New modes of governance and EU structural and cohesion policy in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

The paper aims to identify, measure and assess the emergence and evolution of new modes of governance (NMG) in the regional development policy of the new Baltic EU-member states: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. The author applies theoretical and empirical investigation and case studies, to illustrate the application of new forms at different levels of governance. It is shown how new political institutions and legal frameworks were founded and old institutions restructured during the transformation process in the three countries, and how the structure of governance changed at macro and micro levels. As the NMG has developed, parallel with the preparations for EU membership and since accession, the paper also examines what role the EU has played in the process and to what extent new institutions have been modelled on those in older member-states. What lies at the core of the NMG is activity
by the civil sphere. So special attention is paid to connections between political institutions and civil society. The overall picture of good governance in these countries includes an account of the obstacles to new governance. Particular attention is paid to transnational, crossborder cooperation, which is one of the most developed fields of the NMG in the region. Also presented are views taken by the Baltic states on the EU idea and practice of NMG. With its findings and case studies, the paper sets out to add to knowledge of what types and changes of institutions and governance fit best with the socio-economic development needs of the Baltic states.