22,746 research outputs found
The EU Budget: Responsibility without accountability? CEPS Paperbacks. November 2010
No full textHow, for what and to whom can citizens hold accountable the expenditure of some €120 billion each year by the EU budget? This book highlights three main factors that lie at the root of an accountability gap: opaque revenue arrangements making citizens unaware of their contribution, the setting of numerous and grand objectives whose vague expectations are hard to account for and, finally, the delegation of the main management to member state bodies that are not accountable at EU level.
Amidst the on-going review of the EU budget, the author argues the need to combine a definition of European added-value based on limited and achievable objectives with one single accountability framework. This should follow a political mandate given to the Commission, which would then assume the role of ’programme manager’ having both the authority over trustful delegated bodies and the legitimacy to implement the necessary measures to achieve the intended objectives
Acerca de la naturaleza y de la patria del Padre Sarmiento
No full textSeveral months ago, X.L. Méndez Ferrín dedicated two of his works, Espellos, and a few lines of a third, to the discussion of one of my articles on the origin of this Great Galician, published in Sarmiento. Anuario de Historia da Educación. Just a few days after the last article was published, I sent a letter of clarification to the newspaper, and through it, to the author. I received no answer, nor did they publish my letter. So, a few weeks later, I sent it again. Again I didn`t receive any answer from the newspaper or from Méndez Ferrín. This is an abridged version of that letter, which was resent to the Faro de Vigo, on March 9th, a date I considered to be appropriate date, the day Martín Sarmiento was born, but, it received no attention,either.Unos meses atrás X.L. Méndez Ferrín dedicó dos de sus Espellos, y algunas líneas de un tercero, a discutir un trabajo mío sobre la procedencia del Gran Gallego, publicado en Sarmiento. Anuario de Historia da Educación. A los pocos días de salir el último artículo yo envié un escrito de aclaraciones al periódico, y por medio de éste al autor. Nada contestaron, ni tampoco publicaron mi escrito, por lo que un par de semanas después lo remití de nuevo. Tampoco tuve respuesta, ni del periódico ni de Méndez Ferrín. Esta es una versión aligerada de aquel escrito, que remitida de nuevo por si el Faro de Vigo consideraba una buena fecha el día 9 de marzo, fecha del nacimiento de Martín Sarmiento, tampoco fue atendida.Unos meses atrás X.L. Méndez Ferrín dedicó dos de sus Espellos, y algunas líneas de un tercero, a discutir un trabajo mío sobre la procedencia del Gran Gallego, publicado en Sarmiento. Anuario de Historia da Educación. A los pocos días de salir el último artículo yo envié un escrito de aclaraciones al periódico, y por medio de éste al autor. Nada contestaron, ni tampoco publicaron mi escrito, por lo que un par de semanas después lo remití de nuevo. Tampoco tuve respuesta, ni del periódico ni de Méndez Ferrín. Esta es una versión aligerada de aquel escrito, que remitida de nuevo por si el Faro de Vigo consideraba una buena fecha el día 9 de marzo, fecha del nacimiento de Martín Sarmiento, tampoco fue atendida.Alguns meses atrás X.L. Méndez Ferrín dedicou dois de seus Espellos, e algumas linhas de um terceiro, a discutir um trabalho meu sobre a procedência do Grande Gallego, publicado em Sarmiento. Anuário de História da Educação. Poucos dias depois da publicação do último artigo, eu enviei uma carta de esclarecimentos ao jornal, e por meio dele ao autor. Nada responderam, nem publicaram o meu escrito, pelo que, algumas semanas depois, voltei a apresentá-lo. Também não tive resposta, nem do jornal nem do Mendez Ferrin. Esta é uma versão aligerada daquele escrito, que remetida de novo por se o Farol de Vigo considerava uma boa data no dia 9 de março, data do nascimento de Martín Sarmiento, tampouco foi atendida
"Put your own house in order first": local perceptions of EU influence on Romani integration policies in the Czech Republic
No full textThis article examines the influence of the European Union (EU) on the development and implementation of Romani integration policy in the Czech Republic from the perspective of those responsible for policy delivery. Based on analysis of key policy documents and research conducted in the Czech Republic, this article first examines how Romani integration became a more important issue during membership negotiations and then discusses how the criticism of the European Commission's Regular Reports was received by those responsible for implementing pro-Romani policies. Finally, the paper assesses how the status of full EU membership has impacted on integration policy. The article concludes that while funding for Romani integration projects has benefitted some groups, the overall impression of the EU is of a remote institution, quick to criticise and unwilling to practise what it preaches
"Coordinating Regional Policy in the EU"
No full text[From the Introduction]. EU regional policy is an instrument to promote development in economically weaker areas of Europe as well as to facilitate integration and ensure the success of the single market (European Commission, 2003). The territorial nature of EU regional policy demands complex coordination among various levels of government as well as across several policy sectors. Coordination, however, is often unsuccessful. Vertical coordination, inherently necessary for regional policy, is often precluded due to power struggles among supranational, national and regional governments. Likewise, conflicting policy goals and competing interests across policy sectors curtails the achievement of cross-sectoral coordination. Challenges to cross-sectoral coordination often arise since regional policy, based upon redistribution and Keynesian economics, has found itself at odds with underlying principles of the EU, namely neo-liberalism and free market competition
On the Road to a Constitutional Court of the European Union: The Court of Justice After the Transfer of the Preliminary Reference Jurisdiction to the General Court
No full textEditorial Note: Daniel Sarmiento, Professor of EU and Administrative Law at the University Complutense of Madrid, and Editor-in-Chief of EU Law Liv
Reviewing the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (Part II): Priorities for Short-Term Implementation. CEPS Task Force Reports No. 57, 1 March 2006
No full text[From the Introduction]. This report constitutes Part II of the twin reports of the CEPS Task Force on Reviewing the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. The Part I report, which was presented to the UK Presidency on 7 July 2005,1 focused on a number of short-term implementation issues including transparency requirements for the National Allocation Plans (NAPs), the definition of installations, treatment of small installations, new entrants, closure and transfer rules, allocation methodologies, the possibility of opt-ins as well as monitoring, reporting and verification. This follow-up Part II report examines deep-seated topics such as whether the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) contributes to meeting Kyoto Protocol targets, economic impacts, effects on investment and the potential inclusion of aviation. These issues lie at the interface of NAP phase II and the longterm formal 2006 review. Neither of the two reports (Part I or Part II) examines issues related to the formal review of the EU ETS, which the Directive calls for no later than June 2006. Since this formal review, which will lead to an amendment of the Directive by co-decision, is likely to trigger a fundamental and longer-term debate, it is being treated in a separate CEPS Task Force launched in early 2006. After a status report of the ETS and a reminder of some fundamentals in sections 1 and 2, the following sections cover investment incentives (3), competitiveness (4 and 5) and aviation (6). The main findings of the report are contained in the Executive Summary, including Key Messages & Recommendations and an extended Full Summary. Appendix 1 presents a list of members of the Task Force and invited guests and speakers
Who is to teach “these guys” to “shoot less?”
No full textSpecial Edition issue - Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Sub-Saharan AfricaWhile conducting research on counter-terrorism (CT) systems of the Central and Eastern European Member States of the European Union, a unique perspective on the European involvement in countering terrorism in Sub-Saharan Africa was offered to the author by a Czech defence ministry official. In his view, the fact that his country made a decision to contribute “boots on the ground” to the European Union Training Mission in Mali (EUTM Mali) was astonishing, to say the least: “Things like Mali, you sometimes wonder how these thing happen, even if you are part of them (Havranek 2013).” Thus a decision to participate in this latest CT motivated (building a Malian military capable of taking on the jihadists of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, AQIM) EU venture in Africa seems not to have been preceded by a careful analysis and weighting of the options on behalf of his country. In fact, it seemed like a knee jerk reaction to a call for troops from France and subsequently from Brussels. In the end, we might even speculate if, in this very case, the Czech Republic duly settled on a number of troops to be sent to Mali (very low – in dozens) and comfortably ticked off the box on its involvement in yet another Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military mission in Africa, and its contribution to external aspects of combating terrorism on EU level.Publisher PD
Bridges over Convulsing Waters: the EU aspiring Eastern Partners’ Role in the Regional Governance
No full textThe enlargement of the European Union (EU) to the East in 2004 and 2007 so as to include ten former communist countries and two small Mediterranean islands has triggered new questions on the nature of EU governance. We argue that the accession of Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) to the EU has affected governance patterns in the EU and beyond. Undeniably, the most recent waves of enlargement have had feed-back effects on Europeanisation mechanisms (Grabbe 2006). Also, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) conditionality attached to the Eastern partners will likely follow similar patterns. The EU is proud of its Enlargement policy, “one of the most successful EU policies”i, and is inclined to extend the enlargement mechanisms to future frameworks as the ENP. Through the example of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and possibly Belarus, we argue that the ENP conditionality contributes to the EU's governance export in the same way the preparations for the fifth Eastern enlargement did. Furthermore, we advance the idea that complying with ENP conditionality may bring EU aspiring Eastern partners closer to accession
Rethinking the EU Budget: Three Unavoidable Reforms. CEPS Paperbacks. November 2007
No full textThis study consider the main weaknesses of the EU’s financial framework and what needs to be done to reinforce the legitimacy and added value of the EU’s actions. The author, an official at the European Court of Auditors, argues that the review of the EU budget represents an opportunity to put in place three unavoidable reforms: a revenue system that, in whatever form, is applicable to all member states in the same way; the funding of policies with verifiable objectives and sufficient resources, making the EU’s action meaningful and visible; and a clear identification of responsibilities as to the use of taxpayers’ money
Scaling and rescaling of EU spatial governance
No full textOngoing processes of European integration and cooperation have come alongside a growing importance of spatially relevant policies and the development of numerous cooperation initiatives at the EU level. These influence the territorial development of Europe considerably. We claim that the key to understanding the nature of today’s EU spatial governance is the interdependence of the diversity of policies and initiatives and their embeddedness in the multi-level governance systems. Against this background, the chapter aims to analyse contemporary processes of scaling and rescaling in EU spatial governance resulting from EU territorial politics and territorial cooperation initiatives. We introduce a four-dimensional framework to analyse scalar construction and policy development, and take stock of policies and funds that shape EU spatial governance. We conclude that the nature of EU spatial governance can best be understood when viewing these various EU initiatives and territorially relevant politics as interrelated.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Spatial Planning and Strateg
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