This master thesis is devoted to the cement industry and its relation to the infrastructure development in selected countries of Central Europe. The aim is to analyse cement industries and markets in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Austria and compare these markets with the infrastructure development in aforemetioned countries. The first chapter defines cement industry and infrastructure. The second chapter focuses on the evolution and contemporary state of cement industries in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Austria. The third chapter devotes itself to infrastructure and its development in Europe and Central European states. The last chapter combines data from second and third chapter and answers the main research question.

In the following dissertation I seek to highlight some of the key aspects to defence cooperation in the region of Central Europe. The neorealist paradigm will be the guiding foundation through which I will explore the present circumstances and the potential for further alignment on cooperation. I aim to explore whether aspects of reality correspond to the expectations of neorealist paradigm in the small states of Central Europe. I have chosen to focus my dissertation on small state security because of its unique nature. Cooperation is a way for small states to be heard, and a way for them to shape policy. By working together, small states could increase the relative power they have within the system. They would also be able to avoid some of the expensive and potentially ineffective overlapping of military resources which exist in the European context. Budget cuts in the last few years have reduced the resources allocation of most military operations and therefore countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, already operating under limited resources, are faced with even more restrictions. Despite factors which encourage the creation of joint-military structures, the small states of Central Europe continue to maintain their own military presence. The sovereignty of the state is tied in...

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This dissertation provides an ethnographic account of contemporary Opavian Silesian identity (or identities) and its negotiations. In particular, it is concerned with the question of how Silesian identity is being negotiated by various social actors in and between the town of Opava and the neighbouring area of Hlučín, which together comprise the tourist region of Opavian Silesia. In focusing on Opava and the Hlučín area, inhabited by Opavians and Hlučíns respectively, I not only explore the internal constitution of a group and analyse its narrative accounts, but also pay special attention to the social organisation of the differences between these two groups. The aim of this project is not to address the question of whether Silesian identity exists objectively, which is taken for granted by the majority of scholars working on Silesian identity do, but rather to explore how various social actors negotiate and utilise the concept, including these scholars themselves. I start from the premise that identities are relational, situational, and instrumental, and throughout the dissertation I focus on the groups' external and internal contestations, exploring the ways in which various social actors try to overcome these differences. The present negotiations over Silesian identity have proved to be problematic in all their temporalities, as they relate to issues in the past, the present and possibly the future. I therefore investigate how certain versions of the past are being reconstructed and negotiated in the present, how these versions inform and reflect on the present, and the possible implications of this for the future. I consider competing representations of Silesian-ness and competing reconstructions of the past that are related to it through the theoretical framework of 'dominant v. demotic discourses' and 'difficult heritage', focusing on commemoration practices, tourism, the politics of display, and hierarchies of knowledge.

This thesis provides a description of the market for maritime container transport with a focus on container imbalances in Central Europe. Based on secondary literature, statistics and interviews, the current situation of global maritime trade and existing challenges for shipping lines is presented. In the second part, particular characteristics of the Central European market are introduced. Besides a detailed description of the infrastructure for container transports to and from this region, challenges and strategies considered by shipping lines are presented. It is highlighted that the export orientation of Germany and Austria and the import orientation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia have certain implications for the regional transport market. A real-life business case highlights existing problems, especially connected to the internal setup of ocean carriers which do not exploit all potentials of cross-border cooperation.

Many of the 10 Central European candidate member countries for EU accession entered into the transition period with strongly undervalued exchange rates to stimulate exports and protect domestic industries. However, this policy was not maintained. During 1993-1995 real currency appreciation increased competitive pressure by foreign firms. To protect domestic firms governments applied high third country tariffs, temporary import taxes, and numerous administrative barriers to trade. As countervailing pressure by the EU and the USA increased and current account deficits soared in 1996 and 1997, the CE-10 more and more brought exchange rate policies in line with the changes in purchasing power parity. However, petty protection and harassment of importers prevails. (author's abstract) / Series: EI Working Papers / Europainstitut

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This diploma thesis is devoted to the spermatogenesis of long living water bug species ?water cricket (Velia caprai). Spermatogenesis of nymphs of the fifth instaru, adults of defined age (from 1 up to 60 days after the ecdysis) and also the adults caught in the field of unknown age before - and after the hibernation were studied by histological methods. It was discovered that spermatogenesis of this species is in progress continuously. Even the nymphs of the 5th instar already had spermatids presented and the adult males disposed of spermatozoans just one day after the ecdysis. The presence of all the spermatogenesis cell types (spermatogonia, primary and secondary spermatocytes, spermatids and sperms) was confirmed in the case of male adults of various age ? younger after ecdysis as well as older including males after hibernation. Semiaquatic bug Velia caprai has not typical testes in comparison with most of Insects. They are formed by just one testicular follicle which is wider than longer. The follicle´s top is not distinctly formed; the germanium is located in the middle of the follicle´s wider part which is across from the testicle´s orifice to vas deferens. This anomalous position of germarium represents the original apex of testicular follicle in this species.

This thesis presents results of the histological study of oogenesis in the nymphs of 5th instar, variously aged adult females of known age and adult females of Velia caprai ((Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Veliidae) of unknown age that were collected in the field. Oogonia in the germarium and the first oocytes that are forming in previtellarium were observed in the nymphs of the 5th instar. Their vitellarium is empty. The first vitellogenetic oocytes appear in vitellarium of ovarioles at 7 days old adult females. Oocytes in advanced stage of vitellogenesis were observed at 25 days old adult females. The secretion of chorion starts at 42 days old adult females. Advanced stage of oogenesis (fully chorionated eggs) was found at 60 days old adult females, at adult females collected in the field, during the period September ? November (2009), and at adult females after overwintering. Females of Velia caprai reach sexual maturity before overwintering, their eggs can be fertilized by spermatozoa from own spermatheca. These females can lay eggs from autumn to the spring. After reaching sexual maturity of adult females, oogenesis of this species seems to be continual.

Energy resources mean an important aspect of GDP of the Russian Federation. Most of these strategic commodities consumed in the EU have originated in Russia. The aim of the thesis is to assess the mutual relations between the EU and Russia in terms of energy trading with important raw materials with focus on Central Europe. The first chapter deals with various energy sources and their importance for the EU and thenthrough a common EU energy policy. The middle section is devoted to EU-Russia relations in energy and pipelines connecting both sides. The final section assesses the Union from the perspective of energy security and provides other alternatives forenergy production.