Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Petr Kratochvíl Author-Name: Ondřej Novák Author-Name: Petra Pojerová Title: The EU as an Actor: Framing as a Dimension of the EU’s Actorness Abstract: 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 for operationalisation in further research. Keywords: European union, Evropská unie, framing, actorness, EU external policy, rámování, aktérství, vnější politika EU Pages: 3-16 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=27.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/27 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:27:p:3-16 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/27 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pavla Bednářová Title: The Fiscal Position of Eurozone Countries under the influence of the global economic crisis Abstract: 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 often purpose-made fulfillment of fiscal criteria supported by the tools of monetary and fiscal policies together with unsuitable control and sanction mechanism decrease the effectiveness of the fiscal rules. The fiscal position of EMU (EU) countries in 2009 is the worst since 1970 and it shows that without long-term sustainable public finances of the participating countries the existence and functioning of the single currency is threatened. Keywords: European monetary union, Maastricht fiscal criteria, Stability and Growth Pact, fiscal discipline, global economic crisis, public finances, Evropská měnová unie, Maastrichtská fiskální kritéria, Pakt stability a růstu, fiskální disciplína, světová hospodářská krize, veřejné finance Pages: 17-31 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=28.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/28 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:28:p:17-31 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/28 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Harald Koht Title: Gustav N. Kristensen: Born into a Dream: Academic reforms in the Baltic Countries Abstract: Book Review: Gustav N. Kristensen. Born into a Dream. EuroFaculty and the Council of the Baltic Sea States, Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, 2010 Pages: 183-185 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=35.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/35 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:35:p:183-185 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Nicole Grmelová Title: Public Access to EU Documents in theory and practice Abstract: 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 of the possibility of having access to EU documents and to analyze the judicial and extrajudicial means of redress should this right be violated using specific cases dealt with by the General Court as well as by the European Ombudsman. Keywords: Democratic Deficit of the EU, Transparency of Functioning of the EU, Public Access to Documents, General Courts, European Ombudsman, European Parliament, Council, Commission, Demokratický deficit EU, transparentnost rozhodování EU, přístup k dokumentůn, Tribunál, evropský veřejný ochránce práv, Evropský parlament, Rada, Komise Pages: 33-55 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=29.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/29 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:29:p:33-55 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/29 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lenka Kovačovská Title: Liberalisation of the Internal Market in Electricity and Natural Gas a Tool for Enhancing EU’s Energy Security Abstract: 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 and natural gas and whether this market could enhance energy security of the EU. Keywords: EU, EU, energetická bezpečnost, energetická politika, electricity, natural gas, elektřina, liberalizace, zemní plyn, energy security, internal market, liberalisation, energy policy, infrastructure, vnitřní trh, infrastruktura Pages: 57-91 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=30.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/30 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:30:p:57-91 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/30 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Pavel Neumann Title: Global Economic Governance: Its Forms, Manifestations and Development in the EU and the World Economy Main Centres Abstract: 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 integration in Western Europe originally represents an attempt at regional governance. Nevertheless, the integration impact on the global economic environment makes the EU an example of a subject of the forming global governance. Keywords: EU, EU, governance, governance, globalization, U.S.A., Japan, G20, globalizace, USA, Japonsko, G20 Pages: 93-113 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=31.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/31 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:31:p:93-113 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/31 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Michaela Staníčková Author-Name: Eva Poledníková Author-Name: Karel Skokan Title: Competitiveness and Cohesion in V4 Countries after Lisbon Strategy Abstract: 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 crisis. This article aims to analyze and compare the development of the V4 countries in terms of the Lisbon strategy and by the use of structural indicators established for its evaluation and to assess their perspective in the new EU strategy for 2020. Keywords: Cohesion Policy, competitiveness, Lisbon strategy, Visegrad Four countries, konkurenceschopnost, soudržnost, Lisabonská strategie, země Visegrádské čtyřky Pages: 115-137 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=32.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/32 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:32:p:115-137 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/32 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jan Váška Title: EU Council reform as enacted by the Lisbon Treaty Abstract: 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 to contribute to the efficiency and transparency of the Council’s decision-making, whereas others bear distinct systemic risks and yet others have had their implementation postponed. The overall effect thus remains open-ended. Keywords: governance, Council of the EU, Lisbon Treaty, Presidency, Qualified Majority Voting, Nice Treaty, Reform, Rada EU, Lisabonská smlouva, předsednictví, rozhodování kvalifikovanou většinou, Niceská smlouva, reforma, vládnutí Pages: 139-159 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=33.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/33 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:33:p:139-159 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/33 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Michal Žabokrtský Title: EU Air Transport Policy: Implications on Airlines and Airports Abstract: 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, safety, security, airport capacity, environmental protection, passenger rights and external relations - were given similar attention. Much has been achieved over the past two decades, but what are the main gains and losses for the aviation stakeholders? This paper explores and analyses the impact of the EU Air Transport Policy on major industry actors: airlines and airports. Keywords: Evropská unie, dopravní politika, letectví, letecká společnost, letiště, vnitřní trh, European Union, transport policy, aviation, air carrier, airport, Internal Market Pages: 161-182 Volume: 2011 Issue: 1 Year: 2011 File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/download.php?jnl=se&pdf=34.pdf File-URL: http://www.vse.cz/se/34 File-Format: text/html Handle: RePEc:prg:jnlsev:v:2011:y:2011:i:1:id:34:p:161-182 X-File-Ref: http://www.vse.cz/RePEc/prg/jnlsev/references/34