TEPSA Newsletter June Edition 2012

Editorial

by Jean-Paul Jacqué

At the last Pre-Presidency Conference in Nicosia, TEPSA members took part in a lively discussion on the topic of solidarity. At this occasion, several participants questioned the legal validity of this principle. This editorial aims at providing some information on this issue.

It is perhaps a commonplace to state that once a society decides to set up frameworks in order to achieve a common goal, solidarity represents the cement of it – regardless of whether it is a fisher’s association or a state. From the beginning of European integration, the concept of solidarity was highlighted by Robert Schuman in his speech in the Salon de l’Horloge which referred to the creation of de facto solidarity. From Westphalia to Rome, we have moved from reciprocity to solidarity. The logic of the Monnet method and the spillover effect are based on this idea; when the challenges are beyond the capacity of a single state, it is necessary to address them jointly and the solidarities already created serve as cement for developing new ones. The concept of subsidiarity, as introduced into EU law by the Treaty of Maastricht, is another aspect of this solidarity. For the fields that can be managed by a single state, national solidarity is enough, however when a transnational link is established, solidarity plays a role at European level.

The concept of solidarity is very present in the treaties since there are six references in the TEU and six others in the TFEU. It is noteworthy that the term of solidarity appears as a mantra precisely in those areas where solidarity is weaker (three times in the CFSP, twice in the asylum and immigration). Article 80 TFEU even uses the term “solidarity principle”. One reference relates to energy, a new policy area introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon, another to the financial assistance as an exception to a bail-out, and also one related to the overseas territories. Finally, the treaty contains a solidarity clause in case of financial disaster or terrorism. This variety expresses an important aspect of the issue: solidarity is expressed in different ways depending on the policy of the Union in question.

The general reference to solidarity is made in the preamble of the TEU (“Desiring to deepen the solidarity between their peoples”), which comes on top to the classic statement of a ever closer Union. The new element is the one contained in Article 2 on values. Solidarity is not mentioned as a value here but as a feature of European society. This solidarity is not qualified. Is it the solidarity between member states or the solidarity among citizens within the EU or within the Member States? All forms of horizontal and vertical solidarity seem to be covered. Social solidarity is addressed more specifically in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. Under these conditions, is solidarity only one element, sometimes even hypocritical, of political discourse or does it have a legal value? The Court does refers to the principle as such, but mainly in infringement procedure cases.

In order for solidarity to be an operating legal principle it would require its content to be sufficiently precise to be legally tested. As noted by the Court in Case C-149/96 “a general principle of law cannot be derived from programmatic provisions that do not contain a specific obligation.” But the concept of solidarity is programmatic. This does not mean that the recourse to solidarity is stripped of any legal significance.

Solidarity is a constitutional principle inherent in the Union as stated in Article 2 TEU, but it is also a constitutional objective. The Union is based on solidarity and aims at amplifying it. The implications are twofold:

1. During the elaboration of the Charter, there were long discussions on the difference between principles and rights. The result of this is that rights are directly justiciable whereas principles are only justiciable through measures to implement them. Once a policy aims at strengthening solidarity, any attack on it is thus justiciable.

2. If a Union act goes directly against a principle or prevents its achievement, it is invalid (ECJ, 6 and 11/69). In this case, the Court stated that the establishment of preferential discount rates for exports constituted an infringement because it was opposed to the principle of solidarity, based on the community system in its whole.

Under these circumstances, the obligation or the objective of solidarity plays a key role when it materializes through positive or negative measures of implementation. It takes two forms: solidarity between member states and solidarity between citizens of the Union.

I. Solidarity between Member States

Without going into detail on all aspects of solidarity in Union’s policies, it suffices to take some examples such as the institutional solidarity and the financial solidarity.

A. Institutional solidarity

This solidarity is primarily expressed in the principle of loyal cooperation between member states and institutions enshrined in Article 3 TEU. This principle of loyalty is the natural outcome of solidarity since there is no solidarity without mutual trust in the compliance with all of its obligations. This aspect of solidarity is the translation of the rule Pacta sunt servanda in an institutionalized context familiar to lawyers in international law. Within the logic of integration, this rule is not left to the discretion of the individual subject to reciprocity. The rule is controlled by institutions and sanctioned by the infringement procedure. The Court does not say anything else in Case 39-72 where it finds that the non-respect by Italy regarding milk quota affects the balance between benefits and costs of the Common Agricultural Policy, calling into question the equality of Member States and therefore constitutes a breach of the principle of solidarity..

The principle of loyal cooperation takes three forms for member states: to take all appropriate measures to ensure the fulfillment of the treaty obligations, to facilitate the achievement of the Union’s tasks and to refrain from breaching the treaty. This latter requirement is not subject to a restrictive interpretation. In case 6 and 11/69 (aforementioned), France argued that contested measures did not fall under Community competence. The Court replied that the principle of solidarity requires that member states refrain from using their own competences to prevent the compliance with the Treaty. This will lead to important case law that subordinates the use of member states’ competencies in respect to the Treaty, on the basis of solidarity.

Similarly, when it comes to facilitating the achievement of the Union’s tasks, the Court considers it appropriate that member states should refrain from taking any measure which could jeopardise the achievement of the Union’s objectives. Consequently, in the case 266/03, Luxembourg was condemned for having concluded negotiations within the framework of a joint agreement while the Community itself had already opened negotiations.

Thereby, the solidarity principle under the form of loyal cooperation nourishes all the implementation mechanisms of EU law.

B. Financial solidarity

Leaving aside the economic and monetary solidarity which are subject of intense debates, the financial solidarity is one of the pillars of the Union. Budgetary solidarity is evident. Unlike the traditional international organisations, the Union’s budget does not cover merely the functioning of the organisation, but also policies that benefit member states in different degrees, particularly with regard to cohesion.

Union’s policies are based on a redistribution which is, by default, a form of solidarity. The extent of redistribution is certainly subject to constant controversies like witnessed by the claims of “net contributors” and the invocation of the principle of “juste retour”. But even in the British case, there is a place to solidarity as the rebate only covers 66% of the amount by which UK payments into the EU exceed EU expenditure returning to the UK.

The extent of solidarity is a political choice to be made at the time of discussing the EU’s own resources in connection with the Multiannual Financial Framework. But once a decision has been made, solidarity fully plays its role as noted by the Court in the case C-239/05 on the duty-free import of military equipment by Italy. The latter invoked Article 296 EC and the necessity to ensure its external security. According to the Court, this argument is not sufficient to evade from “the obligations imposed by financial solidarity as regard the community budget” at the expenses of other states.

Institutional solidarity is not the only one that has to be taken into account by the treaties. The solidarity between citizens plays an increasing role in the European Union.

II. The development of interpersonal solidarity

This type of solidarity finds its main scope of application within social policy. One could find applications in other fields such as the internal market. Yet in the social field, the development of citizenship shows an emphasis of solidarity at the Union level which may undermine the national solidarity.

A. European citizenship, a support for solidarity

European citizenship is reflected in a set of rights and duties both vis-à-vis the political authority and vis-à-vis the citizens. Of course, the first impact has been political (voting rights, consular protection abroad …), but the essential impact, and perhaps unexpected, comes from the combination of citizenship, freedom of movement and non-discrimination.

Freedom of movement gives access to social and health benefits in the host country. This situation was originally restricted to workers and has been extended to other citizens by law. But this extension was multiplied by the Court of Justice when it indicated that “citizenship is the fundamental status of member states to allow those among them, that are in the same situation to enjoy regardless of their nationality … the same legal treatment “(Martinez Sala, C-85/96). The Court’s jurisprudence will become more extensive, allowing family members of a citizen to benefit in some cases from advantages that are normally restricted to citizens when they are not citizens themselves.

European citizenship provides access to national solidarity in the name of European solidarity, but wouldn’t it in some situations represent a risk to undermine national solidarity?

B. Preservation of national solidarity

National solidarity is now the essential element of national identity. Each member state has developed its own system of redistribution citizens rely on. European solidarity complements these systems and does not challenge them. For this particular reason the treaty contains a number of safeguards designed to protect national solidarity. This is the case of the ‘brake’ clause on social security of migrant workers which allow the possibility to refer an act which would affect important aspects of national security system “regarding the scope, the cost or the financial framework, or would affect the financial balance of that system” to the European Council.

Similarly, Article 14 TFEU recognises the role of services of general interest in social cohesion and requires the legislator to take measures to enable them to accomplish their mission.

The jurisprudence of the Court has also expressed the will to preserve national solidarity. It is willing to do so by requiring the existence of a genuine link with the state of residence to receive certain benefits or by restricting the access to health services by the imposition of a permit from the state of origin to benefit from the reimbursement of certain hospital services delivered in another member state. Or by agreeing that one could limit the enrollment of students from another member state if the recruitment for a profession or the system’s financial balance is put into question.

There is a balance that requires an appreciation of solidarity. But one could question whether it is the judge should make that assessment, or whether the legislator should intervene.

Conclusion

Solidarity is a founding principle that nourishes the entire system. It is a source of rights in many policies, but has direct effect essentially only through its various implementations.

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Introducing a TEPSA Member Institute: Institute of International Relations (IIR), Prague

The Institute of International Relations (IIR) is an independent public research institution which conducts scholarly research in the area of international relations since 1957. Its founder is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. The IIR tries to form a link between the academic world, the public and the international political practice.

The main activities of the Institute of International Relations comprise the following:

• Basic and applied research of international relations, often in the framework of Czech, as well as international, projects
• Publication activities in the form of periodicals (IIR periodicals include the monthly magazine for the general public Mezinárodní politika, the theoretical journal Mezinárodní vztahy and the scholarly peer-reviewed biannual Perspectives, which is published in English), articles in scholarly literature, and policy papers.
• Organization of scholarly events – national and international conferences, seminars, roundtable discussions and presentations (more than sixty per year).
• Cooperation with many governmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations from the Czech Republic and abroad.
• The services of the library, which has a specialized library fund that provides public library and information services.
• Doctoral studies, providing a common doctoral programme with the Metropolitan University of Prague.
• Educational activities, student internships for students from all over the world.
• Research: The IIR is the largest Czech research institution in the field of International Relations, European Studies, Security Studies and Area Studies. Its mission is to contribute to European and international IR research. In order to accomplish this goal, the IIR builds heavily on a robust body of basic and theoretical research which is subsequently translated into applied research as well as policy advising.

The IIR’s fields of research:

• European Integration
• International Security
• Development Studies
• Territorial Studies (Central Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa, North America, the Balkans)
• International Law and International Organizations
• IR Theory and Research Methodology

For more information please refer to our website or read online.

News from the TEPSA Secretariat

New TEPSA website and new lay-out for the TEPSA Newsletter

From this edition onwards the TEPSA Newsletter will have a new modern lay-out. You will recognise all familiar categories like the editorial of TEPSA’s Secretary General Jean Paul Jacqué; introducing a TEPSA member institute; upcoming events; latest publications et cetera. The new TEPSA Newsletter is integrated in the new website of TEPSA, which can still be found at http://www.tepsa.eu. The new website will allow TEPSA to better communicate with the general public as well as specific target groups like policy-makers, journalists, academics, students, and others. The main innovation of the new website is the full integration of the TEPSA Newsletter. Sections of the Newsletter like introducing a TEPSA member institute, upcoming events of TEPSA members and latest publications of TEPSA members will be incorporated in the relevant sections of the TEPSA website. News on upcoming events, publications and vacancies within the TEPSA network will directly be added to the website. The bi-monthly Newsletter will nevertheless also continue to exist.

For TEPSA members these changes encompass expanded visibility and we hope this will lead to even more input from our members. With this integrated approach we will also deliver an improved service to all visitors on activities and research carried out within the whole TEPSA network.

If you experience any problems with the readability of the TEPSA Newsletter, or if you have suggestions for the Newsletter or website, please feel free to contact Laura Ventura or Marine Jacob.

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EP project on Democratic Control in the Member States of the European COuncil and the Euro Zone Summits

TEPSA together with Notre Europe won the tender to elaborate a study on the Democratic Control in the Member states of the European Council and the Euro Zone Summits. Many TEPSA and OPAL network experts are currently involved in the preparation to provide an analysis of the democratic control in each Member state. The project is based on the assertion that there is a rising gap within the European Union between executive governance and parliamentary control. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview with a common questionnaire for the 27 Member States and also in-depth reports for 12 Member States investigating the question of the significance of the parliamentary control of the European Councils and of the “information gap” between governments and parliaments. A synthetic perspective will also be elaborated including policy recommendations. The interim study shall be delivered on 13 September 2012 and the final study on 26 October 2012. In between a workshop with the experts for the 12 Member States of in-depth reports and advisors will take place on 31 August 2012 at the North Rhine Westphalia Representation in Brussels. For more information please contact Laura Ventura

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TEPSA welcomes a new member institute: Institute of European Studies and International Relations (IESIR) Bratislava, Slovakia

On 14 June 2012 the General Assembly of TEPSA has unanimously voted in favour of the inclusion of a new TEPSA member: Institute of European Studies and International Relations (IESIR). IESIR will be TEPSA’s member institute in Slovakia and has been established within the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences at Comenius University.

For more information on IESIR website or read online.

Recent TEPSA events

Pre-Presidency Conference in Cyprus: The Cypriot EU Presidency 2012: Institutional consolidation and responding to new challenges, 14-15 June 2012

The Cypriot Pre-Presidency Conference took place on 14 and 15 June 2012 at the New Campus of the University of Cyprus in Nicosia. It was organised by KIMEDE (Cyprus Institute of Mediterranean European and International Studies, in cooperation with the Erasmus Academic Network LISBOAN, the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA), the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, the European Commission Representation in Cyprus and the University of Cyprus. This conference welcomed a broad audience of local politicians, representatives of the EU institutions and of local organisations but also researchers from EU member states and beyond.

The conference was opened with the TEPSA recommendations to the Cypriot presidency and followed by the presentation of the Priorities to the Cypriot EU Presidency. During the plenary session, TEPSA members took part in a lively discussion on the theme of solidarity: Which kind of solidarity? An analysis of the sharpened debate on the EU in the member states. The workshops have discussed about “The economic and social crisis in the EU”, “Free movement and migration”, “the EU Enlargement Policy” and “the EU’s external relations and diplomacy”. The participants have also tackled the sharpened debate of the solidarity at the European and national level. The Pre-Presidency Conference closed with a Plenary Session on “the reflections on Lisbon innovations and the role of the EU Council”.

Please download the programme here or read online.

LISBOAN 2nd Annual Conference on “Governance in and of the crisis – Lessons and options of Lisbon and beyond”, 10-11 May 2012

On 10-11 May, the LISBOAN second annual conference took place at Fondation Universitaire, rue d’Egmont 11, 1000 Brussels. After the first annual conference that was organised last June 2011, the second annual conference also brought together members from all 67 partner institutions. The topic that served as this …Read online.

Upcoming TEPSA events

THESEUS International Summer School and Simulation Exercise 2012 ‘The Future of EU Economic Governance’, 2-6 July 2012, Brussels

The International Summer School and Simulation Exercise on ‘The Future of EU Economic Governance’ will take place on 2-6 July 2012 at la Fondation Universitaire, Brussels. This event is co-organised by TEPSA and University of Cologne within the framework of the projects THESEUS (www.theseus.uni-koeln.de). The Summer School and Simulation Exercise will start on Monday 2 July 2012 until Friday 6 July 2012. The Summer School will gather about 20 students as to gain insight in and to discuss the broader subject of the Future of EU Economic Governance as well as to participate pro-actively in a simulation game on an EU Council meeting on Economic Governance together with academic experts and decision-makers. To promote interdisciplinary and international networks among a new generation of Europeans, each year the THESEUS Seminars look for 20 excellent young professionals and researchers to discuss European challenges with high-level experts and decision makers. As in previous years the seminar will feature speakers and high-level experts from international organisations, business, politics, as well as recognised researchers. Iain Begg from the London School of Economics will accompany the seminar as THESEUS Resident Researcher. Beyond own teaching he will animate the debate and advice students on group and individual basis. The participants will have the possibility to bring in their own academic/professional contributions and to discuss them with the group and the experts. Three days of intensive preparation will be followed by a European Council simulation exercise discussing future scenarios of a European economic government.

Please to read the draft programme.

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Studies and workshops for the European Parliament

Under the European Parliament’s Framework Contract that TEPSA won in 2009, TEPSA was requested to organize two workshops commissioned by the Security and Defence Committee:

Workshop on EU-China relations

The main objective of this workshop was to analyse the impact of China’s policies on bilateral relations and on EU interests in the context of growing interdependence between the two sides. It was organised on the 21st of June at the European Parliament with the following experts: Dr. Hongyi Lai of the University of Nottingham on China’s domestic politics, Dr. Valérie Niquet of the Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique (FRS) on China’s foreign policy and Mr Jonas Parello-Plesner of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) on the EU-China relations. The workshop started with a welcome address by the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrey Kovatchev followed by introductory remarks of the Chairperson of the Delegation for relations with the People’s Republic of China Mr Crescenzio Rivellini. After the presentation of the three experts, the floor was opened for questions and comments from Members of the European Parliament and other participants. The report of this workshop will be available soon onto our website.

Workshop on Nagorno-Karabakh: security situation

This workshop on the security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh took place on 20 June 2012 at the European Parliament in Brussels. The main objective was to provide a description of the security situation in the region. Arnaud Danjean (Member of the European Parliament) introduced the debate and was followed by the presentations of three experts: Dr. Tracey German from King’s College London with an introduction to the Nagorno-Karabakh security situation, Dr. Adam Eberhardt from Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW) with a countries briefing on Armenia and Azerbaijan and Dennis Sammut from LINKS on an EU approach and Instruments at our disposal. The discussion was oriented towards the security context in the region Nagorno Karabakh. All three experts evaluated the effects of a possible conflict spill across the region from a security, economical, and geostrategic point of views. Mr Philippe Lefort, EU special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia concluded the discussion. The report of the workshop will be available soon onto our website.

Moreover three other requests from the European Parliament are currently in preparation to provide expertise on: the EU approach to security sector reform, the maritime dimension of CSDP and the development of the European defence technological and industrial base. For more information on these upcoming requests please contact laura.ventura@tepsa.eu

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News from TEPSA member institutes

Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), News

The history of the FIIA published Emeritus Professor Osmo Apunen has authored the history of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. The book is entitled “Silmän politiikkaa: Ulkopoliittinen instituutti 1961-2006“. It outlines the history of the Institute as well as the history of Finnish foreign policy since early 1960s. The book is available for purchase from the Institute for €20 + postage.

The Finnish Journal of Foreign Affairs awarded The Finnish Journal of Foreign Affairs (Ulkopolitiikka-lehti) has been awarded in the annual quality magazine competition of the Association for Cultural, Scientific and Advocacy Magazines (Kultti ry). The journal shares the first prize with the magazine Basso. The award was presented on 26 May at the World Village Festival in Helsinki. In 2008, the journal received a special mention in the competition.

Research projects The European Parliament has published a study by FIIA researcher Anaïs Marin entitled “Sociological Study on the Composition of the Belarusian Society”. She assesses the limited impact of the EU’s sanction policy and advocates the opening of a “third track” for building a real partnership with Belarusian society. The study also evaluates the potential for Belarus’s approximation with the EU within the Eastern Partnership in the wider geopolitical context of Belarus’s on-going integration with Russia.

Dr Hanna Ojanen has received a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation to write a book on relations between the UN, NATO and the EU. The working title is “Power in Interorganisational Relations”, and the manuscript is planned to be ready at the end of next year.

Staff news Dr Calin Trenkov-Wermuth will join the Institute in July. He holds a PhD from University of Cambridge and his research focuses broadly on rule of law reform and transitional justice, as well as on European security politics. He is the author of United Nations Justice: Legal and Judicial Reform in Governance Operations (United Nations University Press, 2010). Dr Trenkov-Wermuth’s eight-month visit is part of TAPIR exchange programme (Transatlantic post-doc fellowship program for international relations and security). Johannes Urpelainen, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Columbia University, will join FIIA for the month of August. His research interests include global environmental governance and he will be working on a joint-article with FIIA researcher Antto Vihma. Vihma defended his doctoral thesis Soft Law, Hard Law, and the North-South Politics of Climate Change? in the University of Helsinki main building on 20 June. As mentioned in the previous newsletter, Dr Sean Roberts joins the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood and Russia programme in June. Read online.

Institut für Europäische Politik, Berlin, News

New online publication series: “IEP Policy Papers on Eastern Europe and Central Asia”

IEP Policy Papers on Eastern Europe and Central Asia are published in the framework of the research project “The EU’s policy towards Eastern Europe and Central Asia – A key role for Germany”. This project, which aims at analysing the EU’s relations with …

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Institute für Europäische Politik, Berlin, News

European Citizens’ Initiative launched: Great expectations – extensive scepticism

Since 1 April 2012 European citizens own a new right: the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). One million citizens have the right to invite the Commission to draft a proposal for a legal act that, in their point of view, should be managed by the Union. The IEP …

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Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE)

Programme Universitaire d’été 2012 – Summer University Programmes 2012 All programmes are open for registration. Grants available under examination of the complete file.

• Black Sea Summer University, September 7th to 13th, 2012 : Gediz University Izmir – Turkey Topic : « Geopolitics of the Black Sea …Read online.

Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE)

Call for paper: The 50th Anniversary of the Elysée Treaty: The Franco-German Alliance and European Integration, Engine or Directorate? The scientific quarterly journal L’Europe en formation invites would-be contributors to submit papers for consideration in a forthcoming thematic issue on “the 50th Anniversary of the Elysée Treaty: The Franco-German Alliance and European Integration, Engine or Directorate?”, to be …

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Centre international de formation européenne CIFE

Call for application With the European Online Academy (EOA), CIFE in cooperation with the Jean Monnet Chair of the University of Cologne organises the Certificate (one-year) and Master in EU Studies Online (two-year). Through a combination of e-learning and rigorous face-to-face-learning phases (on weekends mainly in Berlin, Barcelona, Brussels and Budapest) the EOA allows its participants to deepen …

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Recent events hosted by TEPSA member institutes

Institute for International Relations (IMO): Public lecture on “The Role of the National Parliaments in the EU”

In the framework of the LISBOAN Guest Lecture programme, Thomas Christiansen, Jean Monnet Professor of European Institutional Politics at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Maastricht University, visited the Institute for International Relations (IMO) in Zagreb. Hosted by Višnja Samardžija from the IMO, Prof. Christiansen delivered a …

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Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), Seminar on “the Eve of the French Presidential Elections”, 19 March 2012

The French presidential elections are to be held on the 22nd of April with a possible run-off on the 6th of May. Socialist frontrunner François Hollande and conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy seem to have pulled ahead of rivals in recent weeks. That might indicate that the April-May election could become a clear two-horse race. But the leader of …Read online.

Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI): Seminar on “Hungary: A Challenge for Democracy?”, 12 April 2012

The Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), together with the International Commission of Jurists, ICJ, organised a seminar on the political and judicial developments in Hungary. After the elections last spring the center-right political party, Fidesz, got 68% of the seats in the Parliament. With this majority, Fidesz has the power to change the constitution, which it has …Read online.

Institut für Europäische Politik: IEP Lunch Debate on “Europe at the crossroads: solidarity and effective transformation towards new horizons,26 April 2012 ”

At the IEP lunch debate, Elmar Brok, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament, spoke on the internal and external challenges of Europe’s future. Brok focused in particular on Europe’s responsibility to formulate financial and political strategies perpetuating Europe’s stability. In the context of the debt crisis, he appealed for more solidarity to be …Read online.

Institut für Europäische Politik: IEP Lunch Debate on “Perspectives on Stabilisation and Integration of the Western Balkan States”, 2 May 2012

Guest speaker Doris Pack, Chairwoman of the Committee for Culture and Education and a member of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo, discussed the numerous challenges of EU integration both individual Balkan countries as well as the region as a whole are facing. Pack emphasised that EU involvement in … Read online.

Elcano Royal Institute: Conference and Round table on “International Security. NATO: A Modern, Flexible and Global Security Alliance”, 7 May 2012

This conference was organized by the Embassy of the United States in Spain and the Elcano Royal Institute. With Philip H. Gordon, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. More information: NATO: A Modern, Flexible and Global …

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Institut für Europäische Politik: 14th Franco-German Dialogue: “More Europe! But how?”, 11 May 2012

The demand for more Europe might appear provocative with regard to the growing number of voices seriously discussing steps of disintegration. However, the participants of the Franco-German Dialogue, organised by the ASKO EUROPA-STIFTUNG and the Europäische Akademie Otzenhausen in cooperation with the Institut für Europäische Politik e.V. and other partners, supported the call in broad consensus. Due to …Read online.

Institut für Europäische Politik: Meeting of IEP Study Group Enlargement/Neighbourhood Policy, 12 May2012

The IEP Study Group Enlargement/Neighbourhood Policy met on the 12th of may, in the European House, Berlin, to discuss the topic of “Association agreements as an alternative to EU membership? Options of shaping EU relations with the Eastern European states”. Chaired by Elmar Brok, MEP Chair of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Katrin Böttger, Deputy …Read online.

Institut für Europäische Politik: Lunch Debate on “New impulses after the balance of the European Neighbourhood Policy”, 7 June 2012

Editors Prof. Dr. Tanja A. Börzel, Director of the Center for European Integration and head of the Kolleg-Forschergruppe (KFG) “The Transformative Power of Europe”, Freie Universität Berlin, and Dr. Katrin Böttger, Deputy Director and Director of the research project “The EU’s policy towards Eastern Europe and Central Asia – A key role for Germany”, Institut für Europäische Politik …Read online.

Institute of World Economics (RCERS):Hungarian Academy of Sciences Conference on “the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020”, 11 June 2011

The conference had ten speakers from both the public administration (different ministries) as well as the academia (research institutes, higher education). The highly interesting contributions discussed the expected major changes on the revenue and expenditure side of the upcoming MFF as well as their impact on Hungary and other new member states.

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Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI), Seminar on “EU – Japan Trade Relations: What’s Next?”, 14 June 2012

Will there ever be a Free Trade Agreement/Economic Partnership Agreement between EU and Japan? At the top level meeting between EU and Japan a year ago a decision was taken to start so called scoping exercises to prepare for negotiations of a free trade agreement as well as a binding political agreement. The process is so far moving …Read online.

Institute of International Relations, Prague: Seminar on “The Perspectives of Security: The Czech Republic and Central Europe in the Second Decade of the 21st Century”, 21 June 2012

The Institute of International Relations is organizing the seminar under the patronage of the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Milan Štěch. The seminar will deal with the profound changes of Central European security that stem from the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the entering into force of the Lisbon Treaty, and Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidential …

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Institute of International Relations, Prague: Conference: The Visegrad Group and the Future EU Economy on “Standing Together or Falling Apart?”, 21 June 2012

The conference was co-organised with the Polish Institute of International Affairs, the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs and the Slovak Foreign Policy Association. The conference was sponsored by the International Visegrad Fund (IVF) and it is part of the project The Visegrad Group in the Post-Lisbon EU: Getting Closer to Move Further led by the IIR. The project …

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Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po: Colloque L’Etat des droits – Pratiques des droits dans l’action publique, 25-26 June 2012

The seminar is co-organized with the Centre de recherche sur l’action locale (CERAL), Université Paris 13, AFSP and AFS in Paris and Villetaneuse. For more information, please click here and read online.

Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po: Research Seminar on International Relations: Les BRICS entre eux. Les relations Brésil – Chine, 26 June 2012

This research seminar is co-organized with IHEAL and Asia Center and will take place in Paris. Danielly Ramos Becard from the Universidade de Brasilia, Insitituto de Relaçöes Internationals was invited as an intervenant and the dissucion was animated by Georges Couflignal, IHEAL, Université de Paris III- Sorbonne Nouvelle and the following speakers: François Godement from the Asia Center …Read online.

Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po: Seminar Global Islamophobia. Muslims and Moral Panic in the West, 28 June 2012

The seminar was co-organized with the Centre Maurice Halbwachs in Paris. Speakers: George Morgan, Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Sidne, Australia and Scott Poyngting, Professor of Sociology at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK . For more information, please click here and read online.

Real Instituto Elcano y Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge), Panel on “Foreign Direct Investment and Development: How to Assess its Impact?”, 28 June 2012

The Elcano Royal Institute organize this feature panel at the Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE) 24th Annual Conference. The panel includes the presentations on Foreign Direct Investment and Development by Iliana Olivié, Elcano’s Senior Analyst for Cooperation and Development; the FDI and Development research …Read online.

Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), Past Events

The Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) organized the following conferences during April, May and June 2012. For more information, please visit the website of the Institute.

• 1 June: Seminar on “Global Politics and Global Religion in the 21st century”, with prof. Scott Thomas
• 29 May: Seminar on “Economic transition in Azerbaijan and relations with Italy”
• 29 May, Milan “L’Italia …

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Upcoming events hosted by TEPSA member institutes

Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA): Conference on “Exiting the crisis”, 29 June 2012

On 29 June at 10 a.m in Dublin, the IIEA will host a major conference in Dublin, entitled Exiting the Crisis. The conference, which is supported by the European Commission, will provide insight into the European and national policy responses to the European financial crisis. Keynote speakers at the conference will include Patrick Honohan, Governor of the … Read online.

Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po: Seminar NEM (Nations, Europe, Monde) Identification à des communautés socio-politiques, 4 July 2012

The seminar will take place in Paris. The following speakers will participate: Nuria Garcia, Vers un dépassement des frontières linguistiques entre Etats-Nations, Sciences PO-CEE, Katharine Throssel, “Soi-même avant l’autre: la nation chez les enfants français et anglais”, and Géraldine Bozec, “la Nation, l’Europe et le Monde dans la civilisation civique scolaire en France et en Angleterre”. For more …Read online.

Greek Centre of European Studies and Research (EKEME): Debate on “What kind of solidarity in the EU?”, 5 July 2012

EKEME is organising, at the offices of the Representation of the European Parliament in Greece, a debate on “What kind of solidarity in the EU?” on Thursday 5th July 2012 at 18.00-19.30. The key-note speakers will be Mr. Nikos Frangakis, Advocate and President of EKEME and Mr. A. D. Papayannides, Advocate-Journalist and member of the Board of EKEME. …Read online.

Centre d’études européennes, Sciences Po: International conference Open Legislative Data in Paris. A Conference of the Third Kind with Hacktivists and Academics, 6-7 July 2012

The conference is co-organized with The Law Factory (Sciences Po, CEE, Regards Citoyens, Médialab) in Paris. On Friday 6th, the conference will start with a welcoming address from Olivier Rozenberg, Sciences Po, CEE and will be followed by a plenary session. In the afternoon, there will be …Read online.

College of Europe, Eighth Annual Conference on “Competition law in times of economic crisis: In need of adjustment?”, 8 et 9 November 2012

The GCLC is pleased to announce its forthcoming Eighth Annual Conference. The 2012 edition will cover the following topics:

• Antitrust enforcement
• Merger control
• State aid policy and the real economy
• State aid policy in the financial sector
• The nexus between competition, trade and industrial policies
• Speakers and …Read online.

Publications

EXACT Fellows

Vanessa Boas, Article, “L’Unione Europea può cooperare con il diavolo turkmeno?” in Meridiani Relazioni Internazionali, 27 April 2012

Bodgana Depo, Paper presented: “The EU’s Policy towards Ukraine: Towards an Eastern Enlargement or Acceptance of a ‘Wider Russia’?” at the Conference: The EU’s Eastern Neighborhood in Transition: Risks and Opportunities in Europe’s Two Largest Countries”, 8 May 2012

Marlene Gottwald, “Humanizing Security? The EU’s responsibility to protect in the Libyan crisis“, FIIA Working Paper, No. 75, May 2012.

Niklas Helwig, Paper presented: “The High Representative as the new Presidency in the Common Foreign and Security Policy: ‘The king is dead, long lives the king!“ at the European Union in International Affairs III conference, 13-15 May 2012, Vrije Universiteit Brussels.

Leonhard den Hertog and James Nyomakwa-Obimpeh : teaching at the University of Cologne: “EU external relations – a special focus un EU-Africa relations” (Spring Semester 2012, April-July)

Nicole König, Presentation on “The Arab Spring: Testing the EU’s Crisis Response Capacity” at the COMOS Conference on “From Arab Spring to European Fall: die EU in Zeiten der Krise”, 4 May 2012, Nice

Andreas Raspotnik, Paper presented: “The Future of Arctic Shipping along the Transpolar Sea Route” at the 3rd Annual “Geopolitics in the High North” Conference, 23 – 25 May 2012, at Stiftung für Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) Berlin

Andreas Raspotnik, Discussant in the Session on “Shipping and Transport: EU Interests and Governance Challenges” at the 3rd Annual “Geopolitics in the High North” Conference, 23 – 25 May 2012, at Stiftung für Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) Berlin

Andreas Raspotnik, Participant Calotte Academy 2012 – a travel symposium in Rovaniemi (Finland), Kiruna (Sweden) and Tromsø (Norway), 27 May – 4 June 2012; Paper presented “The Future of Arctic Shipping along the Transpolar Sea Route“

Marco Siddi: “Bystander in its neighbourhood? The European Union’s involvement in protracted conflicts in the post-Soviet space“, IEP Policy Papers on Eastern Europe and Central Asia, No. 1/2012, Institut für Europäische Politik Berlin

Marco Siddi: “No settlement without a proactive policy: the European Union and the secessionist conflicts in the post-Soviet space“, IEP Policy Brief on Enlargement and Neighbourhood, No. 5/2012, Institut für Europäische Politik Berlin

Simon Stroß: Conference “The European Union in International Affairs III”, 3-5 May 2012, Vrije Universiteit Brussels – Paper presented: “Programming financial instruments post-Lisbon: The European External Action Service and the new institutional architecture of EU external action”

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Institut für Europäische Politik, Berlin

Differentiation instead of „one size fits all“ – New impulses for the European Neighbourhood Policy

Editors Prof. Dr. Tanja A. Börzel, Director of the Center for European Integration and head of the Kolleg-Forschergruppe (KFG) „The Transformative Power of Europe”, Freie Universität Berlin, and Dr. …

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Institute for International Relations (IMO)

Snježana Ivanović, Informacijski izvori iz međunarodnih odnosa i međunarodna integracija Hrvatske (Information sources in the field of international relations and international integration of Croatia), Zagreb, Institute for International Relations, June 2012 The purpose of the booCover IMO publication, Information sources in the field of international relations and international integration of Croatiak, published in Croatian language, is to stress the need for good information sources in the field of international relations and to evaluate the role of libraries in both building the information and open democratic societies. Namely, only well informed citizens can actively participate in the political process, not leaving that task exclusively to political decision makers and epistemic communities. The book promotes the idea that it is necessary for the users in Croatia to get most of relevant information related to international relations, and particularly its political aspect, from a single point of access. Such access to digital information sources on the Internet is possible only by creating a vertical portal, i.e. vortal. Starting from the comparative analysis of the examples of good practice in the world, the book focuses on the elaboration of a vortal of international relations within the library of the Institute for International Relations (IMO), Zagreb.

Sanja Tišma, Ana-Maria Boromisa and Ana Pavičić Kaselj, Environmental Finance and Development, London and New York, Routledge, May 2012 Cover IMO Environmental Finance and DevelopmentThe book Environmental Finance and Development, authored by IMO researchers Sanja Tišma, Ana-Maria Boromisa and Ana Pavičić Kaselj, has been published in the Routledge Studies in Ecological Economics Series. This book focuses on environmental financing in the process of alignment with the EU. Based on a comparative analysis of national environmental strategies and financial needs, and their links with strategic development documents in five selected countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey), the book identifies major achievements and remaining challenges in the main areas of environmental regulation: nature protection, water, waste, air and climate change. For each area the same concept is applied: the current situation is presented, followed by an overview of institutional and legal frameworks. The division of competences between actors at the same or at different levels is addressed, costs of implementation are estimated and possible sources of financing identified. The analysis shows that a significant role in the decision making related to financing environmental protection has: (i) commercial value of environmental infrastructure necessary for services; (ii) issue of affordability; (iii) price setting mechanisms; (iv) risks for investors and creditors; and (v) policy stability and predictability.

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Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)

Finnish Journal of Foreign Affairs The latest issue of Finnish Journal of Foreign Affairs (Ulkopolitiikka-lehti) was published in early June. It takes a look at the ecological boundaries of our planet and looks for possible plan B’s in the fight against climate change: what ought to be done if greenhouse gas emission reductions fail? The journal also introduces the Swedish statistics wizard Hans Rosling, and visits Iceland to see how the island state is making its way up after the financial crash.

All FIIA publications can be downloaded from the institute’s website. The most recent FIIA publications include:

• FIIA Working Papers 74-75

Marlene Gottwald,Humanizing security? The EU’s responsibility to protect in the Libyan crisis,

• FIIA Briefing Papers 103-110

Timo Korkeamäki, The corporate benefits of the euro: Finnish companies cannot live without a common currency

Teija Tiilikainen,On the road to a true Economic and Monetary Union? The challenges of fiscal federalism and democratic legitimacy

Stefan Meister, An alienated partnership: German-Russian relations after Putin’s return

Juha Jokela & Kaisa Korhonen, A Eurosceptic big bang: Finland’s EU policy in hindsight of the 2011 elections

Hanna Ojanen & Barbara Zanchetta,Turkey and the Iranian nuclear programme: Key to progress in regional disarmament?

Marikki Stocchetti, Ripe and ready for Rio+20? The UN conference on sustainable development and the European Union

Antto Vihma & Harro van Asselt, Great expectations: Understanding why the UN climate talks seem to fail

Kristi Raik, A rocky road towards Europe: The prospects for the EU’s Eastern Partnership Association Agreements

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The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA)

Patrick Keatinge and Ben Tonra, European Security in the 21st Century, 25 April 2012. In this analytical paper published by the IIEA, Professors Patrick Keatinge and Ben Tonra examine the origins of the current security environment in Europe, trace some of the major conceptual debates associated with the recent evolution, describe the multilateral institutional framework and, finally, comment on the contribution of Ireland. Professors Patrick Keatinge and Ben Tonra are two of Ireland’s foremost academics in this field. The paper launches the IIEA European Security and Defence Series, and offers a broad outline of the policy sector as a whole as an introduction to the series. The series will continue over the coming months with further briefing papers and factsheets on specific aspects of European security and defence policy. The paper can be downloaded here.

Gina Hanrahan, Cyprus to Assume EU Presidency at a Critical Moment, 14 June 2012. This report outlines the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will begin on 1 July 2012. It follows a keynote address by the European Affairs Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Andreas Mavroyiannis, at the IIEA on 13 June. The report can be read here.

IIEA, The Stability Treaty Ratification Map. On 31 May 2012, the Irish people voted in a referendum on whether or not to opt in to the Fiscal Stability Treaty, an intergovernmental agreement signed by 25 of the 27 EU Member States. In the period leading to the referendum, the IIEA ran a high-impact information campaign, creating a suite of visually appealing and information-rich materials designed to help inform the public and policymakers about the content of the Stability Treaty and its implications for Ireland and Europe. The Stability Treaty Ratification Map is one of the innovative infographics of this information campaign that remains relevant after the votes have been cast. It visually tracks the timeline and method of ratification for each of the twenty-five signatories. It will be updated regularly as the ratification process proceeds. The IIEA Stability Treaty Ratification Map can be viewed here.

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Elcano Royal Institute

William Chislett, Country’s fall from grace is greatly exaggerated, Opinion – 12 June 2012

Federico Steinberg, A bail-out that leaves questions unanswered, Opinion – 11 June 2012 Good strategists know that it is risky to have to fronts open at the same time while in a state of internal weakness. That is why the Euro Zone, which is at its darkest hour, has decided to close the Spanish front in order to focus on the Greek one, which could open up again after the elections on 17 June.

Federico Steinberg,Saving the Euro requires a great leap forward in political integration, Opinion – 11 June 2012 Ever since the Greek crisis broke out, Germany has been mulling over a plan for the Euro Zone. It saw the chance to build the strong and federal Europe it had always yearned for by making use of its economic power and influence over the ECB to ensure that aid for hard-pressed countries would only be made available in exchange for greater transfers of sovereignty.

Federico Steinberg and Miguel Otero-Iglesias, Reframing the euro vs. dollar debate through the perceptions of financial elites in key dollar-holding countries (*), 7 June 2012 This paper proposes a theoretically-informed and empirically-grounded cognitive approach to analyse how financial elites from China, the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Brazil interpret the euro vs. dollar debate.

William Chislett, The Rise of Spain’s International Presence, por/by William Chislett, 21 May 2012 Written by William Chislett, this document forms part of “Spain’s Global Presence and Company Brands Atlas” which will be published by the Leading Brands of Spain Forum in the autumn.

Jorge Blázquez and José María Martín-Moreno, Emerging Economies and the New Energy Security Agenda (ARI), ARI 33/2012 – 27 April 2012 The influence of the emerging economies on the energy markets is becoming as important as that of the developed economies. The new energy security agenda to be implemented in the coming years will have to deal with this scenario.

Gonzalo Escribano, Ecuador’s Energy Policy Mix: Development, Conservation and Nationalism with Chinese Loans (ARI), ARI 26/2012 – 17 April 2012 Ecuador’s energy policy faces a complex variety of political and economic objectives that are difficult to reconcile in a consistent manner.

Mario Kölling and Cristina Serrano Leal, Austerity vs Stimulus: The MFF 2014-20’s Role in Stimulating Economic Growth and Job Creation (ARI), ARI 24/2012 – 12 April 2012 The negotiation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-20 is a crucial feature on the EU agenda for the next few months.

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Sciences Po, Centre d’études européennes

All the new publications of the CEE team on the website

Pierre Lascoumes and Patrick Le Galès, Sociologie de l’action publique, (2e édition), Paris, Armand Colin, May 2012

Olivier Rozenberg and Shane Martin (eds), The roles and Function of Parliamentary Questions, Routledge, “Library of legislative studies”, April 2012

Adrian Favell, Before and After Superflat: A Short History of Japanese Contemporary Art 1990-2011, Blue Kingfisher Limited, April 2012

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Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)

Andrea Colombo and E. Greco, Pa Politica estera dell’Italia. Edizione 2012, Bologna: Il Mulino, 2012

Michele Comelli, The Image of Crisis-Ridden Europe and the Division Between Creditor and Debtor Countries: The Case of Italy, IAI Working Paper 12/17, June 2012

Michele Comelli (ed.), “Focus sulle Relazioni Transatlantiche” n. 9, novembre 2011-marzo 2012, Osservatorio di Politica internazionale, Camera dei Deputati, Senato della Repubblica, Ministero degli Affari Esteri.

Andrea Dessì, Israel and the Palestinians After the Arab Spring: No Time for Peace, IAI Working Paper 12/16, May 2012

Daniela Huber, “Mixed Signals” Still? The EU’s Democracy and Human Rights Policy Since the Outbreak of the Arab Spring,

Marilisa Lorusso, The 2012 Armenian Parliamentary Elections: Implications for Armenian Foreign Policy, IAI Working

Rossela Marangio, The Somali Crisis: Failed State and International Interventions, IAI Working Paper, 12/15, May 2012

Giordano Merlicco, La missione in Afganistan e le tappe per il ritiro (Usa, Francia, Canada e Bahrein), Osservatorio di Politica Internazionale, Note, n. 34 – Aprile 2012

Maria Cristina Paciello, The Political Economy of Youth Exclusion in the Mediterranean: Continuity or Change?, Poinions on the Mediterranean, IAI, June 2012

Nicolo Sartori, Politica europea dell’energia: il Corridoio Sud, Osservatorio di Politica Internazionale, n. 56 – giugno 2012,

Nathalie Tocci, Elena Maestri, Soli Özel and Serhat Güvenç, Ideational and Material Power in the Mediterranean. The Role of Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council, Mediterranean Paper Series 2012, IAI-GMF, June 2012

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Swedish Institute of International Affairs

Jan Joel Andersson and Erik Brattberg, “NATO-toppmötet 2012” ” UI Brief 12, Stockholm: Swedish Institute of International Affairs, 2012.

Erik Brattberg and Per Augustsson, “What Makes the Nordic-Baltic Region So Interesting to the U.S.?” in Volker, Kurt and Kupche, Ieva (eds.) Nordic-Baltic-American Cooperation: Shaping the U.S.-European Agenda, Washington, DC: Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins University, 2012.

Björn Fägersten, Swedish EU leadership or why beggars can’t be choosers, ECFR blog, 2 March 2012.

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News from outside the TEPSA network

Call for Contributions on the cultural component of citizenship

The Access to Culture Platform WG on Audience Participation, to which belong the European Academy of Yuste Foundation, is pleased to announce its call for research for a publication entitled: The Cultural Component of Citizenship: an Inventory of Challenges. Practical and theoretical research, conference presentations, interviews or any relevant contributions are welcome. The publication aims to be as …Read online.

Open Consultations of the European Commission

TEPSA would like to draw your attention to the following open consultation.

An open consultation has been voiced by the Directorate-General for Informatics (DIGIT) on “the 2013 EU Citizenship Report “EU citizens – Your rights, your future”. This public consultation by the European Commission is aimed at all EU citizens and organisations. It wants to know …

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