Управление на обществените поръчки в България: корупционни рискове и наказателно преследване

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

Despite the legislative and institutional progress, especially in terms of increased transparency and access to data, the public procurement (PP) sector in Bulgaria continues to be associated with high levels of corruption risk. The number of irregularities uncovered by the control bodies remains considerable. At the same time there is a lack of effective investigation, while criminal cases, involving PP, are still very limited and predominantly focused on the lower levels of governance.

CONDUCTING SOCIOLOGICAL AND SPECIALIZED SURVEYS AND ASSESSMENT RESEARCH TO EVALUATE THE RESULTS FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL CHILD STRATEGY (NCS)

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): English

The objective of surveys commissioned by State Agency for Child Protection was to register changes in the first three years of implementation of the National Child Strategy to summarize assessments of target groups and the general public on the key priorities of the National Strategy, to establish whether they meet the support and understanding by the general public and of specific groups associated with its implementation, to recognize the knowledge and progress in achieving the main objectives of the overall policy on child protection.

CSD Policy Brief No. 58: Прозрачно управление и енергийна сигурност в Централна и Източна Европа

Author(s): Author Not Specified / Language(s): Bulgarian

The national and regional energy security of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries has become a hot topic of discussion in the EU recently, focusing the attention of experts, policy makers, and the general public on ongoing and future energy projects but also on the features of energy governance in these countries. The interruption of gas supplies to Europe as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian pricing dispute in 2009, the continuing Russian-Ukrainian crisis after the annexation of Crimea, and the EU-Russia controversies regarding the South Stream pipeline project, as well as Gazprom’s non-compliance with the EU regulations in several anti-trust cases in the past few years are the major cornerstones that shape the CEE energy security framework and policy options as the region remains heavily dependent on Russian oil, gas, and nuclear technology. At the same time, the fragile democratic traditions in the CEE countries, the existing networks of political protectionism and economic oligarchy, and the opaque business practices nurtured by corruption and links with organized crime, have been reinforced by the negative implications of Russian economic and geo-political influence. Russia has exploited its dominant position in the energy market and its long-term links with certain political and economic groups to shape political decisions across the region according to its own interests, but often to the detriment of the home country consumers. The current review of energy security risks in four selected CEE countries, two energy poor – Bulgaria and Serbia, and two energy-resourced– Romania and Ukraine, assesses the factual situation per se and the transparency and accountability of energy policy governance in the region.

Разплата. История на Отон. Пратеничество в Константинопол. Разплата. История на Отон. Пратеничество в Константинопол

Author(s): Liudprand Liudprand of Cremona / Language(s): Bulgarian

This modern translation of all the surviving literary compositions ascribed to Liudprand, the bishop of Cremona from 962 to 972, offers unrivaled insight into society and culture in western Europe during the "iron century". Since Liudprand enjoyed the favor of the Saxon Roman emperor Otto the Great, and traveled to Constantinople more than once on official business, his narratives also reveal European attitudes toward the Byzantine Empire and the culture of its refined capital city. No other tenth-century writer had such privileged access to the high spheres of power, or such acerbic wit and willingness to articulate critiques of the doings of powerful people. Liudprand's historical texts (the Antapodosis on European events in the first half of the 900s, and his Historia Ottonison the rise to power of Otto the Great) provide a unique view of the recent past against a genuinely European backdrop, unusual in a time of localized cultural horizons. Liudprand's famous satirical description of his misadventures as Ottonian legate at the Byzantine court in 968 is a vital source of information on Byzantine ritual and diplomatic process, as well as a classic of medieval intercultural encounter. Readers interested in medieval European culture, the history of diplomacy, Italian and German medieval history, and the history of Byzantium will find this collection of translated texts rewarding. A full introduction and extensive notes help readers to place Liudprand's writings in context.

Психология на преднамереното влияние

Author(s): Georgi Karastoyanov / Language(s): Bulgarian

The presented monograph is a result of many years of practical work and research of the author in the sphere of intentional influence in Bulgaria, USA and NATO structures. It would be of interest to psychologists, sociologists, psychological surgeons, PR and image-maker specialist, managers, and anyone who wants to understand the psychological mechanisms of influence - why do we think what we think, why we feel what we feel, why we act the way we do it, and how other people and the media influence us. In fact, the book does not offer ready-made recipes, but an understanding of the process that enables us to protect ourselves from unwanted influences and to be more effective in achieving our goals.

References

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

TMC2017 Conference Proceedings

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

This volume brings together a selection of papers presented at the 5th Migration Conference hosted by Harokopio University Athens, 23-26 August 2017.This selection of papers presented at the conference are only a small segment of unedited contributions while many other papers have already been published in or submitted to edited books and refereed journals. There were a total of about 400 papers presented over 100 parallel sessions and three plenary sessions at Kallithea Campus of Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.The keynote speakers included Oded Stark, Saskia Sassen, Giuseppe Sciortino, Neli Esipova and Yuksel Pazarkaya.

Strategie de dezvoltare durabilă în regiunea Dyala şi oraşul Baquba din Irak

Author(s): Obeid Khalil Ali / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

In recent decades, Iraqi historical cities have witnessed substantial urban and social changes that have turned them into unattractive places for living and investment, and where development potential has been ignored. The weakness of strategic plans regarding the consideration of the present urban development strategies has led to the random growth of the city, the distortion of cultural heritage sites and the quality of life in cities, generating social and environmental problems. That is why there is a need for the foundation of a territorial development strategy of Iraq and the studied area - the Diyala region and the city of Baquba, which is in accordance with the objectives of sustainable development at the world level and with modern urban regeneration approaches, which implies the improvement of the historical identity and cultural. The outcome of the development strategy of Dyala region and Baquba city must reflect the objectives of sustainable development and have a clear vision and strategic objectives in the short and medium term.

Propunere listă de indicatori de performanţă pentru oraşul inteligent

Author(s): Lucian-Marian Pavel / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

The notion of smart cities has emerged as an essential solution for tackling the significant challenges facing contemporary society, including rapid urbanization, climate change and globalization. Smart cities harness state-of-the-art technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to enhance various aspects of urban life, spanning from living conditions and work environments to information accessibility, social interactions and environmental sustainability. This technological integration offers numerous benefits, accelerating infrastructure development and improving residents' quality of life. Standardization and the incorporation of international standards, such as ISO 37120, ISO 37122 and ISO 37123 play a crucial role in assessing city performance. Romania's adoption of these standards represents a significant step towards evaluating and improving its cities. However, for efficacious implementation, it is imperative to develop implementation guidelines and provide support and training to local authorities. A comprehensive list of 95 performance indicators, categorized into six domains, can provide cities with essential tools for assessing and monitoring their progress towards becoming smart cities and promoting sustainable development. Customizing these indicators to match the unique characteristics of each city and fostering close collaboration with local communities, organizations and experts are crucial aspects for shaping and overseeing strategic objectives that positively influence the quality of life and sustainable urban development. This personalized approach is vital for the successful realization of smart cities.

Dezvoltarea durabilă a oraşelor post-comuniste – studiu comparativ România/ Franţa

Author(s): Maria Militaru / Language(s): Romanian Publication Year: 0

This article aims to explore sustainable development pathways in the housing sector of post-communist countries from the former Eastern Bloc, in the context of the ongoing growth of major urban centers, contemporary changes and socio-economic transformations within cities. To establish the limits of this brief research, we will examine sustainable development through social, economic, political and demographic aspects. Additionally, to enhance our understanding of sustainable housing development, we will apply a multidisciplinary approach to two case studies: Romania and France. By adopting this multidisciplinary perspective, we will compile and analyze the key events along a timeline that underlie major paradigm shifts in each researched domain. Comparing these events in terms of temporality and intensity will provide insights into the parameters under which sustainable housing developments should evolve.