Series:Center for the Study of Democracy - CSD Policy Briefs

CSD Policy Brief No. 11: The Future of Corruption Benchmarking in the EU

CSD Policy Brief No. 11: The Future of Corruption Benchmarking in the EU

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Keywords: corruption;

Reducing corruption has been among the priorities of most international institutions over a number of years now. In particular, corruption was a major preoccupation during the 2004 and 2007 enlargements of the European Union and continues to dominate the agenda of the initial period of Bulgaria and Romania’s membership. Not being in the core of EU’s acquis, anti-corruption was a relatively new matter to tackle and, in contrast to other areas of EU competence, it had little specific guidelines to offer applicant countries. Still, the significance of transparent and accountable government for the functioning of the EU internal market and the delivery of its core policies required that anticorruption be made one of the key requirements for membership. In this process, the European Commission advanced its capacity to evaluate anti-corruption progress. Following an initial focus on adherence to international standards and acceding to major conventions, attention later shifted to meeting specific good governance targets. Member states have also contributed to understanding corruption and recommending action through the mechanism of peer reviews.

CSD Policy Brief No. 27: Developing an EU Competence in Measuring

CSD Policy Brief No. 27: Developing an EU Competence in Measuring Corruption

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

Keywords: Corruption;

MAIN POINTS 􀂾 The anti‐corruption reporting mechanism that the European Commission is intending to introduce should be complemented by regular measurement of the incidence of corruption. Well tested methodologies already exist. 􀂾 Having its own facility for measuring corruption would allow the EU to: * be credible in its assessments, especially of candidate countries; * be capable of making relevant recommendations * carry out corruption risk assessments * broaden its policy options against corruption (currently focused on law enforcement). 􀂾 The Bulgarian experience in measuring corruption would be particularly relevant in the development of such a facility. The Corruption Monitoring System, implemented by the CSD, generates data on the incidence of corrupt transactions and assesses corruption risk in the various public and corporate sectors.

CSD Policy Brief No. 43: Corruption and Anti-Corruption in Bulgaria (2012 – 2013)

CSD Policy Brief No. 43: Corruption and Anti-Corruption in Bulgaria (2012 – 2013)

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English,Bulgarian

Keywords: Corruption;

The corruption trends indices for Bulgaria in 2013 are calculated through the Corruption Monitoring System (CMS) developed by the Center for the Study of Democracy and Vitosha Research. The results show that administrative corruption among the population in Bulgaria over the past two years remains practically unchanged. On average, over the period 2012 – 2013, 14% of the adult population has been involved in corruption transactions at least once per year.

CSD Policy Brief No. 08: The Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy 2006

CSD Policy Brief No. 08: Конкурентоспособност на българската икономика 2006

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

Bulgaria’s position in the world oldest and most comprehensive annual report on the competitiveness the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006 of IMD (International Institute for Management Development) was presented several days before the European Commission report on Bulgaria’s readiness for accession. With the partnership of the Center for the Study of Democracy this year Bulgaria was included for the first time in the report, issued since 1989. The report ranks and analyzes how 61 selected economies creates and sustain the competitiveness of their enterprises. It stands out among reputed international ratings with the predominance of more reliable statistical data over the qualitative (survey) data. The rating uses 312 indicators covering a broad spectrum of competitiveness, classified in four major groups: economic performance, business efficiency, infrastructure and government efficiency. The policy brief makes an overview of the report's main findings and recommendations with focus on the Bulgarian economic performance.

CSD Policy Brief No. 24: Introducing Organized Crime Threat Assessment

CSD Policy Brief No. 24: Оценка на заплахите от организирана престъпност

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

During the past decade organised crime threats have taken on an increasing importance and have become central to the national and EU policy debates on domestic security and citizen safety. The dynamics of globalisation combined with the dismantlement of the Iron Curtain in the heart of Europe led to growing cross-border flows of people, goods, money and information. On the other hand East European transition was marked from its start by a fast rise of criminality, which soon translated into unprecedented levels of transnational organised crime across Europe. Further to that the growing complexity of financial markets created opportunities for white collar criminals, adding some hitherto unknown criminal phenomena.

CSD Policy Brief No. 58: Transparent Governance for Greater Energy Security in CEE

CSD Policy Brief No. 58: TRANSPARENTNA UPRAVA I ENERGETSKA BEZBEDNOST U CENTRALNOJ I ISTOČNOJ EVROPI

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Serbian

The national and regional energy security of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries has become a hot topic of discussion in the EU recently, focusing the attention of experts, policy makers, and the general public on ongoing and future energy projects but also on the features of energy governance in these countries. The interruption of gas supplies to Europe as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian pricing dispute in 2009, the continuing Russian-Ukrainian crisis after the annexation of Crimea, and the EU-Russia controversies regarding the South Stream pipeline project, as well as Gazprom’s non-compliance with the EU regulations in several anti-trust cases in the past few years are the major cornerstones that shape the CEE energy security framework and policy options as the region remains heavily dependent on Russian oil, gas, and nuclear technology. At the same time, the fragile democratic traditions in the CEE countries, the existing networks of political protectionism and economic oligarchy, and the opaque business practices nurtured by corruption and links with organized crime, have been reinforced by the negative implications of Russian economic and geo-political influence. Russia has exploited its dominant position in the energy market and its long-term links with certain political and economic groups to shape political decisions across the region according to its own interests, but often to the detriment of the home country consumers. The current review of energy security risks in four selected CEE countries, two energy poor – Bulgaria and Serbia, and two energy-resourced– Romania and Ukraine, assesses the factual situation per se and the transparency and accountability of energy policy governance in the region.

CSD Policy Brief No. 63: ASSESSING THE VULNERABILITY EXTORTION ORGANIZED IN CERTAIN SECTORS AND ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF MIGRANTS

CSD Policy Brief No. 63: VALUTARE LA VULNERABILITÀ ALL’ESTORSIONE ORGANIZZATA IN DETERMINATI SETTORI ECONOMICI E COMUNITÀ DI MIGRANTI

Author(s): / Language(s): Italian

Extortion racketeering has long been pointed out as the defining activity of organised crime. It has also been identified as one of the most effective tools used by organised crime in the accumulation of financial resources and the penetration of the legal economy. Although in recent years this crime has not been among the top listed organised crime threats in the strategic EU policy documents, it still remains ever present in European countries. The seriousness of the phenomenon has been recognised at the EU level and the crime has been listed in a number of EU legal acts in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.

CSD Policy Brief No. 98: Capture Proofing Media in Southeast Europe

CSD Policy Brief No. 98: Capture Proofing Media in Southeast Europe

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The emerging democracies in Southеast Europe (SEE) represent one of the most vulnerable regions in Europe to foreign malign influence. On the one hand, domestic developments in SEE states related to democratic backsliding and the erosion of civic and political liberties have fed into low governance standards and public disenchantment. On the other hand, foreign authoritarian states, primarily Russia and increasingly China, have intensified their sharp power influence efforts directed at further derailing faith in liberal democracy and presenting authoritarianism as a more viable political alternative. This brief presents the policy recommendations on a comprehensive Transatlantic response to Russia and China’s media capture influence in Southeast Europe, including EU members Bulgaria and Croatia as well as EU aspirants Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo. It reviews the scope, means and reach of Russia’s sharp power influence through the phenomenon of media capture in Southeast Europe and proposes a framework for addressing governance gaps in the Balkans, which could help build resilience to foreign malign influence in the region.

CSD Policy Brief No. 95: Now or never: will Bulgaria catch the last train to green economic recovery?

CSD Policy Brief No. 95: Now or never: will Bulgaria catch the last train to green economic recovery?

Author(s): Radostina Primova / Language(s): English

The twin goals of green and digital transition are at the heart of the next EU budget-and-recovery package 2021-2027. With enhanced climate conditionality, EU spending priorities will be tightly linked to EU climate policies. The endorsement of the more ambitious EU 2030 emissions reduction target of 55% necessitate a coherent coal phase out strategy to be put in place in Bulgaria as early as possible.Yet, both the draft national operational programmes and the draft National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Bulgaria lack a comprehensive assessment and long term perspective on how to best mobilise the available EU funds. They need to better demonstrate significant emission reductions across different sectors. The focus of the Plan and the operational programmes should move away from large infrastructure projects (including nuclear and gas) to providing resources for more decentralised sustainable energy projects, tackling energy poverty and supply diversification.

CSD Policy Brief No. 93: Mapping Policy Options for Renewable Energy Communities in Europe

CSD Policy Brief No. 93: Mapping Policy Options for Renewable Energy Communities in Europe

Author(s): Radostina Primova,Christophe Rolland,Todor Galev / Language(s): English

Consumer (co-)ownership in renewable energy (RE) is an essential ingredient of the overall success of the transition to a low-carbon economy and society in Europe. When consumers acquire ownership in RE projects, they can become prosumers generating a part of the energy they consume. Thus, reducing their overall energy costs, while at the same time potentially generating additional income, through the sale of excess production. Yet, becoming a prosumer requires availability of time, headspace and access to substantial up-front investment, as well as access to information and knowledge of the various possible options. This creates burdens for many EU citizens, especially vulnerable groups, including women, who are underrepresented in technological industries, and those who are of low-income, energy poor or low-educated.Based upon the findings and conclusions from recent research on the economic, social, technological and governance enabling conditions and barriers in promoting prosumership and renewable energy communities in Europe, an international team of researchers and practitioners is endeavouring to facilitate the co-ownership in RE. It has done so by piloting a new financial model, the Consumer Stock Ownership Plan, in Italy, the Czech Republic and Germany with numerous European cities following.As a financial instrument, the Consumer Stock Ownership Plan brings several advantages with regard to the set-up of Renewable Energy Communities. It also provides consumers with flexible participation, external financing and long-term loan repayment, thereby encouraging the engagement of low-income households.

CSD Policy Brief No. 88: Energy Transition Governance for Better Energy Security in Europe

CSD Policy Brief No. 88: Energy Transition Governance for Better Energy Security in Europe

Author(s): Todor Galev / Language(s): English

The European Green Deal pledge of the incoming European Commission confirms that energy transition and the European Energy Union will remain centre stage in European policy-making. The combination of new regulatory and technological innovations, the deepening of the interactions between energy and climate policies, and the corresponding shifts in individual and collective behaviour opens new opportunities for business and society to benefit from the energy transition. But they also provoke new governance challenges to both policy makers and citizens. The advent of the prosumer, the energy producing consumer, as a foundation of successful energy transition, requires profound changes at the EU, national, local, and household level. In particular, the need for increasing the social acceptability and public awareness of energy transition policies, puts new emphasis on the energy security four-fold challenge of availability, reliability, affordability and sustainability. Solving this complex challenge requires understanding of the factors influencing household prosumption choices, in the first place. But it also calls for adequate energy transition policy choices and effective tools to steer quickly through the changing energy security landscape.Europe, as a large energy consumer faces different choices from individual member states. Navigating these choices has become more complex and challenging amid continuing environmental challenges, the souring of US – China trade relations and the resurgent Russia confrontation. Consumers have grown more concerned with the rising cost of energy transition, in particular in lower income member states in Central and Eastern Europe. Russia’s strategic political projects in gas supply like Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream have divided the European Commission and member states. Similarly, LNG terminals and shale gas development have attracted supporters and opponents, with no common European policy in sight. New nuclear power plants such as Paks II in Hungary, Hinckley Point in the UK, Belene in Bulgaria have underscored the importance of designing and implementing socially inclusive and sustainable policies alongside the economic benefits and energy security.