Inštitucionálne zázemie zahraničnej politiky SR

Author(s): Pavol Lukáč / Language(s): Slovak Publication Year: 0

The objective of my presentation is to reflect on the role of institutions in the process of forming the Slovak foreign policy and their transformation and effectiveness. Almost eight years have passed since the establishment of the sovereign state in 1993 and this is a relatively short term (under normal conditions two regular election periods), in our case a complicated one due to periods of government of V. Meciar directed towards an extraordinary polarization of society what has also effected forming of character of many political institutions. In several of my articles I tried to bring the attention to the influence of four basic actors in the sphere of foreign policy, namely: personalities, elite, institutions and conceptions. I would like to call attention to this model again so that we may understand our discourse on institutions in close connection with the other above-mentioned actors. It goes without saying that in this contribution, which is limited by time and space I cannot offer a deep analysis only a critical glossary. I will focus my attention on the following institutions: the President of the SR, Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, educational institutions and new informal institutional initiatives.

DPJ Government and Climate Change Policy

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

In 2009 election manifesto Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leaders voiced their decisive support for stronger engagement in international climate negotiations. The promises were realized by an ambitious climate mitigation proposal presented by Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio at COP 15 in Copenhagen. 25% CO2 levels reduction commitment was heavily criticized by Japanese opposition, METI bureaucrats and business circles. Despite strong domestic opposition Prime Minister Hatoyama decided to place climate mitigation among priorities of his foreign policy. Next DPJ administration quickly backtracked from the position of climate leader. The head of the Japanese delegation at COP 16 in Mexico stated that Japan would not be a part of new Kyoto Protocol commitment period. The aim of the article is to identify changing factors in decision–making process that led to quick change in DPJ’s approach to international climate mitigation efforts.

Komunitní plánování

Author(s): Linda Sokačová / Language(s): Czech Publication Year: 0

Entrepreneurial Activity in Slovakia: Selected Regional Aspects and the Role of Governmental Environment

Author(s): Ondřej Dvouletý,Anna Pilková,Juraj Mikuš,Miroslava Rimská / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The main aim of our study was to contribute to this increasing body of the regional entrepreneurship literature by a better understanding of the regional entrepreneurial activity in Slovakia as an example of post-communist economy. Design/methodology/approach: We exploit the existing measures of entrepreneurship from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, and we explore the inter-regional differences in the levels of entrepreneurial activity among eight Slovak NUTS 3 regions during years 2011-2015. We also employ the multivariate regression models and empirically investigate the relationship between the business environment and entrepreneurial activity in Slovakia. Findings: The average engagement in entrepreneurship in Slovakia was during the analysed period 16-18% of the economically active population depending on the measure used. The results of multivariate regression models have shown that the overall improvement of the general business environment positively influences the levels of entrepreneurship in Slovakia. Research/practical implications: We believe that such an observation may serve as an encouragement for the further efforts invested in improving business conditions for the established and new Slovak entrepreneurs. We also encourage future researchers to study further other location factors of entrepreneurial activity such as cultural, logistic and socioeconomic variables. Future research might also address the role of entrepreneurial infrastructure and public entrepreneurship and SME policies. Originality/value: The presented study empirically contributes to the body of knowledge on the regional entrepreneurship and the conducted approach towards quantification of the entrepreneurial activity might serve as an inspiration for other scholars.

Lobbing

Author(s): Przemysław Deszczyński / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

W pierwszej, teoretycznej części opracowania dokonano konceptualizacji pojęcia lobbingu, a następnie omówiono modele i rodzaje lobbingu. Druga część, praktyczna, poświęcona została lobbingowi w Polsce, jego instytucjonalizacji i problemom. Tekst zamyka podrozdział o polskich regulacjach prawnych dotyczących działalności lobbingowej, ujętych na tle regulacji obowiązujących w innych krajach.

Czerwony alarm dla świata – działalność Rady Bezpieczeństwa w 2018 r.

Author(s): Patrycja Grzebyk / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The article presents the activities of the UN Security Council in 2018 in lightof the Secretary General’s statements concerning the state of the world. The firstpart is devoted to drafts of resolutions on the Middle East, which were vetoed bypermanent members of the Security Council. The second one is focused on decisionsconcerning African states such as the Republic of Central Africa, Sudan, SouthSudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, and Somalia; as well as on thematicresolutions concerning peacebuilding, protection of civilians and children in armedconflicts, the role of youths for peace and security. In the third part, basic data on peacekeeping are presented and some violations of peacekeeping rules described.A separate part is devoted to Poland’s activities within the SC and in particular itsengagement in promoting international law.

Stany Zjednoczone – dokąd zmierza Ameryka pod przywództwem Donalda Trumpa?

Author(s): Aleksandra Jarczewska / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

The second year of Donald Trump’s presidency was not a time of breakthroughs orevents of historical significance. However, there have been some signs foreshadowingsignificant changes for the US.After Trump’s two years in office, the economy is still booming, although afteryears of prosperity one could expect slowdown in the nearest future. In domesticpolitics, the President focused on fulfilling his campaign promises and supportingthe Republicans in maintaining the majority in Congress after the midterm elections.The greatest obstacles for accomplishing Trump’s election goals include: growingconflicts between the President and Democrats, problems related to the investigationby the special prosecutor R. Mueller’s commission, instability and rotation at the toppositions in the administration, and the President’s war with the news media.The “America First” approach continued to dominate in the field of foreignpolicy. The President concentrated his efforts on disposing of Obama’s legacy andimplementing initiatives aimed at protecting the interests of the US and of Americancitizens. However, the lack of a clear vision and consistency in foreign policy,disputes within the administration, a stiffer position and tightening of dialogue withforeign partners led to a further drop in confidence and loss of US credibility on theinternational arena.In general, in fulfilling the vision of Making America Great Again, D. Trump usesmethods and means which are far from the standards previously known in Americanpolitics. As a result, the nature of American domestic and foreign policy is changing.It is an open question, however, whether the processes will prove permanent, to whatextent, and, if so, how will it affect the US political system and international order.

Jednostki samorządu terytorialnego w Polsce jako beneficjenci funduszy Unii Europejskiej

Author(s): Magdalena Wojarska / Language(s): English,Polish Publication Year: 0

Artykuł ma charakter empiryczny. Jego celem jest identyfikacja związku między absorpcją funduszy unijnych (ogółem i per capita) przez jednostki samorządu terytorialnego a osiągniętym przez nie poziomem rozwoju społeczno-ekonomicznego oraz określenie znaczenia tego źródła finansowania dla badanych jednostek. Proces analityczny był oparty na informacjach pierwotnych (zgromadzonych za pomocą kwestionariusza ankiety od 909 przedstawicieli urzędów miast i gmin) i wtórnych (pozyskanych z Banku Danych Lokalnych). Poziom rozwoju samorządów określony został za pomocą syntetycznej miary rozwoju lokalnego (MRL), a do ustalenia zależności między jej rozkładem a wielkością środków Unii Europejskich pozyskanych przez gminy posłużyły współczynniki korelacji Pearsona i rang Spearmana. Na poziomie populacji generalnej istotny statystycznie związek korelacyjny (na poziomie 0,44) pojawił się jedynie w przypadku sum ogółem. Oznaczało to, że wzrostowi miary MRL towarzyszył umiarkowany wzrost absorpcji funduszy UE i na odwrót. Znaczenie środków unijnych oceniono na podstawie wskaźnika ich udziału w dochodach ogółem budżetów gmin oraz wyników badań ankietowych. Podejście takie wykazało, że choć środki unijne stanowiły niewielki odsetek dochodów gmin (średnio 4,79%), to zdaniem respondentów istotnie przyczyniły się do rozwoju badanych samorządów (W = 0,89). Ponadto możliwość aplikowania o fundusze miała znaczący wpływ na kształt planów inwestycyjnych jednostek uczestniczących w ankiecie (W = 0,88).

Wpływ funduszy w ramach regionalnych programów operacyjnych na rozwój społeczno-gospodarczy województw w Polsce

Author(s): Paweł Łopatka,Marcin Nowak / Language(s): English,Polish Publication Year: 0

W 2015 roku obchodzono 40. rocznicę zainicjowania przez Unię Europejską polityki spójności. Przez ten okres polityka ta ewoluowała wraz ze zmieniającymi się priorytetami działania Unii Europejskiej. Zasadniczy cel pozostał jednak niezmienny – zmniejszanie dysproporcji w rozwoju regionów. Zmiany w polityce spójności znalazły odbicie w badaniach prowadzonych przez różne grupy naukowców. Jednym z istotniejszych problemów podejmowanych w literaturze jest określenie wpływu funduszy na rozwój społeczno-gospodarczy. W artykule, wykorzystując teorię systemów szarych, zbadano, jaki wpływ wywierają fundusze w ramach regionalnych programów operacyjnych na wybrane zmienne charakteryzujące rozwój społeczno-gospodarczy. Badaniem objęto wszystkie województwa w Polsce. Analiza obejmowała lata 2007–2013. W tej perspektywie finansowej Polska otrzymała około 20% wszystkich środków przeznaczonych na politykę spójności (łącznie liczącej około 308 mln euro). Wyniki analiz przeprowadzonych w pracy mają charakter praktyczny i mogą być wykorzystane na potrzeby odpowiedniego kształtowania dystrybucji środków pochodzących z Unii Europejskiej.

THE PRINCIPLE OF COMPETITION IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT – POSSIBILITY OF SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONS

Author(s): Maria Boteva / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The object of the article is the award of the public procurement in compliance with the principles of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and more specially the ones for free movements of goods, freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services and mutual recognition. From them comprise other principles, which are explicitly mentioned in Art. 2 in the Public Procurement Act – among them is the principle of free competition and this is the subject of this research. The purpose is to analyze the significance of the principle of free competition in public procurement award procedures both in the spending of public funds and for the successful management and implementation of the growth, sustainability, convergence and competitive development policies of the regions.

25 years of public administration in the Czech Republic

Author(s): Bojka Hamerníková,Milan Lindner / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Fundamental political and economic changes have taken place in the Czech Republic in the past quarter of a century. It is a relatively long period of time, during which all areas of life of society have been radically transformed, with public administration being no exception. The significant milestone of the country’s history was marked by the events of November 1989. The political, legislative, and economic changes – in a word “dismantling” – of the socialist state and its transformation into a democratic state relying on the market economy also required transformation regarding the perception of its role, activities of executive apparatus and institutions, nature and quality of public administration employees, and effectiveness of their work. And it is a very challenging and prolonged transformation that is not always absolutely clear. By analyzing the public administration development during the period, we should point out the key moments of its transformation and allow critical assessment of individual steps of various reforms, both planned and implemented. This is the only way to determine the pros and cons of the existing development and to indicate the trends of going forward.

Public administration reforms in Poland

Author(s): Andrzej Zybała / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Over the last centuries, public administration in Poland shared the plight of the Polish state. Starting from around the mid-seventeenth century, Poland as a country has been losing the ability to sustain independence. At the end of the XVIII century, it lost sovereignty to Russia, Prussia and Austria (the so-called third partition of the country occurred in 1795). It regained its independence only after the First World War. The reason for the collapse of the state in 1795 is, among others, the fact that the ruling classes have failed to forge a modern model of public administration. There were many reasons for that. At the time the dominance of the nobility was a factor of great importance, especially when it comes to powerful magnates (active mainly in agriculture), who subordinated the state and its institutions as well as blocked the formation of professional civil service. Ruling circles of the day lacked the ability to produce modern state structures, including the ability to create the conditions for a professional clerical personnel. Not even the clear structures of the state were created (Bystroń 1976).

RESTRICTION, PRAGMATIC LIBERALISATION, MODERNISATION: GERMANY’S MULTIFACETED RESPONSE TO THE “REFUGEE CRISIS”

Author(s): Axel Kreienbrink / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

In 2015 and 2016, Germany faced an influx of asylum seekers on an unprecedented scale. How did the country react to this so-called “refugee crisis”? The response was a major effort at all levels of the federal state: the federal level, the Länder, the local authorities, but also civil society, welfare associations and NGOs. There have been countless measures in the most diverse fields of action (Grote, 2018). This article will specifically deal with the question of how and which legislative and administrative changes were put in place at the federal level in order to better manage the changing influx.

Европейски съюз – състояние и перспективи

Author(s): Nadya Ivanova Marinova / Language(s): Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

In the process of globalization, refine on the one hand, we must focus on the formation of a rational weakening and geographical structure of implementation and export and over time to take into account the increasing competition in the world markets. It is of particular importance to use and be regarded as members of the World Trade Organization and the favorable prospects evident from NATO and EU membership abroad. The integration process is influenced by no one factor – it compares the level of economic development, geographical proximity to the former, the political will of integrate on the pages, creates the integrated structure of the mechanisms and is created in the Initiative Center by the existing ones, to unite and partners.

Odpowiedź polskich gmin na pierwszą falę kryzysu COVID-19

Author(s): Sławomira Kańduła,Joanna Maria Przybylska / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The purpose of this chapter is to identify the initial responses of municipalities to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The research questions posed were: What types of budgetary instruments were used by municipalities during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland? What was the scale of the loss of their current revenues and what was the amount of expenditures related to countering COVID-19? What were the sources of funding for these expenditures? Findings: Municipalities were, by necessity, on the front line of the fight against the effects of the pandemic. They used the available budgetary instruments (local taxes and fees, property revenues, budgetary expenditures) to limit the spread of the virus and reduce its negative consequences. These actions were not coordinated. The study revealed that revenue losses and expenditure increases due to COVID-19 were not as large as expected. Originality and value: The research in this chapter demonstrates that municipalities in Poland used different approaches to develop and implement policies to counteract the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its effects. The research shows that Polish municipalities played a leading role in the rapid response to the pandemic, although their actions varied and were uncoordinated.

Motivation and Management of Human Resources in Public Administration

Author(s): Silvia-Elena Iacob,Ayten Güler Dermengi / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Motivation has the potential to make a difference in terms of results both individually and organizationally. Motivation based on classical processes, such as the theory of hope, the theory of goal setting and the theory of equity. In the social context of governmental organizations, public values have the potential to infuse the value structures of organizations and individuals, leading to forms of prosocial motivation that focus on supporting the public interest and helping citizens. The management of human resources has evolved considerably since this function was named the Personnel Administration. Currently, organizations do not only manage resources, but focus in particular on the proper management of human capital. There are many aspects of human resources management, all of which are just as important for the development of an organization.

Efektywność działania Krajowej Administracji Skarbowej

Author(s): Arkadiusz Raducki / Language(s): Polish Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The solution to the low efficiency of the tax administration in Poland in the last decade was to consolidate the entire tax apparatus in 2017. The main objective of the study is to determine the impact of fiscal administration consolidation on the effectiveness of its operations. The conducted analysis will allow to assess whether the tax administration reform of 2017 resulted in an increase in the effectiveness of its operation in 2017–2020 compared to previous years. Design/methodology/approach: The data used here was based on materials published by the Supreme Audit Office and reports of international financial advisory companies, including taxes. The opinions of administrative law and tax law experts on legislative changes affecting the effectiveness of the National Tax Administration were also taken into account. Therefore, the analyses carried out in the study are of secondary nature to a large extent. Findings: The conducted analysis showed that in 2017–2020 there was a significant improvement in most of the analysed performance indicators of the National Tax Administration compared to previous years. Disadvantageous phenomena in taxation, such as the shadow economyor the VAT and CIT gap, were significantly reduced, which resulted in an increase in the amountof tax and customs revenues in the state budget. The increase in efficiency is also measured in the increased effectiveness of tax and customs-fiscal audits in recent years. The efficiency of the enforcement of tax arrears has also increased significantly. Innovative IT systems played a major role in increasing the efficiency of the consolidated fiscal administration. However, it should be remembered that in the analysed years, i.e. 2017–2020, Poland had a good general economic climate, which significantly facilitated the National Tax Administration to achieve better results. In addition, many factors influence the increase in the efficiency of the tax authorities’ activities, example in combating tax crime, so it should be noted that the existing relationships may be of a coincidence.

Równoważenie funkcji mieszkaniowej w obszarach dużych miast

Author(s): Agnieszka Mrozińska / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess spatial cohesion of suburban areas in terms of balancing the volume of housing functions and accompanying functions in the gminas (communes) of the Poznań agglomeration in the years 2012–2016, based on the analysis of the functions of buildings under construction. Design/methodology/approach: The author has conducted the following tasks: reviewing the literature on suburbanisation processes, in particular in the Poznań agglomeration; performing a statistical analysis on the basis of data from Statistics Poland (GUS); assessing the volume of construction activity performing various functions in the area of the Poznań agglomeration; indicating the main function of newly constructed buildings and analysing measurable characteristics depicting the scale of construction activity, including the number and usable floor area of buildings or the number of dwellings (in the case of the residential function); assessing the relativised characteristics relating to the area and population numbers. Findings: The processes of suburbanisation and the implementation of the residential function are spatially diversified in the Poznań agglomeration. The balance of the housing and supplementary functions differs in individual gminas of the area under analysis. The relation between the usable area of newly completed buildings intended for non-residential purposes (supplementary functions) to the usable area of newly completed buildings intended for residential purposes in the Poznań agglomeration reflected the situation that took place all around Poland. The balance of the residential and supplementary functions depends on the following factors: the state of spatial development in the past (e.g. the presence of land that could be transformed for the needs of a new function), the existence of environmental or administrative development barriers (e.g. marshy ground, military training ground), thecurrent scale of the occurrence of individual functions (e.g. the degree of market saturationwith commercial space) or their location on important transport routes. Originality and value: In the face of the inevitability of the development processes, changing the spatial structure of areas surrounding large cities is a challenge for present and future generations, and in particular for local authorities. Even today, we may observe spatial changes affecting rural and rural-urban gminas neighbouring large cities. Under the pressure of the suburbanisation process, the developed residential function in such gminas forces them to take care of other functions that rural areas (so far unprepared to provide most ofthe functions characteristic of cities) perform or will perform in the future.

PROMJENA ETNIČKE STRUKTURE OPŠTINA U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI PREMA POPISU STANOVNIŠTVA 2013. GODINE

Author(s): Mirko Pejanović / Language(s): Bosnian,Croatian,Serbian Publication Year: 0

U istraživačkoj studiji o etničkoj strukturi opština u Bosni i Hercegovini prema Popisu stanovništva 1991. i 2013. godine elaboriraju se promjene u demografskoj strukturi stanovništva koje su nastale od 1991. do 2013. godine. Posebna pažnja daje se promjeni etničke strukture stanovništva po Popisu stanovništva 2013. godine. Jedinica posmatranja promjene etničke strukture stanovništva jeste opština kao osnovna teritorijalna – samoupravna jedinica u kojoj žive stanovnici jedne zemlje. Komparacija etničke strukture opština po Popisu stanovništva 1991. sa etničkom strukturom po Popisu stanovništva 2013. je pokazala da je došlo do radikalne promjene etničke strukture u opštinama Bosne i Hercegovine. Prema Popisu stanovništva Bosne i Hercegovine 2013. godine dvije trećine opština imaju jednonacionalnu strukturu u postotku od 70% do 99%. Ovakve promjene etničke strukture uslovljene su politikom nasilnog etničkog čišćenja u vremenu rata i preovladavajućim uticajem etničkih stranaka u vršenju vlasti u postdejtonskom periodu. Etnička homogenizacija stanovništva ostvarena u vremenu rata 1992–1995. odvija se i u miru kao etnička teritorijalizacija. Etnička teritorijalizacija prostora ima svoju osnovu u etno-politikama jednonacionalnih stranaka. Usljed takvog društvenog kretanja na prostoru Bosne i Hercegovine oblikovana su područja s dovršenom etničkom teritorijalizacijom. Ona se javljaju u vidu Republike Srpske za Srbe, zatim u vidu pet kantona za Bošnjake: Tuzlanski, Unsko-sanski, Sarajevski, Zeničko-dobojski i Bosansko-podrinjski. Za hrvatski narod kao etnički teritorijalizirani prostor iskazuje se u: Zapadno-hercegovačkom, Hercegbosanskom i Posavskom kantonu. Višenacionalna struktura stanovništva održana je u gradu Mostaru, Distriktu Brčko i opštinama: Jajcu, Bosanskom Petrovcu, Vukosavlju, Jezeru, Donjem Žabaru, Gornjem Vakufu, Pelagićevu, Žepču i Busovači.

Ролята на дигитализациите и смарттехнологиите за повишаване на прозрачността и доверието в местната власт

Author(s): Dimitar Lazarov Urdev / Language(s): English,Bulgarian Publication Year: 0

The thesis claiming human progress is directly proportional to technological progress has become a paradigm in modern management. The knowledge of technologies, the degree we use them, the fields it is impossible not to use them, determine not only our quality of life, but also sometimes the possibility of its existence at all. Human potential can unfold on a scale unimaginable until now, thanks to the use of technology to work more efficiently, to connect us with our loved ones and friends, to have fun, to learn, to create. All this is happening in a twinkling of an eye, thanks to technology. That is why there is almost no area of human life they do not take an important place or are absolutely necessary. In this context, their importance is equally significant for public administration and local government.