Suchergebnisse

Since the early 2000s, the United States and European Union have discussed the development of bilateral and regional trade agreements. The TTIP - Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was announced in February 2013 and is currently under negotiation. The initiative aims at establishing a trade agreement between the two blocs, removing all trade barriers, including the non-tariff ones, in a wide range of economic sectors. The paper looks at several key elements that the bilateral negotiations are set to challenge from the European Union perspective. We focus on the main causes for resistance within the EU towards establishing the agreement, seeking to understand the future framework for international trade for the European states. While the EU continues integration to establish a functioning internal market, still continuing the process of diminishing and eliminating non-tariff barriers among the member states, we examine whether liberalisation of trade and investment between the US and the EU will benefit the EU as a whole, considering the current socio-economic trends at the Union's level. Keywords: TTIP, tariff and non-tariff barriers, international negotiation mandate, international trade, FTA, EU, US, regulatory convergence, regulatory coherence, mutual recognition, equivalence, regulatory compatibility. (Romanian Journal of European Affairs / SWP)

The enlargement policy is important for the EU not only to extend its zone of peace, stability and prosperity, but also to increase its global competitiveness. Among the potential EU candidates, Turkey has a special place. As the only candidate that belongs to the group of newly emerging economic powers, Turkey may contribute significantly to the economic prosperity of Europe. Since its creation in 1923, Turkey showed an eager wish to belong to the European nations. Turkey adopted deep reforms in its constitutional, political and economic structure, and was finally able to start accession negotiations with the EU in 2005. Due to policies from both the Turkish and some EU countries' side, however, the accession process slowed down and came to a stalemate. Since neither the EU, nor Turkey is interested in a breakup of the accession process, they started negotiation on some key issues, to keep the accession process alive. In the study we examine some of the most important issues of mutual interest - common foreign policy challenges (such as Syria); energy transport issues; mobility and visa free travel, customs union and other trade issues - and try to analyze their effects on the dynamics of EU-Turkey relations. Keywords: European Union, Turkey, accession, customs union, energy, foreign policy, visa. (Romanian Journal of European Affairs / SWP)

China is the least disadvantaged major economy in the current era of global economic uncertainty. Thus it is becoming the focus of attention of its neighbours and is achieving a prominence in the world political economy unparalleled in its modern history. To a great extent, China's success is the result of 'good neighbour diplomacy' such as 'win-win' and the policies of reform and openness of the past thirty years. However, despite continuity in policy, China's 'peaceful leap forward' since 2008 has changed the context of its external relationships. The increasing asymmetries between China and its neighbours, as well as decreasing asymmetry with the United States, require an adjustment of win-win values beyond mutual benefit to credible reassurance. As China's neighbours become more dependent, they also become more anxious concerning their interests. Meanwhile, China's relative gain on the US requires a different kind of confidence-building diplomacy. (International Affairs (Oxford) / SWP)

1. The sleeping giant has awoken : China's new great leap forward . - 2. Some of the factors that contributed to China's awakening . - 3. China's entry into the WTO . - 4. Why is China interested in Africa? . - 5. China's foray into Africa : the benefits . - 6. China's foray into Africa : the criticisms . - 7. Africa and millions of Chinese migrants . - 8. How African countries can position themselves to benefit from China's foray into Africa . - 9. China's foray into Africa : impact on interest of other external players? . - 10. China and Africa : the way forward and prospects for the future. - Conclusion: China and Africa: looking backward to move forward