Contemporary Europe, 2014 (vol. 2014), issue 1

Malé státy v Evropské unii - taktiky prosazování národních priorit v Radě EU

Small States in the European Union: Tactics of Pursuing National Interests in the Council of the EU

Štěpánka Zemanová, Radka Druláková, Jana Peterková, Pavel Přikryl

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):3-18  

The research on small states calls attention to the fact that these states are usually unable to push through their national interests and needs on the international scene although their number far outweighs the bigger countries. At the same time, it shows that small states can partially eliminate their inability through regional connections and membership in international organisations. Such activities are becoming increasingly evident also in the European Union. Therefore, the text observes tactics that small states use to push through their national interests in decision-making. It focuses on the Council of the European Union as it represents the...

Perspektívy vývoja zahraničnoobchodnej politiky EÚ voči krajinám Východného partnerstva v kontexte vztahov s Ruskou federáciou

Development Perspectives of the EU Foreign Trade Policy towards the Eastern Partnership Countries in the Context of Relations with Russia

Kristína Drieniková

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):19-36  

Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a relatively new initiative within the European Neighbourhood Policy. The EU assists the EaP partner countries in their economic and political reforms and offers them better access to the EU internal market and economic integration in form of the deep and comprehensive free trade agreements, parts of the Association Agreements. However, the EU trade policy priorities towards the EaP are threatened by Russia's ambitions to deepen integration in the Eurasian space. Further development of the EU trade policy and the position of Russia will be affected by the outcomes of the third EaP Summit in November 2013 and by the subsequent...

Petiční právo k Evropskému parlamentu v proměnách času

Development of the Right to Petition the European Parliament

Nicole Grmelová

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):37-47  

Even though the right to lodge a petition with the European Parliament has not been codified at primary law level until the Treaty of Maastricht and its significance has been highlighed by its incorporation in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, its origins go back to the 1950s. Out of twenty standing committees of the European Parliament, the Petitions Committee is the only one having a direct contact with EU citizens. In a future, this committee will hold hearings with successful representatives of European Citizens Initiatives. The aim of this article is to identify fields in which EU citizens complain with the European Parliament most frequently....

Předsednictví Rady EU jako nástroj práce s agendou: Evropa bez bariér

EU Presidency as a Tool of Agenda Setting: Europe without Frontiers

Petr Kaniok

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):49-69  

Based on a thorough analysis of several EU presidencies in the early 21st century Swedish political scientist Jonas Tallberg created a concept that identifies ways of how Presidency countries work on the creation of their program. In this concept, Tallberg conceptualizes the proces of agenda setting in a broader way and particularly focuses on structuring already existing topics and issues. Tallberg argues that there are three relevant dimensions - socioeconomic, regional and constitutional - shaping Presidency's political preferences. In 2004, the group of Central and Eastern European countries, which share different political, economic and social...

Teorie aktérství EU a Lisabonská smlouva EU jako aktér v oblasti zahraniční politiky

Theories of EU Actorness and the Treaty of Lisbon EU as a Global Foreign Policy Actor

Alžběta Kuchařová

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):71-84  

This paper assesses the impact of the Lisbon Treaty reform of the EU foreign policy on the actorness of the EU. It is because Europe as a global actor is one of the principal issues of the Treaty of Lisbon. Owing to a growing role of the EU in the world politics, the actorness of the EU has been an issue for the European studies as well as for the international relations theories in past few years. Therefore, this paper analyses the prospective contribution of the newly created post of the High Representative of the Union for the foreign affairs and security policy, newly established European External Action Service, in brief also of the introduction...

Evropský podnikatel v současných spotřebitelských úpravách

European Entrepreneur in the New Consumer Regulation

Felix Sádaba

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):85-99  

Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights opened a new scenario applying the principle of full harmonization. The goal is to create a true internal market and improve its functioning by simplifying to entrepreneurs the expansion of international trade and the international shopping to consumers. In addition to this harmonization the directive brings two novelties to motivate consumers purchasing from abroad: consumers will be better informed about their rights, and at the same time will be simplified the conditions for withdrawal. It is questionable, whether if due to these advantages for consumers arises as an opposite problem inequity between the parties....

Technické překážky obchodu v regulaci Evropské unie

Technical Barriers to Trade in the EU Regulation

Ludmila Štěrbová

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):101-116  

Technical regulation belongs to means with a strong influence on international trade flows. The regulation is a barrier to trade that is autonomously implemented by governments and becomes the most used non-tariff barrier for protection of domestic markets. Technical regulation has both positive and negative effects on entrepreneurs and consumers. The problem lies in complexity of the system of technical standards and norms that is not internationally regulated in a binding manner. In order to overcome these negatives, governments and nongovernmental organizations and subjects cooperate on harmonization of technical standards or are proceeding through...

Jan Hodač, Lubor Lacina, Petr Strejček: Evropské křižovatky

Ondřej Žáček

Současná Evropa 2014, 2014(1):117-121  

Review: Jan Hodač, Lubor Lacina, Petr Strejček: Evropské křižovatky. Brno: Barrister&Principal, 2014, 184 s. ISBN 978-80-7485-018-9