EU membership has been a compelling goal for the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia), related to the bloc's stability, economic prosperity and higher standard of living. Each of these countries pursues its own process of EU accession while being also a part of the regional initiatives under the auspices of the EU. This paper provides an overview of the EU accession process of the Western Balkan countries, focusing on their individual achievements and challenges, as well as common features and problems. Also, the content andprospects of regional integration of the Western Balkans through the Regional Economic Area (REA) programme, along with the role of the EU in supporting the regional perspective are discussed. The parallel Western Balkans engagement in both processes supports arguments for the prioritisation of the individual countries' accession to the EU over Western Balkans regional integration, distinguishing also the challenges of both processes. The methodology for the elaboration of this paper includes methods of analysis and synthesis, based on extensive desk research of available materials.
The evolution of the ambitions of the Ukrainian authorities regarding integration with the EU is discussed in the paper. The current attitudes of political parties represented in Parliament towards the European Union, as well as the attitude of Ukrainian society towards the integration of the country with the EU is analyzed. Attention is focused on the Eastern Partnership as the EU's response to the aspirations of the Ukrainian political elites toward integration with the EU. The process of working out a new agreement between Ukraine and the EU, that is to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, is analyzed. In the conclusions the principal barriers to the integration of Ukraine with the EU are highlighted. ; The evolution of the ambitions of the Ukrainian authorities regarding integration with the EU is discussed in the paper. The current attitudes of political parties represented in Parliament towards the European Union, as well as the attitude of Ukrainian society towards the integration of the country with the EU is analyzed. Attention is focused on the Eastern Partnership as the EU's response to the aspirations of the Ukrainian political elites toward integration with the EU. The process of working out a new agreement between Ukraine and the EU, that is to replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, is analyzed. In the conclusions the principal barriers to the integration of Ukraine with the EU are highlighted.
The EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy was adopted by the European Council on June 28, 2016. It defines the common interests of the EU and its member states. It was based on the following objectives: security of citizens and territory, prosperity, democracy, global order, which are to lead to the creation of a credible, reactive and cohesive European Union. The principles which the European Union began to follow are unity, cooperation with others, responsibility, and deepening external partnerships.It is worth noting that cybersecurity in the European Union is a prerogative of the Member States unlike cyberterrorism which is a shared competence. Nevertheless, the EU has a key role to play in creating the conditions for the ability of Member States to improve, cooperate and build trust.This article will attempt to demonstrate that the effectiveness of actions taken by European Union bodies in the field of cyber terrorism depends on the type of instruments at the disposal of the EU and the Member States and the legal basis of the relevant regulations. The problem is that there are legal inaccuracies and interpretation discrepancies in the provisions of legal regulations at the EU level regarding the division of competences regarding cyberspace protection, which in fact lead to a delay in the establishment of mutual cooperation between the EU and the Member States. ; Globalna strategia UE na rzecz polityki zagranicznej i bezpieczeństwa została przyjęta przez Radę Europejską 28 czerwca 2016 r. Określa wspólne interesy UE i państw członkowskich. Opiera się na następujących celach: bezpieczeństwie obywateli i terytorium, dobrobycie, demokracji, ładzie światowym, które mają doprowadzić do stworzenia wiarygodnej, reaktywnej i spójnej Unii Europejskiej. Zasady, którymi zaczęła kierować się Unia Europejska, to jedność, współdziałanie z innymi, odpowiedzialność, pogłębianie partnerstw zewnętrznych.Warto zauważyć, że cyberbezpieczeństwo w Unii Europejskiej jest prerogatywą państw członkowskich w przeciwieństwie do cyberterroryzmu, który należy do kompetencji dzielonych. Mimo to UE ma do odegrania kluczową rolę w tworzeniu warunków dla zdolności państw członkowskich, aby ulepszać, współpracować i budować zaufanie. W niniejszym artykule zostanie podjęta próba wykazania, że na skuteczność działań podejmowanych przez organy Unii Europejskiej w zakresie polityki cyberterrorystycznej zależy od rodzaju instrumentów będących w dyspozycji UE i państw członkowskich oraz podstawy prawnej odpowiednich regulacji. Problemem pozostają nieścisłości prawne i rozbieżności interpretacyjne w zapisie regulacji prawnych na poziomie unijnym w zakresie podziału kompetencji dotyczących ochrony cyberprzestrzeni, które w rzeczywistości prowadzą do opóźnienia powstania wzajemnej współpracy między Unią a państwami członkowskimi[1] https://eeas.europa.eu/top_stories/pdf/eugs_pl_.pdf. (dostęp: 3.02.2021 r.).
Poland had to meet various political, legal and economic criteria in order to become a member of the European Union; the EU itself also had to prepare for it in institutional and financial respect. Although fulfilling acquis communautaire standards, then accession negotiations and completion of formalities lasted 10 years and the anti-EU campaign before a national referendum about Polish integration with the EU caused serious doubts and concerns connected with the accession, still on the 1 May 2004 Poland became a member of the EU. Now, after 10 years of membership there are several questions how Poland has used its presence in this organization. Has it been a time of prosperity and success or rather a failure and a historical mistake? What and how has Poland been changed over this time? Have social doubts connected with the EU integration been allayed? These are just a few questions raised in this article and the author tries to answer them.
Po przeszło 12 latach realizacji EPS i dwóch wstrząsach politycznych – kryzysie ukraińskim i arabskiej wiośnie, nadszedł czas kompleksowej oceny i rewizji niektórych założeń.W 2015 r. rozpoczęły się konsultacje dotyczące nowego kształtu EPS, tak by polityka ta z jednej strony nadal wypełniała swoją zasadniczą funkcję wspierania i promocji praw człowiekai demokracji w państwach sąsiedzkich, ale z drugiej strony by UE mogła efektywniej wpływać na swoje bezpieczeństwo zewnętrzne. Po ponad półrocznym okresie konsultacji, w których udział wzięły zarówno instytucje UE, państwa członkowskie, a także organizacje pozarządowe, w listopadzie 2015 roku Komisja Europejska przedstawiła założenia reformy EPS, które można określić jako nową Europejską Politykę Sąsiedztwa. W artykule przedstawiony zosta dotychczasowy model EPS, w tym także przesłanki ustanowienia polityki w 2004 r., następnie ukazana została ewolucja EPS, a w kolejnej części artykułu omówione zostały założenia nowej EPS na podstawie analizy dokumentów instytucji UE. ; After over 12 years of implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the two political upheavals – Ukrainian crisis and the Arab Spring, it is time for its comprehensive assessment and review of certain assumptions. In 2015 began consultations on a new shape of the ENP, so that the policy on the one hand might continue to fulfill its essential function of supporting and promoting human rights and democracy in neighboring countries, but on the other hand, the EU can effectively influence their external security. After more than six months of consultations, which was attended by the EU institutions, Member States and non-governmental organizations in November 2015, the European Commission presented the principles of the reformof the ENP, which can be described as the new European Neighbourhood Policy. The paper presents the current model of the ENP, including evidence to establish policy in 2004., then isshown the evolution of the policy and in the next part of the article is discussed the establishment of a new ENP based on analysis of documents of the EU institutions.
Po przeszło 12 latach realizacji EPS i dwóch wstrząsach politycznych – kryzysie ukraińskim i arabskiej wiośnie, nadszedł czas kompleksowej oceny i rewizji niektórych założeń. W 2015 r. rozpoczęły się konsultacje dotyczące nowego kształtu EPS, tak by polityka ta z jednej strony nadal wypełniała swoją zasadniczą funkcję wspierania i promocji praw człowieka i demokracji w państwach sąsiedzkich, ale z drugiej strony by UE mogła efektywniej wpływać na swoje bezpieczeństwo zewnętrzne. Po ponad półrocznym okresie konsultacji, w których udział wzięły zarówno instytucje UE, państwa członkowskie, a także organizacje pozarządowe, w listopadzie 2015 roku Komisja Europejska przedstawiła założenia reformy EPS, które można określić jako nową Europejską Politykę Sąsiedztwa. W artykule przedstawiony został dotychczasowy model EPS, w tym także przesłanki ustanowienia polityki w 2004 r., następnie ukazana została ewolucja EPS, a w kolejnej części artykułu omówione zostały założenia nowej EPS na podstawie analizy dokumentów instytucji UE. ; After over 12 years of implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the two political upheavals – Ukrainian crisis and the Arab Spring, it is time for its comprehensive as sessment and review of certain assumptions. In 2015 began consultations on a new shape of the ENP, so that the policy on the one hand might continue to fulfill its essential function of supporting and promoting human rights and democracy in neighboring countries, but on the other hand, the EU can effectively influence their external security. After more than six months of consultations, which was attended by the EU institutions, Member States and non-governmental organizations, in November 2015, the European Commission presented the principles of the reform of the ENP, which can be described as the new European Neighbourhood Policy. The paper presents the current model of the ENP, including evidence to establish policy in 2004., then is shown the evolution of the policy and in the next part of the article is discussed the establishment of a new ENP based on analysis of documents of the EU institutions.
Celem głównym artykułu jest przedstawienie istotnej kwestii stanowiska Unii Europejskiej wobec bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego. W UE ochrona zdrowia ludzkiego, zdrowia zwierząt i roślin na każdym etapie procesu produkcji żywnościowej ma priorytetowe znaczenie. Problem ten jest ściśle związany z nadmierną niestabilnością cen surowców, w tym także artykułów żywnościowych, co wpływa zarówno na producentów, jak i na konsumentów i wywołuje poważne skutki dla bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego. Warto podkreślić, że w okresie charakteryzującym się nagłymi zmianami cen żywności, takim jak lata 2007–2008, nastąpiło pogorszenie sytuacji żywnościowej w wielu ubogich krajach rozwijających się. Przewidywano, że wzrost cen żywności z 2010 r. może doprowadzić do dalszego rozszerzenia się zjawiska niedożywienia, zapotrzebowania na pomoc humanitarną oraz dalszej intensyfikacji napięć i niepokojów społecznych wśród słabszych konsumentów na świecie. Ważną rolę w zmianie tej sytuacji może odegrać Światowa Organizacja Handlu (WTO) oraz Unia Europejska. Kwestie bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego także dla Unii Europejskiej są równocześnie niezwykle ważne i aktualne zarówno z punktu widzenia teoretycznego, jak i praktycznego. ; The main objective of this paper is to present the attitude of the European Union to the issue of food security. Price volatility in the global market has a significant impact on the economic security of the participants. This particulary applies to commodity price volatility. Excessive volatility in commodity price effects both producers and consumers has a serious implication for food security. In the context of globalisation in a period characterized by sudden changes in food prices, such as for 2007–2008, the food situation in many poor developing countries worsend. It was expected that the increase in food prices in 2010 may lead to the further spread of the phenomenon of malnutrition and further intensification of tensions and unrest among the weaker consumers in the world. An important role in changing this situation can be played by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and European Union. Food security issues also for the European Union are very important and actual both from theoretical and practical point of view.
The development of the information society has initiated the need for creating new instruments with the help of which the authorities can reach out to citizens. Therefore, cyberspace has recently become a place of activity of a number of entities including state and international organizations (together with the European Union). The result of this phenomenon is the creation of the so-called digital diplomacy as new quality in the so-called diplomacy of the EU. The EU diplomacy currently uses a number of e-tools, among others, Facebook, MySpace, Daily Motion, YouTube, etc. These tools are a very good method to improve and warm up the image of the Union in the international arena. This kind of diplomacy was only formed at the beginning of the twenty-first century and has a great prospect of development, thus, it is worth considering in which direction its evolution should follow. Digital diplomacy is a de facto response to the problem of the EU communication with the outside world and the growing number of Internet users.
The main objective of this paper is to present the attitude of the European Union to the issue of food security. Price volatility in the global market has a significant impact on the economic security of the participants. This particulary applies to commodity price volatility. Excessive volatility in commodity price effects both producers and consumers has a serious implication for food security. In the context of globalisation in a period characterized by sudden changes in food prices, such as for 2007–2008, the food situation in many poor developing countries worsend. It was expected that the increase in food prices in 2010 may lead to the further spread of the phenomenon of malnutrition and further intensification of tensions and unrest among the weaker consumers in the world. An important role in changing this situation can be played by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and European Union. Food security issues also for the European Union are very important and actual both from theoretical and practical point of view. ; Celem głównym artykułu jest przedstawienie istotnej kwestii stanowiska Unii Europejskiej wobec bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego. W UE ochrona zdrowia ludzkiego, zdrowia zwierząt i roślin na każdym etapie procesu produkcji żywnościowej ma priorytetowe znaczenie. Problem ten jest ściśle związany z nadmierną niestabilnością cen surowców, w tym także artykułów żywnościowych, co wpływa zarówno na producentów, jak i na konsumentów i wywołuje poważne skutki dla bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego. Warto podkreślić, że w okresie charakteryzującym się nagłymi zmianami cen żywności, takim jak lata 2007–2008, nastąpiło pogorszenie sytuacji żywnościowej w wielu ubogich krajach rozwijających się. Przewidywano, że wzrost cen żywności z 2010 r. może doprowadzić do dalszego rozszerzenia się zjawiska niedożywienia, zapotrzebowania na pomoc humanitarną oraz dalszej intensyfikacji napięć i niepokojów społecznych wśród słabszych konsumentów na świecie. Ważną rolę w zmianie tej sytuacji może odegrać Światowa Organizacja Handlu (WTO) oraz Unia Europejska. Kwestie bezpieczeństwa żywnościowego także dla Unii Europejskiej są równocześnie niezwykle ważne i aktualne zarówno z punktu widzenia teoretycznego, jak i praktycznego.
The author discusses EU military missions in Africa carried out within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Making reference to five African missions he analyzes the experience generated by these operations and tries to explain to what extent they might have been conducive to further commitment of the EU in crisis management in Africa. In his opinion, in the future the EU will continue to be present in Africa, yet it is hardly to be expected that its missions will qualitatively differ from present operations. ; The author discusses EU military missions in Africa carried out within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Making reference to five African missions he analyzes the experience generated by these operations and tries to explain to what extent they might have been conducive to further commitment of the EU in crisis management in Africa. In his opinion, in the future the EU will continue to be present in Africa, yet it is hardly to be expected that its missions will qualitatively differ from present operations.
European Union and Indian Union signed the cooperation agreement in 1994 and a strategic partnership 10 years later. Europe was feeling safe and secure, which was well-described in 2003 in the European Security Strategy, so the approach to the relations with India stressed their economic aspects. In 2007, both sides have started negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement. They still have not concluded but in the meantime the world has changed dramatically. In the current international "disorder" both India and Europe are looking for new partners and vectors of influence, defending multilateralism and democratic values. The paper analyses 5 factors which severely influence these relations. They can bring both sides closer and make the strategic partnership stronger: Rise of China as a global power; Increase of American-Chinese competition and rivalry; Russia's coming back to the international game of power; Rise of India as a regional power and global player, the world largest democracy and a counterbalance to China; Brexit and internal dynamics in the EU. The text is based, among others, on research and discussions taken under umbrella of the India-EU Think Tank Twinning Initiative - the project implemented by 10 best European and Indian think tanks.
The purpose of the paper is to study the actions undertaken by the European institutions, aiming at a larger openness of resources, such as cultural works, scientific publications and educational materials, as well as to examine the motivations and results thereof. The European Union, being the area of production of a significant number of works belonging to each of the aforementioned categories, views these resources as strategic to its development. Thus it has taken diverse measures in order to maintain an appropriate balance between the public (social) interests, understood as open access to the resources, and the private interests, prioritising the protection of the owner's rights. The paper demonstrates that these actions are not uniform due to a diverse character and standing of these resources in the economy. The first instruments regarding scientific and educational resources had been implemented ten years before the implementation of legislative measures concerning the cultural products. Hence the public interests, meaning users' access, were treated as more important than the private proprietary rights.
The study investigates genesis of the European Union Social Policy and the changes in common social issue over the years. The European Union is not only economic and monetary integration, it is also unify the activities in the social areas. Integration endeavors are not only based on the European Union further enlargement to new members, but also are based on adoption of new regulations on social issues, with the need to enforce them by the Member States. EU regulations only of an economic nature, without social guidelines may lead to incomplete and unstable functioning of the European Union and Single European Market. Over the past decade, the process of European integration has intensified and included more issues and life areas, therefore the position of social policy has strengthen consistently. The increasing globalization and regionalization of economic and social life causes more important role for international institutions such as the European Union, in solving various social matters. European countries are more acutely affected by problems such as high unemployment, poverty, social exclusion and the progressive aging of the population. Consequently cooperation at EU level can lead to stop these processes and can find ways to eliminate the negative effects that appeared among the citizens of Europe.
The aim of this publication is to outline changes that have been observed in Poland and to present the place of the Polish industry, including production, services and international trade, since the accession to the European Union. Rating highly the role of industry and proper conducting of a pro-growth policy in Poland and the European Union, one part of the study concerns the analysis of basic indicators of the Polish industry structure and the final part the realization of the Europe 2020 strategy. The analytical description in the publication was enriched with a wide set of tables, as well as a crosssectional collection of information on industry in Poland and on the European Union member states in rank order. The high dynamics observed in Poland resulted, among others, from an over double growth in the production of electrical equipment, computers, electronic and optical products as well as of metal products. The Strategy Europe 2020 is a socio-economic development programme for Poland and the EU growth. The goal of the Europe 2020 strategy is to create the economy - based on knowledge, low-emission policies promoting environmentally friendly technologies, making an efficient use of resources, and also aiming at social cohesion.
