scholarly journals Economic Policy Challenges of Small European Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (27) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidija Madžar
Keyword(s):  
Regional Integration ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Small States ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Economic Resilience ◽  
Relative Term ◽  
Small Countries

The aim of this paper is to study the pace and role of small states in international economic relations. The main characteristics of small states are a high degree of economic openness, export concentration and high dependence on strategic imports. In addition, their significant features are also indivisibility of overhead costs and diseconomies of scale. There is no single definition of small states since the size is a relative term. In addition to the size of population, sometimes other indicators are used as size criteria such as territory size or gross domestic product. This paper emphasizes the endogenous and macroeconomic characteristics of small states in detail and some small countries’ problems that can be challenging in developing their economies. Furthermore, the concepts of small states’ economic vulnerability and resilience are covered. This paper pays special attention to arguments in favor of regional cooperation among small countries. The final part of the paper is dedicated to the similarities, and also economic differences among the small European states. It also highlights the benefits of small states’ membership into the European Union. Numerous economic benefits for small countries arise from the process of regional integration, especially with regard to strengthening economic resilience, foreign trade, strengthening their bargaining power, joint management of regional public goods, receiving technical assistance and geopolitical aspect.

scholarly journals A historical and judicial approach on the transformation of the European Communities, the predecessors of the European Union, into an institutional model across the region

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-23
Author(s):  
Mihail Poalelungi ◽  
◽  
Mihai Poalelungi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
European Level ◽  
Broad Area ◽  
Institutional Governance ◽  
Institutional Model ◽  
The Eu

The process of European integration has never followed a clear path and the current EU predecessors had never been by far the only efforts of the regional integration in Europe. Created in the 1950s, the European Communities as today’s EU predecessors, have overdue emerged in a very broad area populated by international organizations and various cooperation institutions. This organization, only by matching economic and political challenges, succeeded in becoming the most important cooperation forum between European states. Although in the early 1950s the Western European states could often choose between various forms of regional cooperation, today the EU is frequently seen as the only available at the European level option and the only model of institutional governance.

‘With Whom We Talk?’ Drawing Regions in 21st Century Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-177
Author(s):  
Mădălin-Cătălin Blidaru
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
New States

"The African continent inherited borders drawn by foreign actors for centuries, with a limited influence exerted by its internal political structures. This impacted its development across decades, acting as a contributing factor to economic, social and political conflicts, some of them resulting in further divisions in time: new states emerged, while the federal structures developed within some states remain unstable. In this paper, the author investigates the current regional groupings of states established in different African frameworks in an attempt to answer the question “how external actors influence and legitimize the development of regions” in 21st century. From a functionalist perspective, it explores the motives for the formation of a wide range of regional integration and cooperation organizations. The case study of G5 Sahel, an institutionalized regional arrangement focused on security and development of its member states, is analyzed as an arrangement emerged with support from France and the European Union. The case study analysis trails the cooperation with these two foreign actors with the G5 Sahel member states in the five years, focused on evolution, financing and joint initiatives – including to what extent these contributed to consolidation of the regional borders. Keywords: region-building, G5 Sahel, regional cooperation, European Union, development cooperation "

ECONOMIC INTERDEPENDENCE IN ASIA: DEVELOPING INDICATORS FOR REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND COOPERATION

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (01) ◽  
pp. 125-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
GIOVANNI CAPANNELLI ◽  
JONG-WHA LEE ◽  
PETER A. PETRI
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Joint Decision ◽  
Financial Flows ◽  
Cultural Proximity ◽  
Official Policy ◽  
Asian Economies

We develop indicators to measure the degree of economic integration and cooperation among East Asian economies and compare these with similar measures for other regions. Our indicators cover regional integration in trade, investment, financial assets, and people-to-people exchange. We also analyze measures of regional cooperation such as the density of free trade agreements and official policy dialogues. We find that in various Asian groupings, and especially in a group of 16 integrating Asian economies, interdependence in trade, direct investment, financial flows, and other forms of economic and social exchange has increased significantly over time, and now approaches that in the European Union. Nonetheless, Asia's official cooperation remains weak and formal regional institutions remain relatively underdeveloped. To provide insight into the causes of this discrepancy, we also develop quantitative measures of political and cultural similarity of nations, and find that Asian countries have relatively low levels of political and cultural proximity compared to regions such as Europe. The diversity of political interests and cultural values may have hindered more intense cooperation among Asian economies in the past. But if regional economic and social interactions continue to grow, requirements for joint decision-making are also likely to expand, leading to stronger frameworks of official cooperation.

scholarly journals Disincentive Factors for Transformation of the Economic Cooperation Organization to Regional Integration: An Assessment Regarding Intra-regional Trade

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamza Çeştepe ◽  
Tamer Güven
Keyword(s):  
Regional Integration ◽  
World Trade ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Regional Trade ◽  
The World ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Advanced Stages ◽  
Central Asia Region

In this study, the structure and level of intra-regional trade in Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), which is a movement of regional cooperation founded in the Western and Central Asia region, has been analyzed. In ECO, with a share below its potential at the world trade, intra-regional trade is low relative to other regional integrations such as the European Union. However, the volume of intra-regional trade in the region countries, except a few countries, tend to increase in recent years. In this study, as a result of the evaluation made by the indices calculated, it was found that the region countries is in the position of more complementary economies in context of foreign trade; the countries has generally a high trade intensity with its neighbors; intra-industry trade in the region is at low level. As a result, although the level and structure of intra-regional trade in ECO region seems to be disincentive for the transformation to regional integration as of today, recent developments suggest that this obstacle will gradually diminish in the future. In addition, if some of advantages and potential of the region in terms of regional integration can be valued it does not seem very difficult to reach more advanced stages of integration for this cooperation movement.

scholarly journals ASEAN E-Commerce Legal Framework and Alignment of Lao PDR: A Review

Lentera Hukum ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 371
Author(s):  
Phet Sengpunya
Keyword(s):  
Legal System ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Commercial Activities ◽  
Asean Member ◽  
The World

In the era of digital, the internet has become a new channel for meeting and social interaction of people all around the world, and it has also become an essential platform for commercial activities, especially e-commerce. E-commerce has become a significant driving force for the growth of the economy for all regions around the world. For example, ASEAN, ICT, and e-commerce are recognized as an essential segment for regional integration. ASEAN developed its legal framework in order to promote and facilitate the development of ICT and the growth of e-commerce within the region. Unlike the European Union, ASEAN is not a supranational organization, and it cannot legislate for a whole community. Thus its e-commerce legal framework is developed by harmonizing the Member Countries' national laws into the regional legal system. This paper aims to introduce how ASEAN designs its legal framework for regional cooperation, with a focus on e-commerce. The paper presents how Lao PDR, as a member country of ASEAN, fulfills provisions agreed under the e-ASEAN framework to help understand the way ASEAN Member Countries undertake action to align with ASEAN e-commerce legal framework. To this end, this paper also provides an overview of the e-commerce of ASEAN as a whole and Lao PDR. Keywords: ASEAN, Lao PDR, E-Commerce Legal Framework, Regional Legal System.

scholarly journals Dialog regionalny między Unią Europejską i Rosją jako instrument rozwoju współpracy dwustronnej

2021 ◽  
pp. 233-250
Author(s):  
Valentina Prudskaya
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Historical Method ◽  
International Projects ◽  
Intercultural Interactions ◽  
Administrative Units

International dialogue between regions has a strong influence on the development of political relations, economic integration and intercultural interactions. The European Union and Russia are the closest neighbours. International links between regions and regional integration play an important role in their relations. The aim of the article is to analyse the evolution of relations between the European Union and Russia in 1994–2019 within the regional dialogue as an instrument allowing for creating new opportunities for the development of bilateral cooperation. The following methods were used during the research: institutional and legal analysis, historical method, comparative method, desk research. Regional dialogue has been analysed in terms of legal basis, as well as directions and forms of development of cooperation in this area. It can be concluded that the most common forms of cooperation in the analysed period were the following: cross-border cooperation, between regions without a common border, between administrative units on the basis of partnership, dialogue within Euroregions, and regional cooperation within international projects.

Trends of Regional Integration on the Post-Soviet Space: Results of Quantitative Analysis

2010 ◽  
pp. 94-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Vinokurov ◽  
A. Libman
Keyword(s):  
Regional Integration ◽  
Market Integration ◽  
Trade Integration ◽  
Economic Community ◽  
Small Countries ◽  
Economic Interaction ◽  
Leading Position ◽  
Soviet Space ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Post Soviet Space

The paper applies a new dataset of the System of Indicators of Eurasian Integration to evaluate the changes of level and direction of economic interaction of the post-Soviet states in the last decade. It analyzes the integration dynamics in the area of trade and migration as well as on three functional markets of agricultural goods, electricity and educational services. The paper concludes that the level of trade integration on the post-Soviet space continues declining, while there is a rapid increase of the labor market integration. Three largest countries of the Eurasian Economic Community - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan - demonstrate positive integration dynamics, but small countries maintain the leading position in the area of post-Soviet integration.

Considering the Sub-Regional Cooperation in East-Central Europe – Some Conclusions on Integrating and Disintegrating Tendencies in the Sub-Regional Dialogue

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Wieclawski
Keyword(s):  
Central Europe ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
East Central Europe ◽  
East Central ◽  
New Ideas ◽  
Ukrainian Crisis ◽  
Regional Interests ◽  
Visegrad Group ◽  
East Central European

This article discusses the problems of the sub-regional cooperation in East-Central Europe. It formulates the general conclusions and examines the specific case of the Visegrad Group as the most advanced example of this cooperation. The article identifies the integrating and disintegrating tendencies that have so far accompanied the sub-regional dialogue in East-Central Europe. Yet it claims that the disintegrating impulses prevail over the integrating impulses. EastCentral Europe remains diversified and it has not developed a single platform of the sub-regional dialogue. The common experience of the communist period gives way to the growing difference of the sub-regional interests and the ability of the East-Central European members to coordinate their positions in the European Union is limited. The Visegrad Group is no exception in this regard despite its rich agenda of social and cultural contacts. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict confirms a deep divergence of interests among the Visegrad states that seems more important for the future of the Visegrad cooperation than the recent attempts to mark the Visegrad unity in the European refugee crisis. Finally, the Ukrainian crisis and the strengthening of the NATO’s “Eastern flank” may contribute to some new ideas of the sub-regional cooperation in East-Central Europe, to include the Polish-Baltic rapprochement or the closer dialogue between Poland and Romania. Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v10i1.251  

National Concepts of Security and the Problem Of Integration in Transcaucasia

2006 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-301
Author(s):  
Anush Begoyan
Keyword(s):  
Regional Integration ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Balance Of Power ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Security Threats ◽  
Regional Powers ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
State Security ◽  
Joint Provision

AbstractThe article examines security issues of the Transcaucasian region with the focus on nonmilitary and trans-border security threats and a regional security community that also includes non-state security actors of the region, such as not-recognised autonomous entities, nations, ethnic groups, minorities, etc.This approach to regional security shifts the focus of policies from balance of power to closer regional integration and cooperation, as well as joint provision of regional security. Despite many objectives and existing obstacles to this scenario of regional development, the author sees it to be the only way toward a stable and long-term security in the region. The article argues that closer regional cooperation and integration would allow to accommodate interests and security concerns of non-state actors of the region and would bring the fate of regional issues back in the hands of the regional powers and create bases for sustainable and lasting peace in the region.

scholarly journals Drivers of sustainability practices and contributions to sustainable development evident in sustainability reports of European mining companies

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anđela Ivic ◽  
Nína María Saviolidis ◽  
Lara Johannsdottir
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Social License ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Sustainability Practices

AbstractMining activities cause negative environmental impacts and social conflicts but also provide economic benefits to communities and secure the minerals necessary for low-carbon technology. The aim of this multiple case study is to analyze, compare and critically evaluate sustainability reports of 10 European mining companies for the 2016–2018 period to determine the drivers for implementation of sustainability practices and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The findings suggest that European mining companies act under pressures from international initiatives and industry associations, the European Union, governments, stakeholders, and maintaining social license to operate. The companies report on the core subjects of corporate governance, employees, the environment, stakeholders’ engagement and occupational health and safety. Positive trends were observed in stakeholders’ engagement and health and safety, while air emissions and water and energy usage increased for most companies. Furthermore, there was an absence of improvement in gender diversity, utilization of renewable energy, and waste recycling. Even though all analyzed companies mentioned SDGs in the reports, the reports lacked a comprehensive explanation of mining activities’ contribution to the SDGs. This study addresses a gap in the existing literature on the European mining context of sustainable development and SDGs relevant for researchers, policymakers, and other impacted stakeholders and adds new theoretical knowledge on the external drivers of CSR activities based on institutional theory.

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