Suchergebnisse

Over the last few decades, misleading healthcare information and deceptions with false claims, conspiracy theories (CTs) and consumer fraud have endangered public health on a global scale. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied by a substantial flow of false information and unceasing attempts by conspirators to influence debates in the official discourses, breeding on the fertile ground of people's most basic anxieties and the present-day social and economic uncertainty. This paper investigates the discourse of the European Commission on disinformation in order to achieve institutional legitimation through the linguistic and discursive construction of 'trustworthiness', 'credibility', and 'transparency'. The analysis considers the documents produced by the European Commission over the last few years (2018- 2021), to tackle the discourse that supports alternative views on official science. The results of the analysis reveal the EU discursive process of conceptualising 'verifiably false or misleading information' as 'public harm', while distancing it from the EU's fight against disinformation' that is discursively constructed as 'the protection of the EU values'. In particular, the investigation will show how the lexical and phraseological interaction discursively removes the harmful potential of conspiracy theories activists, legitimises massive control measures as the most effective way to guarantee freedom of expression and pluralistic democratic debate, and empowers the EU's image as the shield protecting the European citizens' awareness and societal resilience (Flowerdew, Richardson 2018).

Dottorato di ricerca in Politica agraria ; Il presente lavoro intende proporre una lettura alternativa dei risultati del processo di riforma della PAC attraverso una corretta definizione del ruolo della Commissione. Lo scopo è quello di individuare gli strumenti che la Commissione utilizza durante il processo decisionale al fine di strutturare una riforma che, da un lato salvaguardi le sue prerogative, e dall'altro non sia oggetto di modificazioni una volta presentata al Consiglio dei ministri agricoli per la ratifica. La valutazione strategica del ruolo della Commissione nella riforma della PAC è basata sulla logica dei two level games e sull'uso esteso del concetto di win-set. Per raggiungere gli scopi dell'analisi si ricorre un caso studio sulla riforma dell'OCM zucchero varata nel 2005. Attraverso l'analisi documentale vengono determinare in maniera molto specifica le posizioni degli Stati membri, le preferenze della Commissione e tutti gli eventi che si sono succeduti dalla presentazione delle prime linee guida per la riforma dell'OCM zucchero nel 2003 al compromesso raggiunto dal Consiglio dei Ministri nel 2005. L'obiettivo è quello di comparare l'evoluzione dei singoli argomenti negoziali in ogni stadio della procedura e valutarne l'evoluzione in relazione alla posizione degli Stati membri e delle prerogative dalle Commissione. Dal caso studio sono individuate le ipotesi che definiscono sia il ruolo della Commissione che la natura degli strumenti. A partire da queste ipotesi prende le mosse il tentativo di formalizzare gli elementi emersi attraverso il caso studio. Il modello è complementare al caso studio e viene costruito con lo scopo di mettere in luce aspetti che dalla semplice analisi documentale non riescono ad emergere, dall'altro di poter valutare se l'impianto teorico costruito per definire le posizioni degli Stati membri e della Commissione ha una logica coerente con quanto emerso dall'analisi documentale. I risultati ottenuti dal caso studio sono interessanti e contribuiscono alla comprensione delle dinamiche che si sviluppano tra Stati membri e Commissione, i risultati del modello sono anch'essi interessanti anche se, l'impostazione data alla formalizzazione la rende un forse troppo rigida per gli scopi della nostra analisi. ; The work we present propose an application of the two level game logic to the CAP definition context. The analysis is based on a case study on the 2005 sugar CMO reform and aims at pointing out the role of the European Commission in steering the negotiation toward its preferred solution. Moreover we aim at pointing out and define the instrument which the Commission use during this process. The case study is based on the analysis of the largest number of document possible on the negotiation carried out during the sugar CMO reform. Once we obtained results from the case study we formulate some general hypothesis on the role of the Commission and the instruments used during the reform process to move member States position towards its preferences. The hypothesis are then gathered into a formal model which represents an attempt to replicate the logic emerged from the case study. The formal model aims at checking the correct nature of our assumptions in relation to the logic of two level game and point out the quantitative effects of the work of the Commission on the relative gains the participant get from the negotiation. The results we obtained from the case study are rather interesting, and represents a contribution to the understanding of the role of the Commission. Form the model we obtain also some valuable results but the same nature of the model proved too be a bit rigid for the purposes of our analysis.

Examines the growth of the regulatory powers of the European Union, how regulatory policies are formed, and the part played by officials of the European Commission. Summary in English p. 587.

The article focuses on the Next Generation EU as a financial intervention plan prepared by the European Union to tackle the health, economic and social crisis caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. The programs that make up the Next Generation Eu are analyzed, and therefore also the specific aspect of its insertion into the sequence of the European Semester, in the belief that this constitutes an important turning point for the Union, both for the role played by the European Commission in determining the objectives and contents of the policies of the Member States in relation to the Semester, and for the effective expansion and reorientation of the EU guidelines in the view to recovery and resilience. In order to highlight the change in the "political discourse" of the European Commission and therefore of the Union in general, the Annual Growth Surveys for 2017, 2018 and 2019 and the Annual Growth Strategy 2020, drawn up by European Commission at the beginning of the European Semester for the years considered and, for the same purpose, the Country-specific Recommendations addressed to Italy, France, Spain and Germany, for the years 2019 and 2020, were examined. Another topic that it was intended to give rise to from this analysis, is that concerning the notion of a s.c. "useful conditionality", which would emerge from the methods applied by the European Commission in carrying out its monitoring function on the policies adopted by the Member States in connection with the disbursement of loans and grants referred to in the resilience and resilience device. In this context, the issues concerning the proposal to modify the EU's own resources and the proposal on the remodeling of the Union's multiannual financial framework were also brought to attention.

This article analyses the New Pact on migration and asylum in light of the evolution of European law and the trends which characterize its develop- ment. In the aftermath of the partial failure of the reform advanced in 2016, the new European Commission's proposals are placed in a context of recurrent crises, typical of the process of integration of the European Union. What emerges is a reform in which the protection of human rights coexists together with pragmatic solutions as well as flexible solidarity mechanisms put for- ward to curb irregular immigration. If it appears an urgency to incorporate the newly developed emergency measures into the EU legal framework, the Union is confronted with Member States' domestic policies and the need for a more effective coordination. ; Questo contributo analizza il Nuovo Patto sulla migrazione e l'asilo alla luce delle evoluzioni del diritto europeo e di alcune macro-tendenze che ne ca- ratterizzano lo sviluppo. L'odierna proposta di riforma della Commissione europea interviene in un contesto di cicliche crisi, tipico dell'integrazione eu- ropea, all'indomani del parziale fallimento di quella presentata nel 2016. Ne emerge una riforma in cui la tutela dei diritti umani dei migranti è posta in relazione alle soluzioni pragmatiche di contrasto all'immigrazione irregolare e di ricerca di meccanismi di solidarietà flessibili. L'esigenza di inglobare le misure emergenziali emerse nel corso degli ultimi anni nel quadro giuridico dell'Unione si confronta, infatti, con le politiche interne degli Stati membri e la necessità di un più efficace coordinamento delle stesse.

This article analyses the New Pact on migration and asylum in light of the evolution of European law and the trends which characterize its develop- ment. In the aftermath of the partial failure of the reform advanced in 2016, the new European Commission's proposals are placed in a context of recurrent crises, typical of the process of integration of the European Union. What emerges is a reform in which the protection of human rights coexists together with pragmatic solutions as well as flexible solidarity mechanisms put for- ward to curb irregular immigration. If it appears an urgency to incorporate the newly developed emergency measures into the EU legal framework, the Union is confronted with Member States' domestic policies and the need for a more effective coordination. ; Questo contributo analizza il Nuovo Patto sulla migrazione e l'asilo alla luce delle evoluzioni del diritto europeo e di alcune macro-tendenze che ne ca- ratterizzano lo sviluppo. L'odierna proposta di riforma della Commissione europea interviene in un contesto di cicliche crisi, tipico dell'integrazione eu- ropea, all'indomani del parziale fallimento di quella presentata nel 2016. Ne emerge una riforma in cui la tutela dei diritti umani dei migranti è posta in relazione alle soluzioni pragmatiche di contrasto all'immigrazione irregolare e di ricerca di meccanismi di solidarietà flessibili. L'esigenza di inglobare le misure emergenziali emerse nel corso degli ultimi anni nel quadro giuridico dell'Unione si confronta, infatti, con le politiche interne degli Stati membri e la necessità di un più efficace coordinamento delle stesse.

L'articolo si propone di commentare la sentenza del 14 aprile 2015, nella causa C-409/13, con cui la Corte di Giustizia ha risolto un antico contrasto di tesi giuridiche (e politiche) tra il Consiglio dell'Unione europea e la Commissione europea, avente ad oggetto la questione se quest'ultima possa ritirare una proposta legislativa e, se sì, a quali condizioni e in quali casi. Respingendo il ricorso del Consiglio, la Corte ha risolto il conflitto a favore della Commissione, ma ha anche dato alcune indicazioni riguardo a requisiti di ordine sia procedurale che sostanziale che devono essere rispettati ai fini di un "legittimo" esercizio del potere di ritiro. L'articolo si propone anche di sottolineare il ruolo che la Corte ha riservato a se stessa nell'equilibrio istituzionale, ruolo che si ricollega al particolare valore che la Corte assegna al principio di leale cooperazione ed agli accordi interistituzionali. ; The aim of this article is to explore the power of the European Commission to withdraw proposals that it has submitted to the Council and the European Parliament and the limits surrounding this power, in light of the Judgment ECJ of 14 April 2015, in case C-409/13.

This thesis is aimed at assessing, through an in-depth analysis of the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the current status of the rights of defence enjoyed by companies which are parties to proceedings before the European Commission for the enforcement of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. Against this background, this thesis purports to suggest some proposals to reform the current design of EU antitrust proceedings, with a view to improving the procedural guarantees granted to the parties and, ultimately, the legitimacy of the whole system of EU antitrust enforcement. This topic, which has been for a long time the object of a heated academic debate, is relevant for a number of reasons. First, the functioning and organization of EU antitrust proceedings, in which the European Commission acts at the same time as investigator, prosecutor and decision-maker. Second – and more recently – the fact that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union now ranks as EU primary law. As a consequence, the role of the European Convention of Human Rights within the EU legal order has become more significant. With respect to this last point (and particularly in light of Article 6 ECHR), it must also be noted that antitrust fines are now largely acknowledged as having a criminal nature. Accordingly, it is even more important to ensure the respect of the rights of defence in the context of such proceedings. In light of the above, this thesis first provides an overview of the process through which the respect of the rights of defence has been gradually established at EU level, by analyzing its different stages, the role of the case law and the impact of the relevant legislative instruments providing for the protection of fundamental rights. The second chapter of this thesis examines some preliminary and cross-cutting issues, such as the applicability of fundamental rights to legal entities, the rationale (and limits) of granting rights to the parties of antitrust proceedings, and the issue of the criminal nature of antitrust fines in light of Article 6 ECHR. The core of this research is the assessment of the current status of the rights of defence in EU antitrust proceedings, through an analysis of the case law of the EU courts (as compared with the case law of the Strasbourg Court) as well as of the relevant legislation. Accordingly, the assessment focuses on the privilege against self-incrimination, the legal professional privilege, the right to be heard and the right to access the case file. Finally, a few conclusive remarks are drawn on the compatibility between the case law of the EU courts and of the Court of Strasbourg, on the one hand, and on the current level of protection of the rights of defence in EU antitrust proceedings, on the other hand. Against this background, an assessment is carried out with respect to the possible reforms that might be enacted in the context of EU antitrust proceedings, with a view to improving the role and impact of the parties' procedural guarantees, with a particular focus on the role of the Hearing Officer and on the oral hearing.

Argues that the executive competence of the European Commission should be expanded, the legislative powers of the European Parliament reinforced, and a senate of the states created to assure the constitutional future of the European Union. Summary in English p. 231.

FREEWAT is an HORIZON 2020 project financed by the EU Commission under the call WATER INNOVATION: BOOSTING ITS VALUE FOR EUROPE. FREEWAT main result is an open source and public domain GIS-integrated modeling environment for the simulation of groundwater quantity and quality, with an integrated water management and planning module. FREEWAT aims at promoting water resource management by simplifying the application of the Water Framework Directive and other EU water-related Directives. To this scope, the FREEWAT platform results from the integration in the QGIS Desktop of spatially distributed and physically-based codes (mostly belonging to the USGS MODFLOW family), which allow to get a deep insight in groundwater dynamics, taking into account the space and time variability of stresses which control the hydrological cycle. This is attempted in a unique GIS environment, where large spatial datasets can be managed and visualized. In this paper, a review of the tools/modules integrated in FREEWAT for data pre-processing and model implementation is provided. FREEWAT applicability was demonstrated through running 14 case studies, in the general framework of an innovative participatory approach, which consists in involving technical staff and relevant stakeholders (in primis policy and decision makers) during modeling activities, thus creating a common environment to enhance science and evidence-based decision making in water resource management.

The Author presents a quick comment of the Proposal of the European Commission for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council, on improving working conditions in platform work - COM (2021) 762, in terms of the Commission's reconstruction of the de facto situation of work with platforms, the legal basis of the Proposal, which the Commission refers to Articles 153 and 16 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the main objectives of the Proposal, which the Commission itself identifies to improve of working conditions, and in terms of the specific objectives of ensuring the correct qualification of platform work, guaranteeing transparency in the algorithmic management of work relations, and increasing the transparency and traceability of platform work (which the author traces back to the aim of increasing tax and social security revenues). In conclusion, the study examines the main contents of the Proposal: rebuttable presumption of employment relationship, information and consultation obligations regarding algorithmic management, and transparency in labour relations with platforms. ; El Autor presenta un rápido comentario de la Propuesta de la Comisión Europea de Directiva del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, relativa a la mejora de las condiciones de trabajo en el trabajo de plataforma - COM (2021) 762, en cuanto a la reconstrucción por parte de la Comisión de la situación de facto del trabajo con plataformas, la base jurídica de la Propuesta, que la Comisión remite a los artículos 153 y 16 del Tratado de Funcionamiento de la Unión Europea, y los principales objetivos de la Propuesta, que la propia Comisión identifica con la mejora de las condiciones de trabajo, y en cuanto a los objetivos específicos de asegurar la correcta calificación del trabajo en plataformas, garantizar la transparencia en la gestión algorítmica de las relaciones laborales, y aumentar la transparencia y trazabilidad del trabajo en plataformas (que el autor remonta al objetivo de aumentar los ingresos fiscales y de seguridad social). En conclusión, el estudio examina los principales contenidos de la Propuesta: presunción iuris tantum de la relación laboral, obligaciones de información y consulta sobre la gestión algorítmica, y transparencia en las relaciones laborales con las plataformas. ; L'Autore presenta un primo commento della Proposta della Commissione Europea per una Direttiva del Parlamento Europeo e del Consiglio, sul miglioramento delle condizioni di lavoro nelle piattaforme - COM (2021) 762, a proposito della ricostruzione da parte della Commissione della situazione di fatto del lavoro con le piattaforme, della base giuridica della Proposta, che la Commissione richiama agli articoli 153 e 16 del Trattato sul funzionamento dell'Unione Europea, e dei principali obiettivi della Proposta, che la stessa Commissione individua nel miglioramento delle condizioni di lavoro, e a proposito degli obiettivi specifici di assicurare la corretta qualificazione del lavoro tramite piattaforma, garantire la trasparenza nella gestione algoritmica dei rapporti di lavoro, e aumentare la trasparenza e la tracciabilità del lavoro in piattaforma (che l'autore riconduce all'obiettivo di aumentare le entrate fiscali e previdenziali). In conclusione, lo studio esamina i principali contenuti della Proposta: presunzione relativa di subordinazione, obblighi di informazione e consultazione sulla gestione algoritmica e trasparenza nei rapporti di lavoro con le piattaforme.