Key lessons from the seven COHSMO countries: Lithuania
ENWhen examining the concept of territorial cohesion in a Lithuanian context, one must consider the concept in relation to broader debates on spatial development and regional policies in Central and Eastern Europe. Two main processes, the EU territorial policy agenda and Lithuania’s accession to the EU in 2004, have impacted significantly on the understanding of territorial cohesion in Lithuania. The national policy paradigm on territorial cohesion reflects the EU perspective on territorial development and regional policy issues. The need to focus on regional economic and human resources to develop regional competitiveness and ‘regional smart specialization’ have been regarded as the driving forces of regional development policies. The reduction of economic disparities between Lithuanian regions has been prioritized over other problems, for example, depopulation, in-migration and out-migration of labour force, unequal payment in various economic sectors, poverty, or access to public services (education, social welfare, and culture). In national policy discourse, the social and spatial disparities are understood as negative outcomes of decreasing regional economic competitiveness and economic productiveness. For example, the Lithuanian Regional White Papers for 2017-2030 underline the concept of regional specialization where human and financial capital is put into the most productive and promising economic development areas [...] Keywords: Territorial capital; Collective efficacy; Territorial governance; Social investment; Social innovation.
