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This article provides, through the lens of the theory of representative bureaucracy, a detailed and systematic assessment of diversity regarding gender, nationality, educational qualifications and professional background among the individuals serving in the management boards and scientific committees of European Union agencies (EAs). Drawing on a novel dataset of 508 members, our findings show that these decision-making bodies are generally composed of male experts, and that their inclusiveness of nationalities seems to be related to their formal institutional design. We also find that experts generally have extensive scientific training, even in those agencies that include national representation. This finding provides tentative support for the idea that representative bureaucracies can have a high degree of specialization. Our results also demonstrate that while EAs seem to be open to experts who have worked in the private sector, these bodies show a limited inclusiveness towards individuals with experience in civil society organizations. ; This research benefited from a Jose Castillejo Mobility Grant awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports to conduct research at the Copenhagen Business School.

Despite all the wide research and literature on the subject, changing and challenging times often present themselves with new objectives, fluid politics, and everlasting point of views. Much is said about the subject and the trend nowadays is watching every European Union (EU) intervention as a form of neo colonialism or a form of establishing new markets. The paper will try to establish a perspective on EU influences, policies and impacts analyzed from multidimensional point of view, not limiting itself on a narrow external dimension, focusing on a broader understanding of it diverse contribution to global governance and peace keeping. Tending to be critical, this paper tends to fall out of extremes, nether holding a Eurocentric position, nor falling for cheap critic to the whole failures and impact of EU policies. The ambition is to show EU as a contributing factor while keeping in mind its nature as a multi layered actor and with not necessarily coinciding interests among its member states.

What do Europeans have in common apart from the rights and duties deriving from the treaties? Is there such a thing as 'Europeanness' in the sense of a common identity? Can rights serve as a unifying factor in the new EU of 27 member states? And what are the sources of human identity as such?

The aim of the article is to present a practical and methodological approach to assessing the energy security of European countries, with particular focus on states with coal-dependent energy systems and on finding balance between ensuring energy security, diversification of energy resources and environmental protection. As energy security means technically reliable, stable, cost-effective and environmentally balanced supply of energy resources to satisfy the needs of the economy and the population, the author proposes an indicator that takes into consideration different components, and can be a helpful tool in designing energy policies. The article also discusses using the energy potential of closed coal mines.

The aim of the article is to present a practical and methodological approach to assessing the energy security of European countries, with particular focus on states with coal-dependent energy systems and on finding balance between ensuring energy security, diversification of energy resources and environmental protection. As energy security means technically reliable, stable, cost-effective and environmentally balanced supply of energy resources to satisfy the needs of the economy and the population, the author proposes an indicator that takes into consideration different components, and can be a helpful tool in designing energy policies. The article also discusses using the energy potential of closed coal mines.