Download or read book EU Accession and Spanish Regional Development written by Carolyn Marie Dudek and published by Peter Lang. This book was released on 2005 with total page 210 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Policymakers saw European Community membership as a way for Spain to secure democracy and promote economic development throughout the country. Nevertheless, regional economic disparities still persist in Spain almost twenty years after it entered the Community, despite significant European allocation of funds to remedy underdevelopment. How did the policies of the European Union impact Spain? What lessons can new EU members learn from Spain's experience within the European Union? Using rich empirical evidence and an innovative comparative analysis, this book examines the regional experiences of Galicia and the Valencian Community in Spain. The political dynamics and persistence of clientelism, which affect policymaking and policy implementation within each region, are particularly considered. These cases provide new insight to explain why regional economic differences persist in Spain despite efforts to alleviate them. Historically grounded and detailed, this study analyzes the process of accession and the ignored long-term ramifications of accession negotiations and treaties, it focuses on the often-overlooked contradiction between European regulations and regional development policies, and questions whether EU membership has been as beneficial as policymakers thought it would be.

Download or read book The Europeanisation of National Foreign Policy through EU membership The Case of Spain written by Ron Böhler and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2017-09-28 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject Politics - Topic: European Union, grade: 1.0, University of Bath, language: English, abstract: ‘For the last thirty years, Spanish foreign policy has had a single (though double-barrelled) objective: first, integration in Europe; secondly, integration of Europe.’ (Torreblanca 2010, p.10). Not quite a decade after twelve European countries agreed on a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), national foreign policies among the EU have ‘significantly been changed, if not transformed, by participation over time in foreign policy making at the European level’ (White 2001, p.6). This, indeed, says little about the nature and direction of the changes that occurred and whether these conduced to general foreign policy convergence among EU member states or perhaps even fostered greater divergence. In recent years, Europeanisation processes of national foreign policies have attracted more and more scholarly attention. While some case studies focus on the European impact on Central and Northern European states, for instance the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland (Tonra 2001), others evaluate the distinctive features of the ‘Big Three’ – France, the United Kingdom and Germany – in EU foreign policy-making (Wong 2006; Gross 2009; Aggestam 2011 Forthcoming). In contrast, EU states in the Southern periphery have substantially been described as adaptive laggards that ‘displayed remarkably resilient and distinctive features of state tradition and political culture despite the pressures of the EU’ (Featherstone and Kazamias 2001, p.2). One of these countries, Spain, joined the European Union at a time when joint efforts to encourage a common foreign and security policy framework were still in the early stages of development. It will be argued below that Spain, at first assumed to be an enfant terrible within the European foreign policy framework, turned out to be an enfant sage with greater ambitions. From the viewpoint of social constructivism, the changing behaviour as well as the active role that Spain took very early in European foreign policy will be portrayed.

Download or read book Spain and Portugal in the European Union written by Paul Christopher Manuel and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2004-06-01 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication provides an up-to-date assessment of the political and economic issues and is valuable reading for anyone wishing to understand contemporary Spain and Portugal. Following decades of relative isolation under authoritarian regimes, the success of the processes of democratic transition in both countries paved the way for full membership in the European Community in 1986. Drawing on research by established scholars, Spain and Portugal in the European Union offers an original series of analyses of the development of Iberian politics, sociology and economics since the accession to the European Union.

Download or read book Enlargement of the European Union written by Allan F. Tatham and published by Kluwer Law International B.V.. This book was released on 2009-01-01 with total page 594 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The development of EU enlargement has raised many thorny issues unanticipated by the framers of the EC Treaty. A significant upshot of these issues is that the concept of European identity - defined in terms of such factors as culture, history and economics - has supplanted the long-dominant theme of 'widening and deepening, ' particularly since the Union's expansion has become primarily eastward. The major contribution of this important book lies in its analysis of the conceptualization and perception of enlargement from various points of view, focusing on the concerns of stakeholders and the 'identity' conflicts and uncertainties incurred by enlargement initiatives. In the course of its presentation, it details the actual pre-accession Europeanization process and its complex history. Among the key elements discussed are the following: the conflict between 'widening' and 'deepening' and the effect on EU institutional reform; institutional requirements on candidate countries; pre-accession criteria and negotiations; administrative capacity, judicial capacity, and legal approximation in accession states; capacity of the EU to absorb new Member States; and EC law as part of European identity. Also covered are specific historical details of particular pre-accession negotiations (e.g., Greece, Spain, Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus), the still inconclusive negotiations with Turkey and the Western Balkan states, and political factors involved in the non-accession of Norway, Iceland and Switzerland. Assembling powerful evidence and applying incisive analysis, the author's conclusion shows that, absent further (and major) EU institutional reform, it will be difficult for an enlarging Union to continue to 'deliver the goods.' A watershed in the continuing great debate on the fulfilment of the EC Treaty's determination to foster and promote 'an ever closer union of the peoples of Europe, ' this book will prove invaluable to anybody interested in the European integration project, particularly lawyers, academics, officials and policymakers in the EU Member States.

Download or read book Who s Afraid of the Big Enlargement written by Tito Boeri and published by Centre for Economic Policy Research. This book was released on 2002 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The initial enthusiasm of many EU citizens at the 'return to Europe' of former members of the Soviet bloc has turned to anxiety at the realization of the possible adverse consequences of enlargement. Potential undesirable effects of enlargement, in particular for labour markets and social conditions, can be met by appropriately designed policies which are so far not in place or planned. Rather than legitimizing such fears, politicians and policy-makers must dispel them by leading the EU and its members to adopt these measures. Enlargement also offers the EU a window of opportunity to accelerate unavoidable reforms of structural policies, agricultural policies and their financing. These are the premises of this new CEPR Policy Paper. The authors outline the key economic and social implications of the prospective accession of the Central and East European countries into the European Union and propose policy recommendations for EU enlargement.

Download or read book The Greatest Solidarity Operation in History written by José Luis González Vallvé and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Beyond the Spanish State written by R. Jones and published by Springer. This book was released on 2000-09-25 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beyond the Spanish State is a well researched and accessibly written study of EU policy-making in Spain. From the fishermen in Andalusia fighting to protect their quotas, to regional governments demanding a greater say in EU Structural Funds, the book represents a masterful effort to delve deeper into the dynamic relations between central government and other actors in the domestic arena. Conclusions most directly pertain to the case of Spain but, nonetheless, provide an insight into the broader EU framework.

Download or read book Spain written by Richard Gillespie and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013-09-27 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume assesses the evolution of Spain's external relations during the 1990s, within and beyond Europe, and assesses the principal challenges facing the country at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The coincidence of several crucial global and European developments has had a profound effect on Spain. Adjustment of the economy and changes in foreign policy perspectives have become unavoidable. In turn, Spain, as an increasingly self-confident member of the EU, has itself become a significant actor in European-level developments. Spain's relationship with Europe and the wider world is increasingly balanced between new constraints and new opportunities for international influence.

Download or read book Spain in the E U The Road to Economic Convergenc written by M. Farrell and published by Springer. This book was released on 2001-03-13 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spain and the EU takes the country's accession to the European Community in 1986 as its starting point and traces the changes in the national and regional economy, the shifts in national economic policy, and the fundamental restructuring of a public sector only recently enlarged as a result of the country's transition to democracy. The book identifies the challenges that continue to confront the Spanish polity under monetary integration in the pursuit of convergence towards the EU model, while retaining national cohesion. Aimed at an academic and general audience, the issues raised in this book have broader lessons for the management of integration at the national and sub-national level, particularly for new member states.

Download or read book Andorra and the European Union written by Michael Emerson and published by CEPS. This book was released on 2007 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Regional Economic Integration written by Sanjay Peters and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Spain and the European Union written by Carlos Closa and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 2004-06-19 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spain's membership of the European Union since 1986 has had a major impact. Driven primarily by political concerns to secure democracy, membership has also served as a catalyst to dynamic economic development in Spain. This book analyzes how the EU has helped shape the political process in Spain, focusing on the key institutions and the policy process. At the same time, Spain's increasingly proactive role within the EU is also explored, with particular attention given to the country's international position in post-Cold War Europe.

Download or read book Poland s Role in the Development of an Eastern Dimension of the European Union written by Andreas Lorek and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2009 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Polands accession into the European Union (EU) in May 2004 changed the geopolitical situation of the country fundamentally. Poland moved from an outsider to an insider and changed its location from being at the EU-external border to a country with an external border toward the Eastern European states. The countries at Polands Eastern borders became as well the Eastern neighbours of the European Union after 1 May 2004. The break-up of the Soviet Union in 1989/1991 was the starting point for a new and self-determined foreign policy. The strategic objectives of Polands foreign policy for the follow-ing years were clear. The most important aims were the NATO-accession, which was seen as the highest priority for Polands security, and the EU-accession, which should secure Polands return into the European mainstream. A subordinated objective was the establishment of an effective and coherent policy toward Polands Eastern neighbours. Polands Eastern policy in the first years concentrated on consolidating sovereignty and in-dependence of the former Soviet republics Lithuania, Ukraine and Belarus and on good rela-tions to the former Soviet centre Russia. With all of the Eastern neighbours Poland reached a status of good-neighbourly and friendly relations. But the bilateral relations in the following years developed unequally. Today Ukraine is Polands most important and closest Eastern neighbour. The bilateral relations are defined as a strategic partnership. Poland imposed, like all EU states, sanctions on Belarus and does not have contacts with the Belarusian gov-ernment on a high political level. Russia is a difficult partner. The country sees itself on a higher level and often treats Poland with disrespect. On the European scene Poland was very engaged for its Eastern neighbours. Already in 1992 former Foreign Minister Krzysztof Skubiszewski warned against a new division of Europe, not because of ideological reasons but more because of economic-political facts (Shynkarjov 2005: 47). The concept of a future Eastern Dimension was formulated for the first time at the inauguration meeting of Polands accession negotiations with the EU in 1998 by former Foreign Minister Bronislaw Geremek. The introduction of such an Eastern policy of the EU was an important part of the Polish mandate for the accession negotiations . Gere-mek highlighted the importance of the Eastern neighbours for Poland and the EU and called for the development of a common EU policy with Polands and the EUs Eastern neighbours after enlargement. Geremek launched with his call an active and vigorous debate about the possibility and shape of a future European Eastern policy among experts and politicians. In 2001 the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs published its viewpoint about The Eastern policy of the European Union in the run-up to the EUs enlargement to include the countries of Cen-tral and Eastern Europe. Poland referred to a policy which should apply uniform and identical standards to all states established in the post-Soviet space [and] should further try to de-velop a model of cooperation giving all states equal access thereto, ensuring equal participa-tion therein and and guaranteeing equal benefits to be driven therefrom (MFA 2001: 8). The new Eastern policy should comprise the entire post-Soviet space, which means Polands di-rect neighbours Ukraine, Belarus and Russia (respectively the Russian exclave Kaliningrad) as well as Moldova, the Caucasia and Central Asia (MFA 2001: 11; MFA 2003: 85/6). The archetypes for the Eastern Dimension were the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (or Barcelona Process) and especially the Northern Dimension. Both common EU policies came into existence after an enlargement of the EU. Spain and Portugal promoted the Euro-Mediterranean relations after their accession to the EU, the Northern Dimension was a result of the accession of Sweden and Finland (Cieszkowski 2004: 103). The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was launched in 1995 at a conference in Barcelona. It should provide a wide framework of political, economic and social relations between EU member states and countries of the Southern Mediterranean. The Northern Dimension ad-dresses special regional development challenges of Northern Europe. It reflects the EU rela-tions with Russia (particularly North-west Russia) in the Baltic Sea and Arctic regions. The Eastern Dimension would not be in concurrence with other EU policies, it was rather thought as an enlargement of the Northern Dimension, as Polands former Foreign Minister Cimoszewicz clarified: The Eastern Dimension would be complementary to the Northern Dimension of the EU. I believe that it can use the experience of the Northern Dimension as well as other policies of the EU toward adjacent regions (Cimoszewicz 2003: 18). The development of a coherent and effective policy toward the new EU neighbours after enlargement was as well a major interest of the EU. The discussion on the EU level was launched in 2002 by Great Britain and Sweden. In April 2002 the General Affairs and Exter-nal Relations Council (GAERC) discussed for the first time about Wider Europe Relations between the future enlarged EU and its Eastern neighbours (Council 2002a: 10). Poland con-tributed actively to that debate in 2003 with a Non-paper with proposals concerning the new Eastern neighbours (MFA 2003) and the organisation of numerous conferences in order to win support from EU members and the states of Eastern Europe (Cieszkowski 2004: 105). The European Commission and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Secu-rity Policy (HR for the CFSP) Javier Solana worked up ideas for the Unions policy toward the new neighbourhood. Former Commission President Romano Prodi presented the Wider Europe concept in December 2002. His aim was to see a ring of friends surrounding the union [and to share] everything but institutions [with them] (Prodi 2002).--

Download or read book Europe Regions and European Regionalism written by Roger Scully and published by Palgrave MacMillan. This book was released on 2010-10-13 with total page 298 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduction: Europe, Regions and European Regionalism-- R.W.Jones & R.Scully The Belgian Regions and the European Union: Unintended partners in unravelling the Belgian state?-- W.Swenden The French Regions and the European Union: Policy Change and Institutional Stability-- R.Pasquier 'Fit for Europe'? The German Lander, German federalism and the EU-- C.Moore 'Loyal Cooperation': Italian Regions and the Creation and Implementation of European Law-- G.Falcon & D.de Pretis Divide to Multiply: Irish Regionalism and the European Union-- K.Hayward Scotland's European Strategy-- N.Burrows European Integration and the Spanish Territorial State-- F.Morata The Swedish Regions and the European Union-- A.Lidstrom Estonian Regions and the European Union: between Transformation and Europeanisation-- T.Kungla Regionalism in a Unitary State: The case of Hungary-- G.Horvath The Regions of Poland-- G.Gorzelak with A.Tucholska Accommodating European Union Membership: The Regional Level in Bulgaria-- M.Brusis Conclusion: Europe's Persisting Regions-- R.Scully & R.Wyn Jones Bibliography.

Download or read book Regional Policy and Planning in Europe written by Paul Balchin and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2002-06-01 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Regional Policy and Planning in Europe explores the ways regional policy and planning systems across Europe have been influenced by: * economic and monetary union * the impending enlargement of the European Union * the devolution of administrative power from central government to regional authorities * the increased importance of environmental and urban issues. Presenting a comprehensive overview of the economic basis of integration, this book examines the evolution of various systems of government, planning and forms of devolution.

Download or read book EU Integration and Production Networks written by Leticia M. Blázquez Gomez and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The aim of this paper is to advance knowledge of Spain's participation in international production networks using data on trade in parts and components from 1990 to 2006. Data analysis shows a remarkable dynamism of Spanish trade in P&C, both in imports and exports, being capable of keeping their shares despite the intense competition from less developed countries. Additionally, Spanish participation in networks is mostly in Europe. In fact, Spain has maintained itself as one of the primary destinations of European P&C exports and has been the only economy that has improved its position as a supplier. These facts allow us to infer a significant competitive capacity of the Spanish economy in Europe, for both production and assembly of P&C. The EU enlargement to Eastern European countries seems not to have damaged Spanish competitiveness as an assembler. In order to analyse the nature of Spanish participation in production networks, we estimate the determinants of trade in P&C using an extended gravity panel data model. In addition to the standard variables in gravity models, we also examine the role of differences in technology and factor endowment between Spain and its trading partners, and the role of service link costs in P&C trade. We find that Spain's integration in production networking responds to comparative advantage but also to other factors such as EU membership and a good quality transport and communication infrastructures. Some lessons from the experience of a middle-income country like Spain may be useful for the CEECs, which have increased their presence in European production sharing in the last decade. Future EU enlargement towards lower costs countries could threaten their position in networking. The reinforcement of these other factors, besides comparative advantage, would act as key element to strengthen their participation in cross-border networks.

Download or read book A Continent Moving West written by Richard Black and published by Amsterdam University Press. This book was released on 2010 with total page 342 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dit boek beschrijft de toename van migratie uit Oost-europese landen in de periode van 2004-2007, na toetreding tot de EU. Het bevat nieuwe empirische 'casestudies' van migratiepatronen, zowel gebaseerd op veldwerk als op de analyse van bestaande statistieken.