Policy Transfer And The European Union : Judicial Reforms And Combating Organized Crime And Corruption

Since 1950 European Union (EU) was created it has promoted peace, prosperity and values among the member nations and its neighbouring countries. EU’s influential tools, has helped transform many European states into functioning democracies and prosperous countries. EU’s membership has grown from 6 to 28 countries (Enlargement, 2014), satisfying a historic vow to integrate the continent bringing in most states of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) by peaceful ideals.EU has anticipated the enlargement as an extraordinary opportunity to endorse political strength and economic success in Europe. EU’s extension policy is open to any European state that fulfils the EU’s political and financial criteria for membership; still the political process of inclusion of new state requires a unanimous agreement from all the existing 28 member states. Europe is considered to be more flourishing and safer place due to the promotion of democracy, anti-corruption policy and the single market policy.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union 1991 many changes have been brought to Europe. After the fall of the Soviet Union newly formed countries of Eastern Europe found themselves brought into a new era, many of the people had relied on the Soviet Union’s system of socialism to help them with every detail of their lives and to dictate their lives but with this newfound freedom citizens had many changes forced upon them. All they once knew had been taken away so suddenly most didn’t know what to do with themselves. The Government, Economy and Marxist Idealism had all fallen with the Soviet Union. Citizens had no choice but to move on with their new lives because it was as their past lives

When identifying the presence of a democratic deficit in the European Union, it is important to consider a range of factors, including international treaties and the effect they had on its structured governmental framework. One of the first official agreements established by the European Union (formerly

The European Union (EU) is fundamentally democratic and is evident through its institutions, however, the current democratic electoral structure is of great concern. The EU is a new type of political system, often referred to as a sui generis, implying its uniqueness as there exists and a non comparable political body. The EU can neither regarded as a ‘state’ nor as an ‘international institution’ as it combines supranational as well as intergovernmental characteristics (Hix, 1999, p7). In this regard it has developed its own understandings of what democracy is. It is evident that the development of and spread of democracy is a central concept and foundation to all politics within the EU, and remains focuses on makings its governing

This hazard came after the government of Poland had reorganized the voting requirements of the Constitutional Court and altered the structure of the nation’s media outlets. The majority ruling party within Poland, the Law and Justice Party, also raised moral questions among other EU member states by establishing new government appointed leaders to the public television and broadcasting agencies. This new change in judicial processes and media control has led many members of the European Union to question both the democracy and corruption within the Polish government and to determine if the new policies have infringed on the EU’s values and morals. Therefore, these recent political fluctuations have lead me to ask what powers does the EU have to influence a member countries media and court institutions, why has the EU become worried about Poland, and in which ways will the EU attempt to sanction Poland for their alterations? This research paper will elaborate on Poland’s recent political changes. It will then analyze how Poland’s changes have raised controversy with the European Union and why the EU was concerned. Lastly, the research will demonstrate which institutions in the EU have jurisdiction over such a conflict, and how the European Union will attempt to nullify Poland’s voting rights within the EU.

Yet, the economic growth of the region is slow in comparison to the established member states. In addition, while established EU members are some of the least-corrupt in the world and are established liberal democracies, some of the new-comers bring in corruption which further slows economic growth and democratization in the region. Undoubtedly, slower economic and pro-democratic development in the Eastern Block prominently lowers the prospects for EU membership. In addition, the popular attitudes in the established states that oppose accession of new Eastern European members appears to also be shaped by these perceptions.

While early EU history is marked by efforts to abridge political and economic gaps between formal enemies, recent EU enlargement is a one of tensions between established and new member interests and broader interests of the organization itself. In recent decades, the most prominent issue of EU integration is the ongoing discussion in established member states on expansion prospects. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War opened the possibility for immense political and economic transformation for Eastern European states. The result of this transformation brought the unprecedented possibility for many post-communist states to join the EU. This possibility, however, is met with hostility on domestic level in some of the

he following paper will address the question of how democratic the European Union is by analysing each of its institutions and the decision procedures in the European context. It will take into account the special role of the European Union as “a system of polycentric governance” (Garner, 2009: 230), and the complex relationships between its institutions and the institutions of its member countries. Hereby taking into account that the “EU can be characterized as ‘a system of network governance’ in which ‘the ‘‘state’’ is vertically and horizontally segmented and its role has changed from authoritative allocation ‘‘from above’’ to the role of an ‘activator’ ” (Crum and Fussom, 2009: 257). The EU with its high degree of complexity remains unique in the world of governance and shouldn’t be compared to nation states. Following a multilevel approach that recognises this uniqueness the question whether the scepticism towards the EU’s institutions and the voices that see a democratic deficit inherent in the EU are right shall be answered.

The fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 was an unprecedented possibility for the former Soviet satellites to join the EU. The EU offered a great possibility for economic prosperity by promoting free markets and common currency, which would guarantee economic stability so desperately needed in the poor post-authoritarian states. Through various policies and initiatives EU institutions

We have chosen to write this assignment on the European Court of Justice (ECJ), looking into its role in the European integration process, and how its rulings and judgments have affected the business framework. We will also be looking into the effects of its rulings on state sovereignty, and how in some cases its rulings have limited states power over certain policy areas and handed them to the European Union.

In the effort to create a market economy, the state innovated its own distinct path towards capitalism, depicting what a nation of the same time period and/or situation may have reacted in similar circumstances. Privatization schemes both effective and ineffective will be discussed later in this study of the Czech Republic. Continuing, the greatest institution that aided the growth and development of transitioning states at the time existed first as the European Community (EC) and ultimately as the European Union (EU). Though the Czech Republic first was required to reform itself to the standards of the EU before accession, its eventual joining of the group signaled the country’s integration with the West—both politically and more so economically. The issues and resolutions that came about throughout the years starting from 1989 to the present day have made the Czech Republic into the nation that it is today, a democratic nation based on free markets and equal representation. As such, the state continues to improve itself as the weaknesses of some of its past economic policies finally form residual issues in the country’s periphery. It is crucial that in transitory states that capitalism is instituted and maintained with integrity,

Around the turn of the millennium political leaders around Europe were challenged by two antithetical developments within their societies. On one side, the European citizens rely on them to handle and solve the major contemporary political issues (e.g. unemployment, peace- and safekeeping). On the other side, increasing distrust and indifference concerning politicians, politics and institutions (on the national and European level) leads to a growing legitimacy issue for the European Union and its institutions. As a result the incumbent president of the Commission of the European Communities, Romano Prodi, announced “promoting new forms of European governance” (Prodi, 2000:4) as a key strategic objective of his Commission from 2000-2005. Consequently, the European Commission published the White Paper on European Governance in 2001, introducing steps to a more democratic Union.

This essay will show that the external changes and internal reforms of the last 40 years have led to the retreat of the liberal democratic state. Perhaps, these changes and reforms have resulted in the revival of the state, but overall this has not been the case. This is due to the fragmentation and diminished accountability stemmed from the internal reform, new public management. Although the issue of Europeanisation is raised when discussing the state’s retreatment, I will focus on the topic of globalisation. This is because of the loss of power, sovereignty and nationality the state has suffered.

There is a mighty desire for long-lasting peace after two major wars which meant the European integration moved towards reality and is ever-increasing. This has only led to major empowerment upon its institutions, such as The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The CJEU has taken a major involvement in the development of the European Union as it attempts to shape the legal order. Under Article 267, The Court of Justice has jurisdiction to give preliminary rulings on questions of interpretation of European law which national courts have a loyal duty to follow. Even though the CJEU is considered a prominent figure in renovating the legal order, national courts have a vital role within the application of the law. The preliminary procedure between the court of Justice and national courts have often been considered as very accommodating. Nonetheless there have been many issues pointed out may contradict this for instance there have been situations where national courts have been more hesitant in referring their cases to the Court of Justice. Prime examples which are considered as the reason behind the transforming relationship between the CJEU and national courts is the formation of Acte Clair. Although the CJEU prime intention is to seek the co-operation from national courts, by shaping this cooperation it is only placing itself in a superior position. Throughout this essay there shall discussions which will attempt to conclude whether the preliminary

To become “the most competitive and knowledge based economy by 2010” was the aim of the Lisbon Agenda set in the year 2000; an economic strategy designed to be implemented across Europe in order to address the challenges posed by an increasing globalised and evolving economy. (Rodrigues, 2009) It was launched as an intention to find a solution to the European Union’s stagnating growth rate which had been ‘structurally lower than that of its main economic partners’ particularly when in comparison to the United States through a set of new policy initiatives. (European Commission, 2010) The ambitious ten year reform programme included aims which targeted promoting the integration of social and economic policy, completing the internal market