The thesis "Development of Czech social inclusion policies" looks at what factors influenced the development of social inclusion policy, focusing primarily on socially excluded Roma since 1989. In the period after 1989 Czech public and social policy was under influence of many factor including both external ones, resulting from the efforts of the Czech Republic to join the European Union, or later from the membership itself, as well as internal ones, arising from the need to ensure the functioning of the system in a rapidly changing socio-economic conditions. When mapping the development of the policy attention is paid particular to the impacts of the process of European integration and institutional changes that are reflected in the implementation of social inclusion policies. Furthermore, the text seeks to uncover the causes and effects of changes in development of examined policy. Those identifying factors that may be considered essential for the development of Czech social inclusion policies, went from thematic analysis of interviews with experts. Data obtained from respondents are then often supplemented by more detailed information from literature and public policy documents. Changes in the Czech social inclusion policies since 1989 are explained also using theories of Europeanization and the...

Diplomová práce se věnuje analýze azylové a imigrační politiky České republiky a Řecka v kontextu nadnárodní, azylové a imigrační politiky EU, která slouží jako doplněk nadnárodních politik členských zemí. Posuzuje komplexnost daných politik v obou zemích: její vývoj a následné fungování, přičemž důraz je kladen na působení EU na vnitřních struktury obou těchto zemí. Analyzován je primárně vliv na jednání vlád, podobu legislativních zákonů a jejich novelizací a mechanismů pro začleňování cizinců do společnosti. Důraz je kladen primárně na analýzu případu České republiky, druhá vybraná země, Řecko je zvolena jako kontrastní případ země, která je dlouholetým členem EU a disponuje bohatou zkušeností s migračními toky. Práce proto usiluje o možnou komparaci těchto zemí s cílem zjistit, zda by Řecko mohlo být z těchto důvodů možným příkladem v řízení azylové a imigrační politiky. Jednání vlád jsou shrnuta do čtyř zvolených časových rámců: 1993-1996, 1996-2004, 2004-2007, 2007-2015. Práce je zasazena do teoretického rámce konceptu evropeizace a teorie ekonomické migrace, za pomocí kterých jsou vysvětlovány změny ve vnitřních strukturách v ČR a Řecku. Celkový časový rámec práce je ohraničen lety 1993-2015. Klíčová slova: migrační politika EU, Česká republika, Řecko, evropeizace, vláda, cizinci, integrace...

Background: In 2009, the European Union (EU) adopted the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This contributed to an already on-going change amongst the armed forces of the Union. No previous research has examined how the skills required of young officers in the EU are taught at the Basic Officer Education within either Sweden or Austria. Purpose: This thesis examines to what extent the skills needed of young officers in a CSDP-environment are taught during the Basic Officer Educations in Sweden and Austria. The purpose is to conclude if the Swedish and Austrian Basic Officer Educations are complying with the political wills of their respective countries, to adapt their armed forces to the EU and CSDP. Method: The author compares the Swedish and Austrian Basic Officer Education by examining curriculums and syllabuses, as well as conducting expert interviews with officials at the schools and comparing the results. The educations are examined based on how they educated the concept of CSDP and how interoperability and a European culture of defence are promoted. Conclusion: The results show that both Sweden and Austria educate their cadets in the CSDP and take measurements to promote interoperability and a European culture of defence. The results suggest that Austria does so to a further extent. Based on the results, the author suggests increased exchanges, Pooling &amp; Sharing during Basic Officer Education and further developments towards a common European Basic Officer Education. / <p>Erasmus</p>

This thesis explores perceptions and preferences on regional action in EU-related frameworks among regional actors in Western Sweden. Building upon the literature on Europeanisation and the Fusion approach, three dimensions of Europeanisation are clarified and explored– download, upload and crossload – and together with a set of five variables that constitute the Micro Fusion Framework; a comprehensive analytical tool is developed. The thesis analyses the intense debate among the members of West Sweden that took place from 2011 to 2013 that focused on how to functionally organise the regional office in Brussels in order to meet future challenges. Surprisingly, the members eventually decided to terminate their cooperation and close the jointly owned office in Brussels in spite of the fact that it has been widely regarded as successful and effective. Diverging perceptions and preferences is understood in terms of three positions on regional action; a download-, upload- and a coherent oriented position. Finally, the thesis presents the empirical findings and discusses in relation to three fusion scenarios, infusion, defusion and clustered fusion. In terms of Micro Fusion Framework, the dynamics shaping why West Sweden was finally regarded as a dysfunctional arena for regional action are explained by a shift of attention and action among regional actors in Western Sweden that led to pressure for further institutional adaptation in order to meet the demand of how ‘to get the best out of the EU’. Further, this redefinition of how to handle EU-affairs within the upload-oriented position was accompanied by positive attitudes towards the potential to bypass the state and thereby pursue regional priorities directly in Brussels given the compound nature of the EU. In contrast, those regional actors that are found to be more download-oriented often question the benefits of uploading activities in practice and advocate close relations to the state. A coherent oriented position recognises the importance of activities related to both of the vertical dimensions of Europeanisation. / I avhandlingen studeras regionala aktörers uppfattningar och attityder till regionalt handlande i EU-relaterade frågor. För att hantera EU-frågor etableras ofta regionala representationskontor i Bryssel. Ett av de största och framgångsrikaste regionala kontoren i Bryssel var West Sweden som representerade västsvenska kommuner och regioners intressen i EU. År 2011 inleds en intern diskussion bland dess medlemmar om hur kontoret bör utvecklas för att möta nya utmaningar i en föränderlig omvärld. Diskussionerna är intensiva, och något överraskande beslutar dess medlemmar att lägga ned verksamheten ett par år senare. I avhandlingen analyseras diskussionen utifrån ett europeiseringsperspektiv. Med hjälp av en analysram som definierar tre dimensioner av europeiseringsprocesser identifieras tre olika positioner i diskussionen; en download-, upload- respektive sammanhållen position. Det kan vara frestande att förstå West Swedens nedläggning som ett uttryck för att subnationella aktörer ”drar sig tillbaka” och föredrar aktiviteter inom nationalstatens domäner. Avhandlingen argumenterar för att så är inte fallet. Nedläggningen av West Sweden förstås som en konsekvens av ökade spänningar mellan regionala aktörer som anammar ett download- respektive upload-orienterat förhållningssätt.

Plus d’un quart de siècle après la chute du Mur de Berlin, la radicalité des changements politiques et économiques, caractérisés par l’intégration dans l’économie-monde et l’Union européenne, ainsi que par la récente montée du nationalisme, continue à poser des questions quant au devenir de l’espace centre-est européen. Ce contexte amène à appréhender dans ce travail l’effet de ces bouleversements au prisme des villes et de leurs évolutions. Trois forces majeures ayant guidé les transformations en Europe centrale et orientale sont examinées depuis 1989 : l’européanisation, la mondialisation et le changement endogène – relevant des traces du passé. Les dynamiques respectives de ces trois forces sont évaluées au moyen d’une approche interurbaine. Les échanges économiques entre villes centre-est européennes et celles du reste du monde sont examinés au travers de réseaux transnationaux et mondialisés – de transport aérien et de firmes. Ces échanges sont confrontés aux réseaux commerciaux entre pays. Cette thèse contribue à montrer que l’intégration à l’économie-monde s’est accompagnée d’un renforcement des logiques de polarisation divisant l’espace centre-est européen entre le Nord-Ouest et le Sud-Est. Cette intégration en cours, ou plutôt ces différentes « intégrations », ne se sont toutefois pas opérées uniquement au profit des métropoles. En effet, malgré une prédominance de l’européanisation, les liens de l’époque communiste constituent une force économique majeure pour certaines petites et moyennes villes – à l’image de l’entre-deux historique de l’espace centre-est européen. / A quarter of century after the fall of the Berlin Wall, radical political and economic changes, integration into the world economy and the European Union, and the recent reinforcement of nationalism are still persistent subjects of debate with regards to the future of Central and Eastern Europe. This thesis examines three major transformative forces in Central and Eastern Europe since 1989 at city-level: europeanisation, globalization and endogenous changes – related to path dependence effects. The dynamics of these three forces are analyzed by looking at the evolution of economic exchanges of CEE cities with other worldwide cities in the context of transnational and globalized networks – air traffic and firms. They are confronted with trade networks at country level. This dissertation illustrates that integration into the world-economy has deepened polarization in Central and Eastern Europe between the Nord-West and the South-West. This integration process or different types of integration are not only a matter for big cities and metropolises. In spite of the predominance of europeanisation, links from the communist period continue to be a major economic force, especially for small and medium-sized cities, reflecting the historical in-between situation of Central and Eastern Europe. / Ćwierć wieku później, radykalne zmiany polityczne i gospodarcze po upadku Muru Berlińskiego, integracja z gospodarką światową, przystąpienie do Unii Europejskiej oraz nasilające się tendencje nacjonalistyczne są wciąż bieżącymi tematami w dyskusji o przyszłości Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej. W tym kontekście, dysertacja proponuje analizę zmian systemowych, które dokonały się w regionie na poziomie miast. Przedmiotem badania są trzy procesy towarzyszące transformacjom po 1989: europeizacja, globalizacja oraz przemiany w regionie uwarunkowane relacjami z przeszłości. Dynamika wymienionych trzech procesów zostanie zbadana w odniesieniu do wymian ekonomicznych między miastami Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej a innymi miastami Europy i świata w sferze międzynarodowych powiązań lotniczych i firmowych, porównanych z siecią handlową ukształtowaną między państwami regionu. Wnioski badawcze wykazują, że w rezultacie integracji z gospodarką światową pogłębia się polaryzacja przestrzeni Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej w układzie północny zachód i południowy wschód. Różnorodność typów integracji odnosi się nie tylko do metropolii i dużych miast. Wobec dominującej siły europeizacji, powiązania z miastami z czasów komunistycznych są nadal ważnym aspektem funkcjonowania miast małych i średnich, ilustrując zarazem historyczną sytuację entre-deux Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej.

Up until today, nearly all Swedish regions have decided to set up an EU office in Brussels. However, earlier research on the subject shows that there are big differences concerning what the regions are trying to achieve with their EU office. The aim for this study was therefore to analyse Swedish subnational actors’ EU work within three different arenas and dimensions: at the Brussel arena (upload), at home ground (download) and lastly, the coordination between these two arenas (crossload). To achieve this, an extensively material on the subject was gathered by interviewing key persons from both Brussels and the subnational actors’ home organizations. In order to analyse the material, the theoretical framework multi-level governance was put into practice. The theoretical framework offered a definition on how the regions interact within the EU, and it also provided the framework for the analyses.  The study was able to unpack three Swedish subnational actors’ EU approaches and their different forms of organization regarding their work with EU. In addition, the study could for each explored arena set up a collection of criteria’s that Swedish subnational actors must achieve in order to succeed with their strategic work with EU. Those criteria’s, with numerous important subheadings, were categorised as effectiveness, legitimacy, and strategical selection.

La perspective européenne a renouvelé l’intérêt de la question du maintien ou de la suppression du dualisme juridictionnel en France à travers deux approches : la résistance aux modèles concurrents d’organisation juridictionnelle d’une part, le crible des standards européens d’autre part. Considéré comme un modèle d’organisation juridictionnelle, le système français a inspiré la majorité des Etats européens. Le phénomène a néanmoins été temporaire. Désormais, la plupart des Etats européens ont un système d’organisation juridictionnelle qui se rattache à un autre modèle. Engager le système français dans une telle voie est juridiquement faisable mais peu opportun en pratique. Le système français en tant que modèle – quoique minoritaire – d’organisation juridictionnelle a donc vocation à perdurer. Sur un autre front, l’alignement du système français sur les standards européens a également fait émerger l’hypothèse de sa suppression. Les condamnations, réelles ou potentielles, de la juridiction administrative et du procès mené devant elle, ainsi que du Tribunal des conflits et de la procédure suivie devant lui, ont montré que les réformes étaient inévitables et imposé de revenir sur des pratiques séculaires bien établies. Elles ont également contribué à rapprocher la juridiction administrative de la juridiction judiciaire et le procès administratif du procès civil. « Sauvé » au prix de nombreuses transformations, le système n’en est pas moins parvenu à préserver ses caractéristiques essentielles, prouvant sa capacité d’adaptation. Un temps affaibli, le dualisme juridictionnel n’a, en définitive, pas été altéré. Mieux, son fondement technique, justification contemporaine du dualisme juridictionnel, en est sorti renforcé. / The European perspective has shed new light on the question of whether maintaining or ruling out jurisdictional dualism in France through two main approaches: on the one hand, the resilience of substitutable models and, on the other hand, the scrutiny of European standards. Considered as a model, the French system has inspired the majority of states in Europe. This wave of inspiration has nevertheless been short-lived. Indeed, most states in Europe have established a judicial system, which is different from the French model. Bringing the French system towards the one adopted by most states in Europe is juridically feasible but raises several issues in practice. As a result, the French system, albeit minor amongst the European states, is probably prone to live on. Furthermore, bringing the French system towards European standards raised the question of a likely end of it. In fact, the French system came under critics, whether effective or potential, of its administrative courts and legal proceedings, together with critics concerning its so-called “Tribunal des conflits” and the legal proceedings. These critics point to the fact that reforming the French system was inevitable. Such reforms led the French system back on some of its secular anchored practices. Eventually, reforms also contributed to bring closer both the administrative court and the administrative legal proceedings to both civil court and civil legal proceedings. Saved at the cost of numerous reforms, the French system nevertheless managed to preserve its basic structures. This in turn provides evidence that the French system is able to adapt itself to an evolving European environment. Finally, the technical founding principles of jurisdictional dualism have been reinforced.