‘ПОРОЗНА’ ДРЖАВНОСТ VERSUS ТВРДЕ ГРАНИЦЕ: УТИЦАЈ ИСТОЧНО-ЕВРОПСКОГ ПРОШИРЕЊА ЕУ НА РУМУНИЈУ И ЈУГОСЛАВИЈУ

Author(s): Judy Batt / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 1-2/2002

Topic of the article is the apparent contradiction between the Central and East Europeans’ enthusiasm for ‘returning to Europe’ after 1989, and their equally powerful affirmation of ‘national self-determination’, has frequently been remarked by western commentators. In the first part of this paper, author sets out the ideas of some key CEE political thinkers who grappled with the problem of statehood in this peculiarly vulnerable part of Europe from 1848 through to the inter-war period of the last century. These ideas in author’s view are of more than historical interest, not only because the same basic issues confront the post-communist reconstruction of states in CEE, but also because of their wider potential relevance for thinking about contemporary European statehood within the EU context of deepening internal integration and expanded external responsibilities.

‚Latent’ Interest Groups Involvement in Coping with the Challenges of EU Accession: The Case of Albania

Author(s): Dorian Jano,Besjana Kuci,Elira Hroni / Language(s): English

While powerful private interest groups such as banks and other financial institutions, industrial groups, media etc. dispose all the necessary resources and leverage for their involvement and representation in strategic reforms and EU accession process, a number of ‘ne-glected’ yet extremely important interest groups are facing great challenges with regard to EU accession. In Albania latent interest representation and involvement in policy and reform processes remains weak. Furthermore, there is a literature gap in understanding their specific challenges, capacity-needs and potential to generate added-value to the EU integra-tion process by such latent interest groups (LIG) This research offers a modest contribution to address such gap and to bring sensitivity among key stakeholders on the missing role of non-state interest groups under the EU accession process. The analysis relies on comprehensive literature review and field research with members of various LIG in Albania in order to gather qualitative and quantitative data. Based on gathered evidence the paper suggests a set of concrete recommendations to strengthen the involvement of Albanian latent interest groups in the EU accession process.

“BREXITOLOGY”: A STORY OF RENEGOTIATIONS, REFERENDUMS AND “BREGRETS”?

Author(s): Oana Poiană,Andreea STRETEA / Language(s): English Issue: 28/2018

The United Kingdom’s path inside the European Union can be defined as a roller-coaster ever since its first years as a member state a Member States. As BREXIT talks are touching key issues such as the unity and prosperity of the European Union, this article seeks to analyze BREXIT through a comparison between the two referendum campaigns UK held, first in 1975 - two years after joining the Union – and then in 2016. Although not entirely a mirror image of Wilson’s strategy, Cameron’s decision to hold a referendum followed the same line of thinking but within a completely different political and economic context.

“Capture” of the Post-Socialist State as a Challenge to the EU Integration

Author(s): Andrey Nonchev / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Different trajectories of post-socialist societal transformations and their alternativeconceptualizations are discussed. The paper addresses the specific mode of post-socialist societydesignated as "state capture" and its economic, political and social dimensions. The paper offers atheoretical model of the captured state, identifying its differentia specifica and its economic,political and social effects. The interaction between state institutions, political and economicpower networks and their rational strategies to capture the state is identified. The implementationof these strategies involves the formation and operation of politico-economic power networks thatseek to control key public legislative, executive and judiciary institutions and to extract economicand political benefits. The state capture has fundamental political, economic and social consequences that could become serious barriers to deepening European integration and even stimulate disintegration processes.

“Fortress Europe” or “Open Door Policy” – attempts to solve the refugee and migration crisis in the European Union in 2011–2017

Author(s): Katarzyna Cymbranowicz / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2018

The paper analyses and evaluates the activities currently undertaken by the EU institutions and member states in the area of migration and asylum. Domestic and foreign scientific papers and press materials, reports of international organizations dealing with migration and refugees, and statistical data from the Eurostat, Frontex, and International Organization for Migration databases were used for the research. Has Europe in fact become besieged (by migrants), becoming “Fortress Europe”, or has the so-called “Open Door Policy” towards the refugees and migrants coming to Europe from the Middle East and North Africa succeeded? How did the EU institutions and member states react to the crisis?

“New” and “Old Europe” - Where Lies the Future?

Author(s): Maria-Irina RENTEA / Language(s): English Issue: 23/2009

The separation between East and West, between New and Old Europe, becomes less dissonant with every year in the more alert globalization process. In this context, the Treaty of Lisbon may improve the work of the EU and contribute to the solidarity between Member States. The author of this article sees the future in a Europe united by its diversity, as nature is in balance through diversity, in an environment not only economic but also cultural.

“Roma” labelling, identity politics and EU-integration: the case of Montenegro

Author(s): Sofia Zahova / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2018

The article makes an overview of the groups labelled as Gypsy/Roma and the minority policies related to Roma in present day Montenegro, and discusses how – in view of the processes in the region and in the course of the state’s EU-integration – the top-down approach of adopting definitions centred on the terms “Roma and Egyptians” and “Roma” have influenced the state politics of identity regarding sup- porting and promoting new identities, as well as reinforcing the label “Roma” and “Romani” for all communities considered of common (Gypsy/Roma) origin. Further on, the impact of the EU-integration discourse on legislation and setting up Romani and Egyptian organizations is discussed within the public policies sector. Finally, I discuss initiatives and resources for publishing in Romani language in a country where a great part of the groups considered being of Romani origin speak another language as a mother tongue. My main argument is that the minority protection EU-conditionality and the special focus on the rights of the Roma, have led to an “import” of Roma issues for “solving”, along with copy-pasting of activities that supposedly aim to flag Romani identity and language even though neither Romani identity nor Romani language are characteristic for all communities labelled as “Roma”.

“The Danube Strategy” project: a new dimension of the EU’s policy

Author(s): Karina Marczuk / Language(s): English Issue: 41/2014

Bearing in mind such initiatives as the Eastern Partnership of the European Union, the acceptance of the so-called Baltic Strategy in June 2009 and, finally, the plan of launching a similar strategy for the states located in the Danube Basin, it seems obvious that the EU chose a new way of conducting its regional policy. The author points out that nowadays it is a regional policy which might be the most crucial activity on which the EU is focused currently. The so-called macro-regional dimension of the EU’s regional policy is perceived as “a new added value” of the European territorial policy. “The Danube Strategy” project seems to be the most relevant example to confirm the above-mentioned thesis. Consequently, the article provides a couple of data regarding origin and history of cooperation of the Danube states and its current state. The author used mainly original contemporary sources as well as papers issued during the interwar period.

“The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 and the External Action of the European Union”

Author(s): Kristin Hausler,Diego Marani / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2018

Diego Marani talks to Kristin Hausler

“The Language of Europe Is Translation”

A Proposal for the European Union

Author(s): Tibor Frank / Language(s): English Issue: 05/2016

„Błękitna polityka” Unii Europejskiej

Author(s): Monika Adamczak-Retecka / Language(s): Polish Issue: XXXII/2014

In 2007 the Commission presented the European vision for the oceans and seas called“An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union” (the Blue Book). The idea has been based on the recognition that all matters related to the oceans and seas are inter-linked and need an integrated approach. The article briefly presents the main action areas set out in the Blue Book and the instruments of particular importance for creating common maritime policies. The emphasis has been placed on the European strategy to alleviate the consequences of the climate change in coastal regions.

„Brexit” – konsekwencje dla obywateli Wielkiej Brytanii jako eksobywateli Unii Europejskiej

Author(s): Stefan Marek Grochalski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4 (1)/2016

The results of the referendum regarding the UK leaving the European Union indicated that the majority of British citizens, who are also citizens of the EU, decided to leave the European Union. The citizens’ decision has serious legal consequences arising from Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. This is the first case of a state leaving the European Union, which raises many questions. In the presented material, the institution of referendum is being analyzed as a form of direct democracy as well as, in this context, the effects of Brexit affecting directly the citizens of Great Britain – ex-citizens of the European Union.

„Business as usual” – Nord Stream 2 jako kontynuacja sowiecko-niemieckiej współpracy gazowej z lat siedemdziesiątych. Kontekst historyczny, implikacje dla bezpieczeństwa w regionie oraz polityki międzynarodowej

Author(s): Bartosz Bieliszczuk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2018

Nord Stream 2 (NS2) is one of the most controversial international projects in the gas industry. The construction of the gas pipeline began in the period of serious tensions between Russia and the West. Gazprom’s European partners ignore the legitimate concerns of their allies regarding the implications of the investment for politics and security. The dispute is somewhat reminiscent of the Cold War period when Germany and Austria established gas cooperation with the USSR. The article presents the current political context of the gas relations of the European countries and the USSR/Russia and the implications of building NS2 for politics and security in Europe.

„Demokracja międzyrządowa” – w kierunku rekonstrukcji polskiej koncepcji reformy instytucjonalnej UE

Author(s): Piotr Tosiek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 11/2017

The purpose of this article is the identification of main problems of current European debate on EU institutional reform, the extraction of basic elements of Polish concept of “intergov-ernmental democracy” as well as the critical analysis of two operationalized components of this concept. The main thought is based on the view that the current European debate on EU reform is not reflected in the “intergovernmental democracy” concept based on misperception and ideological approach. Theoretical background of the article is intergovernmentalism that evaluates integration processes from the perspective of member state. Requests of the state as abstractly understood should be reflected in the construction of EU institutional system, while the precondition of the existence of the appropriate system is state’s carrying out activities adapted to political reality.

„Dyplomatyczna Republika Europy”?

Rozważania na temat wpływu wybranych rozwiązań lizbońskich na dyplomację UE w multilateralnym środowisku międzynarodowym

Author(s): Barbara Curyło / Language(s): Polish Issue: 54/2018

The aim of the reflections in this article is to analyze the impact of selected institutional solutions adopted by the Treaty of Lisbon on the EU diplomacy in contemporary international relations. The article does not refer to all regulations that concern broadly defined EU External Policy, but those which, by the nature of their connections, content of competence and meaning, became the object of special interest of the treaty architects and whose implementation was to counteract deficits in continuity, coherence and leadership in EU External Policy in pre‑Lisbon period. This assumption determined the structure of the article in which, after a brief reflection on the EU nature in context of the nature of contemporary international relations, the deficits in the institutional order of the EU External Policy before the Lisbon Treaty were analyzed and then they were confronted with treaty reforms.

„Integracja europejska jako źródło wzrostu” – priorytet polskiej prezydencji w Radzie Unii Europejskiej (Część I)

Author(s): Janusz Józef Węc / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2012

The most important achievements during the implementation of the Polish Presidency’s priority “Integration as the Source of Growth” included: a declaration on a Single Market Forum to eliminate 20 of the most difficult regulatory barriers restricting the functioning of entrepreneurs and employees in the internal market. Other achievements were the preparation of a report on the sources of economic growth, which resulted in the acceptance by the European Council on 23rd October 2011, of the conclusions and recommendations referring to the future pro-growth initiatives in the European Union; the commencement of the legislative processes on the decision regarding the common European regulations of sales. The Polish Presidency, as all previous Presidencies, suffered a few important failures. However, most of them resulted from the different opinions expressed by various member states about some of the Polish initiatives or delays in the legislative activity of the European Commission. These included the negotiations on the draft European Commission Directive of 24th May 2011 on the licensing of orphan works as well as the delay on a legislative proposal by the European Commission on the application of alternative mechanisms for resolving disputes.

„Integracja europejska jako źródło wzrostu” – priorytet polskiej prezydencji w Radzie Unii Europejskiej (Część II)

Author(s): Janusz Józef Węc / Language(s): Polish Issue: 5/2014

The most important achievements during the implementation of the Polish Presidency’s priority “Integration as the Source of Growth” included: the commencement and significant advancement of the negotiations related to the multiyear financial frameworks for the years 2014–2020 and the reform of the cohesion policy after 2013; the efficient implementation of legislative work on the general budget of the European Union for 2012. A political compromise was reached with the European Parliament on the establishment of a uniform system of patent protection, although its significance was not fully appreciated because of severe criticism of the negotiated regulations by the patent agents and representatives of small and medium enterprises in Poland. The Polish Presidency, as all previous Presidencies, suffered a few important failures. However, most of them resulted from the different opinions expressed by various member states about some of the Polish initiatives or delays in the legislative activity of the European Commission. These included the initiation of legislative work on the new shape of the system of own resources in the general budget of the European Union on the basis of the European Commission’s proposals of 29th June 2011.

„Parteneriatul Estic” la Vilnius: Încotro?

Author(s): Mihail E. Ionescu / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 3-4/2013

Recent development with the Eatsren Partnership suggests that the future and solidity of this structure are in doubt, because of the difficult domestic reforms accomplished by partner states (Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia etc.) but also because of the strong Russian opposition and pressures put on these former Soviet states to abstain from signing the free trade agreements and visa liberalization regime with the EU. In spite of the economic crisis and the Russian alternative projects (the custom union with Belarus and Kazakstan and the future Eurasian Union), the EU will continue to push the eastern neighbors to prepare for the Vilnius Summit and accept that their future lies with the united Europe. The Vilnius Summit should be used as an opportunity to consolidate EU support for its partners.

„Polska - Niemcy - Ukraina w Europie" - wywiad z prof. dr. hab. Włodzimierzem Bonusiakiem, rektorem Uniwersytetu Rzeszowskiego, współorganizatorem konferencji międzynarodowych „Polska - Niemcy - Ukraina w Europie" (1995-2008)

Author(s): Włodzimierz Bonusiak,No name Anonymous / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2008

„VON WESTEUROPA NACH MITTELEUROPA“ – EIN BEISPIEL AUS TRANSDANUBIEN, AUS DEM KOMITAT VAS, UNGARN

Author(s): Imre Gráfik / Language(s): German Issue: 2/2008

The relation between the World and Hungary, and its population has changed since the change of regime in 1989. The political, economic and social openness has started such progression that has changed the life conditions of both the individuals and the communities. Our sample, if it could be typical in this case, it could also be atypical. Iklanberény, the town which we examine, is the second smallest in Vas county, which is typically a county of small towns. The situation of Iklanberény is in many ways very interesting. As far as I am concerned the foreigners have chosen this town to move into without any special reason, but it is a fact, that after the first family moved in, more and more have come and settled. Nowadays about 10–14 foreigners – mainly Germans – (30%) live there besides the Hungarians. The foreigners live there either constantly or periodically, dependent of their work, economic interest, and in some cases it is also a question of Hungarian origin, or simple personal sympathy, cultural interest or the will to learn. They can not really take part in the town’s public life, because of work occupation, lack of relatives and friends, and of language difficulties, but with gestures, donations they constantly show how they are planning to stay and build up an existence there. They believe their ‘complete’ integration is very problematic, and their age, as well as language communication problems make it quite unlikely to happen. The future is hard to see for their foreign employees, their children – if – taking on their businesses, within the possibilities of the European Union. Still it is definitely sure that their presence in Iklanberény, in the past ten years, has made positive changes in the life of the little town, regardless of their limits. Also they are helping to make the future of their “second home” positive.