Search

Begin New Search Political Geography Europe

2351. Identifying Options for a New International Climate Regime Arising from the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action

Author:
Robert N. Stavins, Ottmar Edenhofer, and Christian Flachsland
Publication Date:
10-2013
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Abstract:
The goal of the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements is to help identify and advance scientifically sound, economically rational, and politically pragmatic public policy options for addressing global climate change. Drawing upon leading thinkers in Argentina, Australia, China, Europe, India, Japan, and the United States, the Project conducts research on policy architecture, key design elements, and institutional dimensions of domestic climate policy and a post-2015 international climate policy regime. The Project is directed by Robert N. Stavins, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government, Harvard Kennedy School.
Topic:
Climate Change, Economics, Energy Policy, Industrial Policy, International Cooperation, and Treaties and Agreements
Political Geography:
United States, Japan, China, Europe, and India

2352. The Post-2015 Agenda and the EU: Faltering in the Global Development Partnership?

Author:
Marikki Stocchetti
Publication Date:
12-2013
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:
The era of the Millennium Development Goals and the Millennium Declaration expires in September 2015. As the largest donor of international development aid and trader with the developing countries, the EU has a key interest in the future outcome. It has also made binding commitments to support developing countries' own efforts to fulfil the present goals, as well as to act as a global partner. In the ongoing consultation process, the UN is pushing ahead with an enabling, universal development paradigm with an enhanced development partnership that goes well beyond traditional development assistance. Whereas the EU and the UN share common ground on human rights, governance and security issues, their preliminary proposals differ significantly on the question of a global partnership. The European Commission has tabled a proposal for the Union that is still based on a very conventional donor-recipient approach, which the UN seeks to reject. The European Commission proposal is problematic because it fails to present a comprehensive analysis of the current Millennium Development Goal on a global partnership, especially regarding trade and debt issues. Instead, it focuses on developing countries' domestic policies. The EU still has time to correct this as the process unfolds. Should it fail to do so, it is highly unlikely that other donors will take up the UN proposal and push it through in the inter-governmental negotiations.
Topic:
Development, Economics, Human Rights, Foreign Aid, and Governance
Political Geography:
Europe and United Nations

2353. Neither neutral nor non-aligned: The Europeanization of Finland's foreign and security policy

Author:
Teemu Palosaari
Publication Date:
12-2013
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:
Finland joined the European Union in the first wave of post-Cold War enlargement in 1995. All the applicants – including the neutral countries, Austria, Finland and Sweden – had to accept and be able to implement the Union's common foreign and security policy. !is criterion was implicitly aimed at the aforementioned neutral applicants. Before the accession, the Commission deemed that Finland's policy of neutrality – "or what is left of it" as the report put it – could pose problems for the Union: "in respect of the common foreign and security policy, the question arises to what extent Finland, which, as an armed neutral, has always laid great emphasis on the capability of defending the national territory, can fully share some of its objectives, such as the safeguarding of the independence and security of the Union (Article J.4)".
Topic:
Security, Foreign Policy, and Defense Policy
Political Geography:
Europe

2354. European Defence Under Scrutiny: What can be expected from the European Council?

Author:
Tuomas Iso-Markku
Publication Date:
11-2013
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:
The decision to place security and defence policy on the agenda of the December European Council and the intensive pre-summit preparations have given renewed impetus to this policy area and raised the level of expectations ahead of the meeting. While there is now widespread agreement among the member states on the main challenges facing the EU in the area of security and defence, conflicting political and economic interests still exist and continue to hamper the Union's efforts. The December summit is unlikely to engage in a major strategic debate, but it will discuss steps to improve the implementation of the Union's security and defence policy, to enhance cooperation in the area of capabilities, and to support the European defence industry. A major novelty is the European Commission's stronger involvement, which remains controversial, however. The most crucial task for the EU heads of state and government is to translate the momentum created by the pre-summit process into a lasting commitment on the part of all actors involved, by putting forward binding timelines, specific targets and concrete follow-up projects.
Topic:
Security, Foreign Policy, Defense Policy, and Arms Control and Proliferation
Political Geography:
Europe

2355. Updating The EMU: Differentiated economic integration in the European Union

Author:
Samu Kurri
Publication Date:
11-2013
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:
The financial and economic crisis has reinforced the two-layer economic integration structure in the EU. Many of the new rules and structures created during the crisis have focused on a solution to the euro crisis and are thus euro area-specific. There is little evidence, however, that the situation would have dramatically changed compared to the Maastricht EMU. All of the changes are still in line with the basic idea that all EU countries will join the euro when they are ready to do so. One of the key questions in the near future is likely to centre on the contours of the euro area specific decision-making, its relationship to the EU as a whole, and its institutions and procedures. Even if the Euro group remains 'formally informal', it has managed to transform itself into a de facto institution within the EU, and its role and weight is likely to increase rather than decrease.
Topic:
Debt, Economics, Monetary Policy, Financial Crisis, and Reform
Political Geography:
Europe

2356. The WTO Under Pressure: Tackling the deadlock in multilateral trade

Author:
Marikki Stocchetti and Johanna Jacobsson
Publication Date:
11-2013
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:
Multilateral trade liberalisation is in crisis. The WTO's ambitiously named Doha Development Round has been ongoing for more than a decade. Only a few limited issues remain on the negotiation agenda. While the round is being increasingly declared dead even by WTO members themselves, the same countries are concluding deeper trade agreements than ever before. Such progress, however, takes place at the bilateral and regional level. Another major development is the appearance of deep regulatory issues on the trade agenda. The shift from customs tariffs to countries' internal policies requires a certain like-mindedness from negotiation partners and poses challenges for national decision-making policies. Developing countries have gained less from multilateral trade liberalisation than what they had hoped for. The shift towards more fragmented trade regimes makes them even more prone to remain bystanders in global trade. At the WTO's next ministerial conference in Bali, progress on agriculture, trade facilitation and the treatment of the poorest countries would give a much-needed signal that the WTO can still benefit all of its members.
Topic:
Economics, International Cooperation, International Organization, International Trade and Finance, Treaties and Agreements, and World Trade Organization
Political Geography:
Europe

2357. America's European Ambassadors: Diplomacy in Tumultuous Times

Author:
Victoria de Grazia
Publication Date:
11-2013
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Columbia University World Leaders Forum
Abstract:
This World Leaders Forum program titled, America's European Ambassadors: Diplomacy in Tumultuous Times, will feature a panel discussion among the former U.S. Ambassadors and co-moderators listed below. Together, they will discuss challenges in U.S. foreign policy, especially American and European relations, from the perspective of their recent, on the ground experiences. The conversation will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
America and Europe

2358. The Balancing Act: Women, Work and Family in the United States and France

Author:
Anne-Marie Slaughter and Najat Vallaud-Belkacem
Publication Date:
10-2013
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Columbia University World Leaders Forum
Abstract:
This World Leaders Forum program titled, The Balancing Act: Women, Work and Family in the United States and France, will feature a conversation between Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Minister for Women's Rights and Government Spokesperson of France, and Anne-Marie Slaughter, President of the New America Foundation. The discussion will be moderated by Alondra Nelson, Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute for Research on Women and Gender, and will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience. In her essay "Why Women Still Can't Have It All," published in The Atlantic in 2012, Anne-Marie Slaughter fueled a national debate on how the difficulties of finding a work-family balance have limited women in the top echelons of business and government. The French Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem defends the belief that national policies can and should be used to support women's personal and professional goals and to implement a "real equality between women and men." These two public figures and high-profile career women will discuss gender equality in the U.S. and in France. They will also discuss strategies to ensure that the next generation of women and men can have enough for all.
Topic:
Gender Issues and Labor Issues
Political Geography:
United States, Europe, and France

2359. His Excellency Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania

Author:
Edi Rama
Publication Date:
09-2013
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Columbia University World Leaders Forum
Abstract:
This World Leaders Forum program features an address by His Excellency Edi Rama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, titled Prospects of the European Enlargement Process in South East Europe: A New Agenda, followed by a question and answer session with the audience.
Topic:
International Relations, Development, and Islam
Political Geography:
Europe, Eastern Europe, and Albania

2360. His Excellency Enrico Letta, Prime Minister of Italy

Author:
Enrico Letta
Publication Date:
09-2013
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Columbia University World Leaders Forum
Abstract:
This World Leaders Forum program features an address by His Excellency Enrico Letta, Prime Minister of Italy, titled European Governance and Italy's Role, followed by a question and answer session with the audience.
Topic:
Diplomacy, Political Economy, and Governance
Political Geography:
Europe and Italy