Suchergebnisse

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a statistically significant relationship exists between environmental quality, as measured by consumption-related air pollution, and public debt in Europe. In addition, since the debt burden is one of the most important indicators of fiscal soundness within the European Union (EU) Treaty and the subsequent fiscal compact, the authors propose a simple test to determine whether participation in EU Treaties has shaped the empirical relationship between fiscal policy/public debt and environmental performance.Design/methodology/approachTo this end, the authors built a panel data set that covers 24 European countries over the period 1996–2015.FindingsThe aspect that the authors want to underline is a possible trade off, which is confirmed in the empirical analysis, between the public finance equilibrium and the maintenance of a public good such as air quality. However, there are important non-linearities that shape the interaction between public debt and environmental pollution. Similarly, threshold effects arise when the authors examine the interaction between EU regulation and public debt and when the authors separately examine high debt and low debt countries. When the authors account for the stabilization rules introduced by EU Treaties, a negative effect on pollution is evident; in this way, fiscal consolidation limits the positive effect of fiscal policy.Practical implicationsThe results point out the existence of a potential trade-off between the role of EU as a regulator aiming to mitigate environmental pollution, and its role within the Stability and Growth Pact. The analysis highlights that fiscal consolidation policies, while facilitating the achievement of macroeconomic stability within EU, might have a negative side effect on the environment quality, which spreads beyond the borders of one single country.Originality/valueWhile a number of studies have suggested that fiscal spending might contribute to the level of pollution in European countries, there is scant evidence of the effect of public debt on environmental performance. This lack of scientific knowledge is a serious shortcoming, since it may allow for an underrepresentation of the wide-ranging consequences of stabilization programmes targeting the debt-to-GDP ratio, which could affect environmental quality.

The European Union (EU) has required accession states to adopt its acquis communitaire in internal security. Turkey has presented an important case because it has been seen both as a source of threat to the EU, in terms of the spread of organized crime and illegal drugs, and as a problematical candidate for accession. This article looks at the impact of the EU's accession process upon the internal security policies of Turkey, from its application for membership in 1987 to the present. It argues that the EU has exerted a substantial influence on Turkish policy, especially during the period when the prospect of accession was strongest. In spite of the paralysis in its accession negotiations, Turkey remains aligned with EU internal security policy because it has come to internalize the EU's security standards and share its fears of the domestic threats associated with organized crime and drug trafficking.

This paper deals with the Air Traffic Management (ATM) situation in the South East Europe (SEE) countries. The current status indicates that the SEE air space users require increased capacity, higher flexibility and improved cost efficiency. On the other hand, some of these countries were in a war situation a few years ago, and now they are seeking a regional cooperation to ensure regional stability and prosperity towards their integration to the European Union. The paper starts with a description of the cooperation schemes, already in operation in the area. Then the attempt to converge the ATM of the region towards the EU Single European Sky is investigated. The FABA (Functional Airspace Block Approach), a European Union (EU) initiative, applied in the SEE is presented in detail. In the continuation, the paper reports on the definition phase of the SEE FABA initiative, which is to provide a well founded basis for the reorganisation of the SEE air space into FAB's. It is concluded that the FAB solution stemming from the EU Single European Sky policy is feasible, highly beneficial and necessary for the SEE region development.

This paper assesses the trade criteria for EU membership and the extent to which Croatia fulfills those criteria. The relationship between trade criteria and the economic ability to pursue EU accession is discussed and a gravity model of Croatian trade is constructed in order to measure the level of trade diversification achieved in an objective manner. Significant trade biases towards the former Yugoslav republics are found as well as an emerging bias in imports from Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). Moreover, the process of trade liberalization
that was promoted recently did in general not significantly contribute to trade diversification towards countries with which preferential trade agreements had recently been concluded, rather reinforced existing biases, although there are some differences between export and import flows.
In order to mitigate the consequences of delays in the integration processes, reduce long-term costs of trade restructuring and encourage the trade integration with the EU necessary for successful accession, Croatia should seek to eliminate the remaining institutional barriers to trade with the EU. Also, the continuation and faster implementation of structural reforms are necessary preconditions for an increase of openness in trade.

This dissertation explores delegation and democracy within the European Union (EU). The EU now constitutes one of the cornerstones of the democratic systems of its member states. The most vital instrument of democracy is lawmaking, which increasingly occurs at the European level. Many different actors contribute to the shaping of EU legislation. Among the most important of these are national bureaucrats representing their member states in Council negotiations. This thesis focuses on these bureaucrats. In particular it analyzes the delegation and accountability relationship between member states' governments and their national bureaucrats stationed at the permanent representations (PRs) in Brussels. It is based on semi-structured elite interviews with 80 French and Swedish senior civil servants in Brussels, Paris and Stockholm. Using an explorative and descriptive comparative case study of two EU member states, France and Sweden, the dissertation seeks to describe and analyse how delegation between member states' capitals and Brussels are affected by: i) the coordination and preparation of EU issues in member states' government offices, ii) the organisation and functioning of the permanent representations, and, most importantly, iii) existing accountability mechanisms. Applying a principal-agent approach, this study shows that the delegation between governments and their Brussels-based bureaucrats is adequate, despite relatively weak delegation and accountability designs. The study identifies institutional divergence between France and Sweden as regards the design of national systems of EU delegation, particularly monitoring and reporting requirements, where Sweden seems to have a more developed system. Both countries have similar contract design and screening and selection systems for employing national agents stationed at the PRs. The impact of domestic coordination of EU affairs is important in order to understand processes of both preference formation precedent to delegation and of preference transfer through instructions. In this case it is obvious that French coordination is more efficient. The functions of the permanent representation also influence delegation between national and European levels. For example, administrative procedures in the PRs in Brussels have had effects on the drafting of instructions, something that is particularly notable in the Swedish case. The study identifies several central problems as regards delegation between bureaucrats in Brussels and governments in member states' capitals. The first problem has to do with the ongoing blurring of political and bureaucratic dimensions. This inhibits the ability of principals (in our case member state governments) to hold their agents (Brussels-based bureaucrats) accountable. The second problem identified by this study as regards the working of democracy is the distinction between formal and informal processes. One conclusion is that informal processes should be formalised or made more transparent. Opacity in lawmaking processes has detrimental effects on long-term legitimacy of democratic systems. Holding de facto lawmaking bureaucrats, caught in a cross-pressure between national demands and European ambitions, accountable is essential for democracy. The dissertation includes practical suggestions as to how to improve delegation, and argues that additional research on both the roles and power of bureaucrats as well as issues of cross-pressure is necessary.

Introduction -- The recent history of EU-Turkey relations -- Current issues and challenges in EU-Turkey relations -- Revisiting Turkish civil society -- Changing landscape of Turkish civil society -- EU civil society support in Turkey -- The impact of EU funds over Turkish civil society -- Conclusion

Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Table of Cases -- Table of Legislation -- Introduction -- 1 -- Family Reunification at the Time of Bilateral Agreements and the Common Market -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Movement Rights of Workers and the Role of Italy: From Bilateral Agreements to the Treaty of Rome and the Common Market -- 3. Bilateral Agreements and Family Members" Residence Rights -- 4. EEC Family Residence Rights Provisions and Approach towards Third Country Nationals -- 5. Conclusions -- 2 -- Foreigners Become Enemies: The New Immigration Approach since the Oil Crisis of 1973 -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Stigmatisation of Foreigners -- 3. The Creation and Development of a Fortress Europe: How Foreigners Started to be Stigmatised by the EU -- 4. Conclusions -- 3 -- Family Reunification between EU Moving Citizens and Third Country National Family Members -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Right of Residence of Third Country National EU Family Members -- 3. Other Conditions Inserted in the Early Free Movement Legislation to be Fulfilled by the EU Worker -- 4. Other Conditions Inserted in the More Recent Legislation -- 5. Conclusions -- 4 -- EU Static Citizens Law Cases -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Development of the Concept of EU Citizenship -- 3. The Final Detachment of the Concept of EU Citizenship from the Right of Free Movement: Zambrano46 -- 4. The First Zambrano Curtailment: McCarthy82 -- 5. The Completion of the Zambrano Curtailment through the Specification of the Substance of Rights test: Dereci106 -- 6. The Post-Dereci Cases: A Confirmation of the Strict Approach of the Court on Third Country National Family Residence Rights -- 7. Conclusions -- 5 -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index