Suchergebnisse

El esfuerzo realizado para concluir el acuerdo sobre el Espacio Económico Europeo podría ser aprovechado para situar en una segunda galaxia concéntrica a los países comunitarios menos dispuestos a aplicar los compromisos establecidos en el Tratado de la Unión Europea.

El viejo dilema comunitario entre ampliación y profundización ha quedado vacío de contenido. Las restricciones presupuestarias, el fracaso del Tratado Constitucional y la arrogante estrategia ampliadora de la UE han hecho inviable la profundización de la integración europea. Ni la ciudadanía, ni la cohesión, ni la política exterior podrán verse reforzadas en una Europa que ha apostado por las ampliaciones sin mejorar antes sus recursos financieros, legislativos e institucionales. El caso de Turquía es muy ilustrativo a este respecto: la UE da por supuesta la adhesión sin apenas ponderar las ventajas y los inconvenientes (cuantitativos y cualitativos). Mi posición es favorable a la adhesión turca, pero pienso que deben valorarse previamente las implicaciones y la forma de afrontar esa ampliación. La explicación es sencilla: si la UE sigue ampliándose sin reforzar su presupuesto y su dimensión interna, se reducirán drásticamente las posibilidades de profundizar la integración europea en los ámbitos de la cohesión, la ciudadanía y la política exterior común ; The old dilemma of deeper versus wider European integration makes no sense today. Budgetary restrictions, the failure of the Constitutional Treaty, and an arrogant strategy for EU enlargement have diminished the viability of deeper European integration. Neither policies for citizenship and cohesion nor a common external policy will be reinforced by a Europe that prefers enlargement over improvement of its financial, legislative, and institutional resources. The case of Turkey is illustrative in this regard: Europe seems to assume this new enlargement without considering its advantages and disadvantages (qualitative and quantitative). While I support Turkish adhesion, I also suggest prior evaluation of the implications, as well as of the actions necessary to prepare Turkey's EU membership. The reason is simple: if the EU continues its enlargement without reinforcing its budget and its internal dimension, the possibilities for implementing cohesion, citizenship, and external policies will be seriously reduced

Governance is a versatile term used in connection with several contemporary social sciences. The European Union (EU) established its own concept of governance in the White Paper on European Governance (Commission, 2001). The Final Report of the Working Group VI of the European Convention (2002) focused the debate on the concept of economic governance and analysed some of its implications (at political, economic, regional, social, legislative and international levels). The Constitutional Treaty has no clear definition of the scope and means of actions of the new Economic Governance in the EU, especially when Governance refers to economic and social policies. The dichotomy between Monetary Policy, controlled by the European Central Bank, and socio-economic policies, regulated by Member States, remains one of the peculiarities of the European process of integration

Estamos asistiendo a una nueva reordenación del mundo, de sus esferas de influencia y de estabilidad, de las relaciones económicas y políticas internacionales. En el escenario que parece surgir, respaldados en parte por el ejemplo europeo, otras naciones han emprendido o han decidido profundizar sus procesos de integración económica.

El viejo dilema comunitario entre ampliación y profundización ha quedado vacío de contenido. Las restricciones presupuestarias, el fracaso de Tratado Constitucional y la arrogante estrategia ampliadora de la UE han hecho inviable la profundización de la integración europea. Ni la ciudadanía, ni la cohesión, ni la política exterior podrán verse reforzadas en una Europa que ha apostado por las ampliaciones sin mejorar antes sus recursos financieros, legislativos e institucionales. El caso de Turquía es muy ilustrativo a este respecto: la UE da por supuesta la adhesión sin apenas ponderar las ventajas y los inconvenientes (cuantitativos y cualitativos). Mi posición es favorable a la adhesión turca, pero pienso que deben valorarse previamente las implicaciones y la forma de afrontar esa ampliación. La explicación es sencilla: si la UE sigue ampliándose sin reforzar su presupuesto y su dimensión interna, se reducirán drásticamente las posibllidades de profundizar la integración europea en los ámbitos de la cohesión, la ciudadanía y la política exterior común._______________________________The old dilemma of deeper versus wider European integration makes no sense today. Budgetary restrictions, the failure of the Constitutional Treaty, and an arrogant strategy for EU enlargement have diminished the viability of deeper European integration. Neither policies for citizenship and cohesion nor a common external policy will be reinforced by a Europe that prefers enlargement over improvement of its financial, legislative, and institutional resources. The case of Turkey is illustrative in this regard: Europe seems to assume this new enlargement without considering its advantages and disadvantages (qualitative and quantitative). While I support Turkish adhesion, I also suggest prior evaluation of the implications, as well as of the actions necessary to prepare Turkey's EU membership. The reason is simple: if the EU continues its enlargement without reinforcing its budget and its internal dimension, the possibilities for implementing cohesion, citizenship, and external policies will be seriously reduced.

This Working Paper focuses on the characteristics and challenges of the process of economic integration in Central America and it analyses the situation and alternatives of the existing customs union in the region. It also refers to the external relations of Central America, in particular with the European Union (EU), the USA (CAFTA) and Mexico (Plan Puebla Panama). In order to extend the analytical scope, Central American relations with the EU have been considered in the general context of the relations between Latin America and the EU (Group of Rio Dialogue). The Paper emphasizes the importance of strengthening economic integration and improving external relations of Central American countries. For this reasons, I suggest to establish a common budget in the region, with a revenue system based on national contributions and on the customs union incomes and an expenditure mechanism able to carry out structural projects. A common budget will reinforce the existing process of integration, will contribute to the improvement of the international insertion of Central American countries and will boost economic social development in the region.

This Working Paper focuses on the characteristics and challenges of the process of economic integration in Central America and it analyses the situation and alternatives of the existing customs union in the region. It also refers to the external relations of Central America, in particular with the European Union (EU), the USA (CAFTA) and Mexico (Plan Puebla Panama). In order to extend the analytical scope, Central American relations with the EU have been considered in the general context of the relations between Latin America and the EU (Group of Rio Dialogue). The Paper emphasizes the importance of strengthening economic integration and improving external relations of Central American countries. For this reasons, I suggest to establish a common budget in the region, with a revenue system based on national contributions and on the customs union incomes and an expenditure mechanism able to carry out structural projects. A common budget will reinforce the existing process of integration, will contribute to the improvement of the international insertion of Central American countries and will boost economic social development in the region.

This Working Paper focuses on the characteristics and challenges of the process of economic integration in Central America and it analyses the situation and alternatives of the existing customs union in the region. It also refers to the external relations of Central America, in particular with the European Union (EU), the USA (CAFTA) and Mexico (Plan Puebla Panama). In order to extend the analytical scope, Central American relations with the EU have been considered in the general context of the relations between Latin America and the EU (Group of Rio Dialogue). The Paper emphasizes the importance of strengthening economic integration and improving external relations of Central American countries. For this reasons, I suggest to establish a common budget in the region, with a revenue system based on national contributions and on the customs union incomes and an expenditure mechanism able to carry out structural projects. A common budget will reinforce the existing process of integration, will contribute to the improvement of the international insertion of Central American countries and will boost economic social development in the region.

This Working Paper focuses on the characteristics and challenges of the process of economic integration in Central America and it analyses the situation and alternatives of the existing customs union in the region. It also refers to the external relations of Central America, in particular with the European Union (EU), the USA (CAFTA) and Mexico (Plan Puebla Panama). In order to extend the analytical scope, Central American relations with the EU have been considered in the general context of the relations between Latin America and the EU (Group of Rio Dialogue). The Paper emphasizes the importance of strengthening economic integration and improving external relations of Central American countries. For this reasons, I suggest to establish a common budget in the region, with a revenue system based on national contributions and on the customs union incomes and an expenditure mechanism able to carry out structural projects. A common budget will reinforce the existing process of integration, will contribute to the improvement of the international insertion of Central American countries and will boost economic social development in the region.

La rigidez del presupuesto de la UE deriva del consenso político exigido para modificar el sistema de ingresos y de la férrea disciplina financiera impuesta sobre los mecanismos de gasto. El debate presupuestario se ve limitado por el problema de los saldos nacionales y por el establecimiento de acuerdos plurianuales que tienden a perpetuar las situaciones existentes, lo cual impide mejorar los obsoletos procedimientos de obtención de recursos propios y de financiación de las actividades de la Unión. El Parlamento Europeo y el Consejo discrepan sobre si conviene reformar a fondo, o simplemente adaptar, la incipiente Hacienda Pública Europea. Y el ciudadano permanece desvinculado de un mecanismo que pese a su escaso tamaño relativo resulta esencial para abordar los ambiciosos retos de la integración en Europa. La mejora cuantitativa y cualitativa del sistema de recursos propios y la reforma general de las finanzas comunitarias forman parte de la lista de asignaturas pendientes en la UE para los próximos años. La voluntad política será fundamental para superar las restricciones técnicas que pesan sobre el desarrollo del presupuesto comunitario. _________________________________________The rigidity of the European Budget comes from the political consensus required for the modification of the revenue system and, also, from the strict discipline imposed on the expenditure mechanism. The budget debate is limited by the problem of national balances and by the plurianual budgetary agreements, which perpetuate the current situations and avoid an improvement of the European Budgetary System. The European Parliament and the EU Council disagree about the adaptation or the deep reform of the incipient European Public Finance. Moreover, the citizens remain separated from the common budget. Despite the small size of the EU budget, their financial mecanisms are crucial for the ambitious challenges of the European integration. The qualitative and quantitative improvement of the revenue system and the general reform of the Public Finance of Europe are important targets for the future. In this situation, the political will is fundamental to overcome the technical restrictions which limit the potencial development of the European budget.

La situación actual de la Unión Europea refleja el carácter dinámico e interdisciplinar del proceso europeo de integración. Su adecuado análisis debe combinar diferentes puntos de vista procedentes del estudio del modelo económico, del perfil social y del ámbito político de la Unión. Esa perspectiva proporciona una caracterización asimétrica de la UE, al tiempo que facilita una sugerente información sobre los límites y posibilidades de la integración en Europa". ___________________________________Nowadays, the European Union (EU) reflects the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of the European integration's process. Its analysis must combine different viewpoints coming from the study of the economic model, the social profile and the political scope. That perspective provides an asymmetrical characterization of the EU and suggestive information about the limits and possibilities of the European integration.

El objetivo de este artículo es aportar elementos que ayuden a comparar las políticas sociales de la UE y Latinoamérica. Considerando que existen diferencias muy importantes entre ambas regiones y dentro de ellas, hemos optado por caracterizar los países estudiados, analizar los datos disponibles sobre sus políticas sociales, aportar conclusiones preliminares para la reflexión sobre las situaciones existentes, y proponer elementos para avanzar en nuevos análisis. En primer lugar, hemos comprobado que los países europeos con Estados de Bienestar más consolidados no presentan desequilibrios importantes en sus finanzas públicas, pese al mayor nivel de sus gastos sociales. También hemos constatado que en los países europeos con Estados de Bienestar menos desarrollados no existe una relación directa entre el gasto social y los desequilibrios de las finanzas públicas. Por ello, en contra de lo que sugiere la visión neoliberal, el Estado de Bienestar no puede ser el factor determinante de los desequilibrios fiscales en la UE, ni el detonante de la crisis y sus consecuencias sociales. En segundo lugar, la comparación entre la UE y Latinoamérica muestra que apenas existen elementos comunes en el rol que desempeñan las políticas sociales en ambas regiones, aunque sí hay coincidencias en las prioridades y en los efectos de las políticas económicas aplicadas para afrontar los desequilibrios fiscales. En concreto, las políticas de ajuste aplicadas años atrás en Latinoamérica guardan similitudes importantes con las promovidas actualmente en la UE, lo que invita a reflexionar sobre sus posibles consecuencias en términos de bienestar social. ; The aim of this paper is to provide elements for helping to compare social policies in the EU and Latin America. Considering that there exist important differences between both groups of countries and within each region, we have focus on the study of the characteristics and the analysis of the existing data, in order to propose preliminary conclusions for the debate, as well as elements for continuing the research on social policies in the studied countries. Firstly, we have noted that EU countries with consolidated welfare state policies do not present serious imbalances in public finances, despite their greater level of social spending. Besides, in the case of EU countries with less developed welfare state policies we have not found direct relations between social expenditure and public finance imbalances. Therefore, we propose that the welfare state is neither the determinant aspect of fiscal imbalances in the EU, nor the origin of the current crisis and its social consequences. Secondly, comparing selected countries of the EU and Latin America we have not found common elements concerning the role of social policies, although we have detected important similarities in macroeconomic priorities, as well as in the effects of the adjustment policies implemented years ago in Latin America and nowadays in the EU. That seriously invites to think about the consequences of these policies in terms of social welfare.

El objetivo de este artículo es aportar elementos que ayuden a comparar las políticas sociales de la UE y Latinoamérica. Considerando que existen diferencias muy importantes entre ambas regiones y dentro de ellas, hemos optado por caracterizar los países estudiados, analizar los datos disponibles sobre sus políticas sociales, aportar conclusiones preliminares para la reflexión sobre las situaciones existentes, y proponer elementos para avanzar en nuevos análisis. En primer lugar, hemos comprobado que los países europeos con Estados de Bienestar más consolidados no presentan desequilibrios importantes en sus finanzas públicas, pese al mayor nivel de sus gastos sociales. También hemos constatado que en los países europeos con Estados de Bienestar menos desarrollados no existe una relación directa entre el gasto social y los desequilibrios de las finanzas públicas. Por ello, en contra de lo que sugiere la visión neoliberal, el Estado de Bienestar no puede ser el factor determinante de los desequilibrios fiscales en la UE, ni el detonante de la crisis y sus consecuencias sociales. En segundo lugar, la comparación entre la UE y Latinoamérica muestra que apenas existen elementos comunes en el rol que desempeñan las políticas sociales en ambas regiones, aunque sí hay coincidencias en las prioridades y en los efectos de las políticas económicas aplicadas para afrontar los desequilibrios fiscales. En concreto, las políticas de ajuste aplicadas años atrás en Latinoamérica guardan similitudes importantes con las promovidas actualmente en la UE, lo que invita a reflexionar sobre sus posibles consecuencias en términos de bienestar social. ; The aim of this paper is to provide elements for helping to compare social policies in the EU and Latin America. Considering that there exist important differences between both groups of countries and within each region, we have focus on the study of the characteristics and the analysis of the existing data, in order to propose preliminary conclusions for the debate, as well as elements for continuing the research on social policies in the studied countries. Firstly, we have noted that EU countries with consolidated welfare state policies do not present serious imbalances in public finances, despite their greater level of social spending. Besides, in the case of EU countries with less developed welfare state policies we have not found direct relations between social expenditure and public finance imbalances. Therefore, we propose that the welfare state is neither the determinant aspect of fiscal imbalances in the EU, nor the origin of the current crisis and its social consequences. Secondly, comparing selected countries of the EU and Latin America we have not found common elements concerning the role of social policies, although we have detected important similarities in macroeconomic priorities, as well as in the effects of the adjustment policies implemented years ago in Latin America and nowadays in the EU. That seriously invites to think about the consequences of these policies in terms of social welfare.

The aim of this paper is to provide elements for helping to compare social policies in the EU and Latin America. Considering that there exist important differences between both groups of countries and within each region, we have focus on the study of the characteristics and the analysis of the existing data, in order to propose preliminary conclusions for the debate, as well as elements for continuing the research on social policies in the studied countries.Firstly, we have noted that EU countries with consolidated welfare state policies do not present serious imbalances in public finances, despite their greater level of social spending. Besides, in the case of EU countries with less developed welfare state policies we have not found direct relations between social expenditure and public finance imbalances. Therefore, we propose that the welfare state is neither the determinant aspect of fiscal imbalances in the EU, nor the origin of the current crisis and its social consequences.Secondly, comparing selected countries of the EU and Latin America we have not found common elements concerning the role of social policies, although we have detected important similarities in macroeconomic priorities, as well as in the effects of the adjustment policies implemented years ago in Latin America and nowadays in the EU. That seriously invites to think about the consequences of these policies in terms of social welfare. ; Este artículo muestra que en los países europeos con Estados de Bienestar menos desarrollados no existe relación directa entre gasto social y desequilibrios de las finanzas públicas. También constata que los países europeos con Estados de Bienestar más consolidados no presentan desequilibrios importantes en sus finanzas públicas pese a su mayor gasto social. Como conclusión preliminar se propone que el Estado de Bienestar no es el factor determinante de los desequilibrios fiscales en la UE, ni de la crisis y sus consecuencias sociales.La comparación UE-Latinoamérica no permite detectar elementos comunes en ...