Rudolf Fürst, Filip Tesař, China’s Comeback in Former Eastern Europe: No Longer Comrades, Not Yet Strategic Partners, the Institute of International Relations, 24 June 2014
New publication edited by sinologist Rudolf Fürst and his colleague Filip Tesař focuses on the relations among China and the states of so called “B-grade group” of the 16 post-communist states inside the EU. Their mutual dialogue perhaps cannot evolve into the kind of sophisticated sectoral dialogue with China that already exists on the EU-PRC partnership level; but still, their new 1+16 format for better ties with China is a new opportunity. In China the European post-communist transformation was under-researched and ideologized, and thus, the diversity and value of the non-western European regions may receive a new review and a new appreciation from China.
Anes Makul, Can the European Public Block the Enlargement to the Western Balkans?, policy paper, the Institute of International Relations, 10 October 2014
Although a European perspective was granted to the Western Balkan states during the European Council summit in Thessaloniki in 2003, the majority of European citizens, according to the Eurobarometer opinion poll, did not support further EU enlargement in 2013. The author, from a pro-enlargement position, cautiously asks, “Is there a danger that the ‘pressure’ of public opinion will help to postpone a further enlargement for much longer than ‘only’ a five year period, or even block it forever?” And what is the answer? Read policy paper by Anes Makul.
Tomáš Dopita, How Should We Deal with the Discrimination and Dysfunction in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Towards a New European Approach, policy paper, the Institute of International Relations, 1 October 2014
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s internal structure is regarded as discriminatory and dysfunctional. The process of European integration is stalled there. There is an urgent need to increase both the top-down and the bottom-up pressure on the local politicians so that they would pursue the necessary reforms. The top-down pressure on the country’s politicians can be enhanced by a rationalisation of external institutional relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, namely by the closure of the Office of the High Representative. The bottom-up pressure on the local political representatives can be improved through societal integration in everyday life. Also, the current trend of the disintegration of common institutions and material structures needs to be countered. The country’s societal integration should be nurtured by improving the means for common education, cargo and transport, private business and enterprise, agricultural production, and trade.