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NATO COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVES ̶ VECTORS OF EUROATLANTIC SECURITY AND STABILITY

Author(s): Florian CÎRCIUMARU / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The 2010 Strategic Concept “Active Engagement, Modern Defence” is avery clear and resolute statement on NATO’s core tasks and principles, its values, theevolving security environment and the Alliance’s strategic objectives for the next decade.Based on its unique capabilities and operational experience, including expertise in civilianmilitaryinteraction, NATO can contribute to the efforts of the international community formaintaining peace, security and stability, in full coordination with other actors, such asinternational security organisation, state actors and non state actors, non-governmentalorganizations and private volunteer organizations.This paper intends to overview the most important areas of interest concerningcooperation and partnership initiatives that NATO established during its history, as well ascooperation’s influence over the Euroatlantic security and stability, based on the latestdevelopments in the field.

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RUSSIA – NATO HYBRID CLASH: HISTORY AND LEGACIES

Author(s): Iulia Anghel / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The break out of the Ukrainian crisis in 2014 acted as trigger for a major paradigm shift in an ostensibly pacified East European security architecture. Previous signals following a long-term reconciliation of security objectives of the two key regional actors,NATO and Russia, were soon forgotten, East European flank being trapped under siege of new hybrid warfare. Transformed into the key word of new geopolitical and security challenges, hybrid war made the subject of prolific inquiries, mostly highlighting themes as grey propaganda, subversive electoral interventions, cyber terrorism and, last but not least,the weaponization of culture, identities and discourses. Despite the tendency to associate the hybrid mutation to a reinterpretation of Russia’s Cold War security dogma, present ascent of ambiguous and non-linear conflicts could engage a more complex filiation. In this context, the article aims to briefly discuss the implication of Russia vs. NATO long-term hybrid clash,exploring topics as sources of Russian hybrid strategy and consequences generate dicreasing tendency towards weaponization of globalization.Keywords:

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PERCEPTION OF THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT THROUGH NATO MEMBER STATES’ STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS

Author(s): Vendula Divišová / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Development of armed forces in the long-term requires a complex understanding of emerging security challenges that will potentially need to be addressed. This contribution will focus on how selected NATO member states differ in perception of the security environment through their strategic documents focused on a long-term view for defence. A threat matrix based on these conceptions exposes several differences in security environment assessment among the Alliance member states. However, these countries should ideally perceive their security concerns as interconnected and shared to achieve greater cohesion and support for joint responses. The analysis also reveals an abrupt change in the assessments following the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.

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DEFINING THE EXTENDED BLACK SEA REGION: FROM GEOSTRATEGIC REASONING TO PSYCHOSOCIAL REPRESENTATION

Author(s): Alexandra SARCINSCHI / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The aim of this paper is to analyse the multidimensional significance of the term “extended region” with an emphasis on the Black Sea: from the geographic dimension to the economic, political, cultural, and security ones. The main hypothesis is that defining the Extended Black Sea Region needs not only geostrategic reasoning, but also a psycho social one that is important to explain the current fragmentation trends manifested here in the last years. The hypothesis will be validated by analysing both the theoretical framework and the main economic, political, cultural and military indicators that characterize the countries in the region.

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After the Election – Before the New Start. The European Union in Transition

Author(s): Eckart D. Stratenschulte / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Report by Prof. Dr. Eckart D. Stratenschulte Chairman of the Executive board of the German National Foundation, on the outcomes of the recent European Parliament elections.

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Диалогът с гражданите за бъдещето на Европейския съюз – резултати и въпросителни

Author(s): Gergana Radoykova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The aim of this report is to assess the results of the ambitious initiative for dialogue with the European citizens in the light of the debate on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU and the key elections to the European Parliament.

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The EU’s Enlargement Fifteen Years Ago and Now: Declining Credibility and Positive Dynamics?

Author(s): Antoaneta Dimitrova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

I would like to start by congratulating the Department of European Studies of Sofia University with its twentieth anniversary and its contribution to the development of European studies in Bulgaria and even more so to the development of a European Bulgaria. Professor Shikova, its founder and driving force, has been involved with Bulgaria’s bid to join the EU from its very beginning and has helped many of us understand the process better and launch research into European Union policies and institutions. This is a great moment to thank her in person and acknowledge her great contribution.

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Разширяването на Европейския съюз в геополитически контекст

Author(s): Sonia Hinkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

This article analyses the geopolitical dimensions of the EU enlargement. Various factors and processes are studied through the theory of international relations while applying the systematic approach. As per this approach the structure of the modern international environment and its transition towards polycentrism is examined in this paper.

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Perspectives of the European Enlargement Process – Between Reform and Crisis

Author(s): Andrej Lepavcov / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The European Union has gone through several crises in the past decade, which showed the divides and the need for reforms. The enlargement process did not stop, but is slowed due to the level of preparedness of the Western Balkans counties and the lack of consensus between the EU Member States. Additional concerns are present due to the different views of the largest members stated and their calls for a multi-speed Europe. The space for enlargement which would be left for the new EU Commission is getting narrow, in times where the EU elections and Brexit are raising tensions and uncertainty. What should be the answer of the Western Balkans countries?

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Евразийският икономически съюз – конкуренция на Европейския съюз в района на Източното партньорство

Author(s): Marieta Rabohchiyska / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia was intensively seeking ways to reunite the newly independent republics. Six of them (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus) are part of the Eastern Partnership initiative launched by the European Union in 2009 in the broader context of its neighbourhood policy. President Putin's ambition to reintegrate part of the post-Soviet space is reflected in the Eurasian Economic Union (EES), established in January 2015, a new form of economic cooperation between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan modelled on the European Union with the aim of establishing Eurasian internal market. Or perhaps it is an attempt of Eurasian integration and even its deepening?

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Brexit Metaphors: Understanding Britain’s Relationship with Europe Through Mental Shortcuts

Author(s): Georgi Iliev / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Between 2017 and 2019, the author has created over 400 original metaphors to describe various aspects of the UK-EU relationship and the Brexit process. These topics are explored in 161 published blog articles on www.BrexitMetaphors. blogspot.com, which cover several broad themes: economic, political, historical, geographical and socio-cultural. In the present paper, the meaning of the metaphors is elaborated in brackets where it is not obvious. Metaphors are exceptionally useful both to illustrate to an audience (explain and help to understand) and to influence an audience (consciously and unconsciously). “The metaphor is perhaps one of man's most fruitful potentialities. Its efficacy verges on magic…”, said Ortega y Gasset. It is a thinking tool, along the lines of the definition of philosopher Daniel Dennett: “You cannot do much carpentry with your bare hands and you cannot do much thinking with your bare brain.” Thus, the metaphor is a useful mental model, a mental shortcut. At the same time, the burden of proof in designing a metaphor is low as any claims for similarities are alluded to, rather than stated outright, and the degree of parallelism may vary significantly. Therefore, it is often applied as a powerful tool of manipulation, e.g. in the articles of British Brexiteer politician Boris Johnson in The Sunday Times.

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Overcoming Bilateral Disputes as Part of the EU Accession Process

Author(s): Vasko Naumovski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Bilateral disputes have presented a significant obstacle for EU enlargement, especially in the region of South-Eastern Europe. The disputes between Slovenia and Croatia, Macedonia and Greece, Turkey and Greece/Cyprus demonstrated the need for a more cohesive approach in order to avoid situations where bilateral issues could pose a threat to the enlargement policy. Moreover, future enlargement rounds may be endangered by additional disputes – Croatia and Serbia, Serbia and Kosovo, Albania and Serbia, etc. Historical, cultural and political issues often favour national interests, while the common European interest remains neglected. The idea for a “Europe whole, free and at peace” can be realized only with the necessary political will and courage, strong determination for completion of the European project, and continuous commitment to the process that has brought benefits to millions of European – the enlargement. Instead of maintaining the fear of “importing conflicts”, the EU is the most appropriate actor that can contribute to solve them, using all the tools available in the accession process. Lessons learned, existing challenges, as well as potential outcomes are analyzed in this paper.

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The Challenges of Secularism and European Integration (The North Macedonian Case)

Author(s): Aleksandar Spasenovski / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The separation of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia from the Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia happened in the light of the major tectonic movements in the former European socialist/communist countries in the last decades of the 20th century, as a result of series internal political, economic and social conditions and circumstances. With regard to the SFRY, these processes brought to the surface some conservative myths of constituent nations, which in the process of transition of the constitutional and political systems have built, on the foundation of these premises, new top priorities – national states with a democratic order, free and competitive entrepreneurship, market economy and commerce, political and social pluralism in accordance with the standards of the developed west-European democracies. Having in mind the opposing constitutional concepts, the one that was falling apart vis-à-vis the one that was to be created, and under the pressure from major global trends, the process of a forceful collapse of the former Yugoslavia was initiated, which resulted in the formation of today's Macedonia as a sovereign, independent and democratic country which stood for full observing of the common democratic principles of the international law contained in the UN acts, as well as in the documents of the other international, European and regional organizations. By installing the new constitutional, legal and political order, Macedonia was to respond to the challenges of the new age.

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The Multiannual Financial Framework and the Future of the European Union

Author(s): Dencho Georgiev / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This paper will look at the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 and will explore how to achieve a better future for Europe through compliance with legally binding values and objectives of the EU: democracy, equality, the rule of law, economic, social and territorial cohesion and solidarity between the Member States. It is suggested that by introducing progressivity, a reform of the EU’s finances, involving a change of paradigm in the financing of policies with redistributive effects, and a reform of the system of the EU’s own resources could ensure that solidarity becomes a matter of the rule of law and not of arbitrary governance.

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Засилването на протекционистичните тенденции: потенциалните ефекти върху държавите членки на Европейския съюз

Author(s): Iskra Hristova-Balkanska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Reduction of fees, increase of the quality-to-price ratio of the international transport and especially deepening of the information and telecommunication connections contribute to the changes in the manner in which the international trade and investment transactions are conducted. The development of the international trade in the post-crisis period differs significantly from that in the pre-crisis period. The economic and financial environment is uncertain.

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Казусът Брекзит: възможни сценарии

Author(s): Svetla Boneva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The aim of this article is to outline possible scenarios for the UK's withdrawal from the EU, as well as their most likely political and economic implications for the country. The research methods used in the analysis include elements of the historical-logical method and content analysis. An a posteriori research approach is utilized, and in its essence the research has a conceptual characteristic. The results of the study represent an analysis of the relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom in the context of Brexit. The course of the unprecedented, tedious, but undoubtedly interesting from an analytical point of view, withdrawal negotiations between the United Kingdom and the EU is outlined. The study concludes that 60 years after the ratification of the Treaties of Rome, the time came when the first countries wishing to leave the Union are emerging. Until the adoption of the Withdrawal Agreement (11 March 2019 in Strasbourg), it could be claimed that the negotiating teams are working together. After 11 March 2019, the ball is in the UK’s court. Brexit process has stalled on the side of its initiator.

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Общо културно наследство – повече приобщаваща Европа

Author(s): Ivan Kabakov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The aim of this report is to present the significance and the aspects of the common cultural heritage for Europe. Author discusses the cultural heritage as a factor in the unification outlining its relevancy and basis in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Furthermore, different levels of cultural heritage are presented as well as EU’s areas of competency. Author concludes that Europe is strong with its shared values and common heritage, thus, the emerging concerns over Europe’s identity shall be resolved to take successful policy actions in the external to the EU environment.

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Culture and EU’s Sustainability

Author(s): Wang Xiaohai / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The EU now is indulged in a multitude of challenges and crises. Member States such as France, Germany and Italy are suffering from their internal problems, e.g., immigration, failure in general election, financial problems and so forth. The sustainability of the EU is at stake. It is believed by many scholars that the European integration is a multi-dimensional process, involving economic, political, social and cultural dimensions. A “culturally deficit project of integration” is fragile. This paper probes into the role of culture played in the process of European integration and the importance of culture in the context of the current crises faced by the EU. To keep the EU sustainable, culture should not be ignored because culture is the ‘glue’ that joints the Member States together and the ‘lubricant’ that keeps the European integration moving forward smoothly.

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Европа между визионерските проекти и съвременната политическа реалност

Author(s): Emilia Georgieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The report provides a detailed retrospective of visionary projects for Europe/EU in the period from the Middle Ages to present. Within two relatively differential parts – prior to and after the establishment of the European Communities/European Union, different points of view on the European unity have found a place, united under the motto "Europe is Europe's last chance". The second part especially focuses on Maastricht Europe, as well as on France’s and Germany’s common ambition for the European project, namely: "a democratic, sovereign and united Europe, competitive Europe, Europe that is a fundament for prosperity and protects its economy, its social model, and its cultural diversity. "

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Европейска идентичност и европейско общество: липсващата социална основа на европейския интеграционен проект

Author(s): Plamen Ralchev / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The logic of the European integration from the very beginning has been aimed at integration of the national markets and economies for several decades. This led to economic and political union, as well as economic and monetary union. With no dispute over the achievements or highlighting the challenges of all this, this report focuses attention on the missing or underestimated dimensions of the European integration, namely the social fundament of the integration.

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