Assessment of results of reorganization of land relations in Baltic states
ENAfter the collapse of Soviet system, immediately after declaration of independence, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania decided to initiate land reform within the framework of agrarian reform. The defined general objectives of land reform were: to establish a fairer system of property and use rights, to create conditions for intensity and productivity increasing of land use, to strengthen the rights of lessors and tenants, to grant land to those who wish to cultivate or otherwise use the land. However, the legislation and administrative systems of separate Baltic States were different, so the objectives and tasks of land reform, as well as the measures and methods for implementing the land reform, were different. The aim of the article is to compare and evaluate the land ownership reform processes in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, to analyse their legal security, the objectives, tasks, process and procedures of the reform, as well as the results obtained. In order to find out the situation and to make comparative judgments and conclusions, in research mainly document analysis and monographic or descriptive method haves been used. The positive role of land reform in all Baltic States is the restoration of land ownership, which has led to more targeted and intensive use of land in agriculture and other sectors. Land reform has created the preconditions for initiative and action of landowners in market economy. An additional effect is the development and implementation of state-of-the-art real estate registration systems in administration of each state. The article also analyses the shortcomings and problems encountered during the reform. Key words: Baltic States, Land Ownership, Land Reform, Land Use, Land Management. [From the publication]
