Baltic 21 - assessment of the government performance in the area of cooperation for the improvement of the environment of the Baltic Sea

The present article deals with the discussion of the significance of the organization An Agenda for the Baltic Sea Region (Baltic 21), responsible for the environmental protection of the Baltic Sea, for the regional environmental policy. The survey was conducted on the basis of theoretical and empirical methodology. The opinions of the public servants of public institutions and employees of non-governmental organizations of the Republic of Lithuania as well as those expressed by researchers have been assessed applying the procedural approach. The object of the present article is the contribution of Lithuania’s participation in the attainment of the objectives of Baltic 21. The aim of the article is to assess the performance of Baltic 21 in the course of the past several years. With reference to the analysis performed, the authors of the article formulate and provide a description of their attitude towards Baltic 21. The article also covers the possibilities and preconditions for inter-institutional cooperation, identifies a number of factors vital for close and efficient cooperation. Moreover, the article includes a number of managerial recommendations for the promotion of cooperation as well as guidelines for attaining possible benefits.Upon systemization of the outcomes obtained as a result of the survey, the authors of the article provide recommendations for potential enhancement of the efficiency of Baltic 21 in Lithuania.Experts that have participated in the research maintain that most environmental issues in the Baltic Sea Region will be successfully addressed through the activities of HELCOM and by implementing actions of individual states or those provided for under bilateral agreements. The Baltic Sea Agenda is of utmost importance for Lithuania serving as a means to implement the principles and priorities of sustainable development. With a view to ensuring the attainment of the Baltic 21 targets and objectives, it is necessary to properly take into consideration the economic, social, political, administrative,and cultural differences between the different states of the Baltic region and seek to reduce such differences by successfully involving each state into common activities aimed at ensuring sustainable development while providing for all conditions for information exchange and the development of partnershi