This dissertation builds on Cezar and Escobar's (2015) study of the relationship between institutional distance and foreign direct investment (FDI), but focuses instead on the nexus between corruption distance and FDI. Along the lines of their study, this dissertation uses a two-stage gravity model derived from the framework of heterogeneous firms to empirically estimate the impact of corruption distance on the inward and outward FDI of European transition economies. This dissertation contributes to the literature in several aspects. First, it proposes a new method for measuring corruption distance, considering the importance of firms' previous experience to the development of necessary skills for navigating a foreign business environment. Second, the empirical study distinguished the impact of corruption distance on the extensive and intensive margin by using a rich dataset with three different corruption indices, which thereby differs from most previous studies on this topic. This is also one of the few papers that specifically study this topic in the context of European transition economies. The results show that both conventional and adjusted corruption distance based on the control-of-corruption index only reduces the extensive margin of transition economies' FDI; and that the magnitude of...

Subsidy fraud and damaging the financial interests of the European union (Section 260 of the Penal Code) Abstract This thesis is focused on Czech and European legal framework of fight against subsidy fraud. The thesis also focuses on practices and general concepts of institutions which are tasked with fighting fraudulent conducts. The method of processing is mainly analysis and description. The thesis is structured in three parts. The first part brings attention to the characteristics of subsidy fraud as codified in section 212 of the Czech penal code. The chapter includes authors' suggestions of changes to the section 212. The second part presents analysis of crime of damaging the financial interests of the European union as codified in section 260 of the Czech penal code. The chapter includes authors' suggestions of changes to the section 260. After that international and European legal framework, which represents foundation of Czech legal framework, is thoroughly observed. The thesis explores the history of fight against fraud in the European union and its predecessors from the beginning to current days. Further attention is brought on European institutions tasked with fight against fraud, specifically European Public Prosecutor's Office and European Anti-Fraud Office. Possible weaknesses in the concept...

1 Subsidy fraud and damaging the financial interests of the European union Abstract The thesis deals mainly with the definition and punishment of subsidy frauds within the framework of criminal law. At the same time, it also addresses some issues related to this crime, in particular the subsidiarity of criminal sanctions and the concurrence of this crime with other crimes such as the offense of damaging the financial intereststhe of the European union. The method of processing is mainly deduction and analysis, in the relevant parts induction, synthesis and comparison. The thesis is divided into three main parts. First, it deals with subsidies and subsidy fraud, explaining what a subsidy is and what action can be considered a subsidy fraud, and also clarifies some of the institutes associated with these terms, including budget rules, resources, and records. It also deals with what actions are associated with the crime of subsidy fraud. Thus, in the case of a subsidy fraud, it deals with its characteristics, its relation to other provisions of the Penal Code, the investigation and the imposition of punishment. In the next part, the thesis deals with the protection of the financial interests of the European Union, especially with the institutions and bodies, which are particularly focused at the protection of...

INTERNET BUSINESS TRANSACTION WITH AN INTERNATIONAL ELEMENT: CONSUMER PROTECTION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Abstract This thesis focuses on the legal aspects of consumer protection within the European Union when concluding a contract with an international element on the Internet. The motivation for the thesis is to address the new legal challenges which the matter creates. In case of contracts negotiated at a distance, there is no possibility of verification of the contracting party or goods or services themselves. Such situation increases the risk of abuse of the position of the stronger party. Furthermore, the unclear definition of borders in cross-border online purchasing complicates the matter of private international law on jurisdiction and applicable law. This thesis aims to describe and analyse the specific rules for consumer protection on the Internet within the European Union in order to inform stakeholders about the current state of the law in this area. In particular, the thesis deals with three issues: what kind of protection is provided to consumers in cross-border online purchase within the European Union; which court has jurisdiction over a dispute arising from consumer contract with an international element entered into on the Internet; and how the applicable law for these contracts is...

The film industry is one of the creative industries and is often referred to as cultural economy. The filmmakers are trying to maximize their profits and attract as many consumers as possible. One of the most important indicators for producers are box office sales of cinema tickets. The thesis examines national film preferences in Europe, based on these revenues. The aim is to reveal how feature film genre preferences differ among countries in the European Union. The first part of the thesis focuses on the theoretical background and setting the issue in the context of economics. It is followed by construction of data-set, which is then examined by regression analysis. The dependent variable is represented by box office sales. Finally, the results of the analysis are interpreted and explained.

Legal Regulation of the Placing of Hazardous Chemical Substances and Mixtures on the Market in European Union Environmental Law Abstract: The aim of the thesis was to explore the main features of the legal regulation of the placing of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures on the market in European Union environmental law, namely those features which significantly affect the achievement of a high level of protection of human health and the environment. In order to fulfil this aim, two regulatory regimes governing the placing on the market of substances and mixtures were analysed: a general one, mainly represented by the REACH Regulation (No. 1907/2006) and the CLP Regulation (No. 1272/2008), and a special one, where the Plant Protection Products Regulation (No. 1107/2009) was the object of analysis. The thesis first deals with general issues of the regulation of hazardous substances and mixtures: the role of private and public law, the phenomenon of the so-called proceduralisation of environmental law and the definition of basic terms (including a detailed analysis of the concepts of hazard, hazardous properties, risk and related terms). This general part is followed by an analysis of the most important legal institutions contained in the mentioned legislation (notably registration, evaluation,...

The accession process of Albania into the European Union is defined by the gradual fulfilling of the Copenhagen criteria. With the aim of promoting democratization reforms in candidate countries and improvement in the Copenhagen political criteria, the European Union has exerted pressure into domestic political structures in Albania through a series of Europeanization Mechanisms. This dissertation uses qualitative analysis to examine the impact of the Europeanization Mechanisms in the democratization process of Albania after the signing of the Stabilization and Association agreement. The theoretical domain of the research falls within Europeanization and Quality Democracy theory. The data gathered in the form of document analysis and interviews serve to test the hypothesis of the direct relationship of Europeanization an input in democratization in the case of Albania. The results suggest that both the conception and practical application of the Europeanization mechanisms with regards to the democratization process are faced with a series of challenges. Democratization is a process that combines structures, policies, and norms. In their current formulation, Europeanization mechanisms are able to affect only the first two. In terms of practical application, extreme polarization of Albania's...

Proměny konceptu neutrality v teorii a praxi vybraných evropských států Abstract The thesis explores the emergence of a unique concept of neutrality within each the three neutral European countries: Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. In then examines changes in the policy of neutrality over time within each compared states, with emphasis on the post - Cold War transition from a bipolar to a multipolar world order. It is concluded that the end of the Cold War has had a marked influence on changes in the concept of neutrality within each of the compared states, largely because of the emergence of novel threats which can be now more effectively controlled through international cooperation as opposed to unilateral action by a single nation.

Environmental impact assessment of projects in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a horizontal tool of protection of the environment, based on principles of precaution and prevention and aimed at assessment of plans and programs, or projects. This thesis deals with assessment of projects only. At EU level, the legal basis for EIA of projects is provided for by the EIA Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU) which is expected to be amended in the near future. The thesis provides for an analysis of the EIA case law of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU), identifies the main problems encountered by the Member States when implementing the EIA Directive, identifies the key principles established by the CJEU for interpretation of the EIA directive, and in the light of the above it identifies the main issues in the transposition in the Czech law. 1

The subject-matter of the presented thesis is cross-border healthcare in the European Union. The thesis focuses deeply on the overall evaluation of the recently adopted Directive on patients' rights. The primary objective of this thesis is to comprehensively analyse the new legislation on cross-border health care within the European Union, i.e. Directive on patients' rights. Based on theoretical findings, the thesis aims to assess the potential impact of the Directive on the provisions of cross-border healthcare within the European Union and its influence on the healthcare system in the Czech Republic. The contents of the thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter is introductory and provides information concerning the relevant provisions of primary law that provides European Union with competences in the area of health. The second chapter deals with the developments of the legal framework for cross- border healthcare in the European Union and clarifies in detail the specific nature of cross- border health care. Considerable focus is placed on analysis of concrete rights of migrant patients that are derived from the comprehensive case law of CJEU. The third chapter is exclusively devoted to the legal analysis of the various aspects of the Directive on patients' rights and evaluates the...