<p>Central Asia is a region strategically located on the crossroads of the two continents. The region is represented by five states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) with different level of economic development and with the population amounting to over 60 million people. The region is rich in energy resources, represented by oil, gas, coal and hydropower resources.</p><p>The thesis analyses, assesses and scrutinises one of the topical issues of the contemporary international relations - cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states before and after adoption in June 2007 of the ‘European Union and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership’, an important political document in the history of relations between the two parties.</p><p>The new stage of cooperation is analysed more comprehensively accentuating priorities set in the Strategy. Analysis of the current state of affairs is conducted concerning some important issues of the Strategy related to regional cooperation between Central Asian states, such as integrated water management and development of hydro-energy system, issues of diversification of hydrocarbons supply routes from the region to Europe and provision of energy security, etc.</p><p>Issues of cooperation between the European Union and Tajikistan are analysed as a case study. State of affairs between some of the European Union member-states and Central Asian countries is characterised.</p><p>The thesis also scrutinises other regional/international actors engaged in cooperation with Central Asia (such as China, Russia, the US, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, etc.) and their potential for interaction with the European Union for more effective joint solution of the problems existing in the region is assessed.</p><p>In the conclusion, development of cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states is scrutinised, the problems and their possible solutions in this regard are analysed, and the recommendations for increasing effectiveness of cooperation between the two parties are presented.</p><p>The European Union’s foreign policy in Central Asia is interpreted from perspective of the theories of international relations namely neorealism, neoliberalism and constructivism in the end of every chapter.</p>

Tourism in protected areas is still a debated topic and its impacts investigated for decades. Initially, protected areas considered as a way for protecting biodiversity, and human intervention is strictly prohibited. Over the course of time, this strict conservation approach shifted to sustainable tourism model in protected areas. While this business brought several advantages, such as creating income to support these sites, there are also environmental drawbacks related with it. European Commission addresses this new development by creating NATURA 2000 (N2K) network in order to strengthen the preservation of the valuable natural environments by including the human factor.Turkey, a long-time candidate of EU, implies an aggressive policy while utilising its protected areas as a tourism asset. This approach identified as a common problem in developing countries, as focus of this development lies on short term economic gains. In this regard, an analysis of two different models of tourism development in N2K sites, in two EU’s member states - the national parks in Poland and Sweden, helped to identify challenges and opportunities in order to draw conclusions for Turkey.The main findings of this qualitative study revealed different approaches used by two of EU’s member states. While Sweden employed almost all services in national parks for free, Poland managed to create additional incomes by charging different fees to the visitors. Despite this, the incomes generated by tourism generally found insufficient in both case studies in order to cover the expenses. EU’s funding programmes here played crucial role in supporting the protected areas. Furthermore, through horizontal legislation of EU, Poland managed to fight against destructive investments planned in these sites. Educational outcomes of tourism in protected areas, and their possible contribution to the needs of environment protection were pointed out by all the participants. Hence, despite the common preoccupation, tourism in the study areas determined as a positive tool to increase awareness among society members about the necessity of environment protection. Overall, the findings demonstrated that Turkey can benefit N2K sites and its directives in a number of different aspects mentioned above.

<p>Central Asia is a region strategically located at the crossroads of the two continents: Asia and Europe. The region is represented by five states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) with different level of economic development and with the population amounting to over 60 million people. The region is rich in energy resources represented by oil, gas, coal and water resources.</p><p>The thesis analyses, assesses and scrutinises one of the topical issues of the contemporary international relations - cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states before and after adoption in June 2007 of the ‘European Union and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership’,  an important political document in the history of relations between the two parties.</p><p>The new stage of cooperation is analysed more comprehensively accentuating priorities set in the Strategy. Analysis of the current state of affairs is conducted concerning some important issues of the Strategy related to regional cooperation between Central Asian states, such as integrated water management and development of hydro-energy system, issues of diversification of hydrocarbons supply routes from the region to Europe and provision of energy security, etc.</p><p>Issues of cooperation between the European Union and Tajikistan are analysed as a case study. State of affairs between the Central Asian states and the European Union Member States actively cooperating with these countries is characterised.</p><p>The thesis also scrutinises other regional/international actors engaged in cooperation with Central Asia (such as China, Russia, the US, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, etc.) and their potential for interaction with the European Union for more effective joint solution of the problems existing in the region is assessed.</p><p>In the conclusion, development of cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states is scrutinised, the problems and their possible solutions in this regard are analysed, and the recommendations for increasing effectiveness of cooperation between the two parties are presented.</p><p>The European Union’s policy in Central Asia is interpreted from perspective of the theories of international relations namely neorealism, neoliberalism and constructivism in the research.</p>

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the impact of the EU’s Structural Fund (SF) policy between 2000-2007 on regional economic growth in Sweden. A regional convergence analysis is performed in order to examine if the SF policy’s overall aim of convergence is reached. Furthermore the study examines the growth of important Structural Fund goal indicators as employment, education and new firm formation in the Objective 1, 2 and 3 areas. The main growth- and convergence theories and their connection to regional policies such as the SF policy is used as the theoretical framework and form the study’s hypothesis. The results show that absolute β-convergence exists between the Swedish urban areas. The growth of the goal indicators show that the Objective 1 and 2 areas, which received most part of the SF support have achieved their aims in increasing employment and new firm creation. In addition the Objective 2 areas have increased their share of population with higher education compared to the areas that did not receive either Objective 1 or 2 support. The Objective 3 areas, which received the least part of the SF support had a lower mean growth in employment than the areas that received no direct Objective 3 support. In addition the urban areas that only received Objective 3 support had a lower growth in share of population with higher education. From the results we can reach the overall conclusion that the positive impact of the SF policy on the goal indicators seem to be the largest in the areas that received most part of the funding. The final conclusion is that the SF are effective in enhancing economic growth in the areas of intervention. / Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera EU:s Strukturfondspolitiks inverkan på regional ekonomisk tillväxt i Sverige mellan 2000-2007. En regional konvergensanalys utförs för att undersöka om Strukturfondspolitikens övergripande konvergens mål uppnås. Vidare undersöker studien viktiga Strukturfondmålindikatorers tillväxt, såsom sysselsättning, utbildning och nyföretagande, i Mål 1, 2 och 3 områdena. De viktigaste tillväxt- och konvergensteorierna och deras koppling till regional politik, såsom Strukturfondspolitiken används som den teoretiska bakgrunden och formar studiens hypotes. Resultaten visar att absolut β-konvergens existerar mellan de svenska kommunerna. Resultaten för målindikatorernas tillväxt visar att Mål 1 och 2-områdena som har mottagit största delen av Strukturfondsstödet har uppnått sina mål att öka sysselsättningen och starta nya företag. Dessutom har Mål 2-områdena haft en högre ökning av andelen av befolkningen med högre utbildning jämfört med områdena som inte mottog något Mål 1 eller 2-stöd. Mål 3- områdena som har mottagit den minsta delen av Strukturfondsstödet hade en lägre tillväxt av sysselsättning jämfört med de områden som inte mottog något direkt Mål 3-stöd. De områden som enbart mottog Mål 3-stöd hade dessutom en lägre tillväxt av befolkning med högre utbildning. Utifrån resultaten kan vi dra den övergripande slutsatsen att den positiva påverkan av Strukturfondspolitiken på målindikatorerna verkar vara störst i de områden som har mottagit största delen av Strukturfondsstödet. Den slutgiltiga slutsatsen är att Strukturfondspolitiken sannolikt främjar den ekonomiska tillväxten i insatsområdena.

<p> </p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the impact of the EU’s Structural Fund (SF) policy between 2000-2007 on regional economic growth in Sweden. A regional convergence analysis is performed in order to examine if the SF policy’s overall aim of convergence is reached. Furthermore the study examines the growth of important Structural Fund goal indicators as employment, education and new firm formation in the Objective 1, 2 and 3 areas. The main growth- and convergence theories and their connection to regional policies such as the SF policy is used as the theoretical framework and form the study’s hypothesis.</p><p>The results show that absolute β-convergence exists between the Swedish urban areas. The growth of the goal indicators show that the Objective 1 and 2 areas, which received most part of the SF support have achieved their aims in increasing employment and new firm creation. In addition the Objective 2 areas have increased their share of population with higher education compared to the areas that did not receive either Objective 1 or 2 support. The Objective 3 areas, which received the least part of the SF support had a lower mean growth in employment than the areas that received no direct Objective 3 support. In addition the urban areas that only received Objective 3 support had a lower growth in share of population with higher education. From the results we can reach the overall conclusion that the positive impact of the SF policy on the goal indicators seem to be the largest in the areas that received most part of the funding. The final conclusion is that the SF are effective in enhancing economic growth in the areas of intervention.</p><p> </p> / <p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera EU:s Strukturfondspolitiks inverkan på regional ekonomisk tillväxt i Sverige mellan 2000-2007. En regional konvergensanalys utförs för att undersöka om Strukturfondspolitikens övergripande konvergens mål uppnås. Vidare undersöker studien viktiga Strukturfondmålindikatorers tillväxt, såsom sysselsättning, utbildning och nyföretagande, i Mål 1, 2 och 3 områdena. De viktigaste tillväxt- och konvergensteorierna och deras koppling till regional politik, såsom Strukturfondspolitiken används som den teoretiska bakgrunden och formar studiens hypotes.</p><p>Resultaten visar att absolut β-konvergens existerar mellan de svenska kommunerna. Resultaten för målindikatorernas tillväxt visar att Mål 1 och 2-områdena som har mottagit största delen av Strukturfondsstödet har uppnått sina mål att öka sysselsättningen och starta nya företag. Dessutom har Mål 2-områdena haft en högre ökning av andelen av befolkningen med högre utbildning jämfört med områdena som inte mottog något Mål 1 eller 2-stöd. Mål 3- områdena som har mottagit den minsta delen av Strukturfondsstödet hade en lägre tillväxt av sysselsättning jämfört med de områden som inte mottog något direkt Mål 3-stöd. De områden som enbart mottog Mål 3-stöd hade dessutom en lägre tillväxt av befolkning med högre utbildning. Utifrån resultaten kan vi dra den övergripande slutsatsen att den positiva påverkan av Strukturfondspolitiken på målindikatorerna verkar vara störst i de områden som har mottagit största delen av Strukturfondsstödet. Den slutgiltiga slutsatsen är att Strukturfondspolitiken sannolikt främjar den ekonomiska tillväxten i insatsområdena.</p>

Responsible investing is a growing concept as sustainability is becoming a much more apparent problem. Thus, the EU implemented a new regulation in 2021, the SFDR 2019/2088, to decrease information asymmetry between institutional investors and end investors regarding sustainable risks associated with funds’ investments. This thesis aims to study whether Swedish mutual funds are greenwashing in terms of funds that are classified as Article 9 funds and invest in firms with low ESG scores. I find that greenwashing occurs among some Swedish mutual funds classified as Article 9 funds, urging further actions to be taken by scholars, practitioners, and regulators given the complexity of the studied research field.

Central Asia is a region strategically located on the crossroads of the two continents. The region is represented by five states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) with different level of economic development and with the population amounting to over 60 million people. The region is rich in energy resources, represented by oil, gas, coal and hydropower resources. The thesis analyses, assesses and scrutinises one of the topical issues of the contemporary international relations - cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states before and after adoption in June 2007 of the ‘European Union and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership’, an important political document in the history of relations between the two parties. The new stage of cooperation is analysed more comprehensively accentuating priorities set in the Strategy. Analysis of the current state of affairs is conducted concerning some important issues of the Strategy related to regional cooperation between Central Asian states, such as integrated water management and development of hydro-energy system, issues of diversification of hydrocarbons supply routes from the region to Europe and provision of energy security, etc. Issues of cooperation between the European Union and Tajikistan are analysed as a case study. State of affairs between some of the European Union member-states and Central Asian countries is characterised. The thesis also scrutinises other regional/international actors engaged in cooperation with Central Asia (such as China, Russia, the US, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, etc.) and their potential for interaction with the European Union for more effective joint solution of the problems existing in the region is assessed. In the conclusion, development of cooperation between the European Union and Central Asian states is scrutinised, the problems and their possible solutions in this regard are analysed, and the recommendations for increasing effectiveness of cooperation between the two parties are presented. The European Union’s foreign policy in Central Asia is interpreted from perspective of the theories of international relations namely neorealism, neoliberalism and constructivism in the end of every chapter.

The intentional spread of incorrect information, ‘disinformation’ has increased rapidly in the past couple of years. Bringing with it serious threats to aspects of modern society that constitute central parts of the European Union’s values, thus requiring protection in line with the core aims and duties under EU law. Despite this, the phenomenon of disinformation has not been the focus of regulation until recently, and any attempts to further the regulation of disinformation risks limiting the fundamental right to freedom of expression and information. This right is embedded in Article 11 of the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter) and entails protection so fierce that it sets constraints for what actions the European Union (EU) and Member States may take to regulate any expression and information. In light of this information, the study aims to evaluate the current legal response to disinformation under EU law by assessing possible parallels with hate speech and examining possibilities for the EU and Member States to increase their response to disinformation. This aim is pursued through the use of the legal dogmatic method when investigating the sources and by juxtaposing disinformation with hate speech, which is more firmly regulated. The latter is assessed to determine whether the fiercer regulation of hate speech could arguably be a requirement for disinformation as well. The study offers a deeper understanding of the competencies and capacities within the complex and multilayered EU system and on these grounds then discusses the sufficiency of the current response to disinformation and if there are possibilities to enhance it. Through this assessment, disinformation is found homogenous to hate speech, and possibilities for the EU and Member States to enhance the regulation of disinformation are detected. The study therefore concludes that the current response to disinformation is insufficient in contrast with the response to disinformation and in line with the aims and duties to protect under EU law.

Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka hur projektledare i byggbranschen arbetar med hållbarhet och hur de upplever att EU:s nya hållbarhetsdirektiv som infördes 1 januari 2024 kommer att påverka byggprojekt och byggprojektledning. Studien genomfördes med en kvalitativ ansats och nio semistrukturerade intervjuer med projektledare verksamma i byggbranschen. Datat som insamlats genom intervjuerna analyserades genom tematisk analys vilket resulterade i tre huvudteman: Ekonomin är alltid No.1, Social och miljömässig hållbarhet som incitament och Tung papperstiger i ryggsäcken för små aktörer. Resultatet av studien visar att det är svårt att bedriva ett hållbart projektarbete utan att prioritera det ekonomiska perspektivet av hållbarhet först. Oavsett hur goda intentioner en projektledare har att implementera hållbarhet i projektarbetet behöver den förhålla sig till budgeten allra först även om de globala målen slår fast att de tre hållbarhetsaspekterna ekonomiskt, socialt och miljömässigt är integrerade och odelbara. Vissa projektledare kan använda hållbarhetsarbetet som ett incitament för vinstsyfte. Andra aktörer har svårt att prioritera mer hållbara material och metoder på grund av att det kostar för mycket. Detta är avhängigt storlek på verksamhet samt verksamhetens art. Resultatet tyder också på att små aktörer på byggmarknaden kommer att bli mer negativt påverkade av de nya hållbarhetsdirektiven eftersom det kommer kräva mer administration som är svår att ta ikapp ekonomiskt. Samtidigt upplever de mindre aktörerna att deras möjlighet att påverka hållbarheten i projekten är minimal. Större aktörer på byggmarknaden har ofta specialister anställda för att sköta den typen av arbetsuppgifter och kan ofta använda sig av certifieringar vilket höjer värdet på byggnadsverket och gör att de kan tjäna igen sina administrativa kostnader. Slutsatserna är bland annat att det behövs skallkrav i upphandlingar av byggprojekt för att hållbarheten ska bli verklighet i praktiken men att det samtidigt krävs mod av byggaktörerna att testa nya arbetssätt och utveckla nya hållbara material. / The purpose of this study was to investigate how project managers in the construction industry work with sustainability and how they experience that the EU's new sustainability regulations, which was introduced on January 1, 2024, will affect construction projects and construction project management. The study was carried out with a qualitative approach and nine semi-structured interviews with project managers active in the construction industry. The data collected through the interviews was analyzed through thematic analysis which resulted in three main themes: The economy is always No.1, Social and environmental sustainability as an incentive and Heavy paper tiger in the backpack for small practitioners.  The results of the study show that it is difficult to conduct sustainable project work without prioritizing the financial perspective of sustainability first. Regardless of how good a project manager's intentions are to implement sustainability in the project work, the person needs to approach the budget first, even if the global goals state that the three aspects of sustainability economically, socially and environmentally are integrated and indivisible. Some project managers may use the sustainability work as an incentive for profit. Other actors find it difficult to prioritize more sustainable materials and methods because the costs are too high. This depends on the size of the business and the nature of the business.  The result also indicates that small players in the construction market will be more negatively affected by the new sustainability directives because it will require more administration which is difficult to catch up financially. At the same time, the smaller actors experience that their possibilities to influence the sustainability of the projects is minimal. Larger players in the construction market often have specialists employed to handle this kind of tasks, and can often make use of certifications, which increase the value of the construction work and give them a chance to recoup their administrative costs. The conclusions are, among other things, that there is a need for basic requirements in the procurement of construction projects in order for sustainability to become a reality in practice, but at the same time that courage is required for the building operators to test new working methods and to develop new sustainable materials.

In the Sustainable Development Goal’s (SDG) decade of action, research from various disciplines focuses on the proper pattern of SDG implementation and the role of partnership to ensure balance between economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Yet, there is a lack of clarity in the empirical understanding of it. This thesis aims to unravel the potential of Triple Helix Model cooperation and the EU's Principle of Partnership in the multilevel governance system in Sweden for the proper realization of such goals. Relying on the perspectives of the Triple Helix Model and the EU's Principle of Partnership, the thesis examines potential synergies across SDGs, the pressing need for cooperation in multilevel governance systems, and meta-governance instrumental strategies for SDGs’ proper implementation. Moreover, it identifies partnership as innovative governance in SDG implementation. The study complements the existing body of knowledge and literature with relevant findings that reveal the proper functioning of implementing the SDGs. Firstly, the findings indicate interlinkages between the goals using triple helix model cooperation in the Vaxjo case. Triple Helix Model cooperation has proved to be soft governance for the SDGs' implementation. Secondly, the EU's Principle of Partnership in the multilevel governance system indicates potential challenges in harnessing synergies in implementing the SDGs. That the thesis finds these results in the case of Sweden, which is among the leading countries for SDG interaction, highlights the importance of effective cooperation at different levels of government to localize SDGs and ensure synergies. Lastly, this thesis highlights how important sub-national units are to the localization and realization of the SDGs. These findings suggest that the Triple Helix Model is a main driver of the achievement of SDGs in Sweden that may also be applicable in all countries with current triple helix model potential. However, the findings provide a new understanding of the importance of cooperation across different sectors and tiers of governance systems. The present study offers the first comprehensive assessment of cooperation in a multilevel governance system to implement SDG properly.