Suchergebnisse

"Energy, Security, and Foreign Policy" published on by Oxford University Press.

The legitimacy crisis that existing institutions of global governance are undergoing has led the European Union (EU) to place the idea of "effective multilateralism" at the heart of its foreign policy doctrine. This article draws inspiration from debates on the notion of power in International Relations to expose the normative dilemmas behind multilateralism in EU foreign policy. To do this, the article systematically analyses the metaphors on the EU's role in global governance that are present in political speeches that address the question of multilateralism during the period 2004 to 2011. This analysis shows that the most sedimented metaphor on the EU's role as a promoter of multilateralism – the EU as MODEL – is precisely the one that entails the most serious normative concerns from the perspective of the ideal traits of multilateralism described in the literature.

This book focuses on the problems of, and prospects for, strengthening the global system of security governance in a manner consistent with the aspirations and practices of the EU.

The European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) is a central part of the EU's engagement on migration. It has generated both high aspirations and serious concerns regarding its aims, activities, and relation¬ship to broader trends in migration and development policy. The EUTF's stated goal is to "address the root causes of destabilisation, forced displacement and irregular migration", an aim that is widely seen as unrealistic. However, key actors have other ambitions for the fund. These include demonstrating action on migration in response to political pressure, incentivising African cooperation on migration management, and using the fund's flexibility to develop innovative programming. It is arguably through such innovation that the EUTF could add most value. The EUTF is perceived by many African partners as part of a European-imposed migration agenda that prioritises EU interests over African ones. While experiences vary between countries and projects, African ownership within the EUTF is undoubtedly weaker than within traditional European cooperation instruments. The EUTF risks alienating African partners and overlooking local priorities, knowledge and capacities. The selection of EUTF projects and partners has been criticised as ad hoc and untransparent. Member states' implementing agencies play the largest role in implementation, and some clearly see the fund as a source of finance for their regular programming. This raises concerns over whether EUTF projects add value to existing programming and are the best fit for either the trust fund's goals or local context. The most controversial aspect of the EUTF is its potential to divert development aid in service of the EU's migration agenda, including in ways that contradict EU development and human rights commitments. This appears to be part of a broader trend towards the securitisation of EU development assistance. The EUTF also undermines EU development commitments by skewing aid allocations towards countries based on their migration profile, and by abandoning aid effectiveness principles such as alignment. There are several measures that could improve the EUTF and make the most of the opportunities that it offers. These include: more transparent and consultative project development; stronger engagement with local actors and needs; greater emphasis on seeking out "best fit" implementers; and drawing on existing lessons, evidence and approaches. However, if the EUTF is ultimately an indication of the future direction of EU development cooperation, this does not bode well for the EU's prioritisation of development principles, its long-term interests, or its relationship with Africa. Several processes lie ahead that will influence the future of EU-Africa relations. These must be used to examine how Europe and Africa can work together more constructively to address migration in ways that meet both their interests.

This article looks at the European Neighbourhood Policy as an attempt by the EU to transform its external borders from areas of demarcation and division to areas of exchange and interaction. It outlines five possible scenarios for the evolution of the EU, assessing their implications for the ENP and the reconceptualization of the Union's borders. First, a paralysed and more internally fragmented Union if the current differences on both enlargement and constitutional reform prove insurmountable. Second, a larger yet unreformed Union resulting in institutional shortcomings. Third, a Union focused on its internal reform, with future enlargement plans would be slowed down or put on ice. Fourth, the introduction of limited reforms, although a far cry from those envisaged by the Constitutional Treaty. And fifth, a reformed and externally more dynamic Union with a quickly ratified Consitutional Treaty.

In this introduction to the reprint of four chapters from Giovanna Bono's book The Impact of 11 September 2001 & the "War on Terror" on European Foreign & Security Policy (2006), the author argues that the general consensus in Europe that the EFSP has not changed fundamentally is an underestimation of the impacts of the event. A summary of the book's findings identifies the emergence of a new form of EFSP flexibility combined with a widening & deepening EFSP. The two key issues explored in the book consider the position that the EU has taken about the legal rules & norms shaping decisions to use force, & the extent that 9/11 has modified the EFSP toward specific regions. The book is situated in the overall debates with a clarification of the terms of discussion, & a summary of chapters briefly describes the contributions of the authors. References. J. Harwell

This paper points out the problems of liquidity, disposal and obtaining funds, inability to collect receivables, delayed payments in times of economic and financial instability and dynamic business upheavals and uncertainty. As a contribution to resolve these issues new alternative methods of financing for business are imposing, one of them is factoring. Although most countries don't have adequate legal framework, factoring has emerged as the dominant form of financing, whose current status and development points to the prospects of development in the future. In terms of measures and actions which are taken to combat these issues, as well as legislation, many efforts are made at international level in European Union and in Croatia. Overview and description of the factoring development, and indications for further development are presented in relation to the world, the European Union and the Republic of Croatia. This paper also describes factoring comparison among European countries.