The Diplomatic System of the European Union

The Diplomatic System of the European Union
Author: Michael Smith
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2015-06-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1317536649

Over the past five years, the EU has established a new system of diplomacy centred on the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. This new system reflects a process of evolution in a changing context, and has been faced by major challenges since its inception. This book examines the diplomatic system of the EU, locating it within the broader study of diplomacy and the European integration project. The volume is structured around the interrelated themes of institutional change and the evolving practices of EU diplomacy. It tracks the development of the EU’s system of diplomacy, with particular reference to the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, the establishment of the EEAS and the emerging practices of EU strategic and structural diplomacy. Bringing together contributions from leading experts in the field, this book provides an original approach to the development and operation of the EU’s diplomatic system. This book will be of interest to students and scholars of European Union international relations, European Union politics and diplomacy.

The European External Action Service and National Foreign Ministries

The European External Action Service and National Foreign Ministries
Author: Rosa Balfour
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2016-02-11
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1317033302

Based on extensive empirical work by a cross-European group of researchers, this book assesses the impact of the creation of the European External Action Service (EEAS) on the national foreign policy-making processes and institutions of the EU member states. As such, the contributions cover both the involvement of the national diplomatic and foreign policy actors in shaping the outlook of the EEAS and its mission, as well as the changes (or not) it has produced for those actors of the member states. The analysis draws in theoretical frameworks from Europeanization and socialization, but also from intergovernmental frameworks of policy-making within the European Union. An introduction by the editors outlines the issues and trends examined in the book and establishes the theoretical and methodological framework. Split into 2 sections, Part I: EEAS and national diplomacies as part of global and European structures has contributions by Richard Whitman, Rosa Balfour, Christian Lequesne, Caterina Carta and Simon Duke. Part II: National diplomacies shaping and being shaped by the EEAS is covered by Daniel Fiott, Fabien Terpan, Cornelius Adebahr, Andrea Frontini, Ignacio Molina and Alicia Sorroza, Laura C. Ferreira-Pereira, Alena Vysotskaya G. Vieira and Louise van Schaik, Grzegorz Gromadzki, Mark Rhinard, Jakob Lewander and Sara Norrevik, Sabina Kajnc Lange, Ruby Gropas and George Tzogopoulos, Vit Beneš and Kristi Raik. This book is much needed, especially in an era when the EU is trying to pull its weight in the international sphere (e.g. Syria, Iran, the Arab Spring, Chinese relations and emerging powers) but also at a time when the EU is trying to recalibrate its institutional structure in light of the current financial predicaments and questions on the democratic legitimacy of the European project.

The European External Action Service

The European External Action Service
Author: David Spence
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 727
Release: 2015-08-18
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1137383038

This book questions whether the institutions and practices of the emerging EU diplomatic system conform to established standards of the state-centric diplomatic order; or whether practice is paving the way for innovative, even revolutionary, forms of diplomatic organisation.

Research Handbook on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy

Research Handbook on the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy
Author: Steven Blockmans
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 559
Release:
Genre: European Union countries
ISBN: 1785364081

In times of rapid change and unpredictability the European Union’s role in the world is sorely tested. How successfully the EU meets challenges such as war, terrorism and climate change, and how effectively the Union taps into opportunities like mobility and technological progress depends to a great extent on the ability of the EU’s institutions and member states to adopt and implement a comprehensive and integrated approach to external action. This Research Handbook examines the law, policy and practice of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including the Common Security and Defence, and gauges its interactions with the other external policies of the Union (including trade, development, energy), as well as the evolving political and economic challenges that face the European Union.

EU Policies in Times of Crisis

EU Policies in Times of Crisis
Author: Gerda Falkner
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2018-10-11
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1351980106

European integration is in a time of multiple crises, which has a profound impact on different EU policies. This book presents a major collaborative research project uniting international colleagues in the quest for developing a theory: when and how will crisis induce policy breakthrough as opposed to stalemate? In this volume, a team of renowned authors compare the effects of the recent financial, economic and neighbourhood crises on the EU’s main policy domains, including financial market integration, trade, health, migration, research, energy, foreign and state aid policies. This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of European Integration.

Grassroots sport and the European Union

Grassroots sport and the European Union
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 60
Release: 2011-04-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780108473319

Potential of sport is under-exploited at both EU and national level despite its ability to deliver on core policy objectives in the health, education, employment and social spheres. This report considers how the EU can maximise the potential of sport in its own policy making and delivery and how it can help Member States do likewise. It looks at how EU legislation should be applied to sport in order to ensure the sustainability of grassroots sport, particularly its revenue streams from the broadcasting of professional sport. The reports main recommendations include: there is value in a dedicated sport fund but there is greater potential value in main-streaming it into other EU funding streams, including the structural funds and through ensuring redistribution from professional sport. The EU should include sport in its work on digital piracy and should look further at whether the gambling industry should be required to pay a 'fair return' to sport; different Member States are more advanced in certain areas than others, for example Finland on levels of participation among older people, offering potential for the sharing of best practice. The Commission should create a web portal which allows grassroots organisations to make links with each other; the voice of grassroots as well as professional sport need to be heard in Brussels. Dialogue between the Commission and sports organisations needs to be made more representative

Accountability, Parliamentarism and Transparency in the EU

Accountability, Parliamentarism and Transparency in the EU
Author: Adam Cygan
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2013
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1782548653

It was a great pleasure to find such a rich analysis of the role of national parliaments in the EU. What I particularly like - and what proves to be particularly fruitful is the combination of perspectives; the EU law and national constitutional perspective including a comparative dimension, the perspective that explains the role of national parliaments in the EU from past to present (and even near future) and last but not least, the perspective of the interaction between the legal frameworks and the political reality. There is every reason to congratulate Adam Cygan wholeheartedly on this book. Ton Van Den Brink, Europa Instituut Utrecht, The Netherlands One of the most outstanding specialists on the role of national parliaments in the EU has produced another impressive book about this dynamic topic. It provides an illuminating overview of current practices, it sharply analyses the legal status quo, and it brings theoretical depth to the topic in multiple perspectives. Olaf Tans, Amsterdam University College, The Netherlands This accessible and detailed book takes an interdisciplinary approach in exploring the position of national parliaments in the EU polity and in particular their position within the EU governance framework. Adam Cygan analyses the impact of subsidiarity monitoring upon national parliaments and to what extent this provides new opportunities for national parliaments to be engaged in, and exert influence over, the EU legislative process. While the post-Lisbon position of national parliaments may have improved, this book questions whether national parliaments can really be considered as central actors in EU affairs. The author also queries whether subsidiarity monitoring has the capacity to create a collective bloc of horizontal actors which exert effective accountability over the EU legislative process. Accountability, Parliamentarism and Transparency in the EU will strongly appeal to academics, parliamentarians/parliamentary officials working in EU affairs, as well as EU civil servants.

Unveiling the Council of the European Union

Unveiling the Council of the European Union
Author: D. Naurin
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 330
Release: 2008-09-24
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0230583784

Thanks to new transparency rules and increased efforts by scholars, researchers are better equipped than ever before to analyze the decision-making processes of the Council of the European Union and to test old wisdoms. This book covers the most contentious areas and important debates in current research.

EU Financial Framework from 2014

EU Financial Framework from 2014
Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Lords: European Union Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
Total Pages: 82
Release: 2011-04-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780108473302

The EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) will shape what the EU achieves in the second half of this decade. This report is set against the themes of the EU's "Europe 2020 strategy": smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The report includes three principal recommendations: Common Agricultural Policy must be reformed; the EU's budget must not grow in real terms; the EU must spend its money more carefully. The Common Agricultural Policy must be reformed to release resources for other priorities, including research. One third of the EU's budget still goes on agricultural subsidies. Overall funding must be reduced. And the CAP must shift resources behind rural development (pillar two) from production (pillar one). The Committee calls for an end to trade-distorting subsidies, and a focus on today's challenges: global food security, biodiversity and climate change. The Committee found proposals for new EU revenue streams or taxes (own resources) to be an 'unfortunate distraction' on which it will be impossible to reach agreement. It also recommends that the Financial Framework be for five years, not seven as at present, so that it has more flexibility to respond to changing events - such as recent events in North Africa - and economic circumstances, like the financial crisis. EU mismanagement of large scale projects is unacceptable. And the EU's regional development funds should go to where they are most needed: the EU's poorest countries. And the EU should not spend at all where EU spending adds no value compared with spending at national or regional level.