Imagination" (1978). The results of the research brought several understandings. Despite the common belief among professionals that architects should be predominantly the creators of architecture criticism, architects by profession make up only half or less of the total number of texts in the specialized press. The dominating types of architectural criticism are normative and descriptive (excluding the texts that would describe the context of an architectural idea or particular building). There are very few examples of interpretative criticism encountered (except in the thematic group of criticism around interior design). Further discussion of prevalent thematic groups led to the conclusion that architectural criticism in Soviet Lithuania alongside the official "politically allowed criticism" has been using disguised forms of texts. There has been an underlying narrative to promote modernist or simply, new architecture principles using photography with little to no text, indirect speech, and other forms of non-explicit communication. One of the wider goals of this paper is to initiate wider research into the subject of architectural criticism of Soviet Lithuania and also validate the existence of the neglected phenomena using the specific material of professional and academic architectural publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the transmission of return and volatility from different stock markets. The stock markets that are analysed in the paper are from Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Euro zone. The indices that quantify the evolution of this stock markets are EURO STOXX 50, OMX Tallinn, OMX Vilnius and OMX Riga. These indices are used for determinations of return and risk in the case of this stock's markets. Multivariate asymmetric heteroscedastic BEKK model was applied for estimate the transmission of return and volatility between the markets. The results of the empirical study confirm the existence of spillovers phenomenon: first, the spillover return from the Euro Zone stock market to the Baltic stock markets, second, the spillover volatility from the Euro Zone to Estonia and Lithuania stock market and third, the asymmetry of volatility transmission only between markets from Lithuania and Estonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to reveal the nature, specifics and limits of application of one of the legal grounds for termination of employment relationships established in the labour law of the Republic of Lithu ania – termination of the employment contract at the employer's will. The analysis tests the hypothesis that the goal of increasing flexibility by simplifying the termination of employment relations, which was set at the initiation of the reform of the legal regulation, was not achieved. The presumption is put forward that this ground for terminating the employment contract is neither new nor safely applicable, and the benefits of relatively simplified procedural requirements do not outweigh increased financial burden. To reveal the impact of statutory amendments in question on the regulation of termination of employment relations in Lithuania, the historical background and the impact of obligations established in international documents on it are assessed, key indicators (such as legal grounds, procedural requirements, burden of proof and order of its distribution, etc.) are identified, and the relevant case law is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article initiates historical, linguistic, and textological research into the rich diaristic legacy of Emilia Wróblewska, nee Beniowska (1830-1886), a Polish woman from the circle of Vilnius intelligentsia, who had written intimate diaries for herself and her children for almost 30 years. The subject of exploratory study are the texts of the diaries kept by Wróblewska for her son Tadeusz in the years 1859-1886, and her daughter Maria in the years 1865-1873 (with an entry for Emilia's younger son, Augustyn, added in 1886). The paper aims at identifying the most prominent features of spelling and linguistic phenomena (regarding phonetics, inflection, syntax, vocabulary, and lexis) that can be qualified as regional features typical of the North-Eastern Borderlands (Kresy) in the diarist's Polish language. A comparative method was used in the study; the material extracted from the diaries was confronted with the usage and developmental tendencies of the standard Polish language of the 19th century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Estonian Journal of Archaeology is the property of Teaduste Akadeemia Kirjastus and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are becoming an increasingly popular heating source for buildings. The paper presents an evaluation of the experimental data from ASHP operation during the heating season in Lithuania when the problem of the evaporator's surface freezing is visible. The performance of the air-towater heat pump is examined using energy and exergy analyses performed by a coefficient of performance (COP), COPCarnot, exergy efficiency, and primary energy ratio. Analysis results show that the existing difference between the ideal and actual operation of ASHP represents the demand to improve the performance of ASHP evaporator. The actual COP was from 3.5 to 4.7 times lower than the Carnot COP. At 0 °C and 95% humidity, the ASHP's performance was least favourable, with an average exergy efficiency of 0.21 and a COP of 1.49 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In all countries, cities and their suburbs are the most densely populated areas. They are also the places visited by the largest number of tourists and one-day visitors, who inevitably run the risk of becoming victims of crime. It is, therefore, important, not only at national but also at the international level, to know the structure of urban crime and identify urban areas that differ in terms of their criminogenic situation. This requires a geographical approach and regionalisation based on the quantitative data that can offer it. This paper presents the results of a study using big data regarding violent crime, property crime and infringements against public order registered by the police in 2020 in the territories of three major Lithuanian cities and their suburbs (n = 149,239). Events in open spaces were separately addressed. A series of experiments were carried out using several spatial clustering methods. The automatic zoning procedure method that gave the best statistical results was then tested with different combinations of parameters. In each city, seven types of areas of urban crime were identified. Maps of crime areas (regions) were created for each city. The results of the regionalisation have been interpreted from a socio-geographical point of view and conform with previous sociological urban studies. Seven types of areas of crime have been identified, which are present in all the cities studied and, according to a preliminary assessment, roughly correspond to the socio-demographic and urban zones of each city. The maps of crime areas can be applied for crime prevention planning and communication, real estate valuation, strategic urban development planning and other purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pedagogy Studies / Pedagogika is the property of Vytautas Magnus University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The first attempt to bring together the historians of science from the Baltic States took place in Riga in 1958. Prof. Pauls Stradiņš (1896-1958) initiated and organised a joint meeting for historians of science from Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania under the supervision of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. A program for future joint activities was developed, and the tradition of joint conferences--the Baltic Conference on History of Science (BCHS)--in each country followed. In 1991, the Baltic Association of the History and Philosophy of Science (BAHPS), uniting historians and philosophers of science of independent Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, took over organising the BCHS. The article aims to present an overview of the published results of the conference, which is partly based on the annotated bibliography (1958-1985) of the conference. The authors analyse the subject, dissemination and tradition of the BCHS, and discuss the role of academic institutions in organising the events. Since the overview was inspired by a decision to gather a complete set of books of conference abstracts, it also resulted in recommendations for conference organisers. Between 1958 and 2019, twenty-nine conferences were organised and 2,880 papers were presented. The next conference will take place in Finland in 2022. The main ideas of the article were presented at the 26th International Congress on History and Philosophy of Science in Prague in 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses the impact of regulatory policy on the development of sustainable flexible packaging in the food manufacturing industry. Although sustainable packaging is not new on the market, its development still poses various challenges for raw material producers, flexible packaging printers, food manufacturers, and other stakeholders. The study highlights the issues related to the development of sustainable flexible food packaging, the concept of sustainable packaging, and the regulatory policies of the European Union and Lithuania on sustainable flexible packaging. An empirical study was carried out to determine the impact of regulatory policy on the intention of food producers to develop and invest in sustainable flexible packaging. A qualitative research method - semi-structured interviews - was used. The results of the empirical study show that regulatory policy has an impact on the food industry's ambition to develop sustainable flexible packaging, although the effect can be twofold – it can either encourage compliance with the regulatory framework defined by the legislation or burden companies with excessive requirements. In this research, respondents also identified other components that affect the development of sustainable flexible packaging in the food manufacturing industry: consumers and other stakeholders, marketing. The level of environmental awareness was also highlighted as an important factor in the analysis of the empirical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, fortified and open-type campsites of the Lithuanian Partisan War (1944-1953) have become the subject of archaeological research in Lithuania. The military training camp for soldiers of the Lithuanian Liberation Army (the so-called Vanagai, or Hawks) in Plokštinė Forest (Plungė district), Samogitia region, northwestern Lithuania was investigated by the author of this paper in 2019 and 2020. From 15 to 25 August 1944, in the face of the impending second Soviet invasion, the Plokštinė Forest camp was used to train the Samogitian youths in the basics of armed resistance. Archaeological field research carried out in the Plokštinė Forest allowed the determination of the exact location of the Vanagai military training camp and firearms training ground, the collection of archaeological data on the camp, its layout and equipment, as well as the everyday life of the Vanagai, and the weapons they used. This paper presents the results of the archaeological research of the Vanagai military training camp and their analysis. Based on the research data, the importance of the landscape in the selection of the campsite and firearms training ground, their spatial layout and the identification of activity areas are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disruption of fossil fuel supply chains due to the war in Ukraine has resulted in the need for an urgent reorganisation of the energy supply system, the cost of which has created a substantial increase in electricity prices in many markets. In light of the above, the need for the development of a renewable energy market has become stronger than ever; hence, the authors of this study have oriented their efforts towards investigating the development of the renewable energy market in countries bordering the line of armed conflict in Ukraine, i.e., Poland—strongly dependent on traditional forms of energy production—and Lithuania. The primary objective of the paper is to review the literature on wind energy, which is necessary to establish the current role of this energy dimension in the renewable energy market in the energy systems of Poland and Lithuania. Therefore, this review paper is oriented towards a review and evaluation of the available thematic literature and industry studies, as well as conclusions related to the number and direction of research topics in the area of the explored issues. The basic finding of this review is that the reviewed literature and studies are most strongly oriented towards a general assessment of the ongoing energy transition in the world, in which the thread of the assessment of the energy situation in Poland and Lithuania, including the thread of the analysis of wind energy, is part of broader assessments, most often regarding EU countries. The wind energy of the countries included in the scope of the review is not discussed comprehensively. The gap identified in this respect relates in particular to the aspect of wind energy development potential concerning solutions targeted at the individual consumer. In quantitative terms, studies addressing wind energy in Lithuania represent a lower percentage of the thematic literature acquired for the review. In the area of noted niches, the need for research and analysis is recommended to increase the information supply for developing the renewable energy market in Poland and Lithuania. In doing so, it is important to explore the technical and technological solutions (with a focus on the individual customer) and the economic aspects of wind installations from a micro and macro perspective. In addition, there is a lack of sufficient studies revealing the position of public opinion regarding the development of this dimension of the RES market and the direction of its changes. This is an important problem—particularly in Poland, where the so-called distance law constantly blocks the development of this dimension of RES and where the need to develop energy from renewable sources is particularly urgent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultural heritage of modern architecture is a widely acknowledged phenomenon; however, unique urban landscapes that have witnessed a fundamental transformation in urban life in the 20th century are still underrepresented on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In this paper the built urban heritage of Kaunas city (1919–1939) is investigated as an example of a modern urban heritage site with a problematic focus on defining the attributes of urban heritage, especially when intangible heritage values are added to the tangible built heritage. In this paper the attributes of modern urban heritage are discussed on the example of "Modernist Kaunas (1919–1939): Architecture of Optimism", the nomination dossier for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Three groups of attributes are described using historical research and later discussed by applying the method of comparative analysis. The conclusion proposes that Modernist Kaunas can fill the gap by representing Eastern European modern urbanity and enhance the understanding of the modern global city by reflecting the metropolitan aspirations in modern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Information Sciences / Informacijos Mokslai is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper aims to investigate the transmission of beef meat prices along the supply chain in Lithuania. A set of econometric techniques allows studying relationships between prices on the farm and at the retail store level during the period from 2010 to 2017. The Johansen co-integration test confirms the presence of the long-run co-movement of prices on upstream and downstream levels of the beef meat supply chain. In the short-run, the price on the farm Granger causes the development of prices on the downstream level and findings suggest an evidence of the price-setting leadership on the upstream level. The error correction model shows the adjustment of the analysed prices towards the equilibrium with a rate of speed 25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, job insecurity referring to the employees' perceived threat to the continuity and stability of employment as it is currently experienced has become a hot topic. A general assumption, supported by the findings, is that job insecurity causes far-reaching negative consequences for the employee health and well-being, attitudes toward organization and the job, and behaviors at work. However, the focus on behavioral outcomes, especially on employee performance at work, is still scant. Moreover, the literature remains fragmented concerning the impact of job insecurity on employee trust in the organization and how the trust influences employee subjective well-being (SWB), which in turn affects employee performance. Consequently, the link between job insecurity and SWB needs more investigation. Trying to narrow the gap, the paper aims at revealing the linkage between job insecurity, trust in the organization, SWB, and task performance. Quantitative data were collected in Lithuania. As predicted, the results revealed that job insecurity had a negative impact on trust in the organization and employee SWB. In case of linkage between job insecurity and task performance, the hypothesis was rejected. In general, these findings affirmed that job insecurity was a hindrance stressor, which needed to be considered when managing human resources in the current volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of 'sharp power' has recently emerged as a reaction to the assertiveness of authoritarian regimes. It serves to underline the complexity of challenges which are posed by authoritarian regimes, referring to diverse front lines in the overall 'battle', be they culture, education, or the media. The latter, according to Dmitri Trenin, "has become such a crowded battlefield". This paper attempts to fill in the information gap regarding Russia's 'sharp power' manifestations in Lithuania's mass media and focuses on NATO related messages in particular. The paper presupposes that messages which evoke an air of support for Russia's foreign and security policy tend to pass through to Lithuania's mass media, and argues that, as a result of the insufficient activity by Lithuania's mass media in terms of forming an independent perception of Russia vis-à-vis NATO, the preconditions for possible manifestations of Russia's use of sharp power are therefore created. The article is organised into four parts. The first section sets out a theoretical framework for the analysis which focuses on the concept of sharp power. Then the research methodology is outlined. The third section presents features of the informational environment of Lithuania in 2016 and 2019. The final, and most elaborated, section investigates messages which apparently serve to support Russia's foreign and security policy in terms of the NATO's topic in Lithuania's mass media based on the aforementioned criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyses implications and challenges of Germany's upcoming military deployment in Lithuania. A permanent stationing of brigade-sized military unit on NATO's Eastern frontier represents a major change in its force posture and a significant shift in Germany's defence policy. Despite the official German position that the implementation of its military commitments is contingent on Lithuania's timely improvement of its host nation support infrastructure, the paper suggests that the speed, quantity, and structure of Germany's deployment also depends on the progress made in rearming the Bundeswehr and its defence policy priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to establish a decision-making algorithm for issuing green bonds by municipalities in inter-municipal cooperation in Lithuania with a focus on zero-waste projects. The research methodology comprises four parts. The first part of the research methodology corresponds to a literature review that examines the concept of inter-municipal cooperation and its development in different countries. The second part of the research methodology is dedicated to the formulation of the valuation approach for the inter-municipal cooperation possibility and approbation of it in the selected municipalities. The third part of the research methodology covers the development of the decision-making algorithm for issuing green bonds by municipalities in inter-municipal cooperation in Lithuania. The last part of the research methodology summarizes the results of the survey and proposals for its further development. The findings suggest that the selected municipalities for the valuation of inter-municipal cooperation possibility could improve municipal performance for better inter-municipal cooperation results. The results also show that a smaller municipality corresponds to moderate municipal performance, which can be expected in comparison to a larger municipality. The findings of the construction of the decision-making algorithm suggest a 12-step process for the issuance of green bonds in Lithuania. The practical implications of the study are based on the notion that findings can be applied by municipalities willing to issue green bonds, smaller municipalities having challenges finding financial sources, and municipalities in inter-municipal cooperation sharing the same goals. An original aspect of this paper is its study focus on inter-municipal cooperation valuation and the issuance of green bonds in the municipalities of a smaller country which can serve as a reference point for considering the potential issuance of green bonds in municipalities of similar size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen has emerged as a promising climate-neutral energy carrier able to facilitate the processes of the European Union (EU) energy transition. Green hydrogen production through the electrolysis process has gained increasing interest recently for application in various sectors of the economy. As a result of the increasing renewable energy developments in the EU, hydrogen is seen as one of the most promising solutions for energy storage challenges; therefore, the leading countries in the energy sector are heavily investing in research of the technical obstacles for hydrogen applications and assessment of the current hydrogen market, which in turn leads to the acceleration of the upscaling of hydrogen production. The main objective of this article was to provide a comprehensive overview of various green hydrogen production, transportation and industrial application technologies and challenges in Europe, with a separate analysis of the situation in Lithuania. Various water electrolysis technologies and their production costs are investigated, along with recent developments in storage and transportation solutions. In addition, the performances and limitations of electrochemical processes are presented and analysed, research trends in the field are discussed and possible solutions for performance and cost improvements are overviewed. This paper proposes a discussion of perspectives in terms of future applications and research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the drivers of wage growth in Lithuania over the period 2008–2020. Using administrative data as well as aggregate measures reflecting the state of the economy, we estimate an extended version of a wage Phillips curve. Our reduced-form estimates indicate that nominal wage growth was tightly linked to labor market fluctuation over this period. Labor productivity, changes in the minimum wage, and the composition of employment also contributed to wage dynamics. However, we find little evidence that past inflation has been a push factor. To understand the underlying economic primitives behind our findings, we estimate a structural Bayesian autoregressive model. Our structural analysis reveals a significant contribution from aggregate supply shocks, reflecting a stronger relationship between productivity and wages than implied by our reduced-form estimates. Moreover, a historical decomposition reveals that since 2013, wages grew over and above productivity due to rising aggregate demand and labor market disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While Euro area interest rates were responding to accommodative monetary policy and decreasing throughout 2015-2019, in stark contrast, Lithuania's bank lending rates increased. Although the rates dropped slightly around the onset of the pandemic, they are still elevated and well above the EA figures. This paper asks the question: what were the drivers of such interest rate dynamics in Lithuania? By analysing the historical events and practical aspects of loan pricing in Lithuania's banking industry, we build an empirical model that exploits lending rate variation across banks, time and lending segments, and maps it to different drivers of pricing. We find that the recent changes in lending rates can be attributed to average bank margins, which moved largely in response to changes in market concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that some EU member states have been smart, or even dishonest. Splitting off capital cities from existing NUTS2 regions has given them an advantage in the Cohesion Policy funds allocation scheme but worsened the position of others. To explain the reasons and implications, we review the issue of delimiting the NUTS2 regions and the related allocation of financial resources. We evaluate how modifications of NUTS2 regions, carried out by Hungary, Poland, and Lithuania, impacted the allocation of financial resources for the 2021–2027 programming period. The analysis shows the shift of billions of euros towards these countries. We also argue that this experience is and could also be an inspiration for other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]