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Begin New Search Political Geography Europe Content Type Policy Brief

1211. The Resumption of Accession Talks: A Hesitant Improvement in Turkey-EU Negotiations

Author:
Filippo Urbinati
Publication Date:
01-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Global Political Trends Center (GPoT)
Abstract:
After more than three1year deadlock, 2013 was marked by the attempt by Brussels and Ankara to restart the dialogue for Turkey’s accession to European Union. Two developments were remarkable in this process: the release of the most favorable Progress Report on Turkey since 2009, and the opening of the community acquis Chapter 22 on Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments. Regarding the former development, the European Commission underlined the positive steps achieved by Turkey and the pressing need for the EU to enhance its engagement with Turkey and revitalize the accession negotiations’ framework as the main way to promote EU sponsored reforms. As far as the latter development is concerned, the relevance of the opening of a new chapter cannot be overestimated as the political stumbling blocks, which led the negotiations to stagnation, have been kept untouched and are still far from solved. This policy update is intended to give account of the main issues connected with these developments and underline the reasons for why they have to be considered important steps forward but¬ the decisive ones.
Topic:
International Relations, Politics, European Union, and Negotiation
Political Geography:
Europe, Turkey, and Middle East

1212. The Situation of Roma between Human Rights and Economics

Author:
Eben Friedman
Publication Date:
03-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
If the dominant focus of documents on Roma published by intergovernmental organizations in the 1990s was on providing redress for past violations of human rights and protection fromfuture discrimination, this is no longer the case as of early 2014. Over the last decade, it has become increasingly common for calls to improve the situation of Roma to be justified in terms of economic benefits for society as a whole.
Topic:
Civil Society, Economics, Human Rights, Minorities, and Protected People
Political Geography:
Europe

1213. What do the Crimean Tatars face in Crimea?

Author:
Alexander Osipov
Publication Date:
04-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
The Issue Brief concerns further developments which the Crimean Tatars may experience after the Russian annexation of Crimea. The Crimean Tatars are the second largest minority in the Crimean peninsula, and they are represented by politically active movements with far-reaching claims concerning the status of Crimean Tatars and territorial self-determination. Within less than one month these people as well as their homeland have been transferred to another country with different political and legal systems and potentially a less friendly social environment. Since the contours of the future legal and institutional framework for the accommodation of Crimean Tatars are not fully clear, one can project the major organizational setups and patterns of Russian ethno-politics onto Crimea and tentatively assess their applicability. We can conclude that in a formal sense the Russian rule does not promise the Crimean Tatars much more than they already had in Ukraine, but puts them at risk of a strict police control and pressure. Such arrangements as territorial and non-territorial autonomy, power-sharing, 'rehabilitation' of the Crimean Tatars as victims of the past repressions may take place but they would have limited practical sense. Cultural programmes and recruitment of Crimean Tatars to the regional administration are unlikely to be legally guaranteed and will be fully dependent on the discretion of Russian and Crimean authorities.
Topic:
Culture, Minorities, Ethnicity, Conflict, and Identity
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, Ukraine, and Crimea

1214. What next for Moldova's Minorities after Crimea?

Author:
Federica Prina
Publication Date:
07-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
European Centre for Minority Issues
Abstract:
This Issue Brief examines the possible consequences of Russia's annexation of Crimea on Moldova and its national minorities. It further reflects on the factors that hinder greater integration of persons belonging to minorities, and the expression of minority identity in Moldova/Transnistria. The Issue Brief argues there are two indirect consequences of the annexation of Crimea by Russia. First, the annexation deepens the polarization between the pro-Russia and pro-EU camps in Moldova, which manifests itself in multiple ruptures within Moldovan society. Second, such a polarization furthers a tendency to marginalize (non-Russian) minorities, which implies a reduction of the spaces for the articulation of minority concerns and the expression of minority identity.
Topic:
Minorities, Ethnicity, Discrimination, Conflict, and Identity
Political Geography:
Russia, Europe, Ukraine, Moldova, and Crimea

1215. EU – NATO Relations in The Western Balkans

Author:
Michael Littlehale
Publication Date:
09-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Centre for Security Studies
Abstract:
This paper will outline past examples of successful cooperation in relevant operations (that is, in meeting security issues on the continent) in the western Balkans, and show the implications this has in moving forward. In doing so, the initial international response to the breakup of Yugoslavia will briefly be reviewed, and the subsequent involvement of NATO and Europe to these conflicts in the 1990s. This leads to US/NATO efforts that finally brought the warring parties to the table, and Europe’s increasing involvement as NATO phased out its operations. The evolution of institutional and operational dynamics of cooperation between the EU and NATO will then be examined before focusing on this relationship in regards to the western Balkans, and the impact it has had on the region —both positive and negative —to date. The paper will conclude with the lessons drawn and the implications for EU and NATO relations’ moving forward, as conflict once again has emerged on the European continent.
Topic:
International Relations, NATO, International Cooperation, European Union, Post-Conflict, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:
Europe, Balkans, and Bosnia and Herzegovina

1216. Accountability or not? Managing of public funds in Kosovo Security Sector

Author:
Skender Perteshi
Publication Date:
02-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
This study aims to analyze financial accountability of Kosovo security sector and advocate for its continuous enhancement. It is focused mainly on the current state of affairs and the trends in this sector. Therefore, the period of 2010-2013 serves as reference point for chronological perspective of this study. Whereas, the scope of this study is restricted to financial management, procurement and auditing of the following institutions: Ministry of Internal Affairs, Kosovo Police, Kosovo Ministry of Kosovo Security Force and Kosovo Security Force. Due to the institutional modalities and the lack of transparency as provided by the law, the research team has intentionally excluded from this study the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, even though it considers that the absence of financial transparency of this institution is in contradiction with the principles of accountability of public funds. The analysis reveals that general legal framework on financial management is also applicable to the security sector. Regardless of the existence of such legal framework, several weaknesses, may be detrimental to public funds as result of loopholes. One of the key dimensions in financial control is internal auditing, which is considered to be in its infancy. Audit units of the security institutions employs very small number of staff compared to the number of staff and volume of work in the financial sector. Therefore, the number of audits remains relatively small targeting only some of the most important areas. One of the main weaknesses of these institutions is the lack of solid written plans. There is also lack of efficiency in executing the expenses as defined in the agenda. This makes the supervision of expenses and financial management in security sector more problematic. Following the same lines, public procurement management is at a concerning stage. Identified problems are mainly related to the evaluation process, lack of clarity of specifications during the application process, as well as many other shortcomings in the supervision of public procurement in the security sector. On the other hand, out of all complaints taken by the Public Procurement Review Body, it 50% of complaints filed by various economic operators have resulted to be grounded on evidence by returning the tendering process to either re-evaluation or re-tendering.
Topic:
Security, Accountability, Procurement, and Public Finance
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

1217. Inclusion or Exclusion - Minorities in the Security Sector in Post-Independent Kosovo

Author:
Donika Emini
Publication Date:
03-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
The audience and the stakeholders of this paper are the security institutions in Kosovo, the Government of Kosovo, ethnic communities, their representatives and the international community involved in this process. Also, this paper seeks to provide an analytical framework on the existing state of affairs with respect to representation and inclusion of ethnic minorities in Kosovo’s security sector. The paper offers a description on the establishment of security institutions in Kosovo. It also maps the main actors in the security sector in Kosovo, by offering a brief critical assessment to the current legal framework dealing with the inclusion of ethnic minorities in the security sector, as well as mechanisms and institutional responsibility for the inclusion of ethnic minorities. Also, the paper offers an assessment to the current situation of ethnic minorities’ inclusion and participation in the Kosovo Police (KP), the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) and the Kosovo Security Council (KSC) along with the challenges these institutions face in fulfilling the requirements provided by the legal framework.
Topic:
Security, Minorities, Institutions, Exclusion, and Inclusion
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

1218. Kosovo’s Membership and Representation in Regional Security Initiatives

Author:
Donika Emini
Publication Date:
09-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
Abstract:
In particular, the challenges are present with respect to Kosovo’s access to defense related regional initiatives. While Kosovo’s recent membership in the RCC is expected to open the doors for representation and access to other regional security initiatives, the findings in this paper show that the progress is limited and accompanied by a wide variety of challenges. By not being fully-fledged member, Kosovo is constrained in benefiting from joint operations and activities in the field of rule of law, justice and security. Consequently, the political agreements reached in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and the concept of introducing regional cooperation in the Western Balkans, are seriously challenged.
Topic:
Security, Treaties and Agreements, Rule of Law, Representation, Justice, and Regional Security
Political Geography:
Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans

1219. Reforming National Oil Companies: Nine Recommendations

Author:
Patrick Heller, Paasha Mahdavi, and Johannes Schreuder
Publication Date:
07-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
Some national oil companies (NOCs) have contributed heavily to successful efforts to harness benefits from the oil sector and drive broader national development. In other cases, however, NOCs have become inefficient managers of national resources, obstacles to private investment, drains on public coffers, or sources of patronage and corruption. As such, NOC reform—incremental in some cases, fundamental in others—lies at or near the top of the policy agendas of many oil-rich countries. Building on existing literature, we surveyed 12 NOCs from diverse geographical and operational contexts to distill practical steps that policy-makers can take to make their countries' NOCs more effective and more accountable—to governments and to citizens. Our recommendations can be seen in both the executive summary and the full report.
Topic:
Oil, Transparency, Data, and State-Owned Enterprises
Political Geography:
Europe, Malaysia, Middle East, Kazakhstan, Norway, Asia, Kuwait, Brazil, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Latin America, Mexico, Nigeria, Angola, Ghana, Cameroon, and Sub-Saharan Africa

1220. Corruption, Impunity, and Current Reforms in Ukraine

Author:
The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)
Publication Date:
08-2014
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ)
Abstract:
This briefing paper assesses the situation in Ukraine with respect to democratic reforms being undertaken in the country following the mass uprising that ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014. It examines issues of corruption and impunity, as well as the historical divide between eastern and western Ukraine at the root of ongoing conflict in the country. It is based largely on extended interviews conducted with representatives of government, civil society and international organizations in Kyiv.
Topic:
Corruption, Reform, Democracy, Conflict, Impunity, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:
Europe and Ukraine