scholarly journals The Visegrád Group as a Vehicle for Promoting National Interests in the European Union: The Case of the Czech Republic

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Neuman
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
The European Union ◽  
National Interests ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Eu Foreign Policy ◽  
Council Presidency ◽  
Group Member ◽  
Visegrad Group

Abstract This contribution asks whether sub-regional integration projects such as the Visegrád Group may be understood as mechanisms for pursuing one Group member’s national interests while it stands at the European Union’s helm. I assess this question based on the case of the first Visegrád Group member to assume the EU Council presidency: the Czech Republic. Examining three specific policy areas – the reinvention of the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood policy; the strengthening of EU energy security; and the incorporation of a stronger human rights and external democratisation approach into EU foreign policy – this case study presents a mixed picture. It confirms the potential of the Visegrád Group to be a vehicle for furthering the national preferences of one Group member while it holds the rotating EU Council presidency. Whether or not this potential is fully realised will depend primarily on the degree to which the interests of the four Visegrád countries converge.

scholarly journals I Do It My Way: Analysis of the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-48
Author(s):  
Johana Galušková ◽  
Petr Kaniok
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Principal Agent ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Sociological Institutionalism ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Critical Junctures ◽  
Variable Character ◽  
Council Presidency

Abstract This article analyses development of the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union (PermRep) from 2004, when the Czech Republic joined the European Union, until 2013. Its main aim is to test four concepts related to the three neoinstitutionalist theories – firstly, the path dependency and critical junctures models related to the historical neo-institutionalism, secondly principal-agent relation typical for the rational neo-institutionalism and the concept of the logic of appropriateness related to the sociological institutionalism. The authors try to determine which of these four models have the best explanatory potential when it comes to the development of the Czech PermRep. After analysing three independent variables (changes in executive, EU Council Presidency, EU strategies), and their impact on the dependent variable (character of the Czech PermRep), the authors conclude that particularly historical institutionalism and sociological institutionalism models have the greatest explanatory power while the contribution of rational institutionalism model of principal-agent is relatively weak.

scholarly journals Struktury rolne i produktywność rolnictwa w Grupie Wyszehradzkiej

2017 ◽  
Vol 17(32) (1) ◽  
pp. 152-160
Author(s):  
Arkadiusz Piwowar
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
European Union ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Visegrad Group ◽  
Agrarian Structure

The main objective of the study was a comparative analysis of the diversity of the agrarian structure and the productivity of land and labour in the Visegrad Group countries. Additionally, the importance of the Visegrad Group in the European Union was analysed in relation to the size of the production of selected crops and livestock as well as the population and cast of cattle and pigs. According to the conducted analyses, the highest productivity of land among the countries of the Visegrad Group was shown in the years under study by Poland and Hungary (over EUR 600 / ha AL), while the highest dynamics of the growth rate of this parameter - by Slovakia (almost two-fold increase in 2010-2013). Taking into account labour productivity, it should be emphasized, that the greatest labour productivity characterized farms in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Central Banks of the Visegrad Group States in the Light of Constitutional Regulations

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martyna Wilmanowicz-Słupczewska ◽  
Maciej Serowaniec ◽  
Jacek Wantoch-Rekowski
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Political System ◽  
Central Banks ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Central European ◽  
Original Presentation ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Visegrad Group

Abstract The Visegrad Group is a regional form of cooperation of four Central European states, i.e. Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The above states have been members of the European Union since 2004. What is more, the Visegrad Group is recognized as an alliance and forum for exchanging experiences and developing common positions on matters of particular importance for the future of the region and the European Union. The constitutional provisions of the Visegrad Group states regarding the legal and constitutional status of a central bank were analysed and compared on the basis of analogies and differences. Importantly, today central banks play a significant role in the socio-economic and political system of a state. In particular, the article contains an innovative approach to the subject by comparing the subject matter from the perspective of constitutional regulations. The considerations are based on both the literature of scientific representatives and constitutional regulations, creating a complete and original presentation of the issue.

scholarly journals The Eurosceptical and Autonomous Discourses on the Process of European Integration of the Czech Republic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Poveda
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Communist Party ◽  
Democratic Party ◽  
The European Union ◽  
National Interests ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Eu

The peculiarities of the attitude of the two leading Czech political parties regarding the process of European integration through the prism of the effectiveness of the protection of national interests at the supranational level are analyzed in the given article. While conducting this study, it was revealed, that once it became clear that accession to the European Union would inevitably require certain national concessions from the Czech Republic, the leading Civic Democratic Party began to declare an increasingly Eurosceptic position. Gradually, EU membership was considered by it only through the prism of realizing the economic interests of the country. Civic Democrats have become even more vigorous opponents of deepening European integration and have strongly opposed the adoption of a common EU Constitution and federalization and have opposed any attempt to alienate part of national sovereignty in favor of the EU, since the Czech Republic joined the European Union. The author emphasizes that the disapproval by CDP of further European integration is explained by the historical fears of many Czechs, who are convinced that the development of the EU in a federal direction is in line with German interests and aspirations to dominate in Europe. The author also stresses on the fact, that the anti-German attitude of the Civic Democrats stems from the history of relations between two nations which have never been friendly and is explained by fears about further economic expansion of Germany in the Czech Republic. It was found that the discourse of Czech Communists on European integration is quite autonomous, because, in contrast to the CDP (and in general to all other parliamentary parties of the country), which although remains critical of the EU, but it does not question the Czech Republic membership in the European Union, the Communist Party does not consider any prospects for the functioning of the EU at all, and it does not consider the expediency of Czech Prepublic membership in it. Key words: Czech Republic; European integration; Civic Democratic Party; Communist Party of the Czech Republic and Moravia; Euroscepticism; Autonomist discourse.

The phenomenon of Visegrad Interaction in the context of Central European transformation

2021 ◽  
pp. 23-32
Author(s):  
Liubov N. Shishelina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Central Europe ◽  
Mutual Understanding ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Central European ◽  
Road Map ◽  
Visegrad Group

In this chapter, the author analyzes the evolution of the Central European / Visegrad idea, its role in the formation of an intellectual opposition, the implementation of reforms, and the current authority of the Visegrad Group within the European Union and beyond. Three decades after the “Velvet” revolutions, the Visegrad Group has proven itself the most successful project of Central European transformation. An important role in this was played by the almost complete mutual understanding between the politicians behind the first wave of transformations, who were leading Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic at the most important stages of the formation of the Visegrad Group. The European Union's road map for transformation has also contributed to this. The Visegrad Group, while not without problems, has fulfilled its historical mission. It has managed to realise the centuries-long dream of the region: it has brought to life the myth of an equal and just Central Europe.

scholarly journals Do the Subsidies Help the Young Farmers? The Case Study of the Czech Republic

2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-262
Author(s):  
Marie Šimpachová Pechrová ◽  
Ondřej Šimpach
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Tax Relief ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
Farm Transfer ◽  
On Farm

To ensure the generation renewal in the European Union there are subsidies for setting up of young farmers’ businesses and the retirement scheme and top-up direct payments. In the Czech Republic are provided subsides to interest rates with preference of young farmers and intergenerational succession of the farm is tax-free. Together with other incentives, those factors shall facilitate enter of young people to the sector. The aim of the paper is to assess whether the policy measures help the young farmers with setting-up of their business. Based on the primary survey on 510 young Czech farmers the most motivating for enter the sector were tax relief on transfer of the holding and top-up payment for young farmers. The farmers without background considered as sufficiently motivating the top-up payments more often than those with certain background who acknowledged more the top-up subsidies. Possible way how to facilitate the enter to the sector could be to keep the tax relief on farm transfer, to combine the measures for retirement and setting up of young farmers and provide investment subsidies or financial instruments for start-up. Top-up payments, despite motivational according to the farmers, are criticized as inefficient.

scholarly journals Central Europe in the Pandemic Era: First Economic Results

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 92-101
Author(s):  
A. Chetverikova
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Foreign Trade ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
World Order ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Trade Relations ◽  
Visegrad Group ◽  
Visegrád Countries

The article analyzes the response of the Visegrad Group countries to the 2020 pandemic. Measures are outlined that were taken by Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to support their economies, including efforts to stabilize labour markets and measures for several most affected sectors. The author assesses the main economic indicators of the Visegrad countries during the first half of 2020 in the light of the consequences of imposed restrictive measures. The reaction of the Visegrad economies to the pandemic correlates with the pan-European reaction. Special attention is paid to the condition of the foreign trade sector of the “four” members, which plays an important role in their economies. The dynamic of foreign trade relations of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic with the European Union and Russia during the pandemic is analyzed. Mutual trade flows within the Visegrad Group are evaluated in the light of opportunities to compensate downturns in other markets. Possible prospects for the development of the Visegrad Group after the pandemic are considered. The existing forecasts of the Group’s countries development are analyzed. The factors influencing the recovery process in the Visegrad countries are given. The consequences of COVID 19 will affect many sectors of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which will not be able to cope with them without the EU support. Realization of opportunities including the emergence of more innovative elements in their economies that meet the challenges of the 21st century, will also depend on the members of the Visegrad Group themselves. Acknowledgements. The article was prepared within the project “Post-crisis world order: challenges and technologies, competition and cooperation” supported by the grant from Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation program for research projects in priority areas of scientific and technological development (Agreement № 075-15-2020-783).

scholarly journals Income and Poverty in Households in Selected European Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (345) ◽  
pp. 7-25
Author(s):  
Malgorzata Teresa Ćwiek ◽  
Paweł Ulman
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Czech Republic ◽  
Income Distribution ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Income Poverty ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Visegrad Group

Incomes of population and poverty are key elements of the EU cohesion policy which aims at reducing disparities between the levels of development of individual regions. The traditionally appropriate study to evaluate the convergence of the Member States is the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU‑SILC). However, this is not the only source of information on income distribution and social inclusion in the European Union. In this article, the basis for calculations are the results of the fourth European Quality of Life Surveys (EQLS), whose purpose is to measure both objective and subjective indicators of the standard of living of citizens and their households. The aim of the paper is to assess the diversity of distributions of household incomes and the level of income poverty due to the selected socio‑demographic characteristics of the respondent or household in selected European countries in two periods: 2007 and 2016. Countries of the Visegrad Group (Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) were selected for the analysis, along with the Weimar Triangle (Poland, Germany, and France). Such a selection allowed us to compare the financial situation of households in Western Europe with those in Central and Eastern Europe. Poland becomes a natural link between all these countries. The article uses modelling methods of income distribution, indicators of distance (overlapping) of distributions and aggregate indicators of the scope, depth and severity of poverty. Those ratios were determined on the basis of the use of relative. In order to ensure comparability of incomes of households with different demographic compositions, the analysis used equivalent incomes. As a result of the preliminary analysis, differences were noted regarding the measured position, variation and asymmetry of equivalent incomes in the studied households. The applied gap measurements showed a significant disparity between the distributions of income in Western European countries (Germany, France) and the countries of the Visegrad Group, but the size of that differentation de creased significantly in 2016 relative to 2007. Important differentiation was also noted in terms of income poverty risk within the Visegrad Group: the highest proportion of households at risk of poverty exists in Poland and the lowest in the Czech Republic.

scholarly journals Rural development in the context of agricultural "green" subsidies: Czech farmers' responses

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 259-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lapka ◽  
E. Cudlínová ◽  
J.S. Rikoon ◽  
M. Pělucha ◽  
V. Kvetoň
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Administrative Procedures ◽  
Environmental Subsidies

The study compares the role of agricultural green subsidies in rural development of the Czech Republic before and after joining the European Union (EU) in 2004. We use the perspective of multifunctional agriculture and contribute to the research on the contemporary trends in Czech agriculture by using the data collected through surveys in 2000 and 2006, as well as 2008 comparative statistical support, to ask if there have been significant changes and improvements in farmers' evaluations of these programs. The empirical case study results show some positive changes connected with the participation in the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). In spite of improvements, farmers continue to cite two primary weaknesses and constraints – administrative procedures and shifting program guidelines – that were evident prior to joining the EU. It can be assumed that the environmental subsidies in the Horizontal Rural Development Plan 2004–2006 have had an effect on the stabilization of the livelihoods of rural inhabitants. In general, there is a positive shift of valuation of the CAP among farmers in the Czech Republic.

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