Structure and territorial distribution of small and medium - sized business in Lithuanian part of the Curonian lagoon region

Europos Sąjungos politika skatina darnią visų regionų plėtrą. Lietuvoje regionus atitinka dešimt apskričių. Tačiau darniai Lietuvos plėtrai, ypač tam naudojant ES ir valstybės paramą, tikslinga taikyti kitokią regionų plėtros politiką: tai yra remti ne tik apskritis, bet ir specifinius mezo- arba mikroregionus. Tokių regionų plėtros kryptis tikslinga nustatyti, atskleidžiant jų specifiškumą ir ypatumus. Smulkusis ir vidutinis verslas laikomas šalių ekonominės ir socialinės gerovės pagrindu, todėl regiono specifiškumui ir plėtros ypatumams nustatyti tikslinga naudoti SVV vertinimo kriterijus ir rodiklius. Šiame straipsnyje autoriai pristato Kuršių marių regioną, kaip galimą mikro- regiono pavyzdį, išgrynina specifinius jo aspektus, taikant siūlomus SVV vertinimo kriterijus bei rodiklius.In the regional policy of Lithuania the Curonian lagoon coastal region is not distinguished as a separate territorial unit. Nevertheless, this territory is being analyzed in different regional context. Accoding to the samples of the EU regional policy, the authors of this article provided an assumption that the principles of solidarity and cohesion could be successfully implemented in the regional policy if the financial support will be allocated not for counties (regions) but according to specific problems in the regions on mezo and micro levels. The sample of that micro region can be recognized as the Curonian lagoon region (Lithuanian part). This region has some specific features, which researchers seek to emphasize. These features could be highlighted in implementing EU support for regional development. Lithuanian regional development policy should be embedded in practice to master the regions of EU support not for the principle of non-municipal competition, but for the assessment of micro regional specificities, which can form the basis of smaller regions and to implement targeted integrated projects important for sustainable development. These processes can be governed by the Law on Regional Development (2000), but in practice that is nearly unenforceable yet. Thus, the authors argue that the Lithuanian regional policy and EU support must be improved in order thereto implementation perspective. Therefore, an assessment within the small and medium-sized business prism in the Curonian lagoon region (as a specific micro region) is essential. This action is based on the assumption that the SMEs are the base of region’s economic development. The purpose of this article – to elaborate the criteria and indicators for region’s economic model differentiation’s assessment through the prism of the SMEs and to make an initial assessment. The objectives of research: • to elaborate criteria and indicators for SMEs’ assessment in the region; • to determine the changes of SMEs in time and space; • to analyze the structure of the region’s SMEs by economic activities and to determine their territorial distribution. The SMEs’ activities and analysis of their territorial distribution in broader view generate the determination of region’s social and economic activities. Such a systematic analysis of Lithuanian Curonian lagoon region helps to identify the importance of SMEs’ territorial distribution, which leads to the emergence of new business initiatives, SMEs’ precise planning, state and EU support. Identification and assessment of micro-regional specificities can be designed in smaller regions and to implement targeted projects relevant to sustainable development. SMEs are an important factor in sustainable regional development, and their indicators are valuable in the assessment of regional and EU state support. In fact, an assessment of micro-region is not sufficient using the official data at the municipal level only, as these figures do not reflect the spatial distribution of SMEs and the specificity of neighborhoods and villages. Thus, the uptake of EU support is biased. That negate to the achievement of real convergence, solidarity and sustainable regional development