Review-Chronicle of Human Rights Violations in Belarus in January 2013
Compilation of the monthly 2013 Humanr-Rights-Reports as published by VIASNA Human Rights Center
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Compilation of the monthly 2013 Humanr-Rights-Reports as published by VIASNA Human Rights Center
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Compilation of 12 monthly reports of 2020 as published by VIASNA Center for Human Rights
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The emerging democracies in Southеast Europe (SEE) represent one of the most vulnerable regions in Europe to foreign malign influence. On the one hand, domestic developments in SEE states related to democratic backsliding and the erosion of civic and political liberties have fed into low governance standards and public disenchantment. On the other hand, foreign authoritarian states, primarily Russia and increasingly China, have intensified their sharp power influence efforts directed at further derailing faith in liberal democracy and presenting authoritarianism as a more viable political alternative. This brief presents the policy recommendations on a comprehensive Transatlantic response to Russia and China’s media capture influence in Southeast Europe, including EU members Bulgaria and Croatia as well as EU aspirants Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo. It reviews the scope, means and reach of Russia’s sharp power influence through the phenomenon of media capture in Southeast Europe and proposes a framework for addressing governance gaps in the Balkans, which could help build resilience to foreign malign influence in the region.
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The Bulgarian society has long been exposed to disinformation narratives in traditional and social media. The deterioration of media freedom on the back of the oligarchization of the media market has undermined the quality and objectivity of journalism. The media environment has been further undermined by the indiscriminate penetration of social media networks, which algorithms have further amplified sensationalist disinformation. This policy brief zooms in on the prevalence and connections to the pre-election campaign of four popular (disinformation) narratives related to conspiracy theories about COVID-19, to the support of the large Russian energy projects, the opposition to the European Green Deal and the growing anti-EU sentiments in the Bulgarian society.
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The twin goals of green and digital transition are at the heart of the next EU budget-and-recovery package 2021-2027. With enhanced climate conditionality, EU spending priorities will be tightly linked to EU climate policies. The endorsement of the more ambitious EU 2030 emissions reduction target of 55% necessitate a coherent coal phase out strategy to be put in place in Bulgaria as early as possible.Yet, both the draft national operational programmes and the draft National Recovery and Resilience Plan of Bulgaria lack a comprehensive assessment and long term perspective on how to best mobilise the available EU funds. They need to better demonstrate significant emission reductions across different sectors. The focus of the Plan and the operational programmes should move away from large infrastructure projects (including nuclear and gas) to providing resources for more decentralised sustainable energy projects, tackling energy poverty and supply diversification.
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Consumer (co-)ownership in renewable energy (RE) is an essential ingredient of the overall success of the transition to a low-carbon economy and society in Europe. When consumers acquire ownership in RE projects, they can become prosumers generating a part of the energy they consume. Thus, reducing their overall energy costs, while at the same time potentially generating additional income, through the sale of excess production. Yet, becoming a prosumer requires availability of time, headspace and access to substantial up-front investment, as well as access to information and knowledge of the various possible options. This creates burdens for many EU citizens, especially vulnerable groups, including women, who are underrepresented in technological industries, and those who are of low-income, energy poor or low-educated.Based upon the findings and conclusions from recent research on the economic, social, technological and governance enabling conditions and barriers in promoting prosumership and renewable energy communities in Europe, an international team of researchers and practitioners is endeavouring to facilitate the co-ownership in RE. It has done so by piloting a new financial model, the Consumer Stock Ownership Plan, in Italy, the Czech Republic and Germany with numerous European cities following.As a financial instrument, the Consumer Stock Ownership Plan brings several advantages with regard to the set-up of Renewable Energy Communities. It also provides consumers with flexible participation, external financing and long-term loan repayment, thereby encouraging the engagement of low-income households.
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The model for illicit cigarette market assessment at regional level is a comprehensive approach to analyse the combined effect of two types of factors: the ones linked to law-enforcement bodies' performance and the region-specific drivers and barriers to the illicit trade in tobacco products. It was developed drawing on police and industry data from 4 countries – Bulgaria, Italy, Greece and Romania. The model not only allows to identify regions which are at high risk with regard to illicit trade in tobacco products, but also helps identify the measures needed to curb this illegal market.
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The weakening of the EU gravitational pull leaves a power vacuum in the region that is readily filled in by authoritarian powers such as Russia and China. They are taking advantage of the democratic backsliding and the widespread state capture among dysfunctional institutions to expand their economic and political influence. This policy brief zooms in on Russia estimating its economic footprint in Southeastern Europe following the imposition of EU and US sanctions in 2014 and showcases the most important elements of the Russian strategy in the region. Russian economic influence has declined since the imposition of U.S. and EU sanctions in 2014, but Russian companies still control between 5 and 10% of the regional economy, including strategic companies such as the largest refineries, fuel distribution networks, gas transmission and storage facilities, telecoms and retail chains. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has amplified its influence and yielded sharp power in the region through employing all instruments from its playbook, such as supporting mainstream and fringe political parties, employing media, cultural and religious ties, sponsoring civil society activities, and pulling former security services’ strings.
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The study was elaborated by the Institute for Public Policy (IPP) in Bucharest and the Centre for International Studies, with funding from the Constitutional and Legal Policies Institute - Open Society Institute in Budapest and the Open Society Foundation, Bucharest, as part of the program “New Schengen borders and their social and human impact on the “outsiders” of the reintegrated Europe - the Moldovan case”. A substantial contribution was given also by the Institute of Public Policy in Chisinau. The study is part of a larger analysis project, started in 2001 on the basis of a partnership with the Chisinau Institute of Public Policy, involving experts working in institutions in the field of border control in both countries. The goal of this project is to contribute to the improvement of activities in securing the border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, to the benefit of stability in both countries and regional security. The current study, drafted by experts in both countries, makes available concrete elements and guidelines for political actors, to be taken into account in decisions regarding bilateral relations in the present regional context, under the sign of European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
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The central question of this policy brief is how quasi-loss situations should be treated in the European Union and its 28 Member States. More specifically, may the authorities of a Member State rightly argue that situations of quasi-loss amount to a mere non-acquisition of nationality? Or should we start from the assumption that there is no significant difference between the loss of and the quasi-loss of nationality? A next essential question is whether and how a person should under certain circumstances be protected against quasi-loss of her or his nationality? Due to the fact that a Member State entitles to European citizenship, it is desirable to compare the approaches of the different Member States to these questions and to develop recommendations to member States in light of the best practices.
More...23-27 noiembrie 2020
The survey was conducted on 1960 subjects and measured the intention to participate in parliamentary elections, the option to vote, confidence in political leaders, opinion on certain issues of public interest.
More...4-6 septembrie 2020
The survey was conducted between September 4-6, 2020 on a sample of 1027 adults living in the city. He measured how the population perceives the involvement of the mayor’s office in various administrative issues, trust in local political leaders, voting intentions in local elections, the perception of local party organizations.
More...3-6 septembrie 2020
The survey was conducted on September 3-6, 2020 on 808 adults living in the city. He measured the confidence of the candidates for mayor, the voting intentions, the expectations of the future mayor, the degree of involvement of the mayor’s office in various administrative issues, the appreciation of national political leaders.
More...29 august - 1 septembrie 2020
The survey was conducted between August 29 to September 1, 2020 on a sample of 1173 people residing in all areas of the county. He measured the opinion towards the candidates in the local elections, the expectations from the future mayors, the voting intentions, the confidence in the local and regional personalities.
More...3-4 septembrie 2020
Survey conducted on 182 inhabitants of the commune. It measured the confidence of the candidates for mayor, the voting intentions, the seriousness of the administrative problems, the qualities and defects of the candidates.
More...17-23 iulie 2019
The survey was conducted on July 17-23, 2019 on 1128 selected subjects from 114 urban and rural localities in all counties of Romania. He measured confidence in political leaders, voting intentions, comparisons between candidates.
More...15-20 martie 2019
Survey conducted between March 15-20, 2019 on a national sample of 1144 people. He measured the intention to vote in the European elections, the attitude towards political parties, trust in the main political leaders, the degree of information about political games and events, the attitude towards the European Union, towards Romania’s foreign policy, towards doctrines and political values.
More...12-20 ianuarie 2019
Survey conducted between 12-20 January 2019 on a national sample of 1099 people. He measured the voting intentions in the European elections, the estimated IQ of national and international political leaders, the most desired future MEPs, their expectations, the perception of Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă, confidence in political leaders.
More...Cercetare privind nevoile de formare și consultanță managerială ale întreprinzătorilor și ale celor care doresc să înceapă o afacere în mediul rural din regiunile de dezvoltare Nord-Est, Centru și Sud-Est
The research is part of the strategic project “Rural Manager” POSDRU / 13 / 5.2 / S / 8 and was conducted based on a survey to which 942 entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs from rural areas responded. In addition, 3 focus groups, 3 brainstorming's and 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with 80 entrepreneurs and 159 civil servants. She analyzed entrepreneurial values, building an 11-step entrepreneurial scale, entrepreneurial attitudes and behaviors, qualities and obstacles in managerial career, theoretical management knowledge held by rural employers, the need for training and entrepreneurship in business, business consulting, rural management perspectives.
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