Analyzes
Leading MEP: Bilateral issues "an obstacle" to enlargement
Bilateral issues are creating tension ahead of a crucial meeting today (7 December) of EU foreign affairs ministers, MEP Eduard Kukan, who has been Slovakia's foreign minister for over eight years, told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.
To-do list for Catherine Ashton: EU-Russia relations
"It seems that the strategic interests of most EU countries versus Russia are actually similar," write Adam Balcer, Adam Jasser and Paweł Świeboda of the Polish foundation "Demos EUROPA" in a November paper analysing the task facing new EU High Representative Catherine Ashton in winning the confidence of Europe"s citizens.
Health policy: Challenges and Perspectives in Europe
Miroslav Mikolašik, MEP and doctor, elaborates on current health policy challenges in Europe.
Ukraine chooses "realistic path" to EU integration
Valentino Vranić: Vaccination is a dogm
Chairmen of citizens´ initiative on raising awareness of risk related to vaccination speaks on the motion to change Slovak legislation on the compulsory vaccination.
Maros Sefcovic: Difference between Slovak and European themes will slowly desappear
Despite until recently being of no political 'colour', Slovakia's newly-appointed EU commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, will represent the social democratic political family in the EU executive, he told EurActiv Slovakia in an exclusive interview.
Analyst: ‘Gorbachev’s role has been totally neglected’
J.M. Wiersma: Slovaks do not feel indignation over the situation of Roma, they accept it
Tana Kyselova: Entrepreneurship is adrenaline sport
Jozef Hudak: SMEs may lead Slovakia out of recession
The impact of crisis on Slovak economic development and job market
Global economic crisis found Slovakia in the first year of the decline of the economic cycle, so it means that Slovak economic growth would have slowed-down anyway, says economic analyst Pavol Kárász.
Edward Lucas: Russia pushing US out of Europe
Ivan Mako: Roma problems can not be solved without direct Roma participation
Borys Tarasyuk: EU reliance on Russian gas "serious mistake"
Brusel should not have the main responsibility for Roma integration in Slovakia
The postition of Roma minority in Slovakia had a big influence on its accession process to the EU and European Commision warned several times on lack of respect for human rights in the country. Authors of analysis „The answer is in Slovakia, not in Brussels“ (EU and Roma integration in Slovakia) look at the issue from the other side and focus on impact of Slovak membership in EU on its minority policy and offer several recommendations.
Lajčák: Bosniaks are humiliated by visa regime
He was holding an almost unlimited power, but he wanted local people learn to solve their problems independently. The country is today back in the game for the European future, but the visas make citizens depressed. Miroslav Lajčák, former High representative of intentional community in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What would be the contribution of Western Balkan countries to the EU?
Analysis investigates how could the Western Balkan countries (especially Serbia) contribute to increased competitiveness and viability of the EU from economic, social and civilization point of view.
Lukas Pachta: Czech president is under Russian influence
Igor Vida: If banks are not healthy global economy will not recover
IMF: Slovakia should focus on expenditure rationalization
Slovakia should return the deficit to below the Maastricht ceiling by 2011. International Monetary Fund says the expenditure rationalization could be achieved through a combination of revenue-raising tax policy measures and some additional expenditure cuts.
Russia-Ukraine: War is "the only option"
A war between Russia and Ukraine “could happen in the very near future, and certainly no later than 2017, when the Russian Black Sea Fleet is set to leave Sebastopol, as the lease agreement with Ukraine to use this ‘city of Russian military glory’ expires,” writes George Bovt, a Moscow-based political commentator, in an August paper published by the EU-Russia Centre think-tank.
Gas Supply and EU–Russia Relations
“EU energy policy towards Russia damages security of supply because it neglects the specific aims and propensities of Russia and Gazprom,” argues Evart Faber van der Meulen, Coordinator of EU Studies at Leiden University, in a recently published paper.
Zagorski: Tough task ahead talks with Russia
Energy, trade, investment and security will be at the heart of EU-Russia partnership negotiations, Andrei V. Zagorski told EurActiv Slovakia in an interview. The Russian expert predicts that negotiations will be difficult as the EU-Russia relationship is "not going through the best time". But the Russian academic is hopeful that agreement can be struck, citing substantial "mutual interests".
