#95 Money Talks. Mapping the funding for EU external migration policy

Author(s): Leonhard Den Hertog / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2016

This paper examines the role of funding in the EU’s external policies on migration, borders and asylum. Academic analysis has looked extensively into the political and legal resources of the EU in this area,but surprisingly little attention has been paid to the role of funding in the governance of this cooperation with third countries. The objective of this paper is first to understand what EU funds are involved and which actors are setting priorities for funding in the field of migration, borders and asylum. This is a highly technical field of EU governance, characterised by complex political and legal dynamics. The funding landscape is fragmented and incoherent, with limited coordination, but this incoherence can be understood in light of the broader political, sociological and institutional struggles that come to the fore in the setting of priorities for funding. This paper argues that a certain degree of incoherence is an inevitable characteristic of EU governance in this field. The bigger issue is the challenge posed to accountability by this EU funding.

(POSSIBLE) IMPACT OF CETA ON CREATION OF LAW

Author(s): Ondrej Blažo / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

The paper brings an analysis, and possible solutions, regarding “threats” to regulatory sovereignty of the parties to the CETA. Hence technical trade barriers, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, regulatory cooperation, liberalization of services and protection of investors are focal points for estimating future development of legal regime in both the EU and Canada. The analysis assesses only “possible” impact of the CETA because it will be subject to ratification and the outcome of this process is insecure.

A breakthrough year in relations between Turkey and the European Union – an attempt to take stock

Author(s): Mateusz R. Chudziak,Krzysztof Strachota / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2016

September 2016 marks the passing of one year has passed since the outbreak of the EU migration crisis which became the basis of unprecedented co-operation between Turkey and the EU. Paradoxically, although this co-operation in containing the crisis has proven surprisingly effective, the climate of Turkish-EU relations has significantly deteriorated. This situation comes in part as a result of internal tensions in Turkey (and within the EU). However, genuine changes in the power relations between Turkey and the EU have occurred and Turkey feels that issues it attaches importance to are not being appropriately addressed by the EU—the frustration this causes has been even more instrumental in the deterioration of relations. This shift in relations between Turkey and the EU also stems from Turkey’s aspirations to emancipate itself in its relations with the West; there has been an upward trend in this regard for years. The instruments the EU has so far been employing in order to put Turkey under pressure (above all the EU integration process) are losing their effectiveness, which is in stark contrast with Turkey’s emancipation and assertiveness. However, irrespective of the present and future inevitable tensions in Turkish-EU relations, Turkey’s aim is not to break off with the EU but to develop a new model of strategic relations which better serves its own interests. Despite the recent rapprochement with Russia, Ankara seems to be aware of a lack of alternatives to strategic co-operation with the EU and, more broadly, with the West.

A COMPARISON OF POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMPETENCES OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL ACTORS (AN ANALYSIS OF THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURES OF SLOVAKIA AND UKRAINE, CONTEXT, AIMS)

Author(s): Irina Dudinská,Michal Cirner / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 0

It would be easy to say that all cooperation ultimately depends on people. People don’t know borders, and so they will overcome all obstacles if cooperation is desired. Cross-border relations and cooperation have been with us since time immemorial, but their intensity and quality depend on several factors. These are quite well described in theory, and without deeper knowledge it would occur to almost everyone that geographical, cultural, historical proximity, economic interconnection or mutual advantages are strong attributes of cross-border interactions. In this sense, nothing should stand in the way of cross-border cooperation between the Slovak Republic and Ukraine. However, there is a whole line of obstacles. International anchoring and political development play no small role in the forming of bilateral relations. Additionally, the functioning or non-functioning of public administration in a given country is also determined by political development and geopolitical evolution. The compatibility of systems of public administration, together with the setting of political systems, is a good springboard for the successful cooperation of all levels and components of public, private and non-governmental sectors across the border.

A Conservative Europe: Kramp-Karrenbauer’s Vision of Integration

Author(s): Sebastian Płóciennik / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2019

The future of Europe, according to the chairwoman of the German Christian Democrats, is a free market, no-superstate EU that is able to play a greater role in the world. Her manifesto is not only a reaction to another French offensive in the area of European politics but also an ideological offer of cooperation to potential allies from Northern and Central Europe.

A farewell to open borders? The Danish Approach

Author(s): Peter Hobbing / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

Migratory pressure from abroad and populist trends in Europe have already put considerable stress on borderless Europe, despite the open borders being one of its most precious achievements. But what in the past could be seen as annoying yet temporary disturbances attained an entirely different character under the Danish initiative launched in early May 2011. The move to install permanent controls, including customs houses and video surveillance, alarmed not just Brussels but also travelers and business associations EU wide. Even though the new government has since banished the nightmare by repealing the border measures, one should still not sound the ‘all clear’ signal. With populist parties all over Europe, similar scenarios are likely to arise elsewhere.

A new opening in relations between the EU and the Western Balkans

Author(s): Marta Szpala / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2018

The EU-Western Balkans summit held on 17 May in Sofia – the first such event since 2003 – is one example of the EU’s increasing interest in the Balkan states which aspire to membership. On 6 February, the European Commission presented its new strategy for its Western Balkans policy. Its desire to become more closely involved in the region has also been indicated by visits from the EC President Jean-Claude Juncker and the head of the European Council Donald Tusk to all the countries in the region during recent months. This activity on the part of EU institutions has been accompanied by actions targeted at the Balkans by member states under the aegis of the Berlin process, which focuses on economic cooperation. This new dynamic in the EU’s policies towards the Western Balkans is the result of a growing awareness in Brussels of the risks resulting from the crisis in the enlargement policy, which is the EU’s main instrument for ensuring lasting stability in the region.

A REFERENDUM ON THE UNKNOWN TURK? Anatomy of an Austrian debate

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2008

Around the world, the quality press has been reporting for weeks on the run-up to theAustrian referendum on Turkish EU accession. In London, The Guardian writes: “In 1683, Turkey was the invader. In 2015, Austria still sees it that way.” A commentator in The Financial Times notes: “For many Austrians it is as though the Janissaries were even now aiming their cannon at the gates of Vienna.” The Austrian press (“Siege Mentality”, “The Return of the Turks”, “Bulwark Austria”) and the Turkish media (“The Walls of Vienna”, “Will Vienna fall?”) are awash with military metaphors. || There has never been any doubt about the outcome of the referendum. For more than a decade, Eurobarometer polls have recorded no more than 10 percent support among Austrians for Turkish accession. With the exception of the Green party, all political parties represented in parliament have campaigned for a ‘no’ vote. It is the inevitability of the result which fascinates some (and shocks others). Vienna 2015 will replace Vienna 1683 as a global metaphor for the eternal confrontation between Christian and Muslim Europe.

A VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP. Why Turkey’s EU Accession Process Will Continue

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2010

One area where the EU has discriminated against Turkey has been in the field of visa-free travel. This suggests an obvious way to show that EU conditionality vis-à-vis Turkey remains “strict but fair”: to offer Ankara a visa roadmap similar to that which has been given to Western Balkan countries. Once the roadmap requirements are met, Turkish citizens should be able to travel to the EU without a visa. Visa-free travel to the EU is a right enjoyed by Central Europeans (since the early 1990s) and by most people living in the Western Balkans (since 2009). The EU already promised it to Turkey under the 1963 Association Agreement. A credible visa liberalisation process would provide tangible evidence to ordinary citizens that the EU remains committed to a future integration perspective. It would also be a useful tool to advance the implementation of non-discrimination policies and promote further improvements in Turkey‟s human rights record, bringing down still high rates of asylum requests granted to Turkish citizens in EU member states. Such a reform process would be a win-win proposition for the EU and Turkey and a big shot in the arm for the accession process.

ACTION AREAS OF THE LABOUR MARKET POLICY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Author(s): Aleksandra Lozanoska,Elizabeta Djambaska,Natasha Daniloska,Diana Boshkovska / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2015

The contemporary challenges of the socio-economic development are imposing more or less the same essence of the labour market policy areas and instruments in the developed countries, as well as in the developing countries. They are directly dependent on the implementation of structural reforms aimed at stabilizing the economies and fostering economic development. Concerning this, the paper is analyzing the areas for implementation of the labour market policy and activities in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as in the European Union, regarding the challenges of the contemporary society. They relate to the work of the institutions responsible for creating and implementing the labour market policy, the legislation relating to its functioning, labour force statistics and information system. The analysis is determining the target groups of the labour market and is giving certain recommendations and guidelines for possible future actions and measures that can ensure employment growth, reduction of the unemployment, and provide more efficient functioning of the overall labour market.

Agency and Structure Revisited with Youth Responses to Gendered (Spatial) Mobilities in the EU

Author(s): Sahizer Samuk,Tabea Schlimbach,Emilia Kmiotek-Meier,Celia Diaz,Laura Díaz-Chorne,Volha Vysotskaya,Birte Nienaber,Monica ROMAN,Laura-Mihaela Mureşan,Ioana Manafi,Markus Däubler / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2020

Young people involved in geographical mobility face diverse gendered mobility settings and gender inequalities. How do the youth involved in diverse mobility types deal with adverse circumstances caused by gender beliefs and gender prejudices? To answer this question, problem-centred interviews with young people (18-29) are analysed using Grounded Theory. These young people are European citizens and they are involved in five mobility types: higher education, employment, voluntary work, vocational education and training, and entrepreneurship. We apply Emirbayer and Mische’s (1998) categories (iterational, projective and practical-evaluative) to the analysis of gendered mobility narratives as unequal gender perceptions reveal themselves in the context of different types of youth mobility. The analysis allows to see the ways young people reflect on their actions: refusal of gender beliefs, acceptance or rejection of gendered prejudices, individual vs. collective solutions, demand for equality in numbers, comparison of gendered workplaces and assumption of leadership in initiating mobility. At the same time, we observe how geographical mobilities can increase the critical sensibility of youth towards gender inequalities, contributing to new conceptualisation of agentic responses to structural constraints.

Agonistički pristup raspravama o budućnosti demokratije u Evropi

Author(s): Biljana Đorđević / Language(s): Serbian / Issue: 4/2018

The paper addresses the issue of complementarity between theoretical construct of agonistic democracy and left-wing populism in the works of Chantal Mouffe. Left-wing populism strategy has been implemented by Syriza, Podemos and France Insoumise. One of the premises of left-wing populism is that the radical right has been a front runner in offering an alternative to the alienated post-political and post-democratic political system claiming that it brings politics back to the people (e. g. FPÖ in Austria, Front National in France). This is one of the reasons why agonists advocate the return of the politics that establishes a clear political frontier (left-wing populism v. right-wing populism) so that the conditions for agonistic contestation and democratic alternatives can be created as well as that democratic actors can be encouraged to engage in the struggle over power and occupation of the political institutions.

Agricultural and Rural Capital Markets in the EU Candidate Countries: Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey

Author(s): Štefan Bojnec / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

This paper analyses agricultural and rural capital factor markets in the three European Union candidate countries: Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of Macedonia and Turkey. Aggregate capital market indicators and their dynamics, and factors driving agricultural and rural capital markets are analysed and compared in these countries. In general, agricultural and rural capital markets show similarities with general capital market developments, but agricultural and rural capital markets are facing specific credit constraints related to agricultural assets and rural fixed asset specificities, which constrain their mortgages and collateral use. Credit market imperfections have limited access to the investment credits necessary for there structuring of small-scale individual farms. Government transfers are used to differing extents in the candidate countries, but generally tend to increase over time. Remittances and donor funds have also played an important role in agricultural and rural economy investments.

Agricultural and Rural Labour Markets in the EU Candidate Countries of Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey

Author(s): Štefan Bojnec / Language(s): English / Publication Year: 2011

This paper provides an overview and comparison of labour markets in agricultural and rural areas inthe three candidate countries for the EU membership: Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey. We analyse and compare the labour market structures and the factors drivingthem. The analyses are based on the available cross-section and time-series data on agricultural labour structures and living conditions in rural areas. Considerable differences are found among the candidate countries in the importance of the agricultural labour force, between rural and urban labour, and in poverty and living conditions in rural areas. Agricultural and rural labour market structures are the result of demographic and education processes, in addition to labour flows between agricultural and non-agricultural activities, from rural areas to urban ones and migration flows abroad. Declines in the agricultural labour force and rural population are fore seen for each of the candidate countries, but with significant variations between them.

Aktywne metody walki z bezrobociem w krajach Unii Europejskiej

Author(s): Marianna Księżyk / Language(s): Polish / Issue: 3/2004

Albanian Higher Education Quality Assurance Reforms and Policy Convergence within the European Higher Education Area (2014-2019)

Author(s): Elona Kodhel / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2020

This article focuses on the quality assurance reforms that higher education in Albania has undertaken during the timeframe 2014-2019 in regard to implementing the standards and guidelines of the European Higher Education Area. Albania is a candidate country and it has been making a continuous effort to become a member of the EU; thus, Europeanization is been used as a theoretical framework to analyse policy changes. The research aims to analyse what Europeanization approach the domestic reforms have pursued, based on the mechanisms, veto points and the outcomes of the Europeanization process. Moreover, through empirical findings on the Albanian quality assurance system, it attempts to define the extent to which these reforms comply with European standards and guidelines (ESG). Europeanization of the educational policies is guided by causal mechanisms with non-binding stimuli; thus, socialization, much more in the terms of instrumental learning, is defined as the main mechanism of the Europeanization approach of Albanian quality assurance. The policy convergence is mostly happening as an internalization of the rules regarding changing the policy means, not the policy ends, which produces only a formal absorption of ESG and not a substantial transformation of the system.

Alicja Jaskiernia (2018). Monitoring wolności mediów w Europie [Monitoring Media Freedom in Europe]. Warsaw: Oficyna Wydawnicza ASPRA-JR pp. 487 ISBN: 978-83-7545-840-4

Author(s): Anna Jupowicz- Ginalska / Language(s): English / Issue: 25/2020

Alternativní pojetí Feldsteinova-Horiokova modelu za předpokladu proměnlivých parametrů: studie dopadu vstupu České republiky do Evropské unie

Author(s): Lukáš Frýd / Language(s): Czech / Issue: 2/2020

We investigate the impact of the Czech Republic’s membership in the European Union on capital mobility. Our estimation of capital mobility is based on the alternative Feldstein-Horioka model. The model comes from intertemporal budget constraints with the additional assumption of a different data generation process. We propose an empirical framework to capture two different regimes in the vector error correction model. We show that the period 1996–2004 is composed of both regimes. The most important conclusion is that the period 1996–2004 is connected with a mix of both regimes. However, the period 2005–2017 comprises only one regime, which is connected with higher capital mobility. Therefore, capital mobility in the Czech Republic increased after 2004.

An analysis of the European Enlargement Policy through years: the case of Western Balkans

Author(s): Albana Rexha / Language(s): English / Issue: 2/2019

No matter its peculiarities, enlargement policy through its conditionality policy instrument is viewed as the most successful EU foreign policy. It is argued that enlargement has strengthened and stabilized democracy in Europe. This review article discusses the enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans since the 2003 Thessaloniki Summit and the Union’s efforts and mechanisms to maintain enlargement at the forefront. These mechanisms include forums and summits of discussion between EU and Western Balkan key actors, various strategies on enlargement, and financial dedications to fostering reform implementation like IPA. The 2003 Summit is considered a critical point in regards to refocusing attention and efforts to enlargement and reaffirming a European future for the Balkan region; therefore, it is important to consider all alternations from that point in time. Thus, the aim is to look at enlargement policy through years and provide an insightful view to the enlargement credibility that allows us to critically review it. To achieve the set goal, this article employees the content analysis methodology. The results show that although the Commission has shown its commitment to enlargement from time to time, the enlargement policy has been at stake at different times from 2003. The raise of the populism right wing parties in Europe, the growth of eurospectis and spread of terrorism are few of the contributing factors to the enlargement fatigue.

ANALYSIS OF ECJ CASE LAW ON DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT OF CROSS-BORDER INHERITANCE TAX

Author(s): Gracia Luchena Mozo / Language(s): English / Issue: 1/2017

Recently, the European Commission has launched a package which deals with issues of double taxation and discriminatory tax treatment in the area of inheritance and estate tax. In the paper the Commission discusses ten cases in which the European Court of Justice examined the inheritance tax rules of Member States. In eight out of the ten cases it concluded that the Member States in question breached EU rules on the free movement of capital and/or freedom of establishment. For example, on the 3rd of September 2014, the ECJ entered/made a judgment resolving that the Spanish Inheritance Tax should impose restrictions on the free movement of capital, one of the fundamental principles of the EU’s Single Market. Taking into consideration the merits of the case the Court of Justice finally concluded that the situations between resident and non-resident taxpayers or between goods located in Spain or abroad are comparable and that therefore the applicable tax treatment should be the same.