Systemic rivalry and balancing interests: Chinese investment meets EU law on the Belt and Road

Author(s): Steven Blockmans,Weinian Hu / Language(s): English

For years, the EU has refrained from criticising China’s attempts to shape globalisation according to its own interests. Member states have allowed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to tip the balance of power towards the companies that China owns or subsidises. Alarmed by recent Chinese takeovers in strategic industries, the EU has flagged up its intention to toughen rules on foreign investment flows into Europe. The brand-new EU Strategic Outlook on China adopts a multifaceted approach and defines the ‘Middle Kingdom’ simultaneously as a cooperation and negotiation partner with whom the Union needs to find a balance of interests, an “economic competitor” in pursuit of technological leadership, and a “systemic rival” promoting alternative models of governance. This paper takes stock of BRI investments in Europe and of member states’ concerns about economic and national security. It then examines the EU-wide legal bulwarks and regulatory responses that are intended to hedge against unfair practices. It concludes that, while a more realistic and assertive European approach toward Chinese market behaviour is welcome, the EU should take China up on its pledge to embolden the BRI with ‘soft connectivity’, i.e. a legal infrastructure, rather than risk mutual harm by adopting too protectionist a stance. This should benefit not just the EU and China but also the other ‘16+1’ countries along the central corridor of the BRI, which passes through the Caucasus, the Balkans and Eastern Europe – all in the spirit of the EU’s 2018 connectivity strategy with Asia.

Hungary: Collecting the First Dividends of Interconnectivity?

Author(s): András Deák / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Hungary is a resource-poor country with only limited and relatively expensive coal (lignite) and hydropower potential. It has a considerable record of hydrocarbon production dating back to the late 1930s, but much of these conventional reserves have already been depleted. Domestic supplies of gas constitute around 20%, internal oil production provides less than 8% of total demand for the time being, and both are in decline. Thus, import dependency has long been a natural, and socially and politically accepted necessity. Hungary built up a significant nuclear component during the mid-1980s in Paks (four Soviet VVER blocs meet around 40% of electricity demand) and relies heavily on natural gas imports.

Poland: Northern Wishes, Southern Promises

Author(s): Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk,Dariusz Kałan / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In comparison with the other Visegrad countries, Poland’s gas security seems relatively high. This coastal state, unlike the Czech Republic or Slovakia, not only has quite significant domestic output (4.3 bcm in 2012), which accounted for some 29% of the country’s demand, but also has a proportionately low level of natural gas in its TPES (13%). Poland is also a major coal producer, and coal comprises a significant portion of the country’s primary energy supply, ahead of all other sources, including gas. Thus, this data could suggest that Poland—as an insignificant natural gas customer—is not necessarily vulnerable in terms of energy security. However, although the country was only mildly affected by the 2009 cuts of supplies from the east, its position in the gas market is far from being fully protected.

Annexes

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

Cases in Internationalization of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

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

The case studies in this book are one outcome of the Erasmus+ project INTernational ENtrepreneurship Skills Europe (INTENSE) which ended in August 2019. The project aimed to achieve targets set out in the “Agenda for the modernisation of Europe’s higher education systems” by improving the quality and relevance of higher education, by promoting mobility and cross-border cooperation, and by linking higher education, research and business sectors. The main project partners were five HEIs from different European countries: Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin, Germany, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Finland, Hogeschool Utrecht, the Netherlands, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg, Belgium and Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek, Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Croatia. The objective of the project was to develop and implement an innovative and multifaceted teaching module on the internationalisation of SMEs to boost the entrepreneurial behaviour and internationalization of students, HEI staff and SMEs. These characteristics are linked to increased employability of both HEI students and HEI university staff, and to a better understanding of the process of internationalisation of SMEs by students and SMEs. The development of innovation competences and versatile international skills requires practice-oriented learning environments, the utilization of active learning, and innovative teaching methods. Lecturers are key players in supporting students’ innovation-oriented action, by deviating from the traditional teacher-centred approach. Instead, the project relied on international university-company cooperation as a learning environment. This enhanced not only students’ but also teachers’ and SMEs’ innovation competences, entrepreneurial skills and knowledge about internationalisation beyond classical classroom teaching. The involved SMEs also benefitted by receiving advice on their international business activities. However, the students did not just consult local SMEs in their internationalisation process but also cooperated with another student team in the target market of the SME’s internationalisation. The students documented their consultancy stories in teaching case studies. In this book we are presenting some of the case studies that are one result of the students’ and professors’ work during the transnational student consultancy projects. The cases summarise the main challenges that our partner firms faced and that the students were supposed to solve. We hope you will find them useful for your classes and that you and your students can benefit from our learning experience through these cases. The teaching notes to each case are available upon request in a separate booklet.

Sposoby mierzenia i uwarunkowania rozwoju funkcji turystycznej miasta. Przykład Poznania

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

Monografia poświęcona badaniom cyklu życia produktu turystycznego w polskich miastach na przykładzie Poznania. Na kształtowanie się funkcji turystycznej miasta i tym samym cyklu życia produktu miasta wpływ mają czynniki polityczne, gospodarcze i stan świadomości społecznej. Polskie miasta przez ponad 40 lat działały w warunkach wynikających z ograniczonego prawa obywateli do własności i podejmowania decyzji gospodarczych, a także silnego scentralizowania tych decyzji (ubezwłasnowolnieni byli nie tylko obywatele, ale także samorządy). Autorzy, dążąc do celów metodycznych i poznawczych, zadawali sobie następujące pytania. Czy i jak można wobec powyższego mierzyć cykl życia produktu turystycznego w polskim mieście w długim okresie, np. 60 lat? Co utrudnia taki pomiar? Jakie czynniki polityczne, ekonomiczne i społeczne wpływają na kształtowanie się cyklu życia w odmiennych uwarunkowaniach ustrojowych i czy w związku z tym możemy mówić o uniwersalnym charakterze teorii cyklu życia produktu? Przyjmując, że transformacja ustroju społeczno-ekonomicznego w Polsce ma charakter trwały – jak w nowych uwarunkowaniach można mierzyć poziom natężenia, dynamikę rozwoju funkcji turystycznej miasta? Czy jest możliwe porównanie rozwoju funkcji turystycznej Poznania z innymi miastami w ujęciu dynamicznym? Zakładając, że sposoby oddziaływania samorządu na rozwój turystyki uzależnione są od poziomu funkcji turystycznej – w jaki sposób oceniać oddziaływanie samorządu na rozwój funkcji turystycznej Poznania i jak umożliwić wczesną diagnozę popełnianych błędów? Rozwój turystyki w mieście uzależniony jest także od jego mieszkańców. W jaki sposób badać i jak interpretować ocenę rozwoju funkcji turystycznej Poznania przez jego mieszkańców? Jeżeli w warunkach gospodarki rynkowej można mówić o regularnych zmianach faz cyklu życia produktu zgodnie z koncepcją R. Butlera, to celem nadrzędnym opracowania jest określenie sposobu oddziaływania władz miasta na rozwój turystyki w fazie, w której obecnie znajduje się Poznań.

Logistyka miejska

Author(s): Maciej Szymczak / Language(s): Polish

Logistyka miejska to nie tylko przepływy rzeczy i osób na obszarze miasta oraz składowanie zasobów wraz ze specyficznymi w organizmie miejskim uwarunkowaniami, ale kompletne systemy obsługi przemieszczeń zorientowane na usprawnienie aspektów ruchowych, podniesienie jakości życia i gospodarowania, ekologię, a w dalszej perspektywie – na rozwój miasta. Mówiąc o logistyce miejskiej, należy więc przede wszystkim eksponować wzajemne relacje między przepływami rzeczy i osób, między funkcjonowaniem łańcuchów dostaw a dziennym rytmem życiem miasta, należy skupiać się na możliwościach integracji różnych form transportu oraz wspólnego i efektywnego wykorzystywania zasobów. W rozdziale pierwszym, aby został określony zakres przestrzenny rozważań, dano krótki zarys wiedzy dotyczącej miast ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem procesu ich rozwoju. W rozdziale drugim wyjaśniono potrzebę wprowadzenia logistyki do miast, scharakteryzowano szczegółowo istotę, zakres i cel logistyki miejskiej, a także miejski system logistyczny. Dużo miejsca poświęcono zdefiniowaniu logistyki miejskiej i określeniu jej zakresu przedmiotowego. Rozdział zamykają rozważania dotyczące organizacji logistyki w systemie zarządzania miastem. Rozdział trzeci poświęcono w całości przewozom towarowym w mieście. Zwrócono w nim uwagę na łagodzenie konfliktów między przewozami towarów a przewozami osób w mieście, kształtowanie struktury gałęziowej przewozów towarowych poprzez administracyjne ograniczanie przewozów samochodowych na rzecz stosowania transportu szynowego pod konstrukcyjnie nowymi postaciami. Należną ekspozycję w tej części pracy znalazła też problematyka tranzytu towarowego przez miasto. Czwarty rozdział traktuje o kooperacji operatorów TSL w aspekcie zadań składowania dóbr i tworzenia miejskich centrów logistycznych. Kolejne dwa rozdziały poświęcono przewozom osób w mieście: zbiorowym przewozom osób, integrowaniu systemów transportu zbiorowego zarówno w granicach administracyjnych miasta, jak i w aglomeracji oraz reperkusjom, jakie powoduje gwałtowny rozwój motoryzacji indywidualnej w połączeniu z wciąż rosnącymi potrzebami społecznymi w zakresie indywidualnego przemieszczania się. W zamykającym pracę rozdziale siódmym znalazło się miejsce na przedstawienie aktualnych możliwości wykorzystania technologii informatycznych i telematyki w logistyce miejskiej oraz wyznaczenie ścieżek rozwoju w tej dziedzinie. Monografia powinna przede wszystkim zainteresować pracowników urzędów miejskich w miastach dużych i średniej wielkości, zwłaszcza odpowiedzialnych za transport, infrastrukturę i rozwój miasta. Praca powinna znaleźć odbiorców także pośród kadry zarządzającej spółek komunalnych, zwłaszcza organizatorów i realizatorów w miejskim transporcie zbiorowym. Celowe wydaje się, aby trafiła ona również do zarządzających przedsiębiorstwami z branży TSL i KEP oraz zarządzających dużymi przedsiębiorstwami przemysłowymi i handlowymi zlokalizowanymi w aglomeracjach miejskich. Warunkiem jednak jest pełna świadomość istoty tej koncepcji w szeregach kadry menedżerskiej. Niewątpliwie odbiorcami tej pracy będą studiujący zagadnienia urbanistyki, gospodarki przestrzennej, ekonomiki miast, zarządzania miastami, logistyki, transportu miejskiego.

Practitioners’ toolkit: cross-border concerted and joint inspections

Author(s): Ruslan Stefanov,Daniela Mineva,Petar Terziev / Language(s): English

As part of the support team of the European Platform tackling undeclared work, CSD is developing a series of papers, analyses and toolkits, aimed at sharing good practices and experiences among the Member States. Since 2016, the European Platform tackling undeclared work provides an EU-level forum that allows different actors, including social partners and enforcement authorities, such as labour inspectorates, tax and social security authorities, to engage in closer cross-border cooperation and joint activities. The Platform’s 2-year work programme for 2019-2020 includes activities enabling Platform members to deal with undeclared work through a holistic approach. The new work programme is building on work to tackle bogus self-employment and fraudulent letterbox companies. Four sectors that are heavily affected by undeclared work have been identified for specific action: agriculture; aviation; tourism; and the hotel, restaurant and catering sector.

The Membership of Bulgaria in the European Union: Thirteen Years Later

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

The international scientific conference organized by International Economic Relations and Business Department at the University of National and World Economy was held for 19th time (13th since Bulgaria's accession to the European Union). Traditionally, it is dedicated to the Bulgarian membership in the European Union as well as the development of various aspects of the EU – policies, economy, internal market, trade, innovations, etc. Official welcome address to the participants was given by Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, UNWE Rector, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Maria Bakalova, International Economics and Politics Faculty Dean, Prof. Dr. Milanka Slavova, International Economic Relations and Business Department Head, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Boneva, Secretary General for Scientific Research Projects, and Mr. Dragomir Stoynev, Chairperson of the Committee on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds.

Financial management in supply chain as cross-cultural competence

Author(s): Anna Bruska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Global character of supply chains imposes on its participants contacts in highly differentiated cultural context. Culturally-led background of business models results in different practices in everyday management of operations in supply chains, among others also in differences in financial management. To be prepared for the cooperation in other cultural milieu, supply chain managers need to be aware of those differences, and to acquire the cross-cultural competence in the financial domain.Three mains culturally formed models of supply chain financing: Chinese, Muslim and European need to be understand and cross-culturally applied to enhance the ability of supply chain managers to support successfully in the international exchange. The text aims to describe the aforementioned models and to explain its consequences for supply chain financing.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF SPATIAL PLANNING ON THE EXAMPLE OF ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE

Author(s): Kinga Szopinska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Road noise is one of the main nuisance factors. Its negative impact mainly concerns resi-dential areas, which, located along transport routes, are exposed to spatial conflicts. Elimination of these conflicts requires spatial planning that integrates the economic, social and environmental spheres, which should be taken into account in planning studies shaping spatial policy in municipal-ities. The aim of this study is an attempt to assess the spatial-functional decision to locate a selected road project in the vicinity of an existing residential development in terms of road noise. In order to integrate the environmental and social spheres, a study of the acoustic annoyance of a selected road investment was prepared using direct acoustic measurements and a road noise perception study. A section of the Polish A1 highway was selected for the study.

Splitting of Environmental Taxes Revenues in the EU

Author(s): Jarmila Zimmermannová,Jolana Skaličková / Language(s): Czech Publication Year: 0

Currently, EU member states use different kinds of economic instruments of environmental protection. Besides their environmental impact, the main reason for economic instruments implementation is their fiscal impact, precisely revenues of public budgets. The main goal of this paper is to find similarities in EU-28, to find the groups of countries with the same fiscal impact of economic instruments on public budget revenues. The method of cluster analysis is used, based on EUROSTAT and EEX data sets for the year 2016. Three categories of economic instruments’ revenues (per capita) are selected as a base for cluster analysis, with available data for all EU-28 countries – energy taxes without EU ETS, EU ETS and transport taxes. We can distinguish six clusters in total, precisely group A characteristic by low tax revenues and low EU ETS revenues, group B with high tax revenues and low EU ETS revenues, group C with low tax revenues and high EU ETS revenues, group D represented by middle tax revenues and middle EU ETS revenues, group E and group F, both represented by one country with extremely high tax revenues. Generally, countries of Central and Eastern Europe are not grouped only in one group, they have all low tax revenues, but there are differences in EU ETS revenues. Focusing on northern countries of EU, they are characteristic by rather higher or high tax revenues, but they are also split into different clusters.

LOGISTIČKO OBEZBJEĐENJE JEDINICA 1. KORPUSA ARMIJE REPUBLIKE BOSNE I HERCEGOVINE OD 1992. DO 1995. GODINE

Author(s): Neziran Đogo / Language(s): Bosnian Publication Year: 0

Purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review how system of logistical security of the units within 1st Corps of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged, its organisation and functioning, given that the 1st Corps as a military formation served within the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Officially, 1st Corps was established on 1 September 1992 under the conditions of aggression against the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the complete blockade and siege of the city of Sarajevo. Observed from the aspect of spatial, temporal and functional features, and given the lack of documentation ‒ as this topic was not elaborated in course of last 30 years ‒ achieving the expected result is a complex task. If we add to this that the logistical system as such is complex, big, open, and integral, complexity of this task is progressively increased. The author is aware that this task cannot be accomplished in this paper. By its specifics and manner of logistical securing of the units within the city under the siege, the time of war beginning in April 1992 until November 1995 is divided into four periods of logistical securing, which will be separately discussed further in the paper. First two periods precede the establishment of the 1st Corps. They are reflected in the fact that the logistics was not organised, that there were no permanent sources to supply the units with material and technical means, that there were no reserve sources, and also that there was no competent staff to carry out these tasks, so that the second period is in fact the beginning of establishment of logistics in the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

CROATIAN ECONOMY IN THE 19TH CENTURY

Author(s): Milan Vrbanus / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

During the 19th century, Croatia was an agrarian country with a predominantly agricultural population, which in Banal Croatia made up more than three quarters of the total number of inhabitants at the turn of the 20th century, with a gradual increase in craftsmen and other occupations. The situation was similar in Istria and Dalmatia. The preconditions for the development of agriculture in Banal Croatia were quite poor in the 19th century. Although arable land accounted for more than half of all land suitable for cultivation, it was unevenly distributed, so most of it was in Slavonia, and the least in Lika and Gorski Kotar. In all these areas, there were good preconditions for forest exploitation and development of wood industry. Agriculture was especially weak in Istria and Dalmatia, where there was a noticeable lack of arable land, which was also of poorer quality, affected by frequent and prolonged droughts.

Dilemmas of organising public transport in COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 times

Author(s): Marcin Jurczak / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The chapter aims to identify the most important challenges related to public transport organisation during COVID and post-COVID times. The author asks several questions: How have the restrictions affected (and still affect) public transport? Can economically efficient public transport services be offered in COVID and post-COVID times? And finally: Is public transport safe for users, and will it be safe in the future? Design/methodology/approach: The chapter is based on the literature review and examination of selected case studies. The analysis is carried out in urban transport, regional and interregional rail transport and international transport (particularly air transport). Findings: The chapter specifies the “dilemmas”, of which the most important is a contradiction between the essential requirement for the operation of public transport (to transport many people in a small space) and the basic principle of minimising the increase in COVID infections (the avoidance of large crowds of people). Research limitations: Quantitative methods could further develop and confirm the study. Practical implications: The chapter diagnoses the main challenges related to the organisation and operation of public transport systems in (socially and economically) uncertain times that lie within areas of interest of both managers and local government authorities. Originality and value: The study contributes to the ongoing discussion on improving publictransport.

Българската енергийна инфраструктура и електрическата мобилност в контекста на Зелената сделка

Author(s): Nikolay Nikolov / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The ambitious goals of so called „Green deal“ require decrease of the greenhouse gas emissions. That means transformation of all energy production capacity because of the new energy consumers – the electric vehicles. The general energy consumption in Bulgaria increases slightly. The country currently is in line with the goals for share of renewable energy. The transport is the sector with the highest share of consumed energy both in the EU and Bulgaria. With the enlargement of the electric vehicles fleet, it is necessary the standards for charging to be unified. The distribution of charging points needs to be more even, they need to be easier for use and the pricing for the energy to be more transparent and in line with the payment standards in Bulgaria and the EU.

Енергийна трансформация в транспортния сектор – проблеми и проекции в контекста на възстановяването от пандемията от COVID-19

Author(s): Hristina Nikolova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The transport sector is the most affected by the impact of the pandemic COVID-19 on a national and global scale. In this regard, the present report offers a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the pandemic on resilience of the development of this sector. Based on this analysis, possible recovery measures in the context of the new energy transition policies formation. That is why the main objective of the research presented in the present report, is to offer options for a sustainable recovery of transport after the COVID pandemic, which will contribute to the realization of an energy transformation of the sector.

Wyższy poziom zarządzania ryzykiem celnym w nowym prawie celnym Unii Europejskiej

Author(s): Dariusz Leśniewski / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to demonstrate whether the proposed changes to European Union customs law actually justify the claim that the customs union will be introduced to the next level, based on customs risk management. Design/methodology/approach: The author performs a comparative analysis of the currently functioning customs regulations of the European Union (mainly the EU Customs Code) in the field of customs risk management, the practical approach to risk on the example of the Polish National Tax Administration (KAS) with the change in the European Union customs law regulations planned by the European Commission. The scope of the analysis includes terminology regarding customs risk used in regulations, IT tools, organisational structures of customs administration and the methodology currently used. Further, the study presents the new philosophy of customs risk management, included in the draft of the new Customs Code of the European Union, including the justification for the project. Findings: It is a bit too early to be able to clearly confirm whether the customs union, which is the basis of the European Union, will actually be used and managed at a higher level than now. The reason for this is the lack of all planned regulations, including implementing ones, specifying individual issues of the practical functioning of the new risk-based approach. However, the European Commission’s plans to build a new customs risk management system at the EU level should be assessed positively.

Difficulties, Outcomes, and FutureTendencies in Ecotourism

Author(s): Carmelia Mariana Dragomir Bălănică,Cecilia Șerban / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

This chapter by Carmelia Mariana Bălănică Dragomir and Cecilia Șerban explores the various facets of ecotourism, including its current challenges, results, and future trends. It discusses the economic and environmental impacts of ecotourism, emphasizing the need for sustainable development. The chapter addresses the integration of global value chains in tourism, the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the role of international environmental treaties. It highlights the necessity of innovative technologies, market incentives, and regulatory frameworks to promote ecotourism. The authors also examine the socio-economic benefits of ecotourism, such as job creation and local community development, while identifying obstacles like underdeveloped infrastructure and legal frameworks.

Трансформация към устойчивост – европейски аспекти

Author(s): Gabriela Metodieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The aim of this paper is to address the European aspects of sustainable transformation, particularly transport mobility and digitalization. The object of the article is digitalization as a path towards sustainability. The subject is the prospects and challenges for transforming towards a sustainable way of living. To cover the goals, the following tasks are set: 1) definition of sustainability and mobility; 2) mentioning the similarities between digitalization and a sustainable mobility model; 3) defining prospects and challenges for implementation. The main results are theoretical and practical application of the conclusions, introduction of good practices and proposals.