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This book explores three key issues to understand the redefinition of relations between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC): the international context, foreign policies of EU member states towards Latin America, and crucial topics on the EU-LAC agenda. At the theoretical level, the book aims to rebalance two debates on EU-LAC relations. First, in the debate between agency and structure, the book stresses that context is a limiting factor of the agent's preferences and actions. Second, in the debate between values and interests, it finds that interests should not be made invariably dependent on values. At the empirical level, two aspects stand out. First, the change and continuity in EU member states' foreign policies also impact the EU's own role in the continent. Second, new topics on the bi-regional and global agenda have the potential to redefine the relations between the two regions. At a time of European alleged decline, this volume argues that the EU remains a highly significant actor in Latin America and the Caribbean. "EU-Latin American relations are in a phase of redefinition. This timely book addresses both the structural obstacles and the prospects and areas for deeper cooperation. Against the background of diverging positions of Latin America and the EU in international politics, the proposed decoupling of political and functional agendas should be considered." Detlef Nolte, German Institute für Global and Area Studies (GIGA) "This book makes an original and significant contribution to the study of the relations between the European Union and Latin American and the Caribbean. The volume blends wisely the right doses of scholarly research and policymaking sensitivity, thus making for an innovative read for academics and an insightful contribution for practitioners." Andrés Malamud, University of Lisbon

The relationship between the convention and constitutional law -- The relationship between the convention and international law -- Succumbing to penal populis -- Defending society from its enemies -- New forms of punishment -- Promoting internet as the new global market of ideas -- Defending the foundations of the European model of social state (Sozialstaalichkeit) -- Empowering migrants as citizens -- Judge-made law : is the case law coherent? -- Strasbourg consequential orders : words blown against the wind?

The "European Whistleblowing Directive" (Directive (EU) 2019/1937) is the most far-reaching piece of whistleblowing legislation in history with an unprecedented impact on countries all across the European Union. To transpose the Directive, all 27 Member States were required to enact their own national whistleblowing laws by 17 December 2021, in many cases leading to the creation of an entirely new field of law previously unknown to many national legal systems. The papers included in this book are the result of the "2nd European Conference on Whistleblowing Legislation", providing readers with a first in-depth look into the emerging field of research that is European Whistleblowing Law

Informal patient payments are deeply rooted in Central and Eastern European countries. Despite the socio-political changes in the health care sectors after 1990s and the subsequent health care reforms, informal payments for health care services continue to serve patients` and physicians` interests. These payments also fill gaps in health care funding in this European region. Nevertheless, unofficial payments are not a desirable payment channel. They lack transparency and distort the efficiency and equity in health care provision. Still, the successful elimination of these payments will depend on the public attitude towards these payments. This study aims to compare public attitudes towards informal patient payments and payment experience in six Central and Eastern European: Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. The data have been collected in 2010 in nation-wide representative surveys using an identical standardized question- naire administrated via face-to-face interviews. We have collected about 1000 questionnaires in each country. The results show that a major group of respondents in each country expresses a negative attitude towards both informal cash payments and in-kind gifts. 208, 187, and 174 respondents paid informally for out-patient service in Ukraine, Romania, and Hungary respectively. We also analyse the relation between public attitudes and respondents` past experience with informal payments, e.g. whether they have paid informally payment for out-patient service used last year. In Bulgaria and Poland, negative attitude is mostly observed among those who have not paid informally. The existence of positive and indifferent attitudes towards informal pay- ments as reported in our study, indicates a challenge for policy makers in Central and Eastern European countries. The acceptance of government initiatives aimed at the elimination of informal payments will largely depend on the governments` ability to create a social resistance towards these payments.