Search results for ""European Commission""

This book provides an authoritative contribution to applied cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and other evaluation methods in the context of the regional policy of the European Union. Through the use of Structural Funds and other financial and regulatory mechanisms, the EU will help to promote thousands of infrastructure projects in the next decade. CBA will be a key ingredient in the investment decision process and the authors provide important insights from their international experiences in project appraisal and evaluation and point to some valuable lessons to be learnt for the future. Some key questions addressed by the expert contributors include: How should a planner design incentives to stimulate evaluation efforts in project appraisal? What can we learn from the evaluation experience at the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank? What is the appropriate shadow price of time for Trans-European networks in transport? Is there a consensus on the value of the statistical life in environment projects? Should we use one unique European social discount rate or several? Edited by Massimo Florio, a leading expert in CBA and author of the EC, Guide to Cost-Benefit Analysis of Investment Projects (2002), this book will be warmly welcomed by practitioners in investment planning and evaluation, students in public economics, planning, development and European studies, and academics and researchers of CBA and applied welfare economics.

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“Become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world by 2010” is the major objective of the Lisbon strategy for the European Community. The European Commission re-launched the Lisbon strategy in a new initiative called i2010 – a European Information Society for growth and employment, to promote a Single European Information Space (SEIS). The aim of this initiative is to promote a borderless European information space and establishing an internal market for electronic communications and digital services, to stimulate innovation through investment in research, to encourage the industrial application of ICT, and to make the European information society as inclusive and accessible as possible.SEEM (Single European Electronic Market) is a SEIS contributor, and its goal is to integrate electronic value chains, so that companies, organizations and individuals from different Member States can be linked without experiencing any access or interoperability problems. SEEM facilitates electronic transactions in business environments with appropriate legal aspects and regulations, with no national exclusions or special conditions prevailing. It will be affordable to all with an electronic work environment in which the networks of organizations that create added value products and services are supported by common tools and services towards an effective electronic market. This book presents the main results of the prospective study performed by the SEEMseed project, and includes contributions from more than 1400 experts in Europe and abroad. The Road for SEEM: A REFERENCE FRAMEWORK TOWARDS A SINGLE EUROPEAN ELECTRONIC MARKET will be of interest to managers and senior researchers in the area of ICT and business, to policy makers, and to ICT engineers and post-graduates.

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Rules controlling State aid and subsidies on the EU and the WTO level can have a decisive influence on both regulatory and distributive decision-making. This field of law has grown exponentially in importance and complexity over the past decades. Rules on State aid and subsidies control are one of the key instruments to ensure that public spending and regulatory measures do not lead to discriminatory distortions of competition. As a consequence, hardly any part of national law is free from review under criteria of State aid and subsidy regulation. In turn, State aid and subsidies law is linked to economic, constitutional, administrative law of the EU and the Member States as well as to public international law. This book brings together leading experts from academia, the judiciary, civil servants from the European Commission, and practising lawyers to provide expert opinion and commentary on the diverse dimensions of the complex and vital area of law. Critically analysing and explaining developments and current approaches in State aid law and subsidies, the chapters take into account not only the legal dimensions but also the economic and political implications. They address the EU law applicable to State aid in the aftermath of the recent State Modernisation reform, and coverage includes: an in-depth analysis of the notion of State aid as interpreted by the Court's cases-law and the Commission's practice; the rules on compatibility of State aid with the internal market; the rules governing the procedure before the Commission; the litigation before the Court of Justice of the European Union; and analysis of the other trade defence instruments, including WTO subsidy law and EU anti-subsidy law.

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Nanotechnology has attracted billions of dollars in venture capital from research institutes, governments, and industries in recent years. Traditional nanofabrication techniques such as CVD, sol–gel, and self-assembly have been intensively studied. However, the electrochemical nanofabrication technique, which offers huge benefits for manufacturing nanomaterials as well as broad applications in industries, has not been given much attention compared with the traditional nanofabrication methods. This book fits the niche of such technology because it summarizes various electrochemical nanofabrication methods and shows their various essential applications in areas such as batteries, sensors, and many future technologies. With the development of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, the arena of electrochemical nanofabrication has expanded significantly. The first edition of this book was drafted in 2009. In 2010, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to Prof. Konstantin Novoselov and Prof. Andre Geim from the University of Manchester for their groundbreaking experiments on the two-dimensional material graphene. Three years later, the European Commission launched the European Union’s biggest ever research initiative, the Graphene Flagship, with a budget of 1 billion euros. In light of these developments, this new edition of the book is enriched with the synthesis of graphene-based materials through electrochemical methods, the applications of graphene in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, and the use of graphene composites in various sensing platforms. It will be of immense interest to a broad audience in nanotechnology and electrochemistry.

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The European Commission adopted its Digital Single Market Strategy in May 2015. Three years later, legislative measures are emerging which aim to tackle the unique legal problems arising from the supply of digital content and which will shape the development of national and European law in the future. The Digital Content Directive is set to play a central rule in this development. Its provisions on conformity and remedies for non-conforming digital content concern the heart of the protection for the consumer. Its rules will not only have to be transposed into national law over the coming years but will also interact with existing provisions from the Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU, the E-Commerce Directive 2000/31/EU, and the Portability Regulation 2017/1128 in order for the legal framework on the supply of digital content to function. The Commentary contains an in-depth, article-by-article analysis of core provisions concerning the supply of digital content: from the pre-contractual information duties and cancellation rights to conformity and portability of digital content. The contributors are legal experts from across the EU. Their comments give not only detailed explanations of the background and purpose of the provisions in order to assist interpretation, but also indicate potential difficulties and solutions in order to ease transposition and implementation of the rules on the supply of digital content. It will be an essential guide for legislators, practitioners and scholars.

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Britain’s great battlefield generals of the Second World War like Montgomery and Slim would have failed had not General Sir Ronald Adam been appointed Adjutant-General in 1941. As the army’s second most senior officer, he was responsible for providing the man- and womanpower for battle. He revolutionised recruitment practices and introduced scientific selection procedures to find the officers, NCOs and technicians that a modern army needed. Adam also recognised that soldiers needed to believe in the cause they were fighting for. This too led to controversy when the soldiers began to debate political issues about post-war Britain. Did Adam’s espousal of such discussion groups lead to the Labour landslide in 1945? How did this career soldier of conventional background, when given the authority, come to tread on so many toes, kick so many shins and break up so much of the War Office’s most revered items of mental and organisational furniture? This book reveals the true story of a Modern Major-General. Roger Broad has worked as an international journalist for the Financial Times, Economist Intelligence Unit, editor for European Community magazine and the UK press officer for the European Commission in the 1960s. Broad served as the UK head of the European Parliament and authored of European Dilemmas: From Bevin to Blair (Palgrave, 2001) and Conscription in Britain 1939-1964: The Militarisation of a Generation (Routledge, 2006). He also spent his National Service serving with the Royal Army Educational Corps.

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This book addresses major issues facing postal and delivery services throughout the world. Worldwide, there is currently a considerable amount of interest in postal and delivery economics. The industry is in a state of near crisis and drastic change is needed. The European Commission and member States are still wrestling with the problem of how to implement entry liberalization into postal markets, how to address digital competition, and how to maintain the universal service obligation (USO). The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 in the U.S. has perhaps created and exacerbated the problems faced by USPS. Post Offices (POs) have been slow to address the threat of electronic competition. On the other hand, e-commerce presents opportunities for POs to expand their presence in parcel delivery and perhaps help finance or redefine the USO. A major aim of this book is to address strategies POs can use to reinvent themselves for the digital age.This book compiles original essays by prominent researchers in the field, which will be selected and edited from papers presented at the 25th Conference on Postal and Delivery Economics held in Barcelona, Spain, May 24-27, 2017. That conference, and this volume, commemorates the memory of Michael Crew who organized twenty-four prior conferences and co-edited previous conference volumes. This book is a useful tool not only for graduate students and professors, but also for postal administrations, consulting firms, and Federal Government departments.

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This open access book offers a comprehensive overview of the history of genomics across three different species and four decades, from the 1980s to the recent past. It takes an inclusive approach in order to capture not only the international initiatives to map and sequence the genomes of various organisms, but also the work of smaller-scale institutions engaged in the mapping and sequencing of yeast, human and pig DNA. In doing so, the authors expand the historiographical lens of genomics from a focus on large-scale projects to other forms of organisation. They show how practices such as genome mapping, sequence assembly and annotation are as essential as DNA sequencing in the history of genomics, and argue that existing depictions of genomics are too closely associated with the Human Genome Project. Exploring the use of genomic tools by biochemists, cell biologists, and medical and agriculturally-oriented geneticists, this book portrays the history of genomics as inseparably entangled with the day-to-day practices and objectives of these communities. The authors also uncover often forgotten actors such as the European Commission, a crucial funder and forger of collaborative networks undertaking genomic projects. In examining historical trajectories across species, communities and projects, the book provides new insights on genomics, its dramatic expansion during the late twentieth-century and its developments in the twenty-first century. Offering the first extensive critical examination of the nature and historicity of reference genomes, this book demonstrates how their affordances and limitations are shaped by the involvement or absence of particular communities in their production.

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This open access book offers a comprehensive overview of the history of genomics across three different species and four decades, from the 1980s to the recent past. It takes an inclusive approach in order to capture not only the international initiatives to map and sequence the genomes of various organisms, but also the work of smaller-scale institutions engaged in the mapping and sequencing of yeast, human and pig DNA. In doing so, the authors expand the historiographical lens of genomics from a focus on large-scale projects to other forms of organisation. They show how practices such as genome mapping, sequence assembly and annotation are as essential as DNA sequencing in the history of genomics, and argue that existing depictions of genomics are too closely associated with the Human Genome Project. Exploring the use of genomic tools by biochemists, cell biologists, and medical and agriculturally-oriented geneticists, this book portrays the history of genomics as inseparably entangled with the day-to-day practices and objectives of these communities. The authors also uncover often forgotten actors such as the European Commission, a crucial funder and forger of collaborative networks undertaking genomic projects. In examining historical trajectories across species, communities and projects, the book provides new insights on genomics, its dramatic expansion during the late twentieth-century and its developments in the twenty-first century. Offering the first extensive critical examination of the nature and historicity of reference genomes, this book demonstrates how their affordances and limitations are shaped by the involvement or absence of particular communities in their production.

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Lifestyle affects peoples' health and may cause a wide range of lifestyle-related diseases. Most European countries aim to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and thus attempt to decrease the burden of lifestyle-related illnesses at the population level. In order to provide an evidence base for eff ective health policy measures, research on the relationship between lifestyle and health as well as consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle has been initiated by the European Commission.The Working Party on Information on Lifestyle and Specific Subpopulations has been funded by the Directorate General Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission within the Public Health Programme 2003-2008. This Working Party was initiated in 2004 as a European network to coordinate research activities on lifestyle and other health determinants in the fi eld of health information at European level. It has since provided a platform for scientific exchange and has contributed to the development of the European Health Monitoring System. This book is an effort to present achievements and outcomes on lifestyle-related health information in the European Community and thus guide future work in the area of lifestyle and specific subpopulations. The book outlines the strategic framework of the group, presents policy recommendations on the basis of project outcomes and identifies priority issues for political action in the area of lifestyle and specifi c subpopulations. Autorenporträt Prof. Dr. med. Dr. med. dent. Wihelm Kirch, Direktor des Instituts für Klinische Pharmakologie an der Medizinischen Fakultät der Technischen Universität Dresden, ist seit 2005 Vorsitzender der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Klinische Pharmakologie und Therapie (DGKliPha), Vorsitzender des Deutschen Verbandes für Gesundheitswissenschaften und Public Health (DVGPH). Seit 2009 ist Prof. Kirch Präsident der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie e.V. (DGPT).

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Identifies Recent Technological Developments WorldwideThe field of grid computing has made rapid progress in the past few years, evolving and developing in almost all areas, including concepts, philosophy, methodology, and usages. Grid Computing: Infrastructure, Service, and Applications reflects the recent advances in this field, covering the research aspects that involve infrastructure, middleware, architecture, services, and applications.Grid Systems Across the GlobeThe first section of the book focuses on infrastructure and middleware and presents several national and international grid systems. The text highlights China Research and Development environment Over Wide-area Network (CROWN), several ongoing cyberinfrastructure efforts in New York State, and Enabling Grids for E-sciencE (EGEE), which is co-funded by the European Commission and the world’s largest multidisciplinary grid infrastructure today.The second part of the book discusses recent grid service advances. The authors examine the UK National Grid Service (NGS), the concept of resource allocation in a grid environment, OMIIBPEL, and the possibility of treating scientific workflow issues using techniques from the data stream community. The book describes an SLA model, reviews portal and workflow technologies, presents an overview of PKIs and their limitations, and introduces PIndex, a peer-to-peer model for grid information services.New Projects and InitiativesThe third section includes an analysis of innovative grid applications. Topics covered include the WISDOM initiative, incorporating flow-level networking models into grid simulators, system-level virtualization, grid usage in the high-energy physics environment in the LHC project, and the Service Oriented HLA RTI (SOHR) framework.With a comprehensive summary of past advances, this text is a window into the future of this nascent technology, forging a path for the next generation of cyberinfrastructure developers.

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Security rights are of fundamental importance to the granting of credit. They are generally considered to increase the availability and lower the cost of credit but there appear to be divergent views across Europe and elsewhere on the extent to which it should be possible to create security rights over assets.Moreover, laws in many countries avoidance laws strike at advantage gaining by creditors in the period immediately before formal insolvency proceedings are instituted. It is seen as potentially unfair to other creditors who may be forced into taking enforcement proceedings against the debtor and this may precipitate the premature liquidation of the debtor with an overall loss of economic value.The book will assess the conception of security rights according to the different European legal traditions. It will also evaluate the appropriateness of the protection given to security rights in light of:- developments in those European legal traditions;- the objective of the Insolvency Regulation to facilitate the more effective administration of cross-border insolvency cases;- the need for security in the context of the financial crisis;- the basic principles of ensuring fairness between creditors;- forestalling premature liquidation; and- reinforcing the collective nature of the insolvency process.The growth strategy put forward by the European Commission, Europe 2020, is designed to achieve economy recovery and sustainable growth, targeting as primary goals a higher investment rate and the preservation of employment. The rescue of troubled enterprises is at the core of this strategy and the book plots the alignment between this strategy and the evolution of the Insolvency Regulation.The objective is to facilitate a situation where economic and social systems are adaptable, resilient and fair; where economic activity is sustainable; and where human values are respected.

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The ebook edition of this title is Open Access and freely available to read online. The under-representation of women in research and innovation has been documented as a global phenomenon and is particularly heightened on decision-making boards and in leadership positions. Presenting a reflexive approach to gender equality for research organisations developed within the TARGET project, funded by the European Commission, the authors describe the experiences of the project’s implementation in seven Gender Equality Innovating Institutions in the Mediterranean basin - including research performing organisations, research funding organisations and a network of universities. The TARGET approach goes beyond the formal adoption of a gender equality policy by emphasising an iterative and reflexive process towards equality at the institutional level as well as the establishment of a community of practice for gender equality within the institution. The approach is based on the assumption that actual change is the result of increased institutional willingness and capacity to identify, reflect on and address gender bias in a sustained way. Starting point and anchor of the process is a tailored gender equality plan for each institution. A specific characteristic of TARGET is the fact that implementing institutions are located in countries which have been characterised as relatively ‘inactive’ in developing gender equality policies in science and research. Therefore, internal and external communication about the relevance of gender equality in science and research forms an important element of a reflexive gender equality policy in contexts which are characterised by resistances, anti-genderism and traditional gender roles. This book will therefore be essential reading for higher education leaders and managers, and staff at all levels committed to achieving gender equity in higher education. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

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Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is setting new missions for companies and shining a welcome light on issues such as the behaviour of board members, shared value, the well-being of stakeholders, the protection of vulnerable individuals and the roles played by public opinion and shareholders. This timely book seeks to lay the foundations for a sustainable corporate governance based on the European Commission definition of CSR as 'the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society'. More generally, this sustainable corporate governance responds to some of the pressing challenges of the 21st century, from sustainable finance and climate change to carbon reduction and population growth.The book offers a comprehensive theoretical and educational approach to CSR, with references to key international, European and national texts on this subject. It is written largely from a European and French perspective, but draws comparisons with the United Kingdom and United States. The close relationship between the demands of energy transition and corporate governance and the role of Social Responsibility Investment (SRI) and its relationship with CSR are covered in depth. In addition, the notion of a 'stakeholder', as well as changes in our understanding of this term and its impact on corporate governance, is explored in detail. This significant book offers a theoretical and dynamic approach to CSR, adopting a holistic vision that is both practical and forward-looking. Providing a wealth of reference material and highlighting areas for future research, it is an ideal tool for both students and academics studying CSR.

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Based on a survey of more than 6,700 top civil servants in 17 European countries, this book explores the impacts of New Public Management (NPM)-style reforms in Europe from a uniquely comparative perspective. It examines and analyses empirical findings regarding the dynamics, major trends and tools of administrative reforms, with special focus on the diversity of top executives' perceptions about the effects of those reforms. Resulting from research funded by the European Commission, this book is an ambitious, comprehensive portrait of public administration in the central European bureaucracies after more than three decades of NPM reforms and in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The chapters present extensive data on single countries but invaluably take a comparative approach, presenting a broad, explorational perspective.Public Administration Reforms in Europe is an indispensable resource for researchers, practitioners and students in a variety of social science areas, especially public administration, public policy and public management.Contributors include: J. M. Alonso, R. Andrews, P. Bezes, R. Boyle, M.E. Cardim, J. Clifton, D. Díaz-Fuentes, J. Downe, N. Ejersbo, F. Ferrè, D. Galli, C. Greve, V. Guarneros-Meza, G. Hajnal, G. Hammerschmid, K. Huxley, G. Jeannot, S. Jilke, P. Lægreid, S. Leixnering, F. Longo, R.E. Meyer, L. Mota, V. Nakrosis, S.A. Öberg, E. Ongaro, A. Oprisor, L. Pereira, T. Randma-Liiv, R. Rauleckas, L.H. Rykkja, K. Sarapuu, L. Sarkute , R. Savi, A. Schikowitz, R. Snapstiene, T. Steen, V. Stimac, S. Van de Walle, J. van der Voet, T. Virtanen, U. Weske, H. Wockelberg

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The European Union is the world’s most advanced international organization, presiding over a level of legal and economic integration unmatched in global politics. To explain this achievement, many observers point to its formal rules that entail strong obligations and delegate substantial power to supranational actors such as the European Commission. This legalistic view, Mareike Kleine contends, is misleading. More often than not, governments and bureaucrats informally depart from the formal rules and thereby contradict their very purpose. Behind the EU’s front of formal rules lies a thick network of informal governance practices. If not the EU’s rules, what accounts for the high level of economic integration among its members? How does the EU really work? In answering these questions, Kleine proposes a new way of thinking about international organizations. Informal governance affords governments the flexibility to resolve conflicts that adherence to EU rules may generate at the domestic level. By dispersing the costs that integration may impose on individual groups, it allows governments to keep domestic interests aligned in favor of European integration. The combination of formal rules and informal governance therefore sustains a level of cooperation that neither regime alone permits, and it reduces the EU’s democratic deficit by including those interests into deliberations that are most immediately affected by its decisions. In illustrating informal norms and testing how they work, Kleine provides the first systematic analysis, based on new material from national and European archives and other primary data, of the parallel development of the formal rules and informal norms that have governed the EU from the 1958 Treaty of Rome until today.

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In 2004 the UK Government was faced with numerous challenges in the context of environmental management, and has been under pressure to perform for at least the next five years. Targets set in Brussels either by the European Commission or the European Parliament will be difficult to meet. Additionally, new environmental legislation continues to flow in from both Europe and Westminster. The new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 with its implications for regional environmental decision-making, the new Permitting regime, the Waste Emissions Trading Act 2003, the implications of the Water Act 2003, the Household Recycling Act 2003, the introduction of controls for Agricultural Waste in 2004-5, and the ELV, the WEEE and the RoHS Regulations all have to be understood and new training undertaken. The changeover from the UK Carriage of Dangerous Goods regime to the EU ADR Regulations and the reclassification of Special into 91/689 Hazardous Waste will have technical, management and financial implications for industry, commerce and SMEs. The commercial and environmental effects of the new laws and practices are explained with reference to relevant websites to aid the reader to find further details and hopefully solutions to environmental difficulties which will be the responsibility of the Environment Agency, SEPA, Local Authorities, the Health and Safety Executive, the Vehicle Operator Services Agency, Customs and Excise and other named agencies. This book is intended primarily for engineers, surveyors, building contractors, accountants, geologists, environmental scientists, insurers and controllers of financial liability, transportation managers, local and central government regulators and enforcers – and of course, all who produce, manage, transport, reuse, reclaim and recycle waste.

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The financial sustainability of the welfare state, its efficiency in covering new risks and to effectively reallocate resources in a fair way are now classic issues for debate. This book explores the more understated question of the democratic legitimacy of a 'quasi' European policy in a field which is subjected to the contradictory impact of ever tighter European economic governance. With the wide vision of a comparative perspective and the deep knowledge of social policy scholars, the authors of this book offer inspiring insights into different facets of democratic governance which are likely to inform European decision makers in the coming decade.'- Agnes Hubert, member of the Bureau for European Policy Advisors - European CommissionThe welfare state in Europe has been reformed gradually over the past two decades, with the intensification of the economic and monetary union and the addition of fifteen new members to the EU. This book explores the pressures that have been placed on the welfare state through a variety of insightful and thought-provoking contributions.As the standard of living has increased, aspirations and financial constraints have required major rethinking. There is considerable disparity between European countries in how they approach the welfare system, with differing concern over aspects such as income, employment and the ability to participate in society. Choices over welfare lie at the heart of the democratic system; this book explores the tensions this has produced and the innovative responses in policy content and institutions.The Changing Welfare State in Europe has a wide appeal, which will have relevance to economists, scholars in public and social policy, public and private finance experts, policymakers and also academics with an interest in the impact of financial and economic development.Contributors: T. Altman, C. Cheyne, K. Lyons, D.G. Mayes, A. Michalski, Z. Mustaffa, C. Shore, M. Thomson

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On 25 July 1909, a dapper, moustachioed Frenchman flying a flimsy, diaphanous aeroplane changed the status of a great nation. 'England is no longer an island,' declared the Daily Mail. Lord Northcliffe, the newspaper's proprietor, had put up the GBP1,000 prize for the first flight of the English Channel by the pilot of an aeroplane. In securing the prize for one of aviation's most celebrated firsts, Louis Bleriot had beaten his Anglo-French rival Hubert Latham. Six days earlier, Latham had become the first airman to make a forced landing on water when the engine of his elegant Antoinette monoplane failed while he was attempted the crossing. In this book the author explores the many and varied milestones in cross-channel flight, beginning back in July 1785 when John-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries made the first crossing, by balloon. Other flyers quickly followed Bleriot so that Pierre Prier made the first non-stop London-Paris flight in April 1911 and Harriet Quimby became the first woman to fly the Channel a year later. The book will chart other significant events in cross-Channel aviation such as the first mid-air collision between airliners flying between the UK and France, which led to a rudimentary system of air traffic control, the popularity of car ferry services in the 1950s and 1960s, and the coming of the jets. Other big changes were on the way. In 1994 Eurostar rail passenger services from London using the Channel Tunnel were launched. In October 2001, following chronic air traffic delays during the late 1980s, the European Commission adopted proposals for a Single European Sky but it comes as no surprise to learn that during the second decade of the 21st century this has become bogged down in intra-European politics.

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This authoritative book, bringing together the reports of the Competitiveness Advisory Group, identifies actions to improve European competitiveness politically, economically and socially. The objective is to raise living standards and maintain social cohesion.The Competitiveness Advisory Group has the mission of advising the European Commission and the Heads of State and Government of the European Union. The members of this independent group, which includes leading industrialists, trade unionists, politicians and academics, have adopted a 'bottom-up' approach, seeking to draw lessons from the experience of countries, industries and firms: they rely on 'benchmarking' in order to identify best practice.In the context of increasing interdependence of world trade and consequent globalization of the international economy new policy prescriptions are required for growth and employment, greater efficiency and higher standards of living. In relation to this, the Group discusses the need to close the worldwide technology gap, for Europe to develop deeper relations with the fast growing Asia Pacific region and argues for greater European solidarity in international trade negotiations. Within the European Union itself, it emphasizes the need to achieve the internal market for the free flow of goods, services and people. In addition, it stresses that Europe needs to catch-up, construct and eventually lead the development of the information society in which workers are recognized as a major asset to be invested in. The Group concludes that, although unemployment remains high, European competitiveness now has a brighter future with the movement towards economic and monetary union, and the enlargement of the European Union eastwards.This book will be essential reading for policymakers, government advisers, industrialists and academics concerned with the future of European economies and societies.

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This open access book presents the foundations of the Big Data research and innovation ecosystem and the associated enablers that facilitate delivering value from data for business and society. It provides insights into the key elements for research and innovation, technical architectures, business models, skills, and best practices to support the creation of data-driven solutions and organizations. The book is a compilation of selected high-quality chapters covering best practices, technologies, experiences, and practical recommendations on research and innovation for big data. The contributions are grouped into four parts: · Part I: Ecosystem Elements of Big Data Value focuses on establishing the big data value ecosystem using a holistic approach to make it attractive and valuable to all stakeholders. · Part II: Research and Innovation Elements of Big Data Value details the key technical and capability challenges to be addressed for delivering big data value. · Part III: Business, Policy, and Societal Elements of Big Data Value investigates the need to make more efficient use of big data and understanding that data is an asset that has significant potential for the economy and society. · Part IV: Emerging Elements of Big Data Value explores the critical elements to maximizing the future potential of big data value. Overall, readers are provided with insights which can support them in creating data-driven solutions, organizations, and productive data ecosystems. The material represents the results of a collective effort undertaken by the European data community as part of the Big Data Value Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the European Commission and the Big Data Value Association (BDVA) to boost data-driven digital transformation.

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The significant feature of homelessness in Europe over the past 25 years has been its persistence. Traditional policies have increasingly been found wanting in the light of the changed economic and demographic circumstances of the last quarter of the 20th century. A reappraisal of the nature of European homelessness by academics and practitioners demonstrates the need for the development of innovatory policies and practice that take account of these changed circumstances and explicitly address the current needs of Europe's homeless people. This highly topical report provides a synthesis of reported developments in innovative service provision for homeless people in the member countries of the European Union. Setting their arguments within a context of changing welfare provision and welfare/housing regimes, the authors reappraise the nature of homelessness and its causes, chart the main dimensions of the composition of homeless populations and of policy instruments and examine in detail the nature and diversity of emerging innovative practices in the provision of services to the homeless of Europe. Select examples of innovative services for homeless people are provided in the comprehensive Appendix to the report. The report draws on the 1998 national reports of the 15 correspondents of the European Observatory on Homelessness who conduct research on behalf of FEANTSA (the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless). It provides a genuinely comprehensive coverage of EU member states and should stimulate debate regarding housing policy issues across Europe and encourage transnational cooperation between non-governmental organisations as well as act as a stimulus for further research. In bringing together a wealth of material on policy and practice throughout Europe the report adds considerably to our knowledge of the dynamics of European homelessness and housing policy. Services for homeless people is therefore important reading for academics across Europe, practitioners in non-governmental organisations dealing with the homeless, housing agencies and government departments, and students of comparative housing studies. The research of the European Observatory on Homelessness is supported financially by DG V of the European Commission.

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Founded in 2007 to fund basic research, the European Research Council (ERC) has become the most revered instrument in European science policy and one of the world’s most important focal points for the funding of scientific research. Its grants are much sought-after by researchers and scholars and it is widely considered to have had a major impact on research communities and institutions across Europe. How did this remarkable organization, the creation of which was widely regarded as a ‘miracle’, come into being, what has it achieved and how is it likely to adapt in the face of current and future challenges? This book is the first comprehensive history of the creation and development of the ERC. Drawing on first-hand knowledge, Thomas König gives a detailed account of how a group of strong-minded European scientists succeeded in creating the ERC by pushing for a single goal: more money for scientific research with fewer strings attached. But he also shows how this campaign would have failed had it not been taken up by skilful officials of the European Commission, who recognized the ERC as a way to gain more influence in shaping European science policy. Once established, the ERC developed a carefully crafted self-image that emphasized its reliance on peer review and its differences from all other EU research programmes. In addition to analysing the creation and development of the ERC, this book critically examines its achievements and its claims. It also explores the implications of the rise of the ERC and the challenges and threats that it faces today, engaging with broader questions concerning the relationship of politics, science, and money at the beginning of the 21st century. It will be essential reading for all scholars and students of science policy, for decision-makers and administrators across Europe, and for researchers and academics looking to engage with and understand the ERC.

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In May 2004, the enforcement of the EC competition rules changed radically. Under Regulation 1/2003, the national competition authorities (NCAs) of all 27 Member States are called upon to actively participate, together with the European Commission, in the enforcement of Articles 81 and 82 EC. In order to ensure the efficient and consistent application of the law, Regulation 1/2003 provides for a number of co-operation mechanisms at the heart of which lies the European Competition Network (ECN). The ECN acts as a common forum for information exchange, co-ordination and discussion. This book provides an in-depth analysis of the rules governing co-operation within the ECN. It is a valuable source for all working in the field of EC competition law: practitioners, company lawyers, competition authority officials and academics. The author focuses on horizontal co-operation between the NCAs of different Member States. She starts by looking at the arrangements for case allocation, discusses the rules on information exchange and also deals with the consultation procedure prior to the adoption of final NCA decisions. The existing rules are assessed not only in the light of their purpose, ensuring efficiency and consistency in the application of the law, but also reviewed against the requirements of the EU Charter and the European Convention on Human Rights. Particular attention is devoted to issues arising in the event of parallel procedures by several NCAs. This includes the applicability of the ne bis in idem principle and the question which duties of the NCAs result from the loyalty obligation enshrined in Article 10 EC. Finally, the author explores whether the ECN concept of co-operation and networking could be applied more broadly in the context of European integration.

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The EU’s gas market is at the very centre of the energy union, and is changing faster than ever before. Indeed, the European Council has stressed repeatedly the EU’s priority of ensuring its gas security, promoting liquid and competitive gas markets across the whole of the EU. The commission has already proposed a revision to the gas security of supply regulation and negotiations are close to finalisation. Earlier this year, the Commission published an ‘LNG Strategy’. In terms of market integration, the progressive adoption of grid codes is further integrating markets, and the emergence of active trading hubs in North West Europe, is seeing the emergence of similar liquid markets throughout the EU. The EU has also been actively pursuing its aim of diversifying its sources of gas supplies, making progress in bringing the southern corridor to fruition, and is actively looking at other potential suppliers, for example in the Eastern Mediterranean. And in the competition policy field the commission has equally been active, scrutinising the behaviour in particular of companies holding dominant positions in parts of the EU. This volume, introduced by EU Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, brings together commentary and analysis by some of the leading commission officials, lawyers, and industry figures on all of these issues, offering a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced by the EU, its response, and the future direction of EU gas policy. 'The Role of Gas in the EU's Energy Union', edited by Christopher Jones, Deputy Director-General of the Directorate General for Energy at the European Commission, is the result of collaboration between its authors to contribute to the debate in this area and to raise money for charitable causes. 100 Euros per copy will be donated to the Donna Louise Trust, a children's charitable hospice that provides comfort and assistance to children with life-limiting conditions as well as their families.

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This book is about how European Union (EU) law is made. It is about the ways in which legally binding rules in the form of EU Regulations, Directives and Decisions are produced through interaction between the EU institutions: the independent European Commission; the Council, bringing together the Member States; and the European Parliament, directly elected by EU citizens. It has a particular approach which distinguishes it from the many other books which are published on EU law, institutions, politics and policies. The aim is to make it possible for people not only to see the ‘big picture’ of EU law-making, and to understand the main principles which underlie this system, but also to find a lot of the practical details. It therefore offers a concise overview of EU law-making which highlights the main principles and structures involved, and it places the different steps in context around a ‘policy cycle’. This cycle is illustrated not only by examples and mini-cases at all stages, but also by a more detailed case study which looks at the EU Timber Regulation around the whole cycle. In addition, the book supplies details about the procedures and practices of law-making which are often sought after by EU policy ‘practitioners’, as well as students of EU decision-making, and which so far have not been easily, if at all, to be found in published literature. While the book should be of use and interest to all those interested in how the EU works, it is written with a certain emphasis on what it all means for public actors. Almost all public officials in Europe are affected in one way or another by decisions taken in the EU, and an increasing number of officials are directly involved in shaping or implementing these decisions. Yet, as the EU has grown in size, scope and complexity, it has become increasingly difficult for people to have a clear idea of what the EU actually does, and how it really works. It is not always obvious, even to officials who are personally involved, how individual actions in the EU setting fit into the overall policy process. This book aims to answer that question.

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The book provides a comprehensive approach to the assessment of the nature of exporting activity, combining well-established theoretical reasoning with empirical evidence, and also signalling important economic policy recommendations. It is suitable for a wide range of recipients, ranging from scholars and students, to policy-makers or local/regional authorities engaged in the process of designing/implementing regional policies. Regional authorities show more interest in export potential because globalisation makes the regional economies more open and vulnerable to external economic shocks. The international trade channel has become an important factor influencing the region’s economic performance, including dynamics and volatility of economic growth as well as labour market performance. Due to economic transition and the accession to the EU, Poland’s regions have become more open than ever. For regions of both Poland and Spain (an EU country similar to Poland in terms of size and the number of administrative units), being part of the EU’s internal market with a free circulation of goods and capital – exerts competitive pressure, which can be regarded a stress test showing the regional adaptive capacity and competitiveness. Apart from the in-depth review of the regional export activity of Poland and Spain, the book also provides similar insights for Canada and Australia, in terms of their regional export performance and trade policy. About authors: Stanisław Umiński (PhD), professor at the University of Gdansk, Department of International Economics and Economic Development. Co-founder and vice-president of the Institute of Development. BI consultant, ABSL, Poland. Participant and head of research projects on FDI, foreign trade and regional development, carried on for instance for European Commission, National Bank of Poland, Ministry of Regional Development, National Science Centre. Author and co-author of publications in the fields of FDI, competitiveness, the foreign trade of regions and special economic zones. Jarosław M. Nazarczuk (PhD), assistant professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. Participant of research projects concerning: operation of special economic zones, regional export activity, the role of institutions in firms’ location decisions, economic development of selected regions, evaluation of regional operational programmes, high-tech clusters, regional marketing, financed from National Science Centre or carried for regional marshals’ offices and other public entities. Author and co-author of publications on SEZs, regional export performance, FDI, smart specialisation, location determinants, public aid effectiveness.

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More Than Concrete Blocks: Dublin city's twentieth-century buildings and their stories is a three volume series of architectural history books which are richly illustrated and written for the general reader. Unpacking the history of Dublin's architecture during the twentieth century, each book covers a period, in chronological sequence: Volume 1, 1900-1939; Volume 2, 1940-1972; Volume 3, 1973-1999. The series comes out of a pioneering research and survey project commissioned and funded by Dublin City Council's Heritage Office and has received grant support from the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage. Edited by Dr Ellen Rowley, the series considers the city as a layered and complex place. It makes links between Dublin's buildings and Dublin's political, social, cultural and economic histories. By focusing on architecture as the central thread in the story of the city in formation, 1900-2000, More Than Concrete Blocks is about the relationship between architecture and people in Dublin City. For Volume 3, the series editor is joined by Dr Carole Pollard as co-editor. This volume contains three introductory historical essays covering the building culture in Dublin of the 1970s (Carole Pollard), the 1980s (Ellen Rowley) and the 1990s (Merlo Kelly). These overview essays are followed by 31 studies ranging from iconic situations such as the Poolbeg Chimneys (1971-78), the Papal Cross (Phoenix Park, 1979) or the Central Bank (1979) on Dame Street, to lesser-known structures like the Willowfield housing scheme (1985) in Sandymount, the AnCO Training Centre (1981) in Finglas or the Donaghmede RC parish church (1979). Each study is framed according to key historic questions, and raises issues around architectural technology and materials, patronage, economic histories and urban planning, residents and ceremonial or daily use, and so on. Importantly, Volume 3 covers the decades of the end of the twentieth century, as Ireland joined the European Commission and Dublin city grew confident enough to reimagine Temple Bar. So, much of this history captures the energy and subsequent architectural framing of social infrastructure during this period. Volume 3 also presents an overview, in guidebook style, of 140 sites; a survey of the city's buildings over the period 1973 to 1999, not as 'a best of' but as a representation of architectural endeavour at the time.

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Antitrust is a sledgehammer to the creation of European-wide markets. How does it really work though? Take the case of power contracting. Look at the smart and fresh view from a promising scholar: Adrien de Hauteclocque. A must read.'- Jean-Michel Glachant, European University Institute, Italy'Long-term energy contracts pose one of the greatest challenges for EU competition law. Focusing on electricity markets and contracts, this book provides interesting new approaches and guidance in this area of EU law. The book also examines a wider and even more difficult issue: what role can competition law have in creating markets. The book delivers. It is a remarkably lucid account of difficult issues. A must-have book for practitioners and policy makers alike.'- Kim Talus, University of Eastern FinlandMarket Building through Antitrust investigates the role of antitrust policy in the building of competitive energy markets in Europe.By looking at the specific problem of long-term supply and access contracts in the electricity sector, the book questions the suitability of antitrust policy as a market building tool. It shows that the institutional infrastructure that pre-dated competitive reform and the politics of liberalization have largely shaped the current dynamics at work in European energy regulatory practice. In particular, antitrust law has increasingly been used as a quasi-ex ante regulatory tool, thereby raising problems in terms of economic efficiency, legal certainty and political legitimacy.By mixing legal, political and economic perspectives, this book will appeal to a wide range of readers from academia in law, economics and political science, regulatory and competition authorities, as well as legal and consulting practices and business economists.Contents: Foreword General Introduction 1. The Problem of Long-term Contracts in Decentralized Electricity Markets: An Economic Perspective 2. Vertical De-integration and Single Market Integration in the European Union: An Incomplete Transition 3. The Antitrust Strategy of the European Commission on Long-term Contracts: Is the New Methodology truly 'More Economic'? 4. Long-term Contracts Across Member States: The Problem of Priority Access Rights to Interconnectors 5. The Strategy of the European Union for the Development of Interconnectors: Assessing the Role of Merchant Transmission Investment with Vincent Rious Bibliography Index

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The book gives detailed discussions of essential EU climate law and presents profound national reports which cover the transposition of EU law and focus on national climate strategies, which are often complex and sometimes also ambitious. Comparative studies at the grassroots level are an important source of ideas and possibilities and also useful documentation both for researchers and political actors.'- Erkki Hollo, University of Helsinki, Finland'This is an outstanding collection of essays by a multi-national team of leading scholars. It reminds us that in a system of multi-level governance, it is crucial to examine and appraise developments not only at the level of the European Union but also within the Member States. This task has become easier with the publication of this excellent book.'- Joanne Scott, University College London, UKThe complex and multifaceted nature of EU climate legislation poses a major challenge for EU Member States. This timely book focuses on national climate action, addressing the regulatory responses required for the purposes of meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction objectives for 2020 (and beyond).The book seeks to answer such questions as: what kind of legislative approaches should be developed to comply with EU climate law? What room for national discretion should remain? What opportunities exist to go beyond EU ambitions? In addition, distinguished authors analyze national regulatory developments across selected Member States, identifying potential areas for review and improvement. The book offers further discussion and legal analysis of core themes such as: long-term target setting; contrasting legislative approaches; instrument mixes; and key linkages between environmental and energy law.In light of the challenges confronting national legislators, this book offers important insights into the role and contribution of law towards improved climate protection, with potential lessons for countries both within and outside the EU. With this in mind, Climate Law in EU Member States will be a valuable read for policymakers and civil servants at national ministries and at the European Commission, carbon consultants and environmental non-governmental organizations, as well as for academics in and outside the EU.Contributors: E. Bergsma, J. de Cendra de Larragán, K. de Graaf, J. Gupta, N. Hervé-Fournereau, M. Holwerda, G. Kaminskaite-Salters, L. Karski, A. Langlais, T. Parejo Navajas, M. Peeters, B. Pozzo, C. Reid, T. Schomerus, L. Squintani, M. Stallworthy, N. van der Grijp, S. Weishaar

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CELLULAR V2X FOR CONNECTED AUTOMATED DRIVING A unique examination of cellular communication technologies for connected automated driving, combining expert insights from telecom and automotive industries as well as technical and scientific knowledge from industry and academia Cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technologies enable vehicles to communicate both with the network, with each other, and with other road users using reliable, responsive, secure, and high-capacity communication links. Cellular V2X for Connected Automated Driving provides an up-to-date view of the role of C-V2X technologies in connected automated driving (CAD) and connected road user (CRU) services, such as advanced driving support, improved road safety, infotainment, over-the-air software updates, remote driving, and traffic efficiency services enabling the future large-scale transition to self-driving vehicles. This timely book discusses where C-V2X technology is situated within the increasingly interconnected ecosystems of the mobile communications and automotive industries. An expert contributor team from both industry and academia explore potential applications, business models, standardization, spectrum and channel modelling, network enhancements, security and privacy, and more. Broadly divided into two parts—introductory and advanced material—the text first introduces C-V2X technology and introduces a variety of use cases and opportunities, requiring no prerequisite technical knowledge. The second part of the book assumes a basic understanding of the field of telecommunications, presenting technical descriptions of the radio, system aspects, and network design for the previously discussed applications. This up-to-date resource: Provides technical details from the finding of the European Commission H2020 5G PPP 5GCAR project, a collaborative research initiative between the telecommunications and automotive industries and academic researchers Elaborates on use cases, business models, and a technology roadmap for those seeking to shape a start-up in the area of automated and autonomous driving Provides up to date descriptions of standard specifications, standardization and industry organizations and important regulatory aspects for connected vehicles Provides technical insights and solutions for the air interface, network architecture, positioning and security to support vehicles at different automation levels Includes detailed tables, plots, and equations to clarify concepts, accompanied by online tutorial slides for use in teaching and seminars Thanks to its mix of introductory content and technical information, Cellular V2X for Connected Automated Driving is a must-have for industry and academic researchers, telecom and automotive industry practitioners, leaders, policymakers, and regulators, and university-level instructors and students.Additional resources available at the following site: Cellular V2X for Connected Automated Driving – 5GCAR

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Presents information sources and methodologies for modeling and simulating banking system stability Combining both academic and institutional knowledge and experience, Banking Systems Simulation: Theory, Practice, and Application of Modeling Shocks, Losses, and Contagion presents banking system risk modeling clearly within a theoretical framework. Written from the global financial perspective, the book explores single bank risk, common bank exposures, and contagion, and how these apply on a systemic level. Zedda approaches these simulation methods logically by providing the basic building blocks of modeling and simulation, and then delving further into the individual techniques that make up a systems model. In addition, the author provides clear and detailed explanations of the foundational research into the mathematical and legal concepts used to analyze banking risk problems, measures and data for representing the main banking risk sources, and the major problems researchers are likely to encounter. There are numerous software descriptions throughout, with references and tools to help readers gain a proper understanding of the presented techniques and possibly develop new applications and research. The book concludes with an appendix that features real-world datasets and models. In addition, this book: • Provides a comprehensive overview of methods for analyzing models and simulating risk for banking and financial systems • Provides a clear presentation of the technical and legal concepts used in banking regulation • Presents unique insights from an expert’s perspective, with specific coverage of assessing risks and developing what-if analyses at the systems level • Concludes with a discussion of applications, including banking systems regulation what-if tests, cost-benefit analysis, evaluations of banking systems stability effects on public finances, dimensioning, and risk-based contributions for Deposit Guarantee Schemes (DGS) and Resolution Funds Banking Systems Simulation: Theory, Practice, and Application of Modeling Shocks, Losses, and Contagion is ideal for banking researchers focusing on computational methods of analysis as well as an appropriate reference for graduate-level students in banking, finance, and computational methods. Stefano Zedda is Researcher in Financial Mathematics at the University of Cagliari in Italy and qualified as associate professor in banking and corporate finance. His research is mainly focused on quantitative analyses for banking and finance, with a particular focus on banking systems modeling and simulation. In 2008, Zedda developed the mathematical modeling and software implementation of the Systemic Model for Banking Originated Losses (SYMBOL), further developed during his activity at the European Commission. The Commission subsequently adopted it as a standard tool for testing banking regulation proposals. Stefano Zedda’s research interests include banking, financial mathematics, and statistics, specifically simulation of banking and financial systems stability, banking regulation impact assessment, and interactive agent simulation.

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Daniel Albalate has produced the most comprehensive review of critical issues facing private participation in European motorways to date. The book's scope is breathtaking, offering a concise history of the development of European roads, and the main reasons for the failure of many European motorway public-private partnerships while reviewing the design of road public-private partnerships. Readers will come away with a fresh understanding of interactions between public policy and private participation in road construction, financing, operation and maintenance'- Rick Geddes, Associate professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management at Cornell University'Daniel Albalate provides the most comprehensive and updated analysis on privatization and nationalization of motorways in Europe. Albalate's thorough review of the trends in the ownership, management and financing of European motorways is a must-read for anybody interested in what are the factors that favor or undermine private participation in this type of infrastructure, which is a subject of increasing interest in the public policies in Europe, and throughout the world. This book provides very useful insights for scholars, and also relevant implications for policy makers.'- Germà Bel, University of Barcelona, SpainThis distinctive and timely book examines the current state and trends in the ownership, management and financing of European high capacity roads. Offering an analysis of three pioneer countries in road privatization, Spain, France and Italy, from their origins to their recent developments, it evaluates how the design of privatization policies may lead to their success or failure.Describing the trend in favoring public-private collaboration and road charging, Professor Daniel Albalate presents the theoretical framework of road privatization and its relevant design issues. Exhaustively studying the national experiences in historical perspective, he aims at providing lessons on the good, the bad and the ugly of road privatisation. As a result, this excellent study shows the increasing role of private financing and ownership in Europe, a trend mainly explained by fiscal motivations and the thrust of the European Commission.Presenting an evaluation of the critical elements of the contractual and regulatory design of the public-private collaboration that determines the likelihood of success and failure, this unique book will be of special interest to academics, graduate students and policy makers interested in the public provision and financing of road infrastructure, and public finance more generally.Contents: Preface Introduction Part I: A Favourable Trend to Privatisation 1. European Roads: Origins and Models of the Past 2. Motorway Privatisation in Europe Part II: Economics of Road Privatisation and the Design of PPPs 3. Privatisation and Regulation of Motorways: The Background 4. The Design of Public-Private Collaboration 5. Demand Risk Mitigation Mechanisms 6. When Privatisation Fails: Bailouts, Renegotiations and Nationalisations Part III: Selected Experiences in Historical Perspective 7. Spain 8. Italy 9. France Part IV: Evaluation PPPs: What We Know About Motorway Privatization 10. An Evaluation of the Private Participation in the Motorway Industry 11. Conclusions References Index

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"The European Parliament elections in May 2019 did not bring about the rise of populism in Europe that had been feared by many. Instead, while populism was contained, a broad pro-European majority emerged that today carries the new European Commission with its ambitious green, digital and geopolitical agenda. However, Euroscepticism remains a significant force to be reckoned with in national and EU-policy making. The present book offers a better understanding of the different types of Euroscepticism that exist across Europe. It also shows that Euroscepticism is best addressed by understanding well the often valid concerns that are at the origins of Eurosceptic forces. If this is done in time, Euroscepticism is not something to be afraid of. It is part of a vibrant European democracy that is resilient enough to embrace those who criticise the reality of the European project with good arguments; and that stands ready to develop and improve day by day to become a more perfect Union.” - Martin Selmayr, Head of the European Commission’s representation in Austria"This book comes at the right time. European integration seems more contested than ever, but is it really? This book answers this question by probing into 40 shades of Euroscepticism, within and beyond the EU Member States. It is a must read for academics and practitioners alike."- Christine Neuhold, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands"With this book, the authors offer readers of European politics a treasure trove, with valuable insights into the variety of populist and nationalist forces that oppose mainstream European integration. Faced with such a jumble of eurosceptic parties pursuing narrow and in many cases reactionary agendas, the need for proper federal political parties becomes self-evident. Only then will the diverse interests and aspirations of citizens be given realistic expression at the EU level."- Andrew Duff, President, The Spinelli GroupThis book sheds light on how the increasing prominence of Eurosceptic and nationalist parties is having an impact on the thinking of mainstream parties, their representatives in the European Parliament, and the future of Europe. It is timed to coincide with the strategic vision of Council, Commission, and Parliament, as well as the next phase of Brexit negotiations. The book provides perspectives on the future of the European project from authors in all the EU Member States, as well as neighboring European countries and potential applicant nations. Furthermore, it includes a Foreword by the Vice-president of the European Parliament.With many Eurosceptic parties now in national government, or winning European elections and thus exerting influence over the national debate, this book maps and analyses the nature and impact of Euroscepticism—and new nationalist tendencies—in the different party systems of Europe.As national political parties are the gatekeepers of the process of political representation, they play a pivotal role in mobilizing civil society and in setting the political agenda. They shape politics at a national level, but also determine the way in which Europe plays out—or does not play out—as a political issue. Thus, it is from the national capitals that the very future of Europe emerges.

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The date is the 6 June 1944. The paratroopers on board the aircraft are crammed together, joking and singing over the drone of the engines, none of them dwelling on the gnawing fear in their guts. They reach the French coastline, and everyone goes quiet when loud explosions and flashes erupt around the aircraft. Pilots desperately dodge and swerve through the cool night air while the men hold firm, preparing to jump. They reach the open door; the green light flicks on and they leap without hesitation into a sky lit up by flak, ready to meet their fate. One after another, thousands of white parachutes billow out and the men fall through the air not knowing where they might land or if they will even survive the drop; but their minds are set. They are clear about their mission and its critical importance as part of the bigger picture. Some 'chutes do not open, weapons and kit are torn off in the slipstream, and anti-aircraft guns pick men off and many never make it to the ground alive. The Normandy landings of 1944 were just one of the many famous operations in the stunning history of the Paras. This book by former paratrooper Jason Woods gives the reader an unprecedented snapshot of the role that these brave and determined paratroopers have played throughout their history, demonstrating not only the courage, strength and fitness of the men who make up this mighty regiment, but also their intelligence, compassion, and wicked sense of humour. This powerful journey through aspects of all the key wars and conflicts that the regiment has been engaged in over the last eighty years is made through the eyes of those who served. The book reveals how the Paras have become seen as an elite fighting force, feared by those who have had the misfortune to come up against them on the field of battle. This book covers challenging operations in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Kosovo, and Sierra Leone. It includes an exciting overview of Operation Telic in Iraq, the epic battles in Afghanistan, and subsequent withdrawal of all British citizens and troops from Kabul in 2021, on Operation Pitting. Packed with short interviews and poignant quotes, many original and never seen before, from current and former Paras, the author highlights the regiment's constant evolution, as the battlefield conditions have changed, into today's modern 16 Air Assault Brigade Rapid Reaction Force and Special Forces Support Group, whilst always maintaining the core standards and ethos embodied in the regimental motto Utrinque Paratus 'Ready for Anything'. Finally, get a glimpse into the transition many Paras make when they eventually leave the regiment and join the secretive private security industry, known as the 'Circuit'. AUTHOR: Following a successful career within the British Parachute Regiment, Jason Woods worked as a body guard for a number of high net-worth families in the UK and Europe before joining the European Commission security team as they entered Afghanistan in 2002. Over the following two decades he operated in most of the world's hot spots such as Iraq, Sudan and Nigeria, culminating in Libya where he setup and ran one of the first international security companies to enter the war torn country based in Benghazi during the 2011 revolution. Jason eventually sold his business to a large US firm in 2017, retiring to Cyprus where he has written two other successful books prior to penning this book, his toughest challenge to date. 32 b/w illustrations

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This book is the result of a long-term comparative research project on intellectual property, with topics ranging from patents to copyright, examined across 16 jurisdictions. It does not aim at commenting on current policy issues. The country reports unearth the culturally, morally and historically imprinted thought patterns across Europe which underpin current discussions on the appropriation of information, and which do not change quickly. The research results question the common narratives of the distinctiveness of private and public law, of contracts and property, and of morality and the law. The point of departure is the public good character of information, with the focus being on public interests pursued when assigning information as property. The 14 selected cases, based on recent, and in some cases futuristic when the project began in 2001, scenarios, aim to identify how boundaries to information property emerge, the areas of law that are applied and the principles that are followed in order to balance the conflicting interests at stake. The issues discussed revolve around well-known interfaces such as IP and competition law, monetary interests versus personal interests in human genome data, individual freedoms-to-operate versus collective action models as found in basic research or ‘creative commons’. The book shows how some national discussions appear similar on the surface, in terms of resorting to parallel principles, but subsequent domestic policy answers vary greatly. Even legislation which aims at harmonisation may result into more diversity. Inversely, we found legal institutions applied which install contrasting legal rules which however aim at exactly the same behavioural change. The national reports in Part III are complemented by comparative analyses by the editors, whilst the chapters in Part II are dedicated to an analysis of the submissions from a theoretical point of view, departing from the editors’ own research interests. The chapter in Part I describes the overall ‘Common Core’ research method, which splits the national reports into operative, descriptive and metalegal formants. Boundaries of Information Property is aimed at researchers in IP and practitioners interested in the foundational theory of their subject. It is an inspiring read for those interested in the deeper structures of regulating information. With a foreword by Sjef van Erp (em. University of Maastricht) and contributions by Christine Godt (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg), Geertrui Van Overwalle (University of Leuven), Lucie Guibault (Dalhousie University), Deryck Beyleveld (University of Durham), Mike Adcock (University of Durham), Ramūnas Birštonas (Vilnius University), Maja Bogataj Jančič (Intellectual Property Institute, Ljubljana), Konstantinos Christodoulou (University of Athens), Teresa Franquet Sugrañes (University Rovira i Virgili), Pablo Garrido Pérez (University of Barcelona), Christophe Geiger (Luiss Guido Carli University), Silvia Gómez Trinidad (University of Barcelona), Mariona Gual Dalmau (University of Barcelona), Aleksei Kelli (University of Tartu), Tomaž Keresteš (University of Maribor), Maja Lubarda (Lawyer, Ljubljana), Thomas Margoni (University of Leuven), Jan Mates (Attorney-at-Law, Prague), Maureen O’Sullivan (NUI Galway), Andrea Pradi (University of Trento), Martina Repas (University of Maribor), Giorgio Resta (University of Rome 3), Ole-Andreas Rognstad (University of Oslo), Cristina Roy Pérez (University of Barcelona), Jens Schovsbo (University of Copenhagen), Agnes Schreiner (University of Amsterdam), Simone Schroff (Plymouth University), Tobias Schulte in den Bäumen (Hapag-Llyod, Hamburg), Simona Štrancar (University of Maribor), Tomasz Targosz (Jagiellonian University), Elżbieta Traple (Jagiellonian University), and Gabriele Venskaityte (European Commission, Brussels).

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This book is a 'must read' for legal practitioners and legal academics involved in the complicated procedural relationship between national law and European law. In principle, nations have procedural autonomy; however, European legislation has an impact on national procedures, an impact that is much greater than one would expect. Whether in practice or conducting research, one can no longer restrict oneself to national procedural law. In the areas of law covered in his book-public procurement, intellectual property, consumer protection and competition-Wilman conclusively shows that it is European law that sets out the main procedures to be followed by national courts and national legislators. To some, this may be frightening; to others, it creates new opportunities. All in all, this work is compulsory reading for anyone wishing an in-depth understanding of the enforcement of EU law in local courts.'- Jan M. Hebly, Houthoff Buruma, the Netherlands'This book offers a splendid, comprehensive overview of the ways in which private enforcement can help to reinforce the rule of law in the European Union. The lessons which the author draws from his analysis are certainly of interest to practitioners and scholars of European law. But there is a wider interest as well: while keeping in mind obvious differences, the experiences with EU law can also stimulate our thinking about where private claims and domestic courts could play a larger role in the enforcement of international economic law.'- Marco Bronckers, Partner, VVGB Advocaten, Belgium'The so-called 'private enforcement' of EU law before national courts is an area of growing importance. The book offers an excellent framework of the relevant legislation, remedies and case law. As such it is of great interest to both practitioners, whether they advise or litigate, and academics seeking a deeper understanding of private enforcement-related instruments.'- Tom Ottervanger, Advocaat, Allen & Overy LLP, the NetherlandsPrivate Enforcement of EU Law before National Courts provides an in-depth analysis of how, when, and why the EU legislates to facilitate the private enforcement of EU law before the courts of Member States.Conducting a detailed examination of the legal basis and prospects for private enforcement in the fields of public procurement, intellectual property law, consumer protection, and competition law, Folkert Wilman discusses not only the EU rules on remedies and procedures typically adopted, but also many broader issues arising such as: the EU's scope to act and the autonomy of the Member State, the legal and practical limits, and implications, of the EU's private enforcement model, as well as the fundamental rights dimension.The thorough and practical treatment of private enforcement mechanisms makes this book an essential reference work for practising lawyers advising or acting before domestic courts in matters of EU law. Scholars will also be attracted by the questions it raises, and answers, relating to the relationship of the EU to Member States.Key features of the book include:- Expert authorship from a Member of the Legal Service of the European Commission- Comprehensive assessment of EU legislation on the private enforcement of EU law before national courts - Detailed examination of the legal basis for private enforcement at a general level, followed by consideration of its application across several substantive fields- Extensive discussion of the scope for the EU to act vis-à-vis the autonomy of the Member State- One of the first in-depth analyses of the recently adopted and widely debated Competition Damages Directive (No. 2014/104)- Exposition of key case law relating to private enforcement and the remedies available to private parties.

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In Managing Telework, Jack Nilles illustrates that telework is undeniably the corporate wave of the future on a global level. Telework, or telecommuting, a term coined originally by Nilles, means basically moving the work to the worker instead of the other way around. Although there are both risks and opportunities involved in managing a virtual workforce, the opportunities usually far outweigh the risks. As Nilles explains, the key to a successful virtual workforce is making the best use of those opportunities through proper planning and the development of an appropriate management style. Management philosophy, style, and technique constitute the foundation of this indispensable resource. Managing Telework provides crucial information on every part of the telecommuting process. Nilles first explores the issues of selecting the right type of telecommuter-candidates who are likely to be effective workers without the structured environment of the office-and how to find or make proper workplaces for an effective telecommuting program. He then goes on to discuss that central, often unspoken managerial fear of telecommuting: the threat of losing control. Nilles explains that leaders, not administrators, are the key players in successful telecommuting, and that leadership can be taught. There must also be a basis of trust between the worker and the manager, and constant, open communication. Many other pressing topics are discussed in detail, such as how to select the best technology for your specific organization, how to navigate the formal rules and regulations of telecommuting (including union rules and zoning laws), how to measure results, and how to set up a home office. Plus, there is absolutely critical advice provided on other legal, corporate, and cultural issues. This step-by-step guidebook to telework is the only management resource you'll need for the future of business. Learn how to get out of the office. A step-by-step guide to managing a successful, efficient, and happy virtual workforce. "There is no better guide to telework than Jack Nilles. His insights are of growing importance to managers and teleworkers at all levels and sectors of government, business, and industry." -William H. Dutton Professor, Annenberg School of Communication and School of Public Policy and Urban Development at the University of Southern California, and former national director of the UK's Programme on Information and Communication Technologies(PICT) "From his twenty-five years of pioneering and perfecting telework, Jack Nilles defines the essential leadership philosophy of the successful telemanager and presents his time-tested techniques for Managing Telework. These pages are packed with top-notch expertise. I wouldn't be without it!" -David Fleming Fleming LTD "In Managing Telework, Jack Nilles describes what managers and workers need to do to create successful telework programs and explains the benefits they can derive from this way of working." -Paul Gray Professor of Information Science, Claremont Graduate University "Another milestone from the father of telecommuting; an essential reference and stimulation for the biggest change in work organization since Henry Ford." -Peter Johnston Directorate General XIII BI, Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research, European Commission "The success of any telecommuting program hinges on thoroughly training telemanagers and non-teleworkers as well as telecommuters themselves. Nilles presents his guidelines in a practical, straightforward manner."-Margaret A. Klayton-Mi, PhD Associate Professor of Business Administration, Mary Washington College "A major transformation in the nature of work is in process. Jack Nilles, for years the foremost expert and visionary leader in the field of telecommuting, has written the definitive book on the subject. This is where the future begins. Don't miss it." -Burt Nanus Author, Visionary Leadership Professor Emeritus of Management, University of Southern California

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`International Handbook of Economic Integration edited by Miroslav Jovanović provides timely and rich academic contributions to considerations of the widest array of integration-related issues. European integration has been providing an inspiration to a number of academics and researchers. The Handbook is a recognition of the dynamic and strong solidarity of the European integration. At the same time, the European Union often provided an example for integration schemes throughout the world which spread enormously since the mid-1990s. Leading experts from all continents contributed to this Handbook which will be a valuable input into academic and policy-making discussions and actions.' - José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission `Miroslav Jovanović's publication represents a rich contribution to the complex issue of regional integration, its benefits, its shortcomings, and its relationship with multilateral trade opening. It sheds light over an issue which is the subject of intense discussions in trade circles.' - Pascal Lamy, Director-General of the WTO `Much has been written on trade agreements as a mechanism to integrate the markets of two of more countries - often inspired by the European example. In recent years, attention has increasingly focused on the importance of economic geography as a determinant of industrial location. This book combines the two strands of analysis, bringing together leading experts in the fields of economic geography and international trade. The result is an outstanding compilation of papers that illuminate how policies and economic forces affect the location of economic activity in an integrated Europe.' - Bernard Hoekman, Director, The World Bank, US `The open multilateral trading system is a tremendous success of the past half century, and has contributed greatly to the world's unprecedented rate of economic growth. Over the past two decades however, preferential trading arrangements have proliferated, raising questions as to how compatible they are with the open multilateral system, and what policies might be adopted to improve outcomes. The essays in this volume detail the emergence of PTAS and provide comprehensive and up-to-date analyses of the state of play of preferential arrangements in all regions of the world. The volume will provide a useful reference for all those wanting to understand existing preferential arrangements and their role in the international economy today.' - Anne O. Krueger, Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University, US `Economic integration is a complex and multifaceted giant, with a myriad aspects ranging from regional and global concentration and dispersal of economic activity to social and political consequences for individuals and communities in developed and developing countries alike. This landmark, three volume collection of chapters by leading authors, drawn from many fields, is a worthy and timely contribution to the analysis of a phenomenon with profound implications for the future world economy - and its governance.' - James Zhan, Director, Investment & Enterprise Division, UNCTAD With this Handbook, Miroslav Jovanović has provided readers with both an excellent stand-alone original reference book as well as an integral part of a comprehensive three-volume set. This introduction into a rich and expanding academic and practical world of international economic integration also provides a theoretical and analytical framework to the reader, presenting select analytical studies and encouraging further research. International Handbook on the Economics of Integration, Volume III covers three broad themes: factor mobility (transnational corporations and labour migration); agriculture and environment; and quantitative studies of integration effects. A removal of barriers for the mobility of factors in certain integration arrangements among countries has an impact on the mobility of capital, firms and individuals within the group. Various aspects of this factor mobility are analysed in eight detailed chapters. The second theme of the Handbook is devoted to agriculture and environment. This is of great global relevance as the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU has been a bone of contention in international relations over several decades. Finally, seven quantitative studies of the effects of integration attempt to measure various potential benefits of regional integration efforts. Contributors to this major reference work include eminent authors, some of whom contributed to the creation of economic integration theory from the outset. The authors not only survey the literature, but also present their own arguments and new ideas in order to offer a new perspective, as well as discussing the issues they believe are essential in the field. Each of the insightful chapters is approachable not only to graduate students, scholars, researchers and policymakers, but also to advanced undergraduate students.

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