Multilevel governance or multilevel government?

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 776-783
Author(s):  
Tanja A Börzel
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Multilevel Governance ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Liberal Intergovernmentalism ◽  
The Social ◽  
Societal Actors ◽  
Public Interest Groups ◽  
The Government

The commentary returns to the beginning of the career of multilevel governance as a distinct perspective on the European Union and European integration. At the time, multilevel governance allowed a generation of students to overcome the stylised debates between Liberal Intergovernmentalism and Neofunctionalism on how to best capture the ‘nature of the beast’. At the same time, multilevel governance still privileged the role of public authorities over economic and societal actors. While subsequent studies broadened the focus to include the social partners or public interest groups, Hooghe and Marks have retained their public authority bias. The commentary argues that the focus on multilevel government rather than multilevel governance has increased the scope or applicability of Hooghe and Marks’ approach, both within the European Union and beyond. At the same time, the government bias has prevented the multilevel governance approach from unlocking its full explanatory potential.

Regionalist Parties and the European Union

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuele Massetti ◽  
Arjan H. Schakel
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Political System ◽  
Maastricht Treaty ◽  
Multilevel Governance ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
The Eu

Regionalist parties are political actors that emphasize distinct ethno-territorial identities and interests vis-à-vis those of the entire state, advocating some forms of territorially based self-government in a view to protect, give voice to, and enhance those identities and interests. The tense relationships that these political actors often have with the central institutions leads them, in the European Union (EU) context, to identify the EU as a potential ally in their struggle against the state. Indeed, the EU system of multilevel governance, in which regional governments have obtained a considerable role, is also the result of a combined effect of regionalist parties’ pressure on member states from below and the process of European integration creating a favorable political framework from above. This putative alliance was celebrated, during the 1980s and 1990s, with the Maastricht Treaty representing a pivotal moment for the launch of the vision of a “Europe of the Regions.” However, the EU constitutional reforms of the 2000s (from the Treaty of Nice to the Treaty of Lisbon) fell rather short vis-à-vis regionalist claims, revealing the “illusionary character” of the “Europe of the Regions” idea. Since then, attempts to achieve “Independence in Europe” (through “internal enlargement”) have intensified in regions governed by strong and radical regionalist parties, such as in Catalonia and Scotland. These secessionist attempts have added further strain to an already under-stress EU political system. Indeed, far from acting as an ally of regionalist forces, the EU appears to have straddled between the role of a neutral observer and a supporter of member states’ territorial integrity.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Is Examining the EU and the Member States: The Role of Attitudes and Sociodemographic Factors on Citizens’ Support towards National Policies

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Martín ◽  
Concepción Román
Keyword(s):  
Important Determinant ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Political Support ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Government ◽  
National Governments ◽  
The Eu

During March and April 2020, the European Union (EU) was the center of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many national governments imposed severe lockdown policies to mitigate the health crisis, but the citizens’ support to these policies was unknown. The aim of this paper was to analyze empirically how citizens in the EU have reacted towards the measures taken by the national governments. To this end, a microeconometric model (ordered probit) that explains the citizens’ satisfaction by a number of attitudes and sociodemographic factors was estimated using a wide database formed by 21,804 European citizens in 21 EU countries who responded a survey between 23 April and 1 May 2020. Our results revealed that Spaniards were the least satisfied citizens in comparison with Danes, Irelanders, Greeks, and Croats, who were the most satisfied nationals. The years of education and the social class also played a determinant role. We also found that the most important determinant was the political support to the government, and that those who were more worried by the economy and the protection of individual rights were usually more critical of the measures than those who were more worried by the health consequences.

scholarly journals The role of European funds in developing and sustaining rural entrepreneurship in Romania

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-148
Author(s):  
Florina Răzvanţă Puie
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Local Development ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Rural Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Government

AbstractWith the integration into the European Union (EU) in 2007, growth opportunities have arisen for Romania. In terms of rural area and agriculture, National Rural Development Programs (NRDPs) are implemented, through which funds are granted from the European Union and the Government of Romania, for the economic and social development of the rural area. In this context, entrepreneurial initiatives for rural development have been encouraged, and many SMEs were given the opportunity to be eligible for European funding. The NRDP 2014-2020 continues the efforts for rural development, through strategic objectives, allowing entrepreneurs to implement their business ideas and sustain the development of the rural communities. The paper aims to analyze how the European funding influences the development of rural entrepreneurship in Romania. The study will comprise an analysis of the existing results of the NRDP 2014-2020, referring to annual evaluation indicators of the project implementation (number of jobs created in supported projects, percentage of rural population targeted by local development strategies, etc.). The methodology focuses on interpretation of the latest statistical data from trusted sources, as well as analysis of the official documents and reports (e.g. NRDP 2014-2020 annual report). This paper will contribute with accurate results and discussions concerning the role of EU funds for the rural communities. Also, the study will describe some of the challenges that Romanian rural entrepreneurship still faces after implementation of European funding programs and unresolved issues.

Is the European Union a Pole of Corporate Social Responsibility?

2021 ◽  
pp. 175-198
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Social ◽  
The One ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Development Objectives

This chapter focuses on the analysis of the efforts made by the European Union authorities to encourage companies in the process of promoting sustainable development and involvement in various CSR actions. On the one hand, at the EU level, many regulations provide the general framework for the voluntary development of CSR programs. On the other hand, public institutions are involved in meeting sustainable development objectives set at the European and international levels. The tools are numerous, having a higher degree of adaptability depending on the company size, activities, and origin of the capital. Over time, the concerns of European institutions have intensified and have targeted not only the social responsibility of companies but also of public authorities, which through specific instruments can impose certain conduct on companies. The companies paid particular attention to ensure the communication of the actions taken and the results obtained with different categories of stakeholders.

26. Introduction to EU competition policy

2020 ◽  
pp. 631-640
Author(s):  
Marios Costa ◽  
Steve Peers
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Competition Policy ◽  
Law And Economics ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Basic Principles ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
The Social ◽  
Eu Competition Policy ◽  
Social Market

This chapter examines the competition policy in the European Union (EU), discusses the economics of the social market, and describes the structure and objectives of EU competition provisions and policy. The chapter focuses on Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and covers the basic principles established by Regulation 1/2003. It highlights the decentralisation of the enforcement of competition policy. It also explores policies on competition with third countries. The chapter highlights the complexities that can arise when law and economics interact and reveals the difficult role of the Court of Justice (CJ) to make complex assessments of economics.

15. Introduction to the internal market

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna Woods ◽  
Philippa Watson ◽  
Marios Costa
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Internal Market ◽  
Social Aspect ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Common ◽  
Policy Fields ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter examines the common themes that affect the four freedoms which constitute the internal market in the European Union (EU): the free movement of goods, of people and of capital; and the freedom to provide services. It analyses the relationship between these four freedoms and highlights the role of the Court of Justice (CJ) in defining the freedoms’ scope, particularly as regards the social aspect of these freedoms. The chapter also suggests that these freedoms have operated to limit Member States’ regulatory freedom in wide-ranging policy fields.

scholarly journals Pozycja ustrojowa Prezydenta RP w systemie konstytucyjnym Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej w kontekście członkostwa w Unii Europejskiej

Politeja ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4(61)) ◽  
pp. 257-279
Author(s):  
Anna Budzanowska
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Government Administration ◽  
Head Of State ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Government ◽  
Constitutional System ◽  
Institutional Order

The Constitutional Role of the President of the Republic of Poland in the Context of Membership of the European Union The article presents a synthetic analysis of issues related to the constitutional position of the President of the Republic of Poland in constitutional and institutional order in the context of Poland’s membership in the structures of the European Union. The text mentions the basics of not only legal but also functional elements of the constitutional system. The purpose of this article is also to indicate how much the constitutional model of the executive bodies is sufficient to resolving problematic political issues when there is a particular kind of relationship between the head of state and the government administration.

scholarly journals Consumer Policy in Poland in the Period of Transformation

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-141
Author(s):  
Mira Malczyńska-Biały
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Economic Transformation ◽  
Consumer Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Government Programs ◽  
The Social ◽  
Systemic Transformation ◽  
The Government ◽  
Major Factors

Abstract The article is based on an analysis of Polish and international legal acts, government programs and literature, and aims at presenting the concept and the scope of consumer policy in the period of systemic transformation in Poland. The publication features an analysis of the major factors shaping consumer policy in Poland in the years 1989-2004. Selected international legal acts affecting consumer protection in the years 1989-1997 were also analyzed. Elements of consumer policy present in selected governmental economic programs in the period of transformation were synthesized. It was assumed that consumer policy in the period of systemic transformation indirectly resulted from the economic policy of the government. Its shape was primarily affected by the social and economic transformation occurring since 1989 and the birth of free market economy. The process of adjusting the Polish legislation to the European Union standards, which began in 1991, and subsequent accession to the European Union in 2004 also played an important role.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document