Contemporary Europe, 2011 (vol. 2011), issue 1

EU jako aktér: analýza "rámování" jako součásti aktérství Evropské unie

The EU as an Actor: Framing as a Dimension of the EU's Actorness

Petr Kratochvíl, Ondřej Novák, Petra Pojerová

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):3-16  

This article explores "framing" as a so far neglected dimension of the EU's actorness. The first part analyses the EU's actorness in general and tries to define the basic features of the Union's actorness. The second section is dedicated to the notion of framing, as applied in the broad framework of social science. The third part links framing to the EU's actorness; some attention is also dedicated to various types of framing (bottom-up vs. top-down; external vs. internal). The last section discusses the relation between framing and Europeanisation. The concluding part summarises the discussion and puts forth a definition of framing that is suitable...

Fiskální pozice zemí eurozóny pod vlivem světové hospodářské krize

The Fiscal Position of Eurozone Countries under the influence of the global economic crisis

Pavla Bednářová

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):17-31  

The European Monetary Union (EMU), eleven years after its establishment, is facing its the most difficult period. The crisis revealed a fact that the European Monetary Union joined together very heterogonous countries with different economic developments and with different approaches to fulfilling the conditions and following the principles of the European Monetary Union functioning. The criteria for defining fiscal discipline are represented by Maastricht convergence criteria before a country enters the Eurozone and by the existence and the function of the Stability and Growth Pact for countries, which participate in the EMU project. Shortterm and...

Přístup veřejnosti k dokumentům orgánů a institucí EU v teorii a praxi

Public Access to EU Documents in theory and practice

Nicole Grmelová

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):33-55  

Legal regulation of public access to the documents of institutions and bodies of the EU is an integral part of the European Transparency Initiative declared by the Commission in November 2005. Moreover, transparency is one of the main principles of functioning of the EU incorporated directly into primary law (Article 15 of the Treaty on Functioning of the EU) having thus a constitutional character. The "constitutional" right of public access to documents has been implemented by Regulation (EC) No. 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and the Council of 30 May 2001, which is being recast. The aim of this paper is to increase general public awareness...

iberalizace vnitřního trhu s elektřinou a zemním plynem jako prostředek zajišťování energetické bezpečnosti EU

Liberalisation of the Internal Market in Electricity and Natural Gas a Tool for Enhancing EU's Energy Security

Lenka Kovačovská

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):57-91  

The article deals with the issue of liberalisation of the internal market in electricity and natural gas and its possible impacts on strengthening energy security of the EU, especially security of supplies. The topic is very up-to-date due to recent adoption of the Third Liberalisation Package (and ongoing discussions about its implementation and competencies of new institutions introduced by this package) and the Communication of the Commission on energy infrastructure priorities for 2020 and beyond. The article seeks to answer two research questions, e.g., whether the EU has a real potential to create a fully liberalised internal market in electricity...

Globální ekonomická governance: její formy, projevy a vývoj v EU a hlavních centrech světové ekonomiky

Global Economic Governance: Its Forms, Manifestations and Development in the EU and the World Economy Main Centres

Pavel Neumann

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):93-113  

The article characterises globalization tendencies in the world economy first, including their impact on the EU and other main world centres. Then it explains the governance phenomenon and examines its working in different types of market economies (U.S.A., Japan and EU). Furthermore, the article points out the changes in the economic governance forms (especially with respect to the state role). Globalization undermines the traditional shape of national economies and questions the national level of governance. Consequently the activities of selected international institutions such as IMF or G20 are considered a step towards global governance. Economic...

Konkurenceschopnost a soudržnost v zemích V4 po Lisabonské strategii

Competitiveness and Cohesion in V4 Countries after Lisbon Strategy

Michaela Staníčková, Eva Poledníková, Karel Skokan

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):115-137  

Competitiveness and cohesion are two complementary objectives, which determine the long-term development of the European Union. The last and not very successful attempt to gain world leadership in competitiveness was the Lisbon Strategy which has since 2010 its successor in Europe 2020, the new EU's growth strategy for the coming decade. The development of the V4 Visegrad Four Group Central European countries after joining the EU in 2004 has been influenced by trends and objectives set by the Lisbon Strategy. The relatively positive development of their economies, economic growth and the level of convergence has been interrupted by the global economic...

Reforma Rady EU podle Lisabonské smlouvy

EU Council reform as enacted by the Lisbon Treaty

Jan Váška

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):139-160  

The Treaty of Lisbon introduced a set of institutional reforms in the European Union that had been under negotiation ever since the establishment, in 2002, of the Convention on the Future of the EU. This paper sums up and briefly assesses the main changes that affect the functioning of the Council of the European Union and its position in the EU institutional architecture. Two main innovations are at the centre of the analysis: the prospective introduction of a new Qualified Majority formula and changes to the logic and structure of the Council presidencies. As of now, the interim assessment is a mixed one. Some of the changes enacted are indeed likely...

Letecká dopravní politika EU a její dopady na letecké společnosti a letiště

EU Air Transport Policy: Implications on Airlines and Airports

Michal Žabokrtský

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):161-182  

In the last 20 years, the aviation sector in Europe has undergone a revolution that would have been unthinkable without key measures taken at EU level. Up to the late 1980s, air transport was fully controlled by State governments and overregulated by rather rigid bilateral agreements and obsolete international conventions. Since then, progressively, the European Union became a leading force and a respected policy maker in the field of air transport. Being highly successful in liberalising the aviation sector in Member States, the EU took the opportunity to pursue its action further. Other important aspects - such as competition rules, traffic management,...

Gustav N. Kristensen: Born into a Dream: Academic reforms in the Baltic Countries

Harald Koht

Současná Evropa 2011, 2011(1):183-185  

Book Review: Gustav N. Kristensen. Born into a Dream. EuroFaculty and the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, 2010