Always disobedient

Author(s): Staša Zajović / Language(s): English

We are an activist group and a feminist-antimilitarist network made up of women from different generations and different ethnic groups with different social statuses and various levels of education. We have different lifestyles and sexual identities. What we share is a rejection of all forms of war and violent politics, first those of the state and community in which we live and then all others. We share a commitment to women's visible and public resistance to all forms of patriarchy, nationalism, militarism, and fundamentalism. A varying number of people participate in Women in Black's street actions and other activities. Sometimes, there are only a few; sometimes, there are hundreds, depending on the political and social circumstances, the need, and other factors.

Francie a smlouva o Evropské ústavě

Author(s): Jan Eichler / Language(s): Czech

I po neúspěchu referenda v roce 2005 je Francie nadále jednoznačným stoupencem a jednou z hlavních hnacích sil procesu evropské integrace. Zesílila důraz na sociální dimenzi evropského modelu a na naplňování cílů Lisabonské strategie. Všichni tři hlavní kandidáti prezidentských voleb se shodují, že je nutné napsat nový text ústavní smlouvy, který by měl zdůraznit význam sociální politiky, energetické bezpečnosti, ochrany životního prostředí a společného přístupu k přistěhovalectví. Podporují další rozvoj zesílené a strukturované spolupráce a vytvoření funkcí prezidenta EU a ministra zahraničních věcí EU. Dva uchazeči se vyjadřují ve prospěch nového referenda, třetí (a doposud nejlépe připravený z nich) to odmítá a navrhuje „zjednodušenou smlouvu“, ke které by se nejprve vyjádřila mezivládní konference a potom francouzský parlament. A právě ten se z pohledu dalšího pokroku evropské integrace jeví jako nejlépe připravený a nejméně problémový. Ať vyhraje kdokoli, k textu z roku 2005 se vracet nebude. V určité parafrázi se znovu uplatní stará francouzská zásada: text smlouvy je mrtev, ať žije nový text.

Ensuring the Stability of Central Asia after the 2014 Withdrawal from Afghanistan

Author(s): Nikita Odintsov / Language(s): English

The prospects of stability in Central Asia after the 2014 withdrawal will be influenced by the developments in Afghanistan. Yet the overall fragility of the states in the region necessitates taking preventive measures. The previous strategies of the terrorist groups in the region allow us to identify a few focal points of strategic importance which must be protected. To achieve this, it is necessary to use private military companies and return Russian border guards to Tajikistan. Also, the Collective Security Treaty Organization must prepare for possible massive security and refugee crises. The implementation of state social policies can be outsourced to NGOs, which shall refrain from any political activity.

Priručnik o migracijama i traženju azila na osnovu seksualne orijentacije i rodnog identiteta

Author(s): Darko Pandurević / Language(s): Bosnian

Pitanje odlaska mladih iz Bosne i Hercegovine je jedna od najaktuelnijih tema u bh. društvu. Slaba ekonomska situacija, spor i neadekvatan sistem i njegove institucije koje često zakažu kada su najpotrebnije svojim građanima te nestabilna politička situacija su faktori koji se najčešće ističu kod mladih kao razlog odlaska ili želje za odlaskom iz države. Položaj LGBTI osoba u tom istom društvu je itekako pod uticajem gore navedenih faktora. Pored istih potrebno je navesti niz dodatnih problema, sa kojima se suočavaju LGBTI osobe koji, u konačnici, utiču da veliki broj LGBTI osoba u BiH ne žele ili ne mogu zamisliti svoju budućnost u BiH. Od nepovjerenja u institucije (najprije policije i pravosuđe), nasilja i diskriminacije u raznim sferama društva, nepostojanje zdravstvene zaštite i podrške za trans* i interspolne osobe do straha od coming out-a i nedostatka podrške od najbliže okoline. Upravo iz navedenih razloga LGBTI osobe često kao rješenje svojih problema vide napuštanje države i odlazak u zemlje Zapadne Evrope ili Sjeverne Amerike. Neki to čine kroz pronalazak posla u drugoj državi ili nastavak školovanja, drugi kroz osnivanje porodice sa stranim državljanima, a neki i kroz traženje zaštite druge države, odnosno, upuštanja u proceduru traženja azila. Ovaj proces je komplikovan, dugotrajan, često psihološki iscrpan te čiji pozitivni ishod nije zagarantovan i zavisi od slučaja do slučaja. U ovom kratkom vodiču namijenjenom prije svega LGBTI osobama ali i svima drugima koje tema interesuje biće ukratko prikazano šta je azil, pravni aspekti, kako izgleda procedura, koje su specifičnosti kada je u pitanju traženje azila na osnovu seksualne orijentacije ili rodnog identiteta, te odgovor na najbitnija pitanja koja jedna osoba može imati ukoliko se nađe u situaciji da traži azil. Kompletnu temu nije moguće do detalja obraditi u ovako kratkom formatu, stoga vodič treba posmatrati kao uvod u temu i smjernice za daljnje djelovanje ili istraživanje ove teme.

Centre for European Policy Studies. Highlights 2015-16

Author(s): Karel Lannoo,Daniel Gros,Kerstin Born-Sirkel,Sally Scott / Language(s): English

Turbulent times continue to provide plenty of food for thought. We are proud that CEPS has managed for several decades to provide expert analysis to an increasingly broad group of stakeholders on topical issues. For example, we have recently examined the migration crisis and the implications of a possible Grexit or Brexit for the EU. We have also addressed more long-standing policy problems such as Energy Union, innovation and deep and comprehensive agreements with important trading partners. With an eye to long-term global issues, CEPS was active in the negotiations for a new international climate change regime, providing a valuable and officially acknowledged contribution to the agreement reached at the COP21 in Paris. The last few months have also seen a worsening of the refugee crisis. Building on decades of research in the fields of migration and asylum, we have put forward concrete and evidencebased policy recommendations to decision-makers both in Brussels and in the national capitals.

Centre for European Policy Studies. Highlights 2016-17

Author(s): Joaquín Almunia / Language(s): English

CEPS’ mission statement seems even more compelling today than it did when it was first adopted many years ago. Thinking ahead for Europe is imperative in light of the urgent challenges confronting the EU today, such as migration, Brexit and the rise of populism. This also applies to the many complex policy domains, such as energy union, capital markets union, economic governance, foreign policy and institutional reform, that require independent, authoritative and evidence-based analysis. Assessments by experts and carefully produced facts and figures tend to remain below the radar screen of current public discourse and they rarely make headlines. But these elements fully retain their value in today’s world in which policy-makers regularly face immensely difficult choices to address problems that are not susceptible to simple solutions or slogans. It is in this spirit that we pursue our work at CEPS.

The shades of German anti-Semitism

Author(s): Kamil Frymark / Language(s): English

The streets of Germany’s biggest cities are increasingly witnessing frequent anti-Semitic incidents. Despite the fact that Germany regards the fight against anti-Semitism as part and parcel of its domestic policy, in recent years Jews living in Germany have reported that they feel under threat, to such an extent that 44% of them are considering migration. Debates on the presence of ‘imported anti-Semitism’ among refugees from Arab states who have come to Germany in recent years have been held for several months. Anti-Semitism among asylum seekers is a new element in the dispute that has been evident in Germany over the attitude of specific parties to anti-Semitism and methods for combating it. Both Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party are accused by other parties of insufficient efforts to eliminate instances of anti-Semitism in their ranks. The AfD, for its part, accuses Chancellor Angela Merkel of having contributed to an increase in xenophobic tendencies by pursuing a liberal migration policy. Significant differences between the statistics concerning incidents (which suggest that the perpetrators are most often right-wing extremists) and the accounts given by the victims (who point to individuals of migrant origin as the perpetrators) have triggered doubts regarding the methodology used to compile these statistics. Attempts by the Federal Ministry of the Interior to monitor anti-Semitic incidents, which is a practice recommended by non-governmental organisations, may help to improve the credibility of the statistics by showing the motivation behind such attacks in a broader context. Activities carried out by the federation and by individual German states focus on curbing anti-Semitism on the internet and in schools, which is where incidents involving discrimination and attacks are becoming increasingly common.

In the shadow of war. Ukraine’s policy towards internally displaced persons

Author(s): Krzysztof Nieczypor / Language(s): English

The conflict in eastern Ukraine that has been going on for more than four years has resulted in one of country’s worst social crises. More than 10 000 people have now been killed, and more than 25 000 injured in the conflict. The destruction caused by war, a weak economy, and the spread of criminal activity in areas controlled by pro-Russian separatists have forced more than 2 million people to leave their place of residence, according to official figures. Approximately 1.5 million of these have moved to other regions in the country. Although there is every indication that the true number is lower, the scale and consequences of the problem mean that Ukraine is facing the greatest humanitarian crisis in its history. Although the authorities in Kyiv have expressed their resolve to solve the humanitarian issues and reintegrate the eastern regions into the rest of the country as soon as possible, the measures the state has taken have been inadequate and ineffective. The legal mechanisms devised to assist displaced persons are often discriminatory and sometimes unlawful. This failure to provide effective aid to displaced persons leaving the occupied areas has revealed not only that the administrative apparatus is ineffectual, but also that Ukrainian politicians are unwilling to take real measures to meet this challenge. In view of the ineffectiveness of state institutions, most of the support given to internally displaced persons is being provided by volunteers and by NGOs using international aid.

W cieniu wojny. Ukraina wobec osób wewnętrznie przesiedlonych

Author(s): Krzysztof Nieczypor / Language(s): Polish

Toczący się od ponad czterech lat konflikt na wschodzie Ukrainy wywołał jeden z najpoważniejszych kryzysów społecznych w kraju. W jego wyniku zginęło już ponad 10 tys. osób, a ponad 25 tys. zostało rannych. Zniszczenia wojenne, zła sytuacja gospodarcza oraz postępująca kryminalizacja terenów znajdujących się pod kontrolą prorosyjskich separatystów zmusiły – według danych oficjalnych – ponad 2 mln ludzi do opuszczenia swojego miejsca zamieszkania, z czego ok. 1,5 mln przeniosło się do innych regionów kraju. Choć wszystko wskazuje na to, że ich liczba jest mniejsza, to skala problemu i jego konsekwencje powodują, iż Ukraina mierzy się z największym kryzysem humanitarnym w swojej historii. Pomimo deklarowanej determinacji władz w Kijowie do jak najszybszego rozwiązywania problemów humanitarnych oraz reintegracji wschodnich regionów z resztą kraju, działania państwa w tym zakresie są nieefektywne i niewystarczające. Wypracowane rozwiązania prawne mające służyć wsparciu osób przesiedlonych mają nierzadko charakter dyskryminacyjny i w niektórych przypadkach bezprawny. Brak skutecznej pomocy osobom przesiedlonym z terenów okupowanych ujawnia nie tylko niewydolność aparatu administracyjnego, lecz także niechęć ukraińskich polityków do podjęcia rzeczywistych działań mających na celu sprostanie temu wyzwaniu. Wobec nieefektywności instytucji państwowych znaczna część wsparcia dla uchodźców wewnętrznych realizowana jest dzięki działalności wolontariuszy i organizacji pozarządowych korzystających z pomocy międzynarodowej.

References

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Barometru social Reșița

Author(s): Bruno Stefan,Andrade Bichescu,Gheorghe Popovici / Language(s): Romanian

The report presents the results of the first referendum and local census conducted in Romania. The research followed several aspects: 1. Identifying the number of buildings built as people's homes: apartments, houses, boarding schools, dormitories, children's homes, cottages, etc. 2. Identifying the number of Romanian citizens who have a permanent residence in the city, even if at the time of the survey some were away in other localities in the country or abroad. 3. Assessment of external migration: how many people went abroad, in which countries, for what reasons, how much they earn, in what field they work, if they work with an employment contract or not, if there is an intention to return to the country, if there is an intention of others locals to emigrate, the reasons that would determine them to return / stay in Resita. 4. The attitude of the population towards certain plans of the City Hall (tourism development, modernization of public transport, construction of an Aqua Park, construction of a Mall, rehabilitation of educational units, construction of an industrial museum, rehabilitation of "Mircea Chivu" stadium, rehabilitation of streets, construction of an area promenade on the right bank of the Bârzava).

Maghiarii din Transilvania în spaţiul politic maghiar şi românesc

Author(s): Tamás Kiss,Gergő Barna / Language(s): Romanian

Between 18 May and 8 June, 2013 the authors have collected data from a representative sample of 1,232 Hungarians from Transylvania with the purpose to examine the political behavior of the aforementioned community within the political spaces of both Hungary and Romania. While closely related to a research project (entitled 'Ethnic parties, voting behavior') carried out within the Romanian Institute for Research on National Minorities, the present research has extended its focus to Transylvanian Hungarians'voting behavior outside Romania. This change of perspective has been necessary because on 26 May 2010 the Hungarian Parliament adopted the amendment to the 1993 Law on Hungarian citizenship by introducing the simplified naturalization procedure, thus enabling Hungarians from the neighboring countries of Hungary to obtain Hungarian citizenship without residency. Moreover, the new Hungarian election law adopted in November 2011 allows Hungarian citizens without residency in Hungary to vote in the Hungarian Parliamentary elections (on candidates from national party lists). As a consequence, the political, or voting behavior of Hungarians from Transylvania needs to be analyzed by taking into account this perspective as well.

Влиянието на миграционните процеси върху социеталната сигурност в Европа

Author(s): Elislav Ivanov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The report analyzes the rapidly developing processes in the changed geostrategic environment, which with the beginning of the new century are being activated, changing and emerging as increasingly contradictory. The ever-increasing geopolitical contradictions, both in the global and regional aspects, which pose a threat to the Bulgarian geo space, are investigated. These processes also affect Bulgaria, as a participant in the international security system. For this reason, clarifying their genesis, driving forces and motives would help to build an adequate vision and behavior of the country in an increasingly complicated geopolitical and geostrategic situation. Constantly increasing security threats, risks and challenges have a significant impact on societal security, which is directly dependent on the development of the war in Ukraine and migration processes in Europe.

Афганистанският национален фронт за съпротива – единствената реална опозиция срещу управлението на талибаните

Author(s): Miroslav Mirchev / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The report examines issues related to the establishment and activities of the National Resistance Front (NFS) in Afghanistan. The organizational structure, leadership and ideological platform of the NFS are indicated, as well as the forms of resistance to the rule of the Taliban Movement (TM). The reasons why the NFS is currently the only opposition force opposing Taliban rule are analyzed as well. The report focuses on the Taliban operations in the north-eastern Afghan provinces against NFS forces, with a focus on Panjshir province.

The EU and the Refugees: The Way Forward

Author(s): Michal Šimečka,Benjamin Tallis,Vít Beneš,Petr Kratochvíl / Language(s): English

The EU has always existed in the dual world of strongly professed universal values and its ability to accommodate the mundane interests of its member states. However, this – at times fruitful – tension has recently come under so much strain that it threatens to bring down not only the EU's always fragile foreign policy consensus, but even the most fundamental freedoms on which the EU has been built, such as the free movement of people, and which it has come to stand for in the eyes of its populations. The first blow came with the Eurozone crisis, and the second with the still growing migration malaise. But while the crumbling solidarity during the economic crisis and the negotiations with Greece could still be explained away as a result of rational economic calculus, the current crisis does not offer any such comforts. The two fundamental tenets of the integration ethos – universal values and particular state interests – seem to be at odds as never before. The ultimate question which is so often posed today is whether the EU should comply with the still powerful state-centric push and simply build up the barriers again or whether the time has come for the EU to fulfil its higher calling and take action based on its broader humanitarian obligations.

Migrace ze Subsaharské Afriky do Evropské Unie se zaměřením na Nigérii a Českou Republiku

Author(s): Jan Prouza / Language(s): Czech

This policy paper analyzes the migration flows from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to the European Union (EU), focusing on Nigeria and the Czech Republic. It identifies the main trends and factors influencing migration from SSA, such as population growth, economic situation, security issues, and climate change. It also evaluates the current strategy of the Czech Republic in addressing migration from SSA, mainly through humanitarian aid and foreign development cooperation. Finally, it proposes some recommendations for the future policy making in this area, such as increasing the official development assistance, diversifying the Czech export, supporting the creation of jobs and education in SSA, enhancing the coordination among different actors, and framing migration as an opportunity rather than a threat.

The current state of EU-Turkey relations and implications for Czech foreign policy

Author(s): Pelin Ayan Musil / Language(s): English

The Czech Republic should approach the EU-Turkey relationship from the perspective of how to bring back the EU’s democratizing influence over Turkey because the decline of democracy in the country is conducive to its unilateral and disruptive foreign policy in areas that are of strategic importance to the EU. The EU has recently adopted a global human rights sanctions regime that targets autocratizing regimes responsible for human rights violations, which can potentially include Turkey. Yet, some softer mechanisms contributing to democratization, such as the strengthening of the linkage between autonomous civil society organizations (CSOs) in Turkey and their European counterparts, are also worth considering as a foreign policy tool. The Czech Republic’s concern about the decline of democracy and rule of law worldwide makes it ideal that its foreign policy should employ such a soft strategy toward Turkey. It can motivate its own CSOs to increase their linkages with the CSOs that have managed to remain autonomous within Turkey’s polarized domestic setting. To this end, the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs can consider including Turkey as one of the priority countries in its Transition Promotion Program. The potential transnational cooperation between the Czech CSOs and the autonomous CSOs in Turkey can focus on less controversial issues for Turkey that still, however, constitute urgent challenges for both the Czech Republic and Turkey. Immigration and climate change are two such exemplary issues.

Policy Recommendations on Integration in Europe

Author(s): Andrea Spehar,Ana Trifunović,Gordan Bosanac,Despina Syrri / Language(s): English

Through FORA project we have implemented several interactive activities with migrants, refugees and local population in Serbia, Croatia, Greece in Sweden. Through those interactions we have extracted some of the policy recommendations for decision makers on local, national and European level. In each country the situation related to integration is different. This is why we have left to each participating organization to create its own recommendation priorities and use its own stile of presentation. We hope that our recommendations will be heard and implemented by relevant decision makers and make Europe more open towards the newcomers.

Přistupy zemi Severni a Zapadni Evropy k fenomenu Migrace. Posun k Restrikci?

Author(s): Sylvie Burianová,Jan Kovář / Language(s): Czech

The aim of this policy paper is to outline the reasons for the shift towards restriction in the migration policies of Western European states in recent years, especially in the context of increasing immigration from non-EU countries and the Ukrainian refugee crisis. To this end, it presents factors that have an impact on the growth of anti-immigration attitudes among European citizens and, as a result, on the rhetoric of political representatives and the formulation of policies. These factors include the depletion of material capacities for immigrants, the economic costs associated with their arrival and subsequent integration into the host society, the perceived connection between immigration and an increase in crime, and the normalization of the far-right in the political mainstream. The above facts play a crucial role in formulating a new form of European immigration policies in the post-crisis period after 2015. Their importance is particularly evident in countries where, although it was always possible to observe a very open and welcoming approach to immigration, there has been a significant sharpening of migration rhetoric. Sweden and Germany can be included among these countries.

Regulisanje pravnog položaja migranata u iregularnom statusu i pristup pravu na rad i pravu na obrazovanje

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

The document Regulating the legal position of migrants in irregular status and access to the right to work and the right to education was created as a result of one of the activities on the project Guidelines for Migrants - a guide through the labyrinth, which aims to provide migrants with support in regulating their legal status and to ensure access to appropriate education and employment in the Republic of Serbia (RS) in accordance with their legal status. Project activities are divided into three groups and include: 1) direct support activities for migrants and migrant children; 2) advocacy activities (policies related to the legal and strategic framework of Serbia that protects the rights of migrants); 3) awareness-raising activities (local campaigns on the rights of migrants to employment and education).