This diploma thesis examines with the Dutch attitude towards enlargement of the European Union. In Netherlands the EU enlargement is a politically sensitive issue. Dutch foreign policy is traditionally closely connected with the concept of "merchant and the vicar", reflecting both values of the society and national interests. Interestingly the attitude of the government, reflecting the public opinion, is much more conservative compared to other member states and strictly support the democratic conditionality as the core strategy of the EU to induce candidate states to comply with its human rights and democracy standards. Netherlands gives also special value to the need to give particular regards to the current absorption capacity of EU. The main purpose of the thesis is to evaluate to what extent is the official attitude of the Dutch government towards enlargement shaped by either interests or values of the society as a whole. I put the current Dutch attitude in the context of the current development in Serbia, as the most significant candidate state form the region of Western Balkans and Iceland. The thesis analyses two very similar cases: the cooperation with the ICTY in Hague and the Icesave dispute. Netherlands has long and persistently blocked the accession negotiations with Iceland and...

Emulsions, comprising dispersed oil or water droplets stabilized by surfactants, are widely employed across industries. However, conventional surfactants raise environmental concerns, and emulsions may encounter stability challenges during storage. A promising alternative lies in Pickering emulsions, where particles adhere irreversibly at the water-oil interface, providing enhanced stability. Recent research explores the use of natural bio-based particles as interfacial stabilizers for creating Pickering emulsions, offering improved stability and environmental friendliness. This significant change towards particle-stabilized emulsions addresses sustainability and efficacy concerns. This dissertation investigates the application of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) in stabilizing Pickering emulsions for the development of functional microcapsules with diverse applications. A novel CNF aerogel with a hierarchical pore structure was developed using n-hexane-CNF oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions as templates. These hollow microcapsule-based CNF (HM-CNF) aerogels demonstrated high oil absorption capacities of 354 grams per gram for chloroform and 166 grams per gram for n-hexadecane, without requiring hydrophobic modifications, highlighting their potential as environmentally sustainable and high-performance oil absorbents. Further, the research explored the microencapsulation of n-hexadecane, an organic phase change material (PCM), within a hybrid shell of CNFs and chitin nanofibers (ChNFs). This method significantly improved the thermal stability of the encapsulated n-hexadecane, with maximum weight loss temperatures increasing from 184 degrees Celsius to 201 degrees Celsius with ChNF loading. The char yield also increased with ChNF content, indicating enhanced thermal degradation resistance. These emulsions demonstrated stability in various ionic solutions and elevated temperatures, showcasing their potential for applications such as thermal energy storage, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, the dissertation examined stable water-in-oil (W/O) inverse Pickering emulsions using TEMPO-treated cellulose nanofibrils (TCNF). These emulsions, stabilized by TCNF-oleylamine complexes, exhibited droplet sizes ranging from 27 micrometers to 8 micrometers depending on TCNF concentration. They maintained stability under varying pH, ionic strength, and temperature conditions and demonstrated the encapsulation of water-soluble components like phytic acid, highlighting their versatility for diverse encapsulation applications. Overall, the research presents significant advancements in the utilization of CNF-stabilized Pickering emulsions, employing them as templates for fabricating aerogels and microcapsules. This approach enhances oil absorption, thermal stability, and encapsulation capabilities, offering eco-friendly solutions for diverse applications.

La qualité de vie au travail est une tendance RH, fréquemment abordée dans des situations incertaines pour faire face au changement. Elle peut être définie comme une multitude de connexions positives qui engendrent de meilleures relations professionnelles et interprofessionnelles. L’action sur le volet qualité de vie au travail permettrait une meilleure relation et coordination entre donneurs d’ordres et sous-traitants et engendrerait ainsi une meilleure performance. Comment les donneurs d’ordres parviennent à faire déployer la qualité de vie au travail chez leurs sous-traitants ? La réponse constitue le fil conducteur de l’exploration empirique. En effet, une étude de cas pilote auprès du groupe Orange permet de faire émerger les difficultés de ce déploiement. Cette thèse propose des solutions dont un modèle inductif basé sur un échange approfondi avec Orange et ses partenaires pour un déploiement facilité favorisant la participation des sous-traitants. Deux autres études de cas complémentaires permettent d’approfondir les attentes des sous-traitants et les objectifs des donneurs d’ordres. Les résultats démontrent qu’à travers la théorie de la coordination relationnelle les donneurs d’ordres pourraient, (au lieu de déployer la qualité de vie au travail), co-construire et associer les sous-traitants à la mise en œuvre des différentes démarches qui permettent l’instauration des relations positives au travail et que les deux partenaires devraient tendre vers le Knowledge Orientation Management. / The quality of work life is an HR trend, frequently discussed in uncertain situations to deal with change. It can be defined as a multitude of positive connections that create better professional and interprofessional relationships. The action on quality of work life allows better relation between contractors and subcontractors which result in better performance. How donors of orders manage to deploy quality of work life among their subcontractors? The answer is the thread of the empirical exploration. Indeed, a pilot case study with the Orange group helps develop the difficulties of deployment. This thesis offers solutions including a theoretical model based on a through exchange with Orange and its partners which present a simplified implementation with the active participation of subcontractors.Two other complementary case studies help to deepen the expectations of subcontractors and objectives of contractors. The results show that through the theory of relational coordination, contractors could ( instead of deploying the quality of work life ), co- build and involve subcontractors in the implementation of the different approaches allowing the establishment of positive relationships at work and that both partners should aim to Orientation Knowledge Management.