Suchergebnisse

We explore the redistributive effects of taxes and benefits in the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) using EUROMOD, the tax-benefit microsimulation model for the EU. As well as describing redistributive effects in aggregate, we assess and compare the effectiveness of eight individual types of policy in reducing income disparities. We derive results for the 27 members of the EU using policies in effect in 2010 and present them for each country separately as well as for the EU as a whole.

Since the 1990s, multilateral European security institutions have gone through profound changes. None of the existing institutions like the European Union (EU) or NATO can assume full responsibility for security, because of Russia's inclusion in Europe. EU expansion and its policies affect Russia and visa-versa, so a strategic partnership is beneficial. In 2003, Russian and the EU agreed to create four common spaces--economic, freedom and security, external security, and research and education; activities to build those spaces are described. The EU's New Neighborhood Initiative is criticized as conceptually flawed because of the diversity of these "neighborhoods" and conflicts with existing regional cooperation forums. Issues with the admission of new members to the EU are discussed.

The European Union (EU) is a continuously evolving entity. Starting with six member states in the late 1950s, the EU currently encompasses fifteen states of Western Europe. It is expected to almost double in size in the near future, however, taking in a number of states located in Central and Eastern Europe, in addition to Cyprus and Malta. This dramatic increase has lead to an intensive debate on how the institutions of the EU should be adapted in order to cope with this growth.This book addresses the challenges that EU enlargement and institutional change imply for various policy fields, suc

Examines how firms have restructured their political organization to maximize political options in the constantly evolving European public policy system, & assesses the impact of these changes on member states' industrial relations, drawing on survey data collected 1993-1997 on Europe's top 200 firms, including interviews with 50 European affairs directors & other officials. Analysis reveals the degree to which the creation of the single market & the strengthening of European institutions have harmonized firms' political activity across borders, sectors, & issues. It is concluded that multinationals have established a sophisticated political capacity that allows them to develop new multilevel & ad hoc political alliances; this new political coordination has standardized political responses across issues & altered national public policy systems. 2 Figures, 49 References. Adapted from the source document.

This paper analyzes what channels trade unions in Europe use when trying to influence European Union (EU) policies. It compares and contrasts trade unions in different industrial relations regimes with regard to the degree to which they cooperate with different actors to influence EU policies, while also touching on the importance of sector differences and organizational resources. The study is based on survey data collected in 2010–2011 from unions affiliated with the European Trade Union Confederation and from below peak unions in 14 European countries. Results of the survey show that the 'national route' is generally the most important for trade unions in influencing EU policies in the sense that this channel is, on average, used to the highest degree. In addition, the survey delineates some important differences between trade unions in different industrial relations regimes with regard to the balance between the national route and different access points in the 'Brussels route'.

This paper examines the role of the European Union (EU) in influencing the development of employment relationships in the Member States. An analysis of the formation and development of EU legislation and policies is provided that identifies key players in the processes by which the EU exerts influence over developments in employment relationships. The differential impact of EU actions on organisations is considered with reference to location in Member States and by sector.

This essay deals with real convergence in the European Union (EU). Real convergence is here defined as convergence of GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standard. I examine whether there is empirical evidence of real convergence among EU countries or regions and if the current effort towards nominal convergence has slowed real convergence. The main findings are that there has been some real convergence at the country level, mainly before the mid- 1970s, but not much evidence of real convergence is found at the regional level. I also find that the convergence criteria set in the Treaty of Maastricht may have slowed real convergence in the European ...

Facing the deficit of democracy in the European Union (EU), one has to ask about the way collective sensitivities for democratic inclusion & transnational solidarity can be encouraged. It is less decisive that a European identity can be created, but rather which specific constructions will be borne. Illustrated by an example from Canadian political theory, it is shown how the perspective developed for nation-states can be transferred to constellations within the EU. 9 References. Adapted from the source document.

Renowned political philosopher John Rawls once expressed skepticism about the moral status of the European Union (EU). Yet generally EU scholars have either ignored Rawls or rather uncritically established positive links between his theory of domestic and international justice and the EU. This article argues that the EU cannot be morally justified from a Rawlsian perspective. Thus, Rawls's Euro-skepticism is not just a personal opinion, but is embedded in his political philosophy. The argument basically entails that the EU cannot plausibly be understood in terms of a Rawlsian (i) domestic society or (ii) society of peoples. It is also argued that Rawls's seemingly favorable yet rare mentioning of the 'European Community' means no theoretical support for the EU. Moreover, counter-arguments that the EU can be seen as in line with Rawls's notion of a realistic utopia are shown to be false. In consequence, serious adherents of Rawls's political philosophy cannot be committed EU defenders. Keywords: European integration, European Union, John Rawls, Law of Peoples, political liberalism, theory of justice

Defence date: 16 January 2007 ; Supervisor: Prof. Bruno De Witte ; This thesis explores the impact of international human rights law on the changing trends in international development policy and practice. The subject matter is analysed through a case study of European Union development cooperation policy and its relations with the group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states.1 Whilst there is a burgeoning literature on this subject, known as the nexus between human rights and development?,2 the discovery of the convergence or union between human rights and development may have come of some surprise to non-jurists and to those within in the field of development. According to professionals engaged in this domain, development is usually defined and identified with economic growth, trade, capital flows and the transfer of technology.3 As Johan Galtung argues, both concepts (human rights? and development?) have evolved in distinct historical contexts, therefore, any connection or compatibility has more to do with Western history and culture than anything else.4 Furthermore, as Sano states, whilst both human rights and development were institutionalised in the global system in the post-World War II climate, both have different roots and have emerged in different contexts.5 In light of these claims, an obvious point of departure should consider what is meant by the terms development? and human rights? and briefly describe the interlinkages between these previously distinct domains. To this end, the idea of a gradual convergence of human rights and development will be introduced6 and this will be followed by a discussion of where EU development cooperation policy fits into this debate. In the remaining sections of the introductory chapter, the aims of this thesis and research questions will be outlined. A description of the methodology used, literature review and an overview of the chapters will also be presented.

This article gives a brief overview of the main features, functions and future perspectives of agencies in the European Union [EU]. It highlights the specific notion of the EU's highly integrated, multi-level legal system as an explanatory factor for the specificities of agency design. The article looks at agencies in the EU through the lens of the structural and procedural arrangements for their independence and their accountability. The article comes to the conclusion that, generally speaking, accountability and independence are defined by and adapted to the position of an agency within the structure of administrative networks implementing EU law and policy. Their raison d'être is usually to coordinate Member State implementing activities rather than taking on these responsibilities themselves.

Summary
In 2013, the European Union (EU) formulated its ambition to develop a 'water diplomacy'. Subsequently, it attempted to put this aspiration into practice, notably through various Council Conclusions. Despite this activity, the EU's evolution as a 'water diplomat' remains underexplored. To address this gap, this article examines the EU's understanding of 'water diplomacy' by conducting a comprehensive discourse analysis of its framing of water as an object of diplomacy and the resulting diplomatic approaches. The analysis of key EU documents, triangulated through interviews with policy-makers, reveals that several water frames currently intersect, resulting in a multifaceted EU external water action comprising both a narrow and a broad understanding of water diplomacy. Following an explanation of this finding focusing on the policy entrepreneurship of intra-EU water diplomacy stakeholders, the article concludes by discussing its implications for the academic study and political practice of water diplomacy within and beyond the EU.