The main topic of this diploma thesis is lobbying in the countries of the Visegrad Group. The thesis is structured into two parts: practical and theoretical. The theoretical part addresses topics such as connection between lobbying as a term and its forms, determination of lobbying against corruption, interest groups problematic, which are also closely related to lobbying. In addition, the ways of regulating lobbying are also discussed in this part. In the practical part, lobbying laws in Poland and Hungary are thoroughly analysed together with drafts of laws in the Slovak and the Czech Republic. Furthermore, a comparative analysis was conducted in order to find similarities and differences between those norms. The main aim of the thesis is to provide a closer look at the individual regulatory elements of legislative regulation of lobbying in the countries of the Visegrad Group, as well as to identify similarities and differences between laws and drafts of laws by comparison.

Creating a stabile economic environment that is able to resist the competitive pressure at the European market was one of the main conditions for candidate countries in the integration process. In present all new member countries of the European Union are getting ready to enter the European Area, which will represent the round-off of their integration efforts. The countries of the Visegrad group, that are former centrally planned economies of the Soviet block, form quite homogeneous unit and their positions in the integration process were very similar. The main objective of my work is to provide a complex illustration of the progress made in economies of V4 group both during the integration process and over last few years after their accession to the European Union.

The diploma thesis provides an analysis of development of tax systems and tax legislation of the Visegrad Group countries during the period of global economic crisis, i.e. between the years 2008 and 2010. The thesis deals with assessment of anti-crisis measures and influence of impacts of the economic crisis on tax revenues and tax mix in the Visegrad Group countries. Within separates chapters describes the wide range of measures which were accepted in the countries during crisis. The paper covers the main characteristics of tax systems and their position within European Union and shows a comparison of dynamic development of tax systems of the Visegrad countries. The thesis tries to provide a complete view on the tax trends in the four Central European countries.

Le changement historique de l’ordre international a lieu après la chute du Rideau de fer en 1989. Les pays de l’Europe centrale après 45 ans de régime communiste regagnent leur liberté et souveraineté. Cette région historiquement, culturellement et géographiquement homogène et en même temps hétérogène (ethniquement et religieusement) « revient en Europe ». Dans cette nouvelle architecture elle se retrouve devant des défis majeurs : les transformations politiques et économiques, la redéfinition des relations avec les plus importants voisins (l’ex-URSS, l’Allemagne unie et la CEI) et le choix d’une option pour la sécurité de leur région (la neutralité, le système collectif, le modèle européen ou la variante euro-atlantique). Les pays centre-européens décident de développer une coopération régionale (Groupe de Visegrád, ICE, ALECE), subrégionale (euro-régions) et devenir les membres des plus importantes organisations internationales de sécurité (OTAN, OSCE, ONU et UE) afin d’assurer et renforcer la sécurité dans la région. Désormais, leur système de sécurité est fondé sur l’Alliance atlantique et la Politique de sécurité et de défense commune ainsi qu’il est soutenu par une coopération régionale développée et des relations efficaces et durables avec le voisinage le plus proche. À l’aube de XXIe siècle face à une dynamique de sécurité les pays centre-européens se retrouvent devant les nouveaux défis : le bouclier anti-missile, la globalisation, le terrorisme, la sécurité énergétique et la question de Kaliningrad. « La nouvelle Europe » comme un jouer à plein droit sur l’arène internationale devient un baromètre de la sécurité du continent européen. / The fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 brought a major change in the global balance of power. After 45 years under an imposed communist regime, the countries of Central Europe regain their freedom and sovereignty. The historically, culturally and geographically homogeneous region (at the same time widely diverse in terms of ethnic and religious structure) “returns to Europe”. In this new scheme of international relations, it faces new challenges: political and economic transformation, a revision of its relations with its most important neighbors (the former USSR, unified Germany and the Commonwealth of Independent States), the choice of a security model for the region (neutrality, collective security, the European or the Euro-Atlantic option). The countries of Central Europe decide to develop cooperation within the regional (the Visegrad Group, the Central European Initiative, the Central European Free Trade Agreement) and the sub-regional (Euroregions) dimension, and to join the most important security organizations in the world (NATO, OSCE, UN, EU) in order to ensure and increase security in the region. As a consequence, their security system is currently based on the North Atlantic Treaty and the Common Security and Defense Policy, and supported by networks of regional cooperation as well as enduring and dependable relations with their neighbors. In light of the dynamics of the security process, these countries must now confront new challenges, which include the missile defense shield, terrorism, energy security and the Kaliningrad problem. The “New Europe” as an equal player on the international stage has become the gauge of security on the European continent.

This thesis analyzes the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s stance toward the Russian-German Nord Stream and Russian-Italian South Stream gas pipeline projects, which aimed to circumvent the traditional energy routes situated in Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The level of the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s dependency on inherited Soviet gas pipeline routes is examined alongside the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s policy setting ability within the group itself and in the European Union. The thesis also traces the evolution of energy relations between Europe and Russia and Visegrad Group&rsquo / s adaptation to the new state of affairs after the collapse of the Soviet Union, particularly with respect to energy issues. It is argued that despite all differences, Visegrad Group members are able to set a cooperation platform at times of crisis and develop common energy strategies. However, the thesis shows that the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s endeavor has encountered some setbacks at the national level and serious challenges at the European level, largely owing to the lack of a common European energy policy. The thesis concludes that the Visegrad Group&rsquo / s energy policy is both dependent on the stances of Russia and larger EU actors.

The diploma thesis aims to describe the enlargement of the Schengen area in 2007 with nine states that became members of the EU in 2004- without Cyprus. The great attention is paid to the Czech Republic. In the first chapter I explain the basic terms and mechanisms of the Schengen cooperation. The next chapter deals with the preparation course and the evaluation proces of the states preparing for the accession to the Schengen area. It was the Visegrad group (V4) which played a very important role during the preparation that is why I focused on the cooperation of this group in the third part of my diploma thesis. At the same time there is the visa harmonization cooperation within V4 mentioned there. The main part of the diploma thesis is the chapter called the Czech Republic and the Schengen area where I analyse a strategy and arrangements implemented in the Czech Republic. The enlargement of the Schengen area with nine new states was accomplished in 2007 thanks to consistent preparation of all countries that was verified by evaluation mission experts. The participation in the Schengen area has its positive and negative sides. The impacts of the Schengen enlargement and the problems rised after accession of nine states to the Schengen are more described in the last chapter.

The theme of the diploma thesis is the Visegrad Four and its activity from the establishment in 1991 to the present. The aim of the thesis is to focus on the main purpose of the Group. The thesis examines fulfillment of set goals, which accomplishment the cooperation of V4 enabled. Significant activities of the group include EU entry, NATO entry, Schengen membership and establishment of CEFTA. The thesis covers present economic development of members of Visegrad and monetary policy regarding possible Euro acceptance. In the closing part there are the current priorities and spheres of cooperation of the Visegrad Group evaluated, i.e. activity in the EU and cooperation within V4, as well as other future perspective interest areas.

The thesis deals with the course and impacts of the crisis in the Visegrad Group countries. Chapter one is focused theoretically and generally. It describes monetary and fiscal expansion in two chosen models and defines the causes of the world economic crisis. In the second chapter the Visegrad Group is characterised, the course of the crisis in its member states is described and government`s anti-crisis measures are specified. Chapter three deals with the impacts of the crisis on chosen areas in the economy. Chapter four is focused on Poland, its economic development from 2000 to 2008 and during the crisis. In the last chapter the actual economic development in the Visegrad Group countries is analysed.

The aim of this dissertation is to provide a detailed quantitative and qualitative assessment of the banking system currently in place in the Visegrad countries, as well as its transition from the Soviet system to a capitalist market-oriented system. The empirical part of this study focuses on estimating the stability of the banking system, the impact of regulations and supervision on the stability of this system the performance and effectiveness (productivity) of the system, and the impact of banking sector performance on economic growth. Two different methods are used for the data analysis: panel data regression with random effect model and traditional ratio analysis based on DuPont formula and other financial ratios, which were constructed using historical data taken from Bank Scope, together with random-effects GLS regression. The results suggest that, as measured by z-score, Slovakia had the most stable banking sector in most years, followed by Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Additionally, according to the regression analysis, the imposition of strict requirements for banks applying for licenses in Visegrad countries has led to greater banking system stability, while prohibiting additional banking activities-such as real estate, insurance, securities, or other non-financial...

Practically every single state sees energy security as one of the main security and political topics nowadays. Its significance is on the rise. Although there is a continuous progress regarding renewable sources of energy, the world remains largely dependent on non- renewable resources. They are unevenly distributed across the world, especially in case of oil and natural gas. This results in dividing the countries between importers and exporters. This diploma thesis focuses on energy cooperation or more precisely on motivations for energy cooperation between member states of the Visegrad group. These four Central European countries share some similarities. In energy area they all are the importers of both oil and gas and they rely on the Russian Federation as their main supplier. Energy cooperation within the Visegrad group is usually explained by two theoretical approaches - realism or neoliberal institutionalism. This thesis introduces these approaches and works with a hypothesis that energy cooperation between the member states of the Visegrad group is best explained by neoliberal institutionalism. The thesis represents a qualitative study and uses the method of a comparative case study. The analytic part of the thesis is divided into four case studies regarding each member state of the V4....