Rusijos Federacijos Kaliningrado srities socialinės ekonominės raidos XXI amžiuje bruožai

LTStraipsnis skirtas specifinio Rusijos regiono – Kaliningrado srities – socialinio ekonominio vystymosi posovietiniu laikotarpiu analizei. Didelis dėmesys skiriamas srities statusui, kaip pagrindiniam šio regiono plėtros determinantui, problema nagrinėjama aptariant centrinio ir vietinio lygmens statuso transformacijos koncepcijas. Pateikiamos esminės pagrindinių programinių dokumentų, nustatančių prioritetines Kaliningrado srities socialinės ekonominės raidos XXI a. kryptis, charakteristikos. Vertinant regiono raidą atkreipiamas dėmesys į sisteminius planavimo trūkumus, įvertinamas pakitusios geopolitinės situacijos ir pasaulinių naftos kainų kritimo poveikis kaliningradiečių gyvenimo lygiui. Galimas strateginis regiono raidos proveržis siejamas su srities statuso problemos sprendimu. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: Kaliningrado sritis; Regiono statusas; Socialinis ekonominis vystymasis; Kaliningrad oblast; Regional status; Socio-economic development.

ENKaliningrad Oblast is not a typical region of Russia. Geographically isolated from Russian territory, during the Soviet period it was a highly militarized and economically backward region. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the question of Kaliningrad region status became strategically important for its socio-economic development. A dilemma arose: will the region remain Russian military outpost or will it become a modern European region. The latter scenario meant the necessity to provide the region with a special status – give more rights, more freedom and independence. At the end of 20th century and the beginning of 21st century it seemed that Russian Government realized the specifics of Kaliningrad Oblast and was ready to provide it with a special status. In 1991 a free economic zone was established in the region, and talks about a possibility of turning Kaliningrad into “Baltic Hong Kong” started. During this period the European Union (EU) gave additional impetus to the vision of Kaliningrad region status change. Brussels aimed to help Russia turn the region into a territory of fruitful cooperation. In 1997 a partnership and cooperation agreement between Russia and EU including the intention to transform Kaliningrad Region into a “pilot” region was drawn. The latter meant that the region was supposed to become a bridge joining Russia with EU and the West. In 1999, in Moscow, a strategy of the development of relationship between Russia and EU was published in which Russia called Kaliningrad Oblast a “pilot” region and suggested EU drawing a special agreement concerning Kaliningrad region. However, in fact Moscow was not planning to give any special rights and independence to Kaliningrad Oblast. In 2002 it became clear that the region would remain an integral and fully controlled part of Russia, the development of which would mainly depend on the interests of Moscow and not of the region. The status of the region has not changed to this day.Kaliningrad Oblast does not differ in any aspects from other subjects of Russian Federation. Recently the Government of Kaliningrad Oblast, members of political parties and non-governmental organizations have been trying to persuade Moscow of the necessity to publish a federal law establishing a special status of the region. In 2001 when there still were hopes about Russia’s cooperation with the West, the region’s development programme for the period until 2010 was approved. The main aim of the programme was to create conditions for stable socio-economic development, reach the level of development of the neighbouring countries (Lithuania and Poland), and establish a favourable climate for investments for the ally between Russia and European Union. In the programme all funds were to go to priority sectors, where amber mining and processing, fishing and fish processing industry, and agro-industrial complex were of top priority. In 2008 a new edition of the Programme establishing the following regional development trends for the period 2009–2014 was approved: to improve ecological situation in the region, ensure energy security of the region, develop tourism and recreation, and expand the sector of social services. In 2014 the Programme was renewed one more time for the period until 2020 where the following plans were included: to establish sectors in the regional economy able to compete in the world market, modernize social infrastructure of the area, fully exploit touristic and recreational potential of the area, and etc. During the above period two programme documents of long-term regional development were prepared by the government of Kaliningrad Oblast. In 2006 a programme of socio-economical development of Kaliningrad region in 2007–2016, and in 2012 a long-term strategy of socio-economical development of the region were published.Key priorities highlighted in the programme were efficient integration into international production, labour and capital markets, technological modernization of production process, ensuring the competiveness of Kaliningrad region in the Baltic sea macro-region, and others, while in the list of aims, the main one was reaching European standard of living and environment quality. In the strategy approved in 2012, three possible developmental scenarios were constructed – inert, active and ambitious. The Government of the region then declared its intention to follow the ambitious scenario what practically meant the revival of the concept of “pilot” region: the region must turn down concessions and preferences from Moscow, the development of inner market, exploitation of objective competitive advantages (amber resources, geographical position and climate) and joining international division of labour are to become main developmental priorities. Having such strategy, tourism, amber mining and processing, IT sector and the development of traditional industries have been chosen as priorities. Specific indicators and statistical data show that all programmes and strategies of the development of Kaliningrad Oblast have not been essentially realized. The strong side of the documents is objective identification of developmental problems of the region and its individual economy branches, such as energy resources and raw material supply and tariffs, transport and service difficulties, shortage of qualified labour force, complicated ecological situation, different level of development of western and eastern parts of the region, high level of bureaucratic barriers and corruption, and etc. [...]. [From the publication]