Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

In terms of sustainable development, various forms of partnership are an important prerequisite for the development of companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Clusters are considered to be an effective form of support and innovation development for SMEs. Thus, enterprises working as a part of clusters are more efficient, flexible and resistant to external influences than large and hierarchical organizations. Clusters often arise spontaneously through the activities of local stakeholders who want to benefit from the synergy of the factors in the region, such as the existence of suppliers and customers, skilled labour force, specific resources and infrastructure. There are more than 20 clusters operating in the Slovak Republic. The majority of cluster members are SMEs. SMEs have many specificities and their engagement with clusters is influenced by various factors. For instance, many SMEs are often not sufficiently innovative or find it difficult to implement the results of their research and development into practical and successful innovation in the market. Bearing in mind the conditions of sustainable development, the authors examined the reasons why SMEs got engaged with clusters and enhanced their further development in terms of competitiveness. Moreover, the authors placed emphasis on their ability to innovate their products, technologies and/or services. Attention was also paid to the increased number of joint projects in the field of business, new market placement options and access to new information, as well as the acquisition of new partners, and employment growth in the regions in which these enterprises operate. The purpose of the paper was to identify the most relevant reasons why SMEs got engaged with clusters in terms of sustainable development. In order to achieve this purpose, an empirical study was carried out. The results were evaluated by quantitative tools of statistics (percentage, average values, standard deviation, chi-square test and Cramér’s V). The results showed that the most important reasons that made SMEs’ engage with clusters were entry to new markets and getting new partners.

Public administration is a set of state institutions that mainly exercises the functions of the executive body (rather than legislative or judicial) in accordance with the law. Public administration includes the Cabinet of Ministers, institutions subordinate to the Cabinet of Ministers as well as other independent institutions. The aim of the research is to analyse the historical development of the Cabinet of Ministers and ministries, to emphasize the main stages of development of public administration, while highlighting the problems that existed both during the period of Latvia’s first independence as well as after the restoration of the state and seeking the best possible solutions for the further development of public administration. The study will use descriptive, dogmatic, historical, comparative and analytical research methods.

The article reviews standards of state policies in terms of the national security of the European Union countries. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of the theory and practice of providing national security in the EU countries. In addition to that, the article provides for a deep analysis of the major methodological approaches in regards to establishing national security in the EU. The authors make a systematic review of the development and implementation of the EU security doctrines. The aim of this research article is to analyze the development of the idea of developing a European defense policy to find an effective way of incorporating our state into European security structures. Also, the research question may be posed as discussion on the way the national security is guaranteed in the EU countries. The novelty of the study is in the way how the past, current and future national security setup is implemented in the EU countries and what may the ways of its development. Materials and methods used in studying this problem, researches and publications of such domestic and foreign researchers were used. At the same time, processes of global and European security need constant analysis and study. The results showed that the problem of the formation of the European security and defense system that emerged shortly after the end of the Second World War prompted European countries to work more closely together, particularly in the defense sector. After the Cold War and the emergence of new challenges for stability on the continent, the EU has embarked on a path towards greater consolidation and greater awareness of own defense and security interests. Conclusion of the article is that an analysis of the approaches to the national security in the EU convincingly demonstrates that the level of security depends on many factors. The successful provision of national security strategy and approach depends on the sustainability and strength of their national economies. Only a strong economy allows successfully defending national interests in growing global competition and world economic disparities. Therefore, a country shall not only develop a national security concept, relying on world experience, but, above all, to reform its domestic and foreign policies with a view to protecting all actors.

Drugs and prison – this consistent pattern is often undeniable. It is undeniable that most of those people who end up in prison, have used narcotic or psychotropic substances before. The use of substances that causes addiction and the development of addiction is influenced by a number of different factors; in some cases, by the imprisonment itself. The authors of the article offer, continuing with scientific publication cycle, which is dedicated to execution of sentence of imprisonment in Latvia and security aspects of the places of confinement, to become familiar with the study about peculiarities of execution of the sentence of imprisonment and security aspects at the newly established Center for drug addicts of Olaine city prison, where convicted persons, during the serving of a sentence, are involved in addiction reduction programs. The aim of the execution of the sentence of imprisonment is to effectively apply all conditions of the sentence execution in respect of the convicted person, thus ensuring re-socialization of a person and the legal behavior of a person after execution of the sentence. However, it is undeniable that only those persons, who are free from narcotic or psychotropic substances addiction can be re-socialized; therefore, the study obtains the status of vitally important topicality. This article reflects the results of the conducted study about peculiarities of execution of the sentence of imprisonment at the Center for drug addicts of Olaine city prison. The article identifies issues and suggests possible solutions. Based on the study there has been developed a series of recommendations for the staff of the places of confinement working with convicted drug addicts. The authors suggest that the drawbacks and issues discovered within the framework of this study, as well as proposed solutions, will make a significant contribution to the development of the penalty execution theory in Latvia. It will be possible to improve the sentence of imprisonment execution legal framework and practice by using new scientific cognitions stated in this study.

Securing of a democratic order is a vertical process (“from above downwards”) responding to the needs and concerns of certain persons and community groups and looking for the public trust, consent and support. Thus it is based on transparency and dialogue. There are social scientific and moral debates over what practices are most conducive to a democratic police (e.g., centralization vs. decentralization, specialists vs. generalists, internal vs. external controls, closeness or distance from those policed, maximum or minimum discretion, single vs. lateral entry). But it is clear that a democratic police can take many forms.

The article presents the current issues and latest trends of the legal and administrative aspects of ensuring public security in the field of how road traffic safety is ensured. The legal regulation in this area and the problems of organizing the activity of institutions responsible for traffic safety are discussed; the situation of traffic safety in Lithuania and other countries in the Baltic region is studied. Utmost attention is attached to the organization and coordination of comprehensive measures, dedicated to the reduction of the rate of accidents. The authors applied general scientific methods of studying objective reality, peculiar to legal sciences: systematic document analysis, meta-analysis, structural-functional analysis, teleological, comparative, critical approach, generalisation and prediction. As a result in this research is emphasised the importance of decentralisation in ensuring public security at the level of the road traffic safety; the main guidelines of modernization in this field are presented.

The article presents the current issues and latest trends of the legal and administrative aspects of ensuring public security in the field of state border protection. Firstly, the research reveals aspects of the public security threats in the sphere of national border security. Secondly, discusses the administrative legal regimes of the state border and frontier. Further discussion pertains to the functions and strategic goals of the State Border Guard Service, and the activity-related problems are elaborated. Finally, attention is devoted to one of the significant priorities, aiming at ensuring public security in this field – the EU external border control and protection. The authors applied general scientific methods of studying objective reality, peculiar to legal sciences: systematic document analysis, meta-analysis, structural-functional analysis, teleological, comparative, critical approach, generalisation and prediction. As a result in this research is emphasised the importance of decentralisation in ensuring public security at the level of the state territorial borders; the main guidelines of modernisation in this field are presented.

The Part II is the continuation of the discussions begun in the last issue of Journal of Security and Sustainability Issues 6(3) in area of ensuring public security in the fight against crime and focuses in particular on the importance of creating models for control and prevention of new crime acts. Also, the problems of prevention and control of some conditionally distinguished criminal processes – shadow economy, corruption, fight against human trafficking and domestic violence – are scrutinized. In consideration of the limited scope of the work and striving for the concentration of the research, analysis of these criminal processes is conducted just to the extent it is important in order to distinguish the main topical issues pertaining to the modernization of coordination for ensuring public security.

The Part I of article presents the current issues and latest trends of one of the public security policy one of priority – ensuring public security in combating crime. In article covers the main quantitative and qualitative indicators of the present-day crime in Lithuania and in the world; the key problems of crime prevention optimization and legal regulation and institutional problems of criminal process control are elucidated. This research focuses in particular on the importance of creating models for control and prevention of new crime acts. Also, the problems of prevention and control of some conditionally distinguished criminal processes – shadow economy, corruption, fight against human trafficking and violence in family environment – are scrutinized. As a result in this research is emphasised the importance of decentralisation in combating crime; the main guidelines of optimization and modernisation in this field are presented. The authors applied general scientific methods of studying objective reality, peculiar to legal sciences: systematic document analysis, metaanalysis, structural-functional analysis, teleological, comparative, critical approach, generalisation and prediction.

From the very beginning of existence of society, there also existed crime, in one or another its ways of manifestation. Historically the punishment tool and the goal of the punishment was greatly dependent on the existing authority, political system, traditions and scale of values in society.