EU & European Studies

• John Taylor

  What do you think about EU's geopolitical policy in Arctic Area? Do you think is there any kind of relation to Asian power transition?

  Please give examples of "hot" issues on this and future potentials.

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    Frieder Otto Wolf replied

    Dear John, so far it rather seems to be an exercise of the traditional 'colonizing' states in the Arctic Area to keep up their claims in a more unified way - I do not have the impression that theDear John, so far it rather seems to be an exercise of the traditional 'colonizing' states in the Arctic Area to keep up their claims in a more unified way - I do not have the impression that the Asian transition is yet within their horizon. You may ask the people from the Arctic Studies group at the University of Roskilde, DK. All the best Frieder

    Apr 26, 2012
• Elif Dibek

  How successful has the EU competition policy been/is in creating a level playing field for all actors?

  European Union competition law ensures that corporations do not abuse their market power, free competition prevails over cartels and monopolies. But when we track the unfolding of competition in theEuropean Union competition law ensures that corporations do not abuse their market power, free competition prevails over cartels and monopolies. But when we track the unfolding of competition in the history of this policy, we are faced with an ambiguous situation. Has competition law really created the desired level field?

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    Denitsa Staicova replied

    Free what? Where?! There is no free market in Europe, or in the world as a whole. Anywhere you go, you'll find those state-owned companies (or with serious state-participation), particularly in theFree what? Where?! There is no free market in Europe, or in the world as a whole. Anywhere you go, you'll find those state-owned companies (or with serious state-participation), particularly in the energy sector or security sector or in sectors of national security significance, which basically live in synergy with the state and cannot exist separated from it. The state dictates the prices, the company dictates the state's policy in certain aspects. And every attempt to challenge the leading position of this company (i.e. competing with it on fair grounds) leads to a swift move from the state to "level" the game. In Europe and USA, of course, the leveling is very well hidden behind bureaucracy and big words, but this doesn't change the facts. Protectionism exists everywhere and even if it sounds bad, it's easy to justify it and even easier to find it. (The first example that comes to my mind is the Airbus - Boeing quarrels in USA. Or the cartels in the EU, which are investigated and investigated and rarely sued) I think the basic discussion should be on how important is the free market for the prosperity at all. I recently watched a film on the game-theory which inspired the whole idea of the free market. It was a very sobering one, because putting fear and suspicion in the foundation of the "free" society is not something you'd like to admit. Even the comparison with the Darwin theory is not a very good one - after all the biggest prosperity for our civilization comes from the protection of certain human rights, and freedoms which don't follow the survival of the fittest. So obviously, you need some structure, in order for the society to function. You also need certain degree of freedom. The question is what is the optimal balance and which should be the regulating body. Blindly following the ideologists of the cold war is simply a nonsense. Anyway, back to the EU, any policy in this direction, usually serves only the small and medium scale companies. On the big scale things just follow different rules and any activity on this scale usually involves the governments of the countries involved and also some heavy (and unregulated) lobbyisme. And even when it comes to SMEs, there is an inherent difficulty in going cross-borders when it comes to countries which don't have common borders. Which means that the EC initiatives so far, have not changed significantly the way business is done in Europe. They are just good ideas, with no practical application. And so far, the EC works in the direction of simplifying the movement of goods across Europe. Which is good, but not enough. Because goods has always moved across the borders, the problem are people. Without a clear way to synchronize the social systems across Europe - not to make them equal, but to make them mobile, people (as in SMEs) will always be hesitant to go cross-border. From which we all suffer, because SMEs are critical to the prosperity of the society.

    Apr 2, 2012
• JOÃO EDUARDO RIBEIRO DE OLIVEIRA

  Dear researchers: Could someone provide me with links or articles on the new constitution of Hungary?

  I am preparing an article on the legal issue

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    Tamas Czigler replied

    FYI http://www.parlament.hu/angol/angol.htm

    Mar 14, 2012
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  Where Is German Foreign Policy Heading?

  Do A. Merkel and G. Westerwelle want to be remembered as the architects of an "armchair" foreign policy? The nuclear disaster in Fukushima and the decision for air strikes on Lybia: These twoDo A. Merkel and G. Westerwelle want to be remembered as the architects of an "armchair" foreign policy? The nuclear disaster in Fukushima and the decision for air strikes on Lybia: These two recent events are decisive for the current status quo of German Foreign policy. The slogan is mainly attributed to the tighter dependence on the outcome of the local elections in two main Bundesländer, namely Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. Therefore, the German government, led by the two coalition partners, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) under Angela Merkel as Federal chancellor and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with Guido Westerwelle as foreign minister, adopted a wait-and-see attitude in the German Foreign policy. Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2011/04/where-is-german-foreign-policy-heading.html

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    Roberto Carlos Machuca Coello replied

    ¿Where can I obtain further bibliography about this subject? ¿Donde puedo conseguir más bibliografía sobre este tema?

    Mar 10, 2012
• Marta Dodenhoff

  What is really the aim of the work the European national institutes, like Goethe Institut, British Council, Institute Francais or Instytut Polski?

  I am doing a research about European culture politics, a good example are the national institutes, which spread their national knowledge, their language and their culture to other countries. MyI am doing a research about European culture politics, a good example are the national institutes, which spread their national knowledge, their language and their culture to other countries. My interests are, how are the integrated in the national foreign politics, what are their aims and their strategies? Is it just for representation? Or for pushing the national economics? Are their working methods up-to-date? If you know something about this topic, I would be glad about a little discussion! Thanks!

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    Radosław Fellner replied

    What is more, in my humble opinion , it isn't about promote national business or economy by "back doors", because for that responsible are trade and investment sections of embassies and ministry ofWhat is more, in my humble opinion , it isn't about promote national business or economy by "back doors", because for that responsible are trade and investment sections of embassies and ministry of economy (in my country at least). But surely, promotion of culture strengthen, synergy both activities.

    Jan 11, 2012
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  2011 - A Year for the Eastern Partnership?

  2011 could be a crucial year for the development of the EU's Eastern Partnership. There are some initial steps towards deeper rapprochement, but 2011 could be a year where the EU and the partner2011 could be a crucial year for the development of the EU's Eastern Partnership. There are some initial steps towards deeper rapprochement, but 2011 could be a year where the EU and the partner countries should show their will for. Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-year-for-eastern-partnership.html

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    Axel Joachim Klug, M.A. replied

    Sorry: "mebership" means "membership" :-)

    Nov 15, 2011
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  The European Union and Belarus: "Policy of Critical Engagement"?

  The EU is pretty lost in Belarus! After nearly two months of political repression in Belarus and "theatre performance" of Alexander Lukashenko, the EU ministers met on 31 January 2011 and producedThe EU is pretty lost in Belarus! After nearly two months of political repression in Belarus and "theatre performance" of Alexander Lukashenko, the EU ministers met on 31 January 2011 and produced yet another statement on Belarus and imposed some visa sanctions. The mandate that Catherine Ashton become from the 27 countries is simply vague: "The Council will regularly re-examine the situation in Belarus and stands ready to consider further targeted measures in all areas of cooperation as appropriate." It is expected that the Council of Foreign Ministers should try to re-examine the sitauation in Belarus. But where are the solidarity with the Belarussian people and the determination of the EU to encourage concrete measures for radical democratic change in Belarus? Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2011/02/european-union-and-belarus-policy-of.html
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  Rendez-vous with the last dictatorship in Europe: Belarus

  The transformation process after the collapse of the Soviet Union leaded to a kind of rapprochement of many Eastern European countries to united Europe. Among the new neighbouring countries after theThe transformation process after the collapse of the Soviet Union leaded to a kind of rapprochement of many Eastern European countries to united Europe. Among the new neighbouring countries after the Eastern enlargement in 2004 and 2007, Belarus remains an exception in many respects with its supposed neutrality and autoctrative style of governance. Nearly 1250 kilometres forming the common border of the European Union with Belarus. But after the era of European enlargement and the increased dominance of territory and borders in the path toward national political and economic strength of Russia, the real test for Belarus' transition lies in the overcoming of two different political approaches: the European Neighbourhood Policy's "ring of friends" and the Russian "near abroad" policy. Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2011/01/rendez-vous-with-last-dictatorship-in.html
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  How will WikiLeaks affect European Diplomacy with Eastern Partner Countries?

  Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-will-wikileaks-affect-european.html
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  New Comment on the Elections in Moldova: And the winner is...not Moldova!

  Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2010/12/and-winner-isnot-moldova.html
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  Macro-Regions: New Tool Emerging for Regional Cooperation

  Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2010/11/macro-regions-new-tool-emerging-for.html

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    Axel Joachim Klug, M.A. replied

    Hi Hristofor, how should we organize this collaboration? You can tell me you ideas here or per e-mail on axelklug@european-partnerships.eu or axelklug@freenet.de Axel

    Nov 30, 2010
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  Moldovan Troubles arising from Transformation

  Moldova is one of the smallest and poorest European countries on the immediate border of the European Union. The Sunday early parliamentary elections (28 November 2010) in Moldova may be significantMoldova is one of the smallest and poorest European countries on the immediate border of the European Union. The Sunday early parliamentary elections (28 November 2010) in Moldova may be significant for the future orientation of the country. Read more: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2010/11/moldovan-troubles-arising-from.html

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    Hristofor Hrisoskulov replied

    Sure Igor, that is my second point. All the partner countries (EaP) need supporters within the EU. The Eastern Enlargement wouldn't be a success story without the supporting efforts from Germany,Sure Igor, that is my second point. All the partner countries (EaP) need supporters within the EU. The Eastern Enlargement wouldn't be a success story without the supporting efforts from Germany, Greece, the UK etc.

    Nov 27, 2010
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  Some thoughts on Russian-German relations after Putin's proposal for free trade area EU-Russia

  German-Russian "Change through Rapprochement or just Free Trade" Link: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2010/11/german-russian-change-through.html
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  EU's and Eastern Partners' Autumn 2010: Tipping Point in Terms of Rapprochement?

  The Autumn 2010 is a season which promises to be eventful for the multilateral relations between the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, GeorgiaThe Autumn 2010 is a season which promises to be eventful for the multilateral relations between the European Union and the Eastern Partnership countries Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaidshan. Link: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2010/11/eus-and-eastern-partners-autumn-2010.html
• Hristofor Hrisoskulov

  The Reluctant Eastern Partner: Ukraine

  The most important thing for the European Union is to bring Ukraine back on the European track. The European officials have to recognize Ukraine's choice, whatever this choice may be, butThe most important thing for the European Union is to bring Ukraine back on the European track. The European officials have to recognize Ukraine's choice, whatever this choice may be, but concentrating on further support for its economy modernization, strengthening the Ukrainian civil society and freedoms, and consistently improving aspects of the democratisation process. Link: http://eu21global.blogspot.com/2010/11/reluctant-eastern-partner-ukraine.html