The European Parliament and the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018

Author(s): Markus J. Prutsch / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

Starting with a brief account of the general importance ascribed to cultural heritage in European policy making and past initiatives in this field, this article examines the importance and actual role of the European Parliament in initiating and implementing the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018. It analyses the political reasoning and priorities of the European Parliament with regard to the Year, and concludes with some reflections on the ex-post evaluation of the Year’s achievements and Parliament’s future priorities pertaining to cultural heritage at the European political level.

THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE OF ALBANIA: Perceptions and Realities 2012

Author(s): Alba Cela / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2017

The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) brings to the reader the 2012 edition of the yearly survey study ‘The European Perspective of Albania’, an authoritative and established publication, part of the European program which is one of the key programs of the AIIS regular activity. After nine years of carefully collecting, reporting, analyzing and interpreting the perceptions and expectations of the Albanian public related to EU and integration, AIIS has now a valuable experience and has built a solid reputation both with domestic as well as with international institutions referring valuable data and providing practical recommendations in relation to furthering the citizens involvement in the integration process.

THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE OF ALBANIA: Perceptions and Realities 2013

Author(s): Alba Cela / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2017

The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has been measuring the pulse of public opinion in Albania regarding European integration since 2003. Through its yearly edition of the national public opinion poll “The European perspective of Albania: Perceptions and Realities” that identifies and interprets the perceptions, evaluations and thoughts of Albanian citizens (selected to make up a fairly representative sample), AIIS has been of assistance with its recommendations stemming from the study to a variety of relevant actors in both Tirana and Brussels. European institutions, their representatives in Albania, Albanian and regional media and actors in government, academia and civil society alike have benefitted from this knowledge and this insight provided every year fitted with comparisons and alerts on emerging trends.

THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE OF ALBANIA: Perceptions and Realities 2014

Author(s): Megi Llubani / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2014

This report offers a panorama of people’s perceptions in Albania opposite the realities of the European integration process. It does so by gauging these perceptions in several dimensions of the process and tries to understand it from the perspectives of ordinary citizens, who are essential towards achieving the long time goal and aspiration of Albania. These perspectives are faced with the realities of the EU integration process and the challenges and difficulties the country is facing in the path of integration. The results and conclusions are directed to all the political and nonpolitical actors in the Albanian society, with the aim to reflect upon people’s perceptions and expectations as well as what can be further improved.

THE EUROPEAN POLITICAL MODEL: INTERGOVERNMENTAL FEDERALISM

Author(s): Mihaiela Buşe / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2012

The European political model generated numerous analyses of the theorists in an attempt to manage its classification in a concrete paradigm. The theories and concepts of the European integration have as a starting point the functionalism, continuing with the neofunctionalism, the inter-governmentalism, the federalism and the multi-level governance. There have been numerous attempts to define the EU as a functional federalism, as an intergovernmental federalism, organization sui generis, etc.. Under the Lisbon Treaty, the latest analyses of the political nature of the European Union identify the intergovernmental federalism as the European political model.

THE EUROPEAN SECURITY STRATEGY REVISED. THE ROMANIAN PERSPECTIVE

Author(s): Bogdan Lucian Aurescu / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

The Romanian debate concerning national interests within the EU is still prone to generalisation. The current security environment reveals major evolutions that the EU, as well as Member States, must take into account when formulating their strategic objectives. In this respect, a significant role must be assumed by the European Security Strategy which, in its turn, must be re-evaluated according to current realities and the conditions set forth by the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty.

The European Transformation of Modern Turkey

Author(s): Kemal Derviş,Michael Emerson,Daniel Gros,Sinan Ülgen / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2004

The outcome of a research project carried out by CEPS and the Economics and Foreign Policy Forum (EFPF) of Istanbul, this book examines in detail the challenges and opportunities that would arise with Turkey’s full membership of the European Union. The authors, consisting of both Turkish and West European experts, address such controversial issues as Turkey’s cost to Europe, the potential for economic convergence and the implications of Turkish membership for the future of Europe. The authors also identify the areas where a closer cooperation between Turkey and the EU in advance of full membership would be advantageous for both parties. They focus with this aim on a set of measures ranging from ‘virtual membership’ in certain policy areas to more specific transition policies. In short, this book gives a clear picture about the nature of the topics and the issues that would dominate full membership negotiations with Turkey.

THE EUROPEAN UNION - EVOLUTION AND A HISTORY OF COOPERATION

Author(s): Claudiu Gabriel BONACIU / Language(s): English / Issue: 10/2018

Review of: Bărbulescu, I. Gh., New Europe-European identity and Model,Polirom publishing house, 2015

The European Union and Britain’s Exit Process: A Neo-Functionalist Enquiry

Author(s): Jide Ibietan,Andikara H. Etiubon / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2018

This paper examines Britain’s exit (BREXIT) process and its impact on the European Union, using Neo-Functionalism as a theoretical anchor which reinforces the explanation of nationalistic activities within international organisations as having significant effect, and this typifies the BREXIT process. With a reliance on secondary data backed by textual analysis, four propositions were advanced and discussed in the paper, and this informs the observation that nationalism offers a platform for opposition to the existing European Union political structure, as the United Kingdom has been adamant concerning the continuous centralisation of decision making in Brussels and Frankfurt.

The European Union and EUFOR Althea’s Contribution to a Dysfunctional Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bureaucratic Politics, Emergent Strategy?

Author(s): Simon Sweeney / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2018

This article assesses the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in the Western Balkans, with a focus on EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Althea is a military operation that conducts mainly civilian functions as well as the training of the Bah Armed Forces; its ‘civilianisation’ is symptomatic of CSDP’s orientation as a mainly civilian crisis management instrument. Althea works within the framework of the Union’s ‘comprehensive approach’ to regional development and the accession process of the Western Balkans to the EU. I argue that the mission displays the bureaucratic modus operandi of CSDP and not a Grand Strategy approach. Nevertheless, CSDP’s incremental, lowest-common-denominator, low cost, low risk bureaucratic politics have enabled a form of emergent strategy that complements the Union’s multi-instrument and comprehensive approach to development throughout the Western Balkans. I further suggest that the EU Global Strategy (EUGS) and the newly activated Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) provides opportunities for EU member states to build on low key emergent strategy to ensure that CSDP develops the substance and actorness needed to address current threats.

The European Union and the conflict in Ukraine (2014–2018)

Author(s): Bogdan Koszel / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2020

The author has analyzed the European Union’s policy towards Ukraine and put forward a thesis that, in view of Russia’s opposition and the lack of progress in internal reforms, Ukraine has no immediate prospects of EU membership. Although Ukraine has been granted political and financial support in the aftermath of the Russian aggression (annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas), the extent of bilateral cooperation is limited to the signing of an Association Agreement and the abolition of the visa requirement for Ukrainian citizens. Economic sanctions against Russia symbolize the unity of EU member states, but remain the only instrument that can stop the neo-imperial intentions of the Russian Federation. This study employs the methods of systemic, institutional and legal analysis and the decision method.

The European Union and the United States on the Way to Economic Integration

Author(s): Lenka Fojtíková / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2015

The foreign trade and investment flows between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA) represent the biggest bilateral cooperation in the world. However, the economic and trade relations of these countries have not confirmed until now any preferential agreement that would enable to carry out these bilateral relations on a more favourable base than the multilateral trade cooperation based on the Most-favoured nation clause in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Although the idea about the creation of the Transatlantic Free Trade Area (TAFTA) was already open earlier, the EU-US negotiations about the creation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) have only been managed since July 2013. The paper is focused on the current EU-US negotiations about TTIP and displays the development of trade and investment flows between the EU and US in the period of 2001 to 2012.

The European Union and transnational religion

Author(s): Raluca Dima / Language(s): English / Issue: 32/2011

This article intends to deal with the manner in which two institutions representing the supranational dimension of the European Union, the European Commission and the European Parliament, are approaching the issue of the transnational manifestation of religion on the European continent. The study uses concepts and ideas promoted by the French School of Discourse Analysis, particularly Dominique Maingueneau’s theoretical distinctions between „generic scene” and „scenography”. In order to coherently illustrate the manner in which these two categories apply on the analyzed subject, the structure of the paper follows Maingueneau’s distinction. („The European Union and the transnational religion”).

The European Union as a ‘Normative Power’ in International Relations.

Theoretical and Empirical Challenges

Author(s): Anna Skolimowska / Language(s): English / Issue: 18/2015

The European Union is currently in the process of defining its position in the international arena. European integration, especially in the context of foreign affairs, has proved to be a challenging experience, as revealed in more than one crisis. In the empirical scope, this refers mostly to the lack of unity and cohesion between the Member States in reacting to and/or resolving international issues, which results from the diversity of interests presented by the member States. In the theoretical scope, the main issue lies in establishing the characteristic traits of the European Union in international relations. The popular concept of the European Union acting as a ‘normative power’ in international crises fails to satisfy a number of important aspects. In such a context there is a need to develop more precise and politically neutral instruments to analyse the European Union’s activities in the international sphere.

THE EUROPEAN UNION AS A HERALD OF INSTITUTIONALISM

Author(s): Lisa-Maria Achimescu / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2019

Institutionalism, a doctrine that stems from the theory of the institution, formulated by the Maurice Hauriou1 at the beginning of the century, remains particularly stimulating for a theoretical analysis of the law, as an understanding of its social dimension and an incursion in the emergence and development of the institutional construct of the European Union2. The article attempts to analyze all the facets of institutionalism, at least, from a theoretical point of view and create the link between the European architecture and institutionalism as a doctrine. Like all significant concepts that contributed to the creation of the European architectural design, institutionalism has a genesis and evolution that can be traced back to legal doctrine. Therefore, viewing institutional idealism from a critical standpoint, and taking into account the contribution of institutionalism analyses, outside the sphere of the legal doctrine, we deconstruct the interest prompted by critical reflection on the theory and doctrine of institutionalism, as well as, its use.

THE EUROPEAN UNION AS A REFORMING POWER IN THE WESTERN BALKANS: THE CASE OF ALBANIA

Author(s): Klodiana Beshku,Orjana Mullisi / Language(s): English / Issue: 02/2018

This paper tries to further elaborate one of the most important external powers of the European Union: Its “reforming power” which goes in parallel with its ability as “normative actor” in the Western Balkans. Through Albania as a case study, it tries to argue that the process of Albania’s integration to EU has transformed the country in several directions: by introducing a deep juridical reform and by the full alignment of its foreign policy with CFSP and the “regional cooperation”. In fact, under the auspices of the EU integration, the country is making all the efforts to deliver on one of the most transformative reforms undertaken in the region, that of the justice system. This gives to EU the features of a “reforming power”. The term shows EU as a driving force which makes countries undertake deep reforms they would not have differently realized, if not under the conditionality for the EU integration.

THE EUROPEAN UNION AS A UNION OF DEMOCRACIES, JUSTICE AND RIGHTS

Author(s): Koen Lenaerts / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2017

Madam Minister of Justice, Honourable Members of the Seimas, Honourable Members of the Senate of the Mykolas Romeris University, Honourable Rector and Vice-Rectors, Distinguished Guests, I accept this honour with deep gratitude and great humility. In doing so, I am delighted to become an honorary member of this prestigious University that bears the name of Mykolas Romeris, a man whose academic writings, legal practice and political convictions inspire us all to remain committed to the values of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights. As you all know, Mykolas Romeris is considered to be one of the founders of Lithuanian constitutional law and that is why I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to his legacy by looking at the European Union (the ‘EU’) from a constitutional law perspective.

The European Union as an Actor in the Shared Neighbourhood: A View from Moldova

Author(s): Galina Bogutcaia / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

In the new age of global politics, the European Union claims to be a global actor ready to build a better and secure world. (Council of the European Union, 2003:1) So far, the Union’s most effective tool of exerting soft power and exporting its economic and political models to post-communist Europe has been membership conditionality. But, when membership is unlikely (Moldova), or candidate status is not desired (the Russian Federation), the European Union’s capacity as a global actor diminishes significantly.

THE EUROPEAN UNION BATTLE GROUPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMON SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY

Author(s): Dariusz Górniak / Language(s): English,Polish / Issue: 8/2017

The Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) enables European Union to take a leading role in peace – keeping operations, conflict prevention and the strengthening of the international security. It is an integral part of EU’s comprehensive approach towards crisis management, drawing on civilian and military assets. EU Battle Groups remain important for CSDP as the only military capabilities on standby for possible EU operations and as they are helping to reinforce the effectiveness Member States’ of military forces. EU Battle Groups are multinational, military units and form an integral part of the EU’s military rapid reaction capacity to respond to emerging crises and conflicts around the world. Therefore, Polish diplomacy actively acts in various forums (the Visegrad Group, the Weimar Triangle) to bolster the CSDP. Poland actively involved in the implementation of the CSDP through participation in EU Battle Groups.

THE EUROPEAN UNION BETWEEN “THE UNITED STATES OF EUROPE” AND “EUROPEAN UNION INC.”

Author(s): Silviu Neguţ,Marius-Cristian Neacşu / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2012

This study was born in response to the different phrases that tried “prophesising” the future of the “European project”. Thus, we put face to face two idioms and at the same time two stances in which the European Union might find itself in a possible future, respectively “The United States of Europe” (an idea older than the European Union itself) or “European Union Inc.”. The first represents a unitary block with political value, while the second was used by American analysts in a more derogatory way to illustrate this struggle of “Europe” between “a sort of greater Switzerland” from a political point of view and “a transnational corporation” from an economic standpoint. This interrogation, which is both philosophical and systemic, - what is the European Union or what does it desire to be? –, was especially complicated by the international economic crisis that seems to have shed light again on identity fanaticism of any kind and extremist discourse, none of which are too distant in Europe’s history. Taking all of the above into consideration, European Union’s future remains uncertain.