Management of conflict of interest in the public sector in Lithuania: theory and practice

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the nature and the concept of conflict of interest, legal and ethical issues of its management in the public sector in Lithuania. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents an overview of selected scientific literature and legal acts on the concept of conflict of interest in the public sector in Lithuania and peculiarities of its management. The analysis also focuses on the Chief Official Ethics Commission’s role managing conflicts of interest, so for this reason statistical data analys is of the COEC activities is presented separately. Findings– The analysis has shown that as one of the major anticorruption institution in Lithuania the Chief Official Ethics Commission supervises transparency of civil service activities and decisions, implements measures on the prevention of breaches of institutional ethics. The growing number of claims and notifications received by the OEC not only shows the growing trust in this institution, but also limits the proper implementation of its mission. For this reason the COEC shall concentrate more on preventive measures, which in the future may have positive ffect not only on reducing the number of violations of the Law on the Adjustment of Public and Private Interests in the Civil service the Code of Conduct for State Politicians or any other legal act regulating the norms of official ethics, but also insubstantial complaints. Research limitations/implications –This research paper is the introductory part of the broader research performed by the authors on the management of conflict of interest in the public sector in Lithuania. The authors will provide a more detailed conflict of interest management analysis and not discussed legal and ethical aspects in their future scientific articles. Practical implications –The findings will contribute to the better nderstanding of the concept of the management of conflict of interest and Chief Official Ethics Commission’s role regulating conflicts of interest in the civil service in Lithuania. Originality/Valuhe research paper is the first paper in Lithuania investigating legal and ethical issues of the anagement of conflict of interest in the public sector in Lithuania and Chief Official Ethics Commission’s role egulating conflicts of interest in the civil service in Lithuania.