Suchergebnisse

The EU as well as other major international organizations have increasingly placed a link between security and development policies at the centre of their foreign policy. Yet, profound controversy over the value and practical consequences of such a link exists. In this paper, we aim at disentangling the various dimensions of the security-development nexus. We attempt to order the debate, investigate current claims of the relation between security and development, and investigate in how far current policy response are sufficient and whether they imply a superiority of security or of development measures. We argue that thinking the security development nexus requires us to rely on nondogmatic, non-paradigmatic ideas, to accept the contingency (or uncertainty) of our knowledge, and to address in analytical and policy practice situation-specific problems. Our discussion is structured in four sections. The first section carves out some accessible routes of the conceptual jungle of the security-development nexus. We discuss the underlying concepts of Security and Development briefly, and three major frameworks (Peacebuilding, Human Security, and the Global War on Terror) The second section discusses a range of claims that have been made in the framework of the Security Development Nexus. We shall investigate the vicious circle argument and the threatening character of underdevelopment on a global, regional and national level. What follows from this discussion is that hardly any claim goes uncontested. In other words, our knowledge about the dynamics is limited, and we should treat any claim to secured knowledge with suspicion. Section three firstly introduces the major policy responses. Those responses can be meaningful differentiated in, one, architectural responses – the re-organization and maintenance of new bureaucratic infrastructures –, two emergency responses policies – tools developed to cope with situations that have identified as emergency situations –, three, long-term structural policies directed towards prevention and re-construction – policies in post-conflict situations, situations that are on the verge of the outbreak of conflict, and policies towards countries which are in a long-term violent state. We shall discuss, the policies in the light of whether the responses lead to a subordination of development policies, to the dissolution of meaningful security strategies, and whether they increase efficiency and effectivity. Section four, concludes in arguing the need for pragmatic problem solving strategies.

The idea that migration policy and development policy are interrelated and influence each other has gained ground over the past few years. The EU has been keen to link migration policy to development policy in several of its policy initiatives. Based on a discussion of the notion of 'migration and development', this article identifies four policy dilemmas facing policy-makers who aim to link migration policy and development policy. It then goes on to examine four EU policy initiatives (the Global Approach to Migration; the Policy Plan on Legal Migration; the thematic programme for the cooperation with third countries in the areas of migration and asylum; and the Mobility Partnerships) to determine how these initiatives aim to link migration policy and development policy. It finds that none of the policy initiatives adequately address the policy dilemmas. Only the two most recent initiatives (the thematic programme and the Mobility Partnerships) address the broad range of suggested policies which link migration policy and development policy. Generally, it is clear from the initiatives that the EU prioritises the reduction of illegal immigration to its territory. Inconsistencies between the EU's various policies, as well as between its different institutional actors, are problematic for attempts to achieve a 'comprehensive' policy in the area of migration and development.

Nowadays the importance of involvement of citizens in decision-making processes is underlined in most recent research on effectiveness of public administration. Taking into consideration that development of science and research is fundamental for economic growth as well as sustainable development, the process of policy making in science should involve relevant stakeholders building effective relationships with key stakeholders. In case of EU, Ministries responsible for science have developed Smart Specialization Strategies for transformation of economies towards higher added value. For successful implementation of the strategies, Ministries have identified different initiatives towards involvement of key stakeholders in science policy making. In circumstances of low public and private funding to research and development in EU-13, the communication with science community has been challenging.
Taking into account all mentioned before, the purpose of the study is to analyse the approaches on involvement of stakeholders in science policy making, especially in EU countries with relatively low budget for research and development.
In order to achieve the purpose, the tasks are formulated as follows:
1) to review the theoretical background for involvement of stakeholders in science policy making in EU;
2) to analyse the best practice in ensuring the participation of key stakeholders in science policy making in EU, special focusing on case of Latvia;
3) to provide the recommendations for the ministries in EU responsible for science in ensuring the participation of key stakeholders in policy making.
Research methods used: scientific literature studies, statistical data analysis, expert survey.
The research showed that effective involvement of key stakeholders in science policy making process is topical challenge for policy makers in EU, especially in countries with low share of budget for research and development. Successful strategy of involvement of key stakeholders in science policy includes effective communication at different levels, development of high-quality services as well as development of participatory administrative culture for civil servants.

Although sustainable development plays an important role in EU law, neither EU law nor EU policy clearly explains what the concept means and how it must be put into practice. Policy-makers, NGOs, politicians and businesses do, however, need guidance on sustainable development for the purpose of good policy-making, for effectively holding the EU accountable, and for the design of CSR programmes. To that end, this article will first explain the guidance which EU law and policy already offer on sustainable development. Subsequently, this article will propose (I) a more workable definition of sustainable development than the one (the Brundtland definition) which is currently used, and (II) a framework of application for sustainable development. This framework of application (which will have the form of a sustainability impact assessment) provides practical guidance for policy-makers, politicians, NGOs and businesses when dealing with sustainable development in their day-to-day work.

This ambitious Handbook covers the history, functioning and impact of Cohesion policy, arguably the most tangible presence of the European Union in its twenty-eight member states. The contributions combine world-renowned scholars and country experts to discuss, in five parts, the policy's history and governing principles; the theoretical approaches from which it can be assessed; the inter-institutional and multi-level dynamics that it elicits; its practical implementation and impact on EU member states; its interactions with other EU policies and strategies; and the cognitive maps and narratives with which it can be associated. This Handbook will be an invaluable resource to students and scholars of EU policies and politics and other related disciplines. In particular, they will benefit from the clarity with which the history and functioning of Cohesion policy is laid out. Policy-makers and other practitioners will also find this book of interest, due to its presentation of relevant debates. --

Details the major European Union policy shifts brought on by its 2004 enlargement. Economic, social, financial, agricultural, & environmental policy changes are discussed. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.