DOCSLIB.ORG

Official Journal of the European Union C 461/1

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Official Journal of the European Union C 461/1 Official Journal C 461 of the European Union Volume 61 English edition Information and Notices 21 December 2018 Contents I Resolutions, recommendations and opinions RESOLUTIONS Committee of the Regions 131st CoR plenary session and opening session of the EWRC week, 8.10.2018-10.10.2018 2018/C 461/01 Resolution of the European Committee of the Regions — The economic policies for the euro area and in view of the 2019 Annual Growth Survey . 1 OPINIONS Committee of the Regions 131st CoR plenary session and opening session of the EWRC week, 8.10.2018-10.10.2018 2018/C 461/02 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions on Reflecting on Europe: the voice of local and regional authorities to rebuild trust in the European Union . 5 2018/C 461/03 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Establishment of a European Labour Authority 16 2018/C 461/04 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — The contribution of EU cities and regions to the CBD COP14 and the post-2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy . 24 2018/C 461/05 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Communication on a European Strategy for Plastics in a circular economy . 30 2018/C 461/06 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Mainstreaming sport into the EU agenda post- 2020 . 37 2018/C 461/07 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Fair taxation package . 43 2018/C 461/08 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Digital Education Action Plan . 52 EN 2018/C 461/09 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Building a stronger Europe: the role of youth, education and culture policies . 57 III Preparatory acts COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 131st CoR plenary session and opening session of the EWRC week, 8.10.2018-10.10.2018 2018/C 461/10 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — The Multiannual Financial Framework package for the years 2021-2027 . 70 2018/C 461/11 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Horizon Europe: the Framework Programme 9 for Research and Innovation . 79 2018/C 461/12 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Proposal for a Regulation on the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund . 125 2018/C 461/13 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Asylum and Migration Fund . 147 2018/C 461/14 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Proposal for a Regulation establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1293/ 2013 . 156 2018/C 461/15 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Connecting Europe Facility . 173 2018/C 461/16 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Rights and Values . 196 2018/C 461/17 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Proposal for a single-use plastics directive . 210 2018/C 461/18 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Clean Ports, Clean Seas — port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships . 220 2018/C 461/19 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — Risk assessment in the food chain . 225 2018/C 461/20 Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — A new deal for consumers . 232 21.12.2018 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 461/1 I (Resolutions, recommendations and opinions) RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 131ST COR PLENARY SESSION AND OPENING SESSION OF THE EWRC WEEK, 8.10.2018- 10.10.2018 Resolution of the European Committee of the Regions — The economic policies for the euro area and in view of the 2019 Annual Growth Survey (2018/C 461/01) Submitted by the EPP, PES, ALDE, EA and ECR political groups THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS, — having regard to the European Commission’s Communication on the Annual Growth Survey 2018 (AGS) (1) and to the 2018 European Semester; — having regard to its resolution of 11 October 2017 on the 2017 European Semester, in view of the 2018 Annual Growth Survey (AGS), and to its resolution of 1 February 2018 on the European Commission’s Annual growth Survey 2018; — having regard to the European Parliament resolutions of 26 October 2017 on the economic policies of the euro area (2) and of 14 March 2018 on the 2018 AGS; 1. takes note of the overall slow and uneven pace of EU-relevant structural reforms across the EU, as measured by the implementation rate of the Country-specific recommendations (CSRs) (3); stresses that reforms are needed in all Member States to foster competitiveness and growth and to increase economic, social and territorial cohesion and economic convergence, as well as resilience to external shocks, which is crucial for the stability of the euro area; stresses that above all lack of ownership at country level and to some extent also insufficient administrative and institutional capacity are widely seen as the main factors contributing to the unsatisfactory implementation record of the Country-specific recommendations (CSRs) (4); (1) COM(2017) 690 final. (2) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&reference=P8-TA-2017-0418&language=EN&ring=A8-2017-0310 (3) Commission Communication on the 2018 CSRs, p. 3, (https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/2018-european-semester-country- specific-recommendation-commission-recommendation-communication-en.pdf); see also the European Commission impact assessment of the proposal of a Reform Support Programme (http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/10102/2018/EN/SWD- 2018-310-F1-EN-MAIN-PART-1.PDF). (4) See p. 23-26 of the impact assessment mentioned in the previous footnote. C 461/2 EN Official Journal of the European Union 21.12.2018 2. notes the strong increase in the number of CSRs directly addressed to local and regional authorities (LRAs) (36 % in 2018, compared to 24 % in 2017) (5); also notes that, taking into account those CSRs involving the LRAs, even if indirectly, and those not involving the LRAs but having a territorial impact, territory-related recommendations account for 83 % of all CSRs (compared to 76 % in 2017); 3. takes note that 48 % of the 124 specific recommendations which are addressed in 2018 to local and regional authorities and/or which raise challenges related to territorial disparities, repeat what was already published in 2015; welcomes therefore the European Commission’s multi-annual assessment of the implementation of Country-specific recommendations, which shows that more than two-thirds of Country-specific recommendations issued since the outset of the European Semester in 2011 have been implemented with at least ‘some progress’ (6); regrets however the persisting lack of transparency regarding the criteria upon which such assessment is based; 4. stresses that the European Semester needs to be aligned with an EU long-term strategy translating the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at EU level. The transition to a new European strategic framework succeeding the Europe 2020 strategy would be an appropriate juncture for reforming the governance of the European Semester; 5. strongly insists that the Country-specific recommendations should explicitly address territorial challenges and the role of the local and regional authorities in identifying and implementing them, while territory-related challenges and future scenarios should be explicitly analysed and addressed in the AGS and the Country Reports and be reflected in the National Reform Programmes; 6. stresses the need to ensure that the European Semester is fully coherent with the objective of economic, social and territorial cohesion set in the Treaty on European Union, and suggests that the Country-specific recommendations address Member States’ multi-annual cohesion challenges; 7. welcomes the European Semester’s focus on the European Pillar of Social Rights, and underlines that 45 % of Country-specific recommendations for 2018 give a role to local and regional authorities and/or raise challenges related to territorial disparities in the field of social rights (7); 8. reiterates that the involvement of the LRAs as partners in planning and implementing the European Semester, along with the adoption of multilevel governance arrangements and a structured, ongoing and explicitly recognised role for LRAs, would substantially increase ownership of CSRs at country level; stresses that this involvement is all the more important in the context of stricter links between cohesion policy and the European Semester under the 2021-2027 MFF and of the possible adoption of the Reform Support Programme, which would also be managed within the framework of the European Semester; 9. points out therefore a strong need to ensure better coordination and synergies between the European Semester process and the shared management approach, and the decentralized character of the ESI Funds; reiterates its proposal that the EU adopt a Code of Conduct to involve the LRAs in the European Semester (8), and stresses that such proposal is consistent with the subsidiarity principle and the current division of powers and competences across levels of government within the Member States; notes that the Code of Conduct should take into account the relevant experience of the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of cohesion policy’s ESI Funds (9), as well as existing good practices of involving LRAs extensively in the Semester, in some countries; 10. welcomes the EU Task Force on Subsidiarity’s ‘strong’ recommendation ‘that Member States follow the guidance the Commission has given on encouraging greater participation and ownership of the Country-specific recommendations in light of the fact that […] economic reforms […] may have implications for all levels of governance[…] This should go beyond the national administrations and include local and regional authorities, the social partners, and civil society generally (10)’; (5) http://portal.cor.europa.eu/europe2020/Documents/publi-file/2018-Territorial-Analysis-of-CSRs/2018_CSRs_draft_final.pdf (6) Commission Communication on the 2018 CSRs, p.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • European and International Affairs 2017
    European and international affairs2017 Fair winds keeping local governments on course 4 City Council Commission on Europe | Municipal development cooperation 5 An active player in Europe and worldwide 6 Strategy Standing up for Europe 8 Municipal development cooperation 9 White paper on the future of Europe 10 European structural and investment policy 2021–2027 11 EUROCITIES study of cities’ external cultural relations 11 Consultations in 2017 | Successful lobbying activities 12 Urban Agenda for the EU: Partnership for procurement 14 Dialogue News from the Europe Direct Information Centre 17 City Council resolution on the campaign „Munich4Europe“ | Europe Day 2017 18 Projects Award for waste avoidance concept 20 Circular economy dominates 2017 Annual Conference 21 Smarter Together: Getting around in tomorrow’s cities 22 CIVITAS ECCENTRIC: Solutions for sustainable mobility 23 Let it FLOW! | Urban mobility KIC 24 BuyZET | METAMORPHOSIS | URBACT – Good practice label for “Gscheid Mobil” project 25 Global learning to get fit for Europe 26 Erasmus+ and EUMUC: Over 180 internships in Europe 27 Martinsdorf vicarage in Transylvania | Stays abroad for teachers 27 Diversity in action in Munich | Youthful encounters 28 Building Committee trip to Amsterdam | Pooling experience on horticulture and landscape gardening 29 Munich education delegation in Québec | Youngsters from Munich in Washington 29 LOS_DAMA! huge success | EUSALP | ASTUS 30 European fire prevention regulations | Special ATF unit 31 SWM district cooling project in central Munich 31
    [Show full text]
  • Europcom 2019
    10th European Public Communication Conference 7 & 8/11/2019, Brussels Programme #europcom cor.europa.eu/europcom.go EuroPCom 2019 Right after the arrival of the newly elected European Parliament and the new College of the European Commission, the timing could not be better for communication experts to gather and capitalise on the opportunity provided by the start of this new term of office. Those who communicate Europe at national, regional and local level as well as in the EU institutions are coming together to exchange new ideas and discuss methods and tools. Let us look forward together and think of a fresh start to communicate in and on Europe! Three main clusters ELECTIONS CITIZENS TOOLS AND TRENDS Looking back at Engaging (with) citizens and Tools and trends to the European elections fostering local and regional communicate Europe communication Formats Workshop Mini Trainings Ideas Labs Bringing communicators "Hands-on" sessions on Open, fully participatory together on a specific topic selected practical skills lead sessions, providing space and presenting practical case by an experienced trainer. for active interaction, co- studies. creation and cooperation. The Ideas Labs are set up by participants based on a call for interest. Market Place EuroPCom Talks Interactive opportunity Short inspiring keynote for participants to bring in speeches. their projects and ideas, to exchange experience and best practices with other participants and to learn from each other. 7 November 2019 10.30-12.00 1 Opening session HEMICYCLE, PAUL-HENRI
    [Show full text]
  • Tackling Populism in Europe with a New Form of Public Diplomacy
    TACKLING POPULISM IN EUROPE WITH A NEW FORM OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY Western pluralistic democracies as we know them seem to be dissolving. Even before Brexit, the idea of “Europeanness” was being questioned. But what is weakening European democracies, and who is attacking it? Do we need less integration in Europe just because transnational democracy is not possible anymore? Or is the crisis mainly rooted in the weakness to fight populism? How much is the political leadership and the establishment responsible? How can cross-border actors and modern diplomacy keep a democratic Europe together and strengthen democracy where it is under attack? A new form of public diplomacy might be needed to strengthen cross-border pluralism and democracy. Bernd Hüttemann* Spring 2017 * Bernd Hüttemann is Vice President of the European Movement International and Secretary General of the European Movement Germany. He is also a visiting Lecturer at the University of Passau and the Berlin School of Economics and Law. This article is based on a speech for Avrupa Hareketi at Tüsiad in Istanbul on 16 February 2017. 37 VOLUME 16 NUMBER 1 BERND HÜTTEMANN iovanni Sartori underlined rightly that democracy needs to be complicated but must G be still easy enough to be explained. Europe’s landscape of societies is very di- verse. The idea that “there are not Member States, but Member Countries,” is an of- ten-undervalued reality in most of the EU and its candidate countries.1 There are mixed private-public systems including many more actors than just state authorities, with extensive differences. The classic ex- ample of a “statist country” is France, with a strong technocratic leadership which gains public support by a simple majority of the electorate.
    [Show full text]
  • The Future of Europe
    The Future of Europe The cities and regions need the European Union. The European Union needs its cities and regions. #eulocal Table of Contents Introduction 3 “State of the European Union: the view of Regions and Cities” address by CoR President Karl-Heinz Lambertz, 9 October 2018 5 “Reflecting on Europe: the voice of local and regional authorities to rebuild trust in the European Union” - CoR opinion adopted 9 October 2018 10 The “Reflecting on Europe” campaign: a dialogue between citizens, cities, regions and the European Union 22 Endnotes 35 The 8th European Summit of Regions and Cities 36 Introduction This brochure is a collation of three documents published by the European Committee of the Regions on 9 October: 1. “The State of the European Union: the view of Regions and Cities” address given by the President of the European Committee of the Regions, Karl-Heinz Lambertz on 9 October 2018. This years’ annual “State of the European Union: the view of Regions and Cities” address was held during the European Committee of the Regions’ plenary in Brussels It was followed by a debate on the future of Europe with the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, and the Committee’s members 2. “Reflecting on Europe: the voice of local and regional authorities to rebuild trust in the European Union”, European Committee of the Regions’ opinion adopted 9 October 2018. In 2016, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, requested the European Committee of the Regions to formally contribute to the reflection of the future of the European Union 3 The opinion is the culmination of two years of debates and consultation with local and regional au- thorities and their citizens’ collecting their views on the future of Europe The opinion was led by the European Committee of the Regions’ President, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, and its First Vice-President, Markku Markkula 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Reclaiming the Idea of Europe? Brexit, Soft Euroscepticism and EU
    Reclaiming the Idea of Europe? Brexit, Soft Euroscepticism and EU Contestation in Germany1 Maximilian Conrad, University of Iceland ([email protected]) Emmanuel Brunet-Jailly, University of Victoria Helga Hallgrímsdóttir, University of Victoria Paper prepared for the panel “Pro-European backlash? Responses to Euroscepticism and Right-Wing Populism in Europe” at the 2019 EUSA conference in Denver, CO Work in progress – please do not cite without consulting the authors Abstract: In the years since the global financial crisis and the Eurozone debt crisis, European integration has become considerably more contentious, even in countries with a previously strong sense of “permissive consensus”. In Germany, the emergence and ongoing transformation of the “Alternative for Germany” from a single-issue, anti-common-currency party into a far-right populist party is the clearest expression of this increasing contentiousness. Beyond the AfD’s fundamental rejection of European integration, however, anti-EU contestation in Germany takes place on a predominantly issue-specific basis, contesting austerity policies or free-trade projects such as TTIP, CETA and most recently JEFTA. Drawing on the fundamental distinction between “hard”/“unqualified” and “soft”/“qualified”/“contingent” Euroscepticism, this paper analyzes the nature of Euroscepticism in the positions of civil-society organizations involved in such contestation processes, arguing that the broad distinction between hard and soft Euroscepticism is insufficient to capture the diversity of positions on the soft Eurosceptic spectrum. Drawing on a distinction between three soft forms of Euroscepticism, the paper furthermore analyzes to what extent opposition to the EU in its current form translates into specific communicative practices defending the idea of European integration against hard Euroscepticism and right-wing populism, in particular in the context of Brexit and the upcoming elections to the European Parliament.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Eurosceptics in Government on Youth Support
    THE GREAT DEFENDERS?: THE IMPACT OF EUROSCEPTICS IN GOVERNMENT ON YOUTH SUPPORT Katja Greeson A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Political Science, Concentration European Governance. Chapel Hill 2019 Approved by: John Stephens Liesbet Hooghe Gary Marks © 2019 Katja Greeson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT Katja Greeson: The Great Defenders?: The Impact of Eurosceptics in Government on Youth Support (Under the direction of John Stephens) The age gap in support for the European Union, wherein young people are more likely to support the EU, is a well-known phenomenon. However, little is known about how changing national political contexts moderate this effect, particularly in regard to increasing electoral success of Eurosceptic parties. The purpose of this article is to assess how the presence of Eurosceptic parties in government changes the tendency of young people to support integration and pro-EU parties. I also test whether the type of Eurosceptic party (GAL vs. TAN and “soft” vs. “hard”) in government matters. Based on a multilevel analysis of 2016 European Social Survey data for 18 countries, I conclude that young Europeans are more likely to support the EU and pro-EU parties in countries where the Eurosceptic party in office is a TAN or “hard” Eurosceptic party. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ……………………………………………………………………………..…v INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………………………………..…1 ARGUMENTS AND HYPOTHESES ………………………………………………………...…3 DATA AND METHODS ………………………………………………………………….……11 RESULTS …………………………………………………………………………………….…20 DISCUSSION ……………………………………………………………………………...……28 REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………………….……32 iv LIST OF TABLES Table 1 – Categorization of Eurosceptic Parties by TAN vs.
    [Show full text]
  • Reinforcing the Case of Pulse of Europe to Overcome Contemporary Challenges for the European Union
    May 11, 2017 Reinforcing the Case of Pulse of Europe to Overcome Contemporary Challenges for the European Union Julia Theilen Graduate Student, International Communication St. John’s University, New York May 11, 2017 Dear fellow citizens of the European Union, how would you feel if, starting tomorrow, you could not drive freely without border controls from Germany to France anymore, to explore Paris for a weekend? What if tomorrow, our European Single Market would not exist anymore and consequently, there would be no common standards ensuring our health through regulations on clean drinking water, reducing air pollution or restricting the use of pesticides in agriculture? How would you tell your children that they cannot go on the semester abroad to Amsterdam or the student exchange to Barcelona that they had been excited about for so long? What if your own degree would not be accepted in Belgium anymore so you don’t qualify for an internship or a job there? What would happen to our economy and labor market without a common, stable currency? How would you feel about no more pan-European warranty periods and standards for labelling provisions or food hygiene, starting tomorrow? I guess, you would hope that tomorrow never comes. But hope alone does not preserve the European Union and all the benefits it brings to our everyone’s and future generations’ daily lives. To address the recent challenges the EU is facing, your active engagement is required. It starts with speaking out your support for, and belief in the European project. Citizens’ Initiative Pulse of Europe: Values, Activities and Strategy To mobilize the silent majority of supporters of the European Union – that is the mission that drives the citizens’ initiative Pulse of Europe (PoE).
    [Show full text]
  • A SOUL for EUROPE Conference 2017 Who Is Assuming Responsibility for Europe – How Citizens, Cities and Parliaments Should Cooperate for Europe
    Under the high patronage of the European Parliament Conference Report, 10 & 11 November 2017 A SOUL FOR EUROPE Conference 2017 Who is assuming responsibility for Europe – How citizens, cities and parliaments should cooperate for Europe DAY 1: 10 November 2017, Allianz Forum Berlin Welcome Words Satu Kuitunen, Frédéric Meseeuw A Soul for Europe Strategy Group Gerry Woop State Secretary for European Affairs, City of Berlin Volker Hassemer Chairman Stiftung Zukunft Berlin Satu Kuitunen, Frédéric Meseeuw, Volker Hassemer, Carin Tiggelhoven, Elmar Brock, Gerry Woop, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Emil Boc, Laura Kleiner © A Soul for Europe, seesaw-foto.com Satu Kuitunen: If we want a strong inclusive and welcoming Europe, we cannot expect the sceptics or those who feel left behind from the European Project to come and find us. We need to go and find them and this kind of events, inspiring conversations, are one way. “ (…) “These kinds of gatherings that we have here are an excellent opportunity to basicly challenge our values and have our opinions challenged. Under the high patronage of the European Parliament Public Debate Emil Boc Mayor of Cluj-Napoca Elmar Brok President Union of European Federalists and MEP Karl-Heinz Lambertz President Committee of the Regions Gerry Woop State Secretary for European Affairs, City of Berlin Juan Gabriel Vásquez Writer The panel was moderated by Carin Tiggeloven, Lauer Kleiner, Members of the initiative “Wir sind Europa!”, Volker Hassemer, Chairman of Stiftung Zukunft Berlin. Carin Tiggeloven, Elmar Brok, Gerry Woop, Karl-Heinz Lambertz, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Emil Boc, Laura Kleiner © A Soul for Europe, seesaw-foto.com The A Soul for Europe Conference started with a public debate on the topic Who is assuming responsibility for Europe – How citizens, cities and parliaments should cooperate for Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • Energising European Democracy: Time for Transnational Lists Open Letter Britain's Decision to Leave the European Union Is Both A
    Energising European Democracy: Time for Transnational Lists Open Letter Britain's decision to leave the European Union is both a drastic wake-up call and a unique opportunity to reinvigorate democracy in Europe. If Britain leaves, they will be giving up 73 seats in the European Parliament, thus providing us with a unique, historical opportunity to take a big leap forward by building a truly European democracy that unites people across borders. Our proposal to energise European democracy is to give some of the seats left over from Britain's departure to set up, for the first time ever, “transnational lists”. Transnational lists would push all European political forces to present comprehensive programmes that take into account the needs of all European citizens instead of running with contradictory proposals that are split across different countries or regions. This would revive democratic debates inside the political groupings and help to build a truly European public space. At last, people in Europe could vote for whoever they thought would best represent them, rather than having to choose between existing national or regional parties. Citizens who have more in common with their peers across borders than their fellow nationals would finally be more connected and better represented. Even starting with a limited number of seats, this has the potential to change politics dramatically, until eventually all citizens across Europe would have the possibility to hold all elected European politicians to account for the decisions they take in Brussels. This is not a new proposal, and in fact, the European Parliament already voted in favour of this idea back in 2015, when reforming the European electoral law.
    [Show full text]
  • REACHING out to EU CITIZENS: a NEW OPPORTUNITY ‘About Us, with Us, for Us’
    REACHING OUT TO EU CITIZENS: A NEW OPPORTUNITY ‘About us, with us, for us’ A report by Luc Van den Brande Special Adviser to the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker October 2017 Manuscript completed in October 2017. Neither the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission is responsible for the use that might be made of the following information. The opinions expressed are those of the author only and should not be considered as representative of the European Commission’s official position. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2017 © European Union, 2017 Reuse is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. The reuse policy of European Commission documents is regulated by Decision 2011/833/EU (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39). For any use or reproduction of photos or other material that is not under the EU copyright, permission must be sought directly from the copyright holders. Print ISBN 978-92-79-60668-7 doi:10.2775/319 NA-01-16-703-EN-C PDF ISBN 978-92-79-60667-0 doi:10.2775/401533 NA-01-16-703-EN-N CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION: A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE EU AND ITS CITIZENS ...............................................6 2. A CITIZEN-FOCUSED AND CITIZEN-OWNED EUROPE .....................................................................................................10 2.1. Citizens’ participation ......................................................................................................................................................................10 2.2.
    [Show full text]
  • Master Thesis
    Master Thesis Contagious Euroscepticism: Examining the impact of far-right parties on mainstream party positioning towards European integration in Germany, France and the UK Author Johannes Kröhnert Erasmus Mundus Master of Arts in Public Policy Thesis Supervision Prof Agnes Batory Dr Nicole Lindstrom Professor of Public Policy Senior Lecturer Central European University University of York CEU eTD Collection Number of words: 13,182 Submitted on 12 July 2018 Y3850523 - 2 - Abstract This thesis examines if and how the rise of far-right parties has influenced the salience and positions of mainstream parties on the issue of European integration. Have they accommodated the far-right’s Eurosceptic positions, or have they reinforced their support for European integration? A content and a textual analysis of German, French and British party manifestos from 2005 to 2017 is conducted to answer this question. The findings suggest that although all mainstream parties have increased the salience of European integration, the direction and intensity of positional shifts varies considerably between them. German parties are the most Europhile and have either shifted towards a more pro-European position or reinforced it over time. French parties are more critical of EU economic integration and have shown very different responses to EU political integration. A clear Eurosceptic shift is visible for British parties only with both mainstream-right and left parties being affected. The results highlight the role of domestic factors for understanding political contestation on the European integration issue. In addition, the thesis contributes to a better theoretical understanding of EU party competition by developing and applying a new model of party-based Euroscepticism.
    [Show full text]
  • EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE Catalogue of Ideas
    EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE Catalogue of Ideas 3 First and foremost, a big thank you to all those making the European Public Sphere proj- ect possible: local and remaining partners, funders, supporters, interns and last but not least to our brave participants with their brilliant ideas. Another huge thank you also to all those involved in realising this first Catalogue of Ideas: THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE Democracy International interns Mirte, Katharina, Michelle, and Shanne and Mehr Demokratie interns Amun and Sophie. 4 THE EUROPEAN PUBLIC SPHERE CATALOGUE OF IDEAS TABLE OF CONTENTS Room for Civic Participation in Europe 1 The European Public Sphere - Our intinerary Data Collection and Criteria 2 Structure 5 The regions Democracy 7 Economy 20 Environment 23 EU Copyright Reform 29 Food 30 Geopolitics 32 Inclusion 34 Media & Communication 36 Migration 38 Integration 41 Unity 44 Values 46 About us 49 Reviews 51 Annex 72 5 6 Room for Civic Participation in Europe “In varietate concordia” is the motto of the European Union. It comes to life when citizens, not just the European institutions, feel it. This is perhaps more crucial today than ever before. Travelling Europe and experiencing local cultures is important for our peaceful cohabitation, but we often hear that our community cannot be saved. The gulf between the political elites of the European Union and its citizens stems essentially from the fact that both political decision-makers and organized civil society are disconnected in a two-way communication system. The disconnect of communication and understanding between civil society, citizens and politicians has harvested toxic ideologies that are detrimental to the European project.
    [Show full text]