Future of Europe debates II: Parliament hosts Heads of State or Government
By European Parliamentary Research Service, 2018
This is the second edition of a Briefing designed to provide an overview of the Future of Europe debate in a number of key policy areas. While the first edition covered the first six speakers, the present one focuses on the most recent four. It also contains insights on climate change and international trade, in addition to the areas of economic and monetary union (EMU), the EU social dimension, migration policy, security and defence, and the multiannual financial framework (MFF), covered in the first edition.
 Future of Europe debates II | [ ] |
Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030
By European Commission, 2019
Following reform efforts at all levels, the EU’s economic fundamentals have picked up after the economic and financial crisis. However, recent forecasts point to the need to increase growth rates, reduce debt rates, and sustain fiscal discipline in order to provide the framework for a robust economy. Unless we take steps to increase economic resilience and cohesion and address structural vulnerabilities, the coming years could lead to a loss of momentum amid large downside risks. Conversely, if we make the necessary structural reforms, we can deliver greater well-being and a stronger future, including through investment in research and innovation, public services, welfare systems and environmental protection. Steps both at EU and Member States’ level are necessary to ensure future-proof fiscal and pension systems, including stable tax revenues in the Single Market. In addition, there are many challenges that have become increasingly pressing, and threaten our well-being and economic prosperity. All these challenges are complex and strongly interlinked, meaning that addressing one may have positive implications for others.
 rp_sustainable_europe_30-01_en_web.pdf | [ ] |
Territorial reforms in Europe: Does size matter?
By Swianiewicz, P., Gendźwiłł, A. and Zardi, A., 2017
Territorial reforms have become a major feature of public administration reform in recent decades in Europe. Following a wave of changes affecting mostly Western European countries in the 1970s, further changes were initiated in Central and Eastern Europe at the turn of that same century following the demise of undemocratic regimes. In the early years of the twenty-first century, in the aftermath of the financial and economic crisis that has shaken primarily but not exclusively Western European States, another wave of restructuring has been set in motion. This document is only concerned with reform of the first tier of government, namely municipal/communal level, whatever the name of this tier in the member States concerned (‘local government unit’ is also widely used in some parts of Europe).
| Zardi, A. (2017) Territorial reforms in Europe.pdf | [ ] |
Administrative Division Reform and Sustainable Development in Albania
By Xhafa, S. and Yzeiri, E., 2015
One of the most important current developments in Albania, is the project on the reform of the new administrative division of territory. Until now planning policies and territorial development are oriented on administrative division legislated in 1992. Until 2000 were made some partial changes, which are not associated with structural changes or decentralized effects. Actually, there are 12 counties, 309 communes and 65 municipalities. This organization relies on fragmented administrative division inherited from the communist regime. Under these conditions, the need for a reform on territorial division, has become one of the strongest challenges of policymaking, towards its realization based on Albanian legal framework and international best practices. Current studies in this field are conducted by national and international organizations: Study of Fiscal Decentralization (USAID, 2012); The Report of Territorial Reform in Albania, (Association of Municipalities of Albania); as well as some partial reports by the OSCE, UNDP, etc. In this study, intended the diagnosis of all conditions and factors that inhibit: rational use of the territory; natural resources management; control of demographic processes, management of residential informality, the quality of public services, functional development of land, sustainable development in general, and reinforce the need for a new administrative division reform. In this study will be used: •spatial and territorial analysis based on the criteria that will be used for the new administrative division (demographic criteria, economic functions, cultural typology of territory etc. • interpretative analysis of approximation of this reform with the provisions of European Charter of Local Self-Government. This issue has public and community importance, given that this reform will pave the way for sustainable development in general, and creation of unified economic systems, which will promote cooperation initiatives with other regions of the Western Balkans, and beyond.
