Hauptbeschreibung Linguistic autonomy, assured internationally to ethnic minorities, has succeeded, above all, in Europe, yet is nowhere near passing its acid test in other parts of the world. Examples show that it is not only a question of linguistic autonomy, but of ethnic and religious conflicts, which are simmering in the foreground. Hence, there are reasons for doubting whether international agreements designed to guarantee linguistic autonomy can solve these conflicts. The protection of indigenous languages is justified largely by the principle of diversity and is de
Every day thousands of decisions are made by all kinds of committees, parliaments, councils and boards by a 'yes–no' voting process. Sometimes a committee can only accept or reject the proposals submitted to it for a decision. On other occasions, committee members have the possibility of modifying the proposal and bargaining an agreement prior to the vote. In either case, what rule should be used if each member acts on behalf of a different-sized group? It seems intuitively clear that if the groups are of different sizes then a symmetric rule (e.g. the simple majority or unanimity) is not suitable. The question then arises of what voting rule should be used. Voting and Collective Decision-Making addresses this and other issues through a study of the theory of bargaining and voting power, showing how it applies to real decision-making contexts
The article discusses interstate relationships within the European Union & their impact on European Foreign Policy. The author suggests that EU member states, in making a choice between individual or collective action, behave as rational benefit maximizers -- in a way analogous to that described by J. M. Buchanan & G. Tullock. The author also discusses the issue of externalization as described by Schmitter, Haas, & Rowe & its role in the process of the widening of the EU. Consequences of those processes for the Republic of Croatia are also discussed. Adapted from the source document.
This paper represents an attempt to reconcile some general intuitions provided by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson in the book "Why Nations Fail" with the case of the deep regional disparities in the economic performances observed within the "Western" European Union during the period 2001-2015. By adopting an approach to growth analysis based on binary response models, this paper quantifies the extent to which the quality of government institutions has shaped regional economic performances in the European Union throughout the period comprising the Great Recession. Empirical results show that: 1) The higher is the quality of institutions, the higher is the probability that a region with high income per capita will grow above the levels of the European Union as a whole. 2) The higher is the quality of institutions, the lower is the probability that a low-income region will grow below the levels of European Union as a whole. 3) The higher is the quality of institutions, the higher (lower) is the probability that any region, regardless of its income per capita, will outperform (underperform) the European Union as a whole. 4) The higher is the quality of Institutions, the lower is the probability that a region will "fail" to grow.
The Breast Surgery theoretical and practical knowledge curriculum comprehensively describes the knowledge and skills expected of a fully trained breast surgeon practicing in the European Union and European Economic Area (EEA). It forms part of a range of factors that contribute to the delivery of high quality cancer care. It has been developed by a panel of experts from across Europe and has been validated by professional breast surgery societies in Europe. The curriculum maps closely to the syllabus of the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS) Breast Surgery Exam, the UK FRCS (breast specialist interest) curriculum and other professional standards across Europe and globally (USA Society of Surgical Oncology, SSO). It is envisioned that this will serve as the basis for breast surgery training, examination and accreditation across Europe to harmonise and raise standards as breast surgery develops as a separate discipline from its parent specialties (general surgery, gynaecology, surgical oncology and plastic surgery). The curriculum is not static but will be revised and updated by the curriculum development group of the European Breast Surgical Oncology Certification group (BRESO) every 2 years.
A reply to Thomas Diez's (1999) three major criticisms of Moravcsik's The Choice for Europe: From Messina to Maastricht (Ithaca, NY: Cornell U Press, 1998): (1) Does the book exclude ideas & identity from its account of European integration &, if so, unjustly? (2) Would greater attention to feedback over time undermine its core argument? (3) Is the analysis politically problematic because it implies the existence of structural limits on future European Union (EU) reforms? Each of these criticisms misstates the concrete empirical content, broader theoretical argument, & critical implications of the book. It is argued that the major purpose of the book is to provide a historically accurate account of major EU decisions, while Diez's critique steers scholarly debate away from confrontation with the observable world toward more abstract concerns. Adapted from the source document.
The European Report on Development (ERD) is the main outcome of the Mobilising European research for development policies, an initiative promoted and financed by the European Commission together with seven EU Member States: Germany, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The aim of this initiative is to help the European Union refine its vision of development and enrich its policies on the basis of knowledge, innovation, and the building of common ground between the European research community, policymakers, and a broad public. The ERD is aimed at stimulating debate and research on development issues and amplifying the EU's voice internationally. The ERD provides linkages and synergies between rich expertise in development-related issues in research and academic institutions and policymaking throughout Europe. It also serves as a focal point for researchers in European countries and various regions of the world, facilitates discussions with policymakers and civil society, and stimulates interaction between various European national agencies. ; The European Report on Development will help the European Union to refine its vision on development, enrich its policies and influence the international debate. It will also complement other flagship reports on development, in an attempt to reflect the diversity of views that may coexist on various issues and – where relevant – the specific European approaches, based both on Europe's political and social values and its own history and experience. Indeed, we are convinced that there should not be any monopoly of thinking in a field as complex and rich as development policy. This year's first edition deals with the complex and multidimensional issue of 'fragility', with a specific focus on sub-Saharan Africa, where most fragile countries are located. Described as the "toughest development challenge of our era", dealing with situations of fragility is, rightly, a growing concern both for Europe and for the entire international community. An intensive participatory process, bringing on board a wide range of top scholars, policy-makers and civil society representatives, both from Europe and Africa, was at the heart of this ambitious policy research initiative. Through building common analytical ground on how better to grasp these difficult situations, this first edition of the ERD will help Europe fine tune its strategic approach to fragility and define more coherent policies in the future.
In the middle of the most pronounced economic crisis since its inception, many of the communication policies initiated by the European Union in recent decades must be evaluated and redefined considering the future of the Union. The challenge to define Europe and create a common identity that respects the diversity of cultures within the Union has been attempted through various media policies. We explore the recent evolution of European radio policies, considering a range of projects from the global to network levels (e.g. Radio E, Euranet and Euranet Plus) that are fundamental to our understanding of the use of media in the development of a European identity that respects the diversity of cultures within the Union.
This work traces the attempts by the United Nations to bring about the reunification of Cyprus prior to the island's accession to the European Union on 1 May 2004. In addition to charting the course of previous efforts to solve the Cyprus issue, the book recounts the direct discussions between the two sides from January 2002 through to April 2004 and analyses the reasons why the UN plan was rejected in a referendum