Suchergebnisse

The idea of fiscal decentralisation has become increasingly fashionable world-wide. In some developed countries the systems of intergovernmental finance have evolved gradually and each country has unique features. Transition countries on different continents have had differing reasons and motivations for such reforms. More recently, the acknowledgement of subsidiarity as the basic principle for the European Un-ion, the introduction of the West German federal system in the eastern part of the country, the revival of regionalism in European countries are distinctive examples of the decentralisation process in Europe. Following the equalisation objectives, one tends to argue that those municipalities with greater spending needs automatically require more financial support from central or upper-level government. Yet, the sum of grants to municipalities should basically be induced from the comparison of their expenditure needs with local fiscal capacity from their own resources such as local tax revenues and fees. Surely the expenditure behaviour of municipalities is also, to a great extent, influenced by their present fiscal capacity and by the size of local debts. Four European countries were chosen to survey the recent development of local finance: the UK, Germany, Poland and Switzerland. This paper firstly identifies and highlights the similarities and differences in municipal finance in an international context. Secondly it theoretically examines the possibility of enhancing fiscal autonomy of local governments through increasing revenues from fees. Keywords: fiscal decentralisation, local expenditures and taxes, shared taxes, intergovernmental transfers, municipal borrowings, Poland, the UK, Switzerland, Germany

This book provides a comprehensive account of EU's renewable energy policy development as it traces the agenda-shaping, policy formulation and decision-making phases of the EU's secondary legislation on renewable energy - that is the three successive directives of 2001 (RES-E), 2009 (RED), and 2018 (RED II). It also explores the EU's energy policymaking dynamics and assess integration outcomes of these three policymaking instances in the renewable energy field from a comparative perspective. Enriched with elite interviews with the Brussels policy community, and drawing on European integration and public policy literature, the proposed book will resonate with and offer relevant insights to students, scholars, stakeholders, and policymakers interested in EU energy policy, in particular, and European integration, in general.

Slovenia's Transition: From Medieval Roots to the European Union details and analyzes the history of the process of Slovenia's transformation from a socialist, self managed, political-economic system to that of a capitalist, democratically regulated, market system. The book reveals the economic development of Slovenia as it transformed. Bogomil Ferfila explores the transformation of institutions through the development of corporatism. It also delves into the political and economic integration of Slovenia with the European Union. The book evaluates the 'gradualist' policy measures taken to transform the economy and the supporting economic transition of the post communist states. This successful transition led to its accession to the E.U. among the first tier of applicant countries. Followed by Slovenia becoming the first of the new members to assume the Presidency of the E.U. Through its careful historical analysis, this book illustrates the incredible changes that have taken place in Slovenia through politics, finances, and international relations.

The European Employment Strategy (EES) has been put in place in order to ensure the survival of the European Social Model in view of institutional change resulting from the introduction of the European Monetary System. It has become the platform of a method of open coordination of social and employment policy. It represents a new method of governance through soft law, as the traditional governance scheme of binding directives failed to find acceptance among member countries in core areas of national policy development and implementation.