Contemporary Europe, 2010 (vol. 2010), issue 1

Arktická politika Evropské unie v mezinárodním kontextu

EU Arctic Policy in International Context

Zuzana Trávníčková, Petra Cibulková, Radka Havlová, Vladimíra Knotková

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):3-30  

The Arctic had been quite insignificant topic for international relations for a long time. Nevertheless, there are many reasons today why we should be interested in the Arctic region. Scholars as well as politicians speak of searching for, changing or establishing a new Arctic regime. Even the European Union has clearly showed its interest in recent developments in the Arctic and in formation of rules for the Arctic (The European Parliament published its Arctic vision in October 2008. The Commission did the same in November 2008 and the Council in December 2009). The timing of its aim to create an independent and specific EU Arctic policy coincides...

Hlavní výzvy reformy rozpočtu EU: postoje členských států a institucí EU včetně pravděpodobných scénářů vývoje

Main challenges of EU budget reform - positions of member states and EU institutions including probable scenarios of development

Marcela Cupalová

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):31-64  

Study concentrates on the main challenges of EU budget reform. On the basis of analysis of teoretical literature and positions of member states and EU institutions, it comes to the conclusion that compromise on the reform of EU budget would be very difficult in the near future. Reform of EU budget should include reduction or cancellation of inefficient direct subvention in the agriculture and limitation of structural funds only to the poorest regions. To strenghten its economic position, EU should increase financing of productive costs in the field of science, research, education, enviroment, energy security and foreign policy. To achieve it, it is...

Je nezbytná reforma regulace finančního trhu EU?

Is It Necessary to Review the EU Financial Market Regulation?

Soňa Machová

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):65-83  

Financial and government experts intensively discussed during the last few years a question whether regulatory arrangement of the EU financial market is able to challenge actual market trends, financial institutions' needs and requirements for prudential functioning of this sector. Recent world financial crisis has drawn attention to certain shortcomings, however analysis of causes of the crisis present only part of the broader problem of optimizing the regulatory system. Detailed analysis provide for a clear conclusion on asymmetry between the regulatory arrangement and practical functioning of financial institutions. Therefore regulatory system should...

Vývoj ekonomik zemí střední a východní Evropy v kontextu světové ekonomické krize

The economic development of the Central and East European countries in the world economic crisis context

Eva Karpová

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):85-107  

The article focuses on the economic development of the Central and East European countries (EU members) during the starting period of the contemporary world economic crisis and during 2009. The main topics of the article are the basic macroeconomic indicators of the mentioned countries as well as comparing of these features. Presented notes and comments are deduced first of all from statistics sources of EU institutions (mainly of the European Commission, EUROSTAT) and beside of OECD a UNCTAD sources.The Central and East European countries had been touched by the world economic crisis rather late - in comparison with many other world regions. It...

Vliv Lisabonské strategie na vývoj evropských trhů práce

Impact of the Lisbon Strategy on the European Labour Markets

Zuzana Potužáková

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):109-125  

In 2010 the Lisbon Strategy should be completed. The Strategy launched in 2000 by the European Council had originally a very ambitious goal; to improve the EU's competitiveness in the world economy. After 2004 the Strategy had been focused only on the most essential topics and transformed into the so called Growth and Jobs highlighting the crucial weaknesses of the EU, the labour markets, productivity and employment stimulation. The aim of the article is to analyze the development of the selected labour market indicators within the Strategy in the period 2000-2010.

Moderní evropské geopoliticko-energetické aliance

Modern European Geopolitical Energy Alliances

Andriy Ruban

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):127-146  

The paper outlines major methodological premises for establishing energy alliances and energy integration. The essence, types, purposes and organizational mechanisms of energy alliances are reviewed. Based on the historical examples of geopolitical conflicts related to Europe further expansion of European energy industry is defined as a necessity to secure economic and energy supply stability for the European Union. The idea of further EU expansion is supported by the data on geographical origin of energy imports. Furthermore European Union territorial expansion vectors are defined based on directions of regional fossil fuels flows. The study underlines...

Reforma rozpočtu EU: velká očekávání vs. současná realita

EU Budget Reform - Great Expectations vs. Current State

Michal Částek

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):147-159  

The article "EU Budget Reform - Great Expectations vs. Current State" presents the view of the Ministry of Finance officers, who are actively involved in the preparation of the Czech Republic for the discussion on the EU budget review and the future financial framework. Introductory chapters focus on the main reasons for the decision on the EU budget review while subsequent chapters identify the main causes for the repeated postponement of the debate. Furthermore, the authors analyse the key factors (economic crisis, Lisbon Treaty, future EU enlargement and Europe 2020 Strategy), which will substantially influence the outcome of the EU budget review...

Stredo- a východoeurópske otázky videné očami českých študentov

Central and Eastern European issues as seen through the eyes of Czech students

Zuzana Zelenická

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):161-175  

This article focuses on the different understanding of some Central and Eastern European issues among young generation. The notion of Eastern Europe, the existence of the Visegrád Cooperation Group and the initiative of Eastern Partnership is being observed through the eyes of Czech university students. The main goal is to investigate the awareness and knowledge level of a selected group of Czech students about the existence and activity of V4 Group and its potential to act effectively in pursuing the EaP initiative. The awareness of the so called "Eastern Europe" among European as well as Czech population also varies. To get relevant answers a questionnaire...

J. Abrhám: Klastry jako nástroj regionální ekonomické konkurenceschopnosti

Zuzana Potužáková

Současná Evropa 2010, 2010(1):177-178  

Book Review: Abrhám J. Klastry jako nástroj regionální ekonomické konkurenceschopnosti (případové studie České republiky a zemí Evropské unie). Vydavatelství MAC, 2009