European Leaders Research Articles

The Dollar as a Mutual Problem: New Transatlantic Interdependence in Finance

When the 2007 global financial crisis hit financial markets, European leaders were quick to point the finger at US markets, excessive risk-taking, and insufficient regulation. However, it soon became apparent that European banks were more exposed than their Wall Street counterparts. With massive dollar liabilities, European banks were dependent on the US to act as a global lender of last resort. The crisis revealed a level of transatlantic interdependence that had been unknown to most observers and policymakers prior to the crisis. We argue that this represents a paradox, given that the project of the European Monetary Union was partly motivated by a desire to make Europe more independent from the US dollar. The euro was a response to the challenge of “it’s our dollar, but it’s your problem.” In this article, we examine how the European vulnerability to the US dollar that began post-Bretton Woods did not, in fact, disappear with the creation of a European currency. Instead, through financialization and deregulation, European financial markets developed new, complex interactions with US financial markets. This financialization of transatlantic banking flows created a new type of interdependence. As European banks were so heavily invested in US markets, this gave the US authorities a direct interest in bailing them out. While cross-border banking flows have decreased since the crisis, the interdependencies remain, and currency swaps were used once again to handle the economic fallout from Covid-19. In the area of financial and monetary policy, the transatlantic relationship remains strong and stable within a dollar hegemony.

Comparative Studies and Research on Energy Optimization of Non-Residential Buildings

Abstract Statistics confirm that in the EU, buildings consume approx. 40% of final energy, which accounts for 36% of total European greenhouse gas production after energy consumption. Energy efficiency measures are urgently needed to effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Decreasing fossil fuel consumption would have a major impact on declining energy demand per unit of gross domestic product. In 2014, European leaders adopted the ambitious Climate and Energy Framework 2030, in which the three key targets were raised: a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, a 27% reduction in RES and a 27% increase in energy efficiency. Then, in November 2016, the European Commission (EC) proposed the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, designed to support and accelerates the transition to a carbon-free energy system. This paper comprises a case study of the current situation of these matters in Romania and focuses on steps and methodology of what actions are reliable and available to be put into practice on this matter.

Caricaturing the prophet: Pushing the right to free speech too far?

Despite growing evidence that production of cartoons and caricatures of Muhammad causes deep hurt to Muslims across the world, European leaders are refusing to restrict their publication in the name of free speech. This article questions this position on three counts: one, the hurt these cartoons cause to the Muslims and the resulting frictions between Europe and leaders of the Muslim countries; two, the harm they cause to European societies by increasing the tension between Muslims and ordinary citizens and the state at a time when Islamophobia and anti-immigrant feelings are already high; and, three, the need to question the intent of those publishing the cartoons given the overwhelming evidence on the first two counts. The article also questions the legitimacy and usefulness of labelling attacks triggered in response to these publications as ‘Islamic terrorism’ when the profiles of those perpetuating these attacks show criminal and deviant behaviour than evidence of religious devotion. The usefulness of using labels that make actions of a few taint whole of Islam, and Muslims as a collective, needs to be debated.

Constructing Victimization Grand-Narrative in the Ukrainian Foreign-Language Press (1901–1926)

The paper seeks to develop new avenues for a study of the Ukrainian press in the West European languages in Europe during the first quarter of the twentieth century. For the first time ever, we employ here the framing perspective for the study of the victimization grand-narrative of Ukrainians in their foreign-language print media in Europe. We examine the victimization of the Ukrainian people in terms of ‘human interest’, ‘conflict’ and ‘morality’ frames in the press discourse of the respective historical periods: colonial (1901–1918), postcolonial (1919–1921), and neo-colonial (1921/1922–1926). We argue that victimization grand-narrative in the press was used purposefully to evoke compassion and empathy from the West European public opinion for the Ukrainian nation as ‘collective’ victim (‘oppressed nation’). Additionally, this research proves that victimization of Ukrainians geared at securing support and solidarity for their nation-state aspirations from the European opinion leaders.

Leaders say, citizens decide. Social impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Twitter

This research provides an analysis on the communication by leaders of Europe’s most affected countries by COVID-19, United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain established via Twitter on the health organization recommended three urgent lines of action to state-nations; 1. Prevention and control of the infection, 2. Diagnosis and treatment, 3. Social and economic consequences. Through the Communicative Efficiency Index we have tested the leaders’ capacity to communicate importants decisions and health measures with the purpose of slowing down the virus expansion and saving lives. After analysis of 550 tweets, the results show a different intervention on crisis communication by some of the political agents analyzed and the evidence of a non-coordinated answer to the pandemic by the countries affected. Indications made by leaders through social networks have not always had the approval of the million people audience that has received them.

When History Seems to Repeat Itself: Exposure to Perceived Lessons of the Past Influences Predictions About Current Political Events.

The idea that the past holds lessons for the present, under the guise of historical analogies, is prevalent in political and public discourse. Those analogies are often accompanied by dire warnings befalling those who “forget” or otherwise neglect the powerful lessons of History—and would then be “doomed to repeat it”, as the saying goes. So, Would remembering history make it seem more OR LESS likely to repeat itself in the future? In other words, does exposure to specific lessons about past events, especially ones involving causal claims, affect how people expect real-life events to turn out? Four studies (three preregistered) tested this experimentally. In Studies 1 and 2, participants expected the same behavior (the US adopting a harsh stance against Iran in the Nuclear Treaty) to result in a more negative outcome when this current stance seemed to match a “lesson” they had read about the break-out of World War II (European leaders adopting a harsh approach against Germany in the 1919 Versailles Treaty vs. a conciliatory approach in the 1938 Munich Agreement). Studies 3 and 4 attempted to eliminate some confounds present in the first two studies and to generalize the effect to different events. While results varied across studies, an internal meta-analysis indicated that the analogical effect on predictions (d = –.08) tended to become stronger as participants’ knowledge about the target situation decreased (d-1SD = –.24). These findings support the possibility of analogical-based predictive effects for real-life political events, and are discussed in light of their research and political implications.

Направления деятельности агентов Коминтерна в Европе в 1921–1925 годах (по материалам французских архивов)

This article dwells on the topic little studied in Russian and foreign historiography, namely, the intelligence work of foreigners in European countries in favour of the Communist International. The research involved documents from the Historical Service of the French Ministry of Defence and the French National Archives, in particular, the court cases of three French activists (J. Sadoul, A. Guilbeaux and R. Petit). The materials of the court cases were formed on the basis of the information gathered by the French intelligence about the activities of these people in European countries. The author of the paper, having analysed the above court cases, determined the chronological framework of this activity (1921–1925) and identified six areas of the Bolshevik agents’ work aimed to promote the communist movement in European countries. These areas included campaigning through organization and distribution of the Soviet press abroad; restoration of the cultural ties between the countries of Western Europe and Soviet Russia; propaganda measures in the occupied territories of Germany; establishment of additional contacts with representatives of the French Communist Party; attempts to revitalize the communist movement in Czechoslovakia and Turkey; and establishment of a link between the Comintern and the Italian and Swiss communists. The author comes to the conclusion that the agents’ activities in these areas had positive results. This example of cooperation between the European communists and leaders of the Comintern through French agents is a new page in the history of communism. It demonstrates the collaboration between the Bolsheviks and representatives of the opposition parties in France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, actively mediated by French citizens, and personifies this aspect of the development of the world communist movement.

The fog of enlargement and the agony of accession: the European Union and Serbia in the light of a reform document.

The 2009 public debt crisis onset triggered a fundamental constitutional transformation of the European Union (EU). What is the link between this transformation and the enlargement policy? The authors of the article seek an answer to this question. The main thesis is that the method of impersonal authoritarianism in dealing with the Eurozone crisis spilled over into the EU enlargement policy. On the one hand, we consider the systemic reasons for turning the enlargement policy into an instrument of geopolitical control of the states on the outer periphery. On the other hand, the problem is considered from the point of view of Serbia’s interest as an EU membership candidate country. The authors conclude that opening space for innovation and flexibility in relations would be in the mutual interest of the EU and candidate countries. The analysis of the new enlargement policy reform proposal examines the readiness of European leaders to open the door for a new type of relations with the candidate countries that would correspond to today’s European reality of the historical interregnum.

Landscape Changes in Protected Areas in Poland

Land-Use Cover Changes (LUCCs) are one of the main problems for the preservation of landscapes and natural biodiversity. Protected Areas (PAs) do not escape this threat. Poland is among the European leaders in terms of the variety of landscapes and the share of an area designated as a protected area. However, as many as 78% of the habitats have poor or bad conservation status based on EEA reports. This article analyzes the LUCCs between 2000 and 2018 in various types of the Polish legal forms of nature protection areas and the European Natura 2000 network within the country. The research material was: the data of Corine Land Cover (CLC), the Central Register of Nature Protection Forms, and high-resolution layers, such as HRL and orthophotos. The results were compiled according to the CLC class and forms of protection. The matrix of transformations showed that the most frequently transformed CLC class was 312 (coniferous forest). It was transformed into class 324 (transitional woodland shrubs). The changes in PAs were usually smaller than in the surrounding buffer zones, which may indicate their effectiveness. The exception was the areas of the European Natura 2000 network. The scale of land-cover flows (LCFs) changed within particular forms of protected areas, though afforestation and deforestation predominating in all area types. National reserves and parks were the most stable in terms of land cover structures. However, human settlements increased around the protected areas, potentially increasing threats to their ecological integrity.

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING

Introduction. Economic development of Ukraine in the third decade of the 21st century largely depends on the development of digital technologies, on which the cryptocurrency busi­ness directly depends. According to the Index proposed by chainalysis.com, Ukraine is one of the leaders in the world and the undisputed leader in Europe in the adoption of cryptocurrencies. This became possible thanks to the active development of financial and information technol­ogies in Ukraine, and the financial, economic and military-political crises only give additional impetus to the development of the cryptocurrency business due to its global nature and full or indirect independence from attempts at state regulation. One of the areas of cryptocurrency business development is cryptocurrency mining. The purpose of the article is to reveal the algorithm of conducting business in the field of cryptocurrency mining and the economic efficiency of mining in Ukraine and the possibility of its impact on economic growth in the country. Results. Cryptocurrency mining is the process of creating cryptocurrency coins. It has been investigated that the cryptocurrency mining process is not a financial pyramid or some kind of virtual game, but is one of the newest types of business activity, which requires significant the­oretical and practical economic and technical knowledge, is economically expedient both in the short and long term. When mining, you can use a variety of computer equipment, depending on the miner’s economic tasks and desired results. ASIC equipment has been developed for mining on an industrial scale. Cloud mining is used for investing. If there is no knowledge about mining and limited financial resources, you should use browser mining or mine on your own PC, laptop or smartphone. However, the most efficient and widespread mining takes place on video cards. It was found to be a by-product of mining. It is estimated that there is a slight correlation between the earnings of miners on the Ethermine mining pool and the daily mining profit. Conclusions. Although the history of cryptocurrency business is only one and a half decades, mining, as an object of business activity in Ukraine, is a significant economically effective type of business activity, which is noted in the world rating of the perception of cryptocurrencies, according to which Ukraine is one of the world leaders. Attempts to implement legal regulation of cryptocurren­cy mining both in Ukraine and in other countries, and its gradual implementation do not significantly harm the creation, distribution and use of cryptocurrency coins, however, will create transformed conditions for the economic attractiveness of cryptocurrency mining as business objects.

Main Aspects of the Implementation of Seismic Projects

The paper presents the planning and workflow of field seismic explorations. Seismic data acquisition has developed significantly over the last 15 20 years; the paper covers the most important changes and developments of this period and goes step-by-step through the process of implementing a land 3-D seismic project. In order to increase efficiency, the different cost reduction technologies appeared on the vibroseis source side in 3-D seismic, and wireless field technology is becoming more and more accepted among the forms of seismic data acquisition. The advances in seismic acquisition, including simultaneous source acquisition, wireless channel systems, and exponential growth in seismic channel count, are revolutionizing surveys. Improved receiver sampling along with high productivity are the drivers for seismic technology today, which means smaller, lighter and less power-hungry equipment, while also increasing channel counts, minimizing system related remediation and HSE risk. A new era in land 3-D seismic surveys has arrived in Europe and in Hungary, too. The author used her experience in the implementation of many domestic and foreign 2-D and 3-D land seismic projects as an observer, shift leader, field manager, and then as a project leader in Europe. She combines these practical experiences with specific aspects of field project design and implementation. The aspects covered in this paper contribute to the professionally efficient and financially profitable implementation of field projects.

The serbs and the war against the Turks in the letters of Francesco Filelfo

Francesco Filelfo (Tolentino 1398 ? Florence 1481) was one of the humanists to gain a thorough knowledge of Greek in Constantinople, where he lived in the 1420s. The young learned man was integrated into the Byzantine establishment. In particular, the heir and joint emperor John VIII Palaiologos appointed him as his personal secretary. On behalf of John, Filelfo attended the international congress in Buda in 1423; he met personally with the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, Despot of Serbia Stefan Lazarevic and other European leaders. He also went to Kovin on his return to Constantinople. In his Letters to Roman popes, kings and princes, the Italian humanist proposed to serve as an alter Nestor, a man who would give better advice on the war against the Turks. He is particularly interested in Serbian history. In this respect, he mentions the most important events relating to the Serbian resistance against the Ottoman Empire, such as the sacrifice of Lazar in the Battle of Kosovo polje (1389), the legendary defense of Belgrade in 1456, and the fall of the fortress of Smederevo in 1459. Filelfo?s Letters represent an extraordinary testimony on Western Balkan history.

The Political Economy of Authoritarian Populism in Hungary

With all key political institutions firmly in Orban’s hands, and with the electoral rules basically tilted to Orban’s advantage, many observers question whether Orban’s regime can be successfully challenged domestically, from within. As a result, the attention has shifted to the European Union and its role in policing the violations of EU basic values, which include democracy and the rule of law. After examining the EU’s record in protecting the rule of law and democracy in Hungary, I conclude that EU sanctions are not likely to save democracy in Hungary. In conclusion, I argue that instead of focusing too narrowly on sanctions, the Hungarian opposition should articulate a coherent (politico-economical) alternative to Orban’s authoritarian populism. Instead of focusing only on legal or economic sanctions, the EU and member states should look to alternative economic and social policies that would speak directly to the anxieties of populist voters. The good news is that this trend can be reversed— but only if European leaders, together with the Member States, articulate a coherent alternative to the failed neo-liberal economic and social policies of the last two decades. Only an economic policy that promotes growth, better jobs and wages, and social inclusion can stem the nationalist-populist tide.

Общеевропейское политическое пространство: от идеи к реальности

The article examines the processes of formation and institutionalization of the pan-European political space as an important element of the political system of the European Union. The main theoretical approaches to the study of this problem are presented. The analysis of the Europeanization process and its possible influence on the formation of this space is given. The attitude to this process on the part of the EU political elite, as well as ordinary European citizens, is shown. It is demonstrated that the political institutions of the European Union and the European integration itself influence the political culture, the formation of a common European identity of citizens and their political attitudes. The basic principles and elements of the pan-European political space, including pan-European institutions, political parties, mass media, etc., are described, particularly from the perspective of proponents of various description models, inter alia the models of liberal representation, participatory democracy and deliberative democracy. The main aspects of the evolution of the European Union party and political system, which is an important element of the pan-European political space, are presented. It has been noted that since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, the European parties have significantly increased their role and influence in the pan-European political system. An attempt is made to understand how the elements and models interact with each other, what the positions of specific European parties and their factions in the European Parliament are considering the future EU development. The importance of successful implementation of the “Spitzenkandidaten principle” was specified, which will allow the European party leaders and their election manifestos to become better known and understood not only by politicized voters, but also by a majority of the electorate. The role and influence of the media and cultural sphere on the formation of this space are analyzed.

About the Paradox of Migrants Integration: Reasons without Sophism

Aladin El-Mafaalani, the author of the recently published monograph The Paradox of Integration. Why Successful Adaptation of Migrants Leads to New is known as sociologist and professor at the University of Osnabrück (Germany). This work is of great interest – as seen at the of thinking about immigration issues after European leaders acknowledged the failure of the policy of multiculturalism.

AUSTRIAN POLITICAL SCANDALS: «KURTZ AFFAIR»

The article focuses on the political biography of Sebastian Kurz, who held the post of Federal Chancellor of Austria till autumn of 2021. He is being accused of abuse of power in order to achieve political goals. In Europe Kurz was considered to be one of the most promising politics, who came all the way to the top over the decade – a stellar career path, which would require entire political lifetimes for others to cross. Without higher education degree he over the few years rose from the position of a mere activist of youth movement of Austrian’s People’s Party to the role of the party leader. At the age of 27 he took up the post of Foreign Minister, and aged 31 he reached the top of the national politic as the Federal Austrian Chancellor. During the second decade of the XXI century Kurz used to be one of the interlocutors of the European and world leaders and one of the main officials in EU.

CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON WORK AND OTHER CERTAIN LEGAL SOCIAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

The European Union is in the initial phase of managing the conditions for the growth of artificial intelligence. Assuming that the above-mentioned electronic technology of the future should be trustworthy, guarantee the safety of its users and develop under human leadership, the Union should be able to convince the Member States of the necessary need for all interested parties to apply modern electronic technologies in practice while respecting European values, principles and human rights. The above common goal, extremely important for the future of European societies, and a uniform unified strategy for achieving it, binds the EU Member States. The above statement applies to all EU Member States, including those with above-average ambitions to become European leaders in the use of artificial intelligence for economic and social development. Considering that the European Union is competing with the USA and China, it is justified to ask whether the strategy of the development and use of artificial intelligence intended by the European Union will enable the achievement of the above goal?

Changes in governmental leadership strategies after pandemic

Effective leadership is a term an understanding and underlying principles of which are a conceptually challenged and constantly evolving research topic. This article provides a brief listing of the leadership strategies used by European leaders in 2020-2021 and the tools for their implementation. The assessment the reputation consequences, which were undoubtedly influenced by the adoption of crisis decisions and the results. The author of the article will leave the question of which of the tools used in the fight against the pandemic will be implemented in the post-Covid governance agenda as a subject of reflection.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trust in the European Union

At the beginning of 2020, the world faced a new and unexpected challenge. Such a harmful situation has a potential to increase tensions in societies and create citizens’ distrust in their own governments and the European Union. In relation to these observations, the main hypothesis assumes that citizens’ trust in the Union decreased during the pandemic, compared to previous periods. Thus, the aim of the study is to identify the dynamics of trust in the EU in the member states. The research’s object is the citizens of the EU member states and the focus on dynamics in the levels of trust in 2016–2020, measured based on selected indicators. The data for analysis comes from the Eurobarometer. Statistical methods (frequencies and cross tables) and comparative approach are used for the analysis. On the macrolevel, it seemed that European leaders could do better, especially in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the results of the Eurobarometer survey performed in the summer of 2020 show that average trust in the Union did not decreased. Тhe data shows that there is a variety across the countries, which was not presented in the current study. Thus, a further examination focused on the context in each of the countries is required, namely policies and measures stringency.

Impact of the “First Wave” of the Pandemic on Social Rights in the Countries of the European Union

While news of successful vaccine trials is encouraging, the prospect of long-term restrictions underscores the magnitude of a number of problems and challenges faced by all EU member states during the first wave of coronavirus infection. European leaders have come together in a series of measures and policies to support the European economy and society at the time of the declaration of the emergency. This situation underlines the particular importance of respecting the social rights of citizens. Social rights offer protection in many of the areas that most define our daily lives, including legally binding standards in education, employment and health care. This gives EU citizens the right to education, fair working conditions and access to preventive health care. The article traces the practice of how European countries apply the lessons learned from the first wave in order to minimize the negative impact on human rights. Several European governments have decided to expand income support schemes. To date, the authorities have expanded access to testing for COVID-19 in nursing homes, migration camps and other institutions. The authors highlight how the pandemic has affected fundamental rights, especially the social rights of society as a whole. The article describes some of the measures that EU member states have taken to protect the most vulnerable segment of society as Europe faces the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.