Regional Integration and Security: A Comparative Perspective of the European Union and North America

The attacks of September 11, 2001 in Washington (9/11), March 11, 2004 in Madrid (11-M) and July 7 and 21 in London (7-J and 21-J) have turned security into the central issue on international and regional agendas in North America and Europe, now spreading to other regions of the world. As a result of the terrorist attacks, security has developed into an important element of integration by becoming a catalyst for agreements oriented to building security communities. The most complete representation of the construction of a North American bloc can be seen in smart border agreements and in the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. Undoubtedly, the security component of North America as a region is increasing and the framework for trilateral convergence exists. In the EU case, the concern about safety was clearly the main basis of accords with a view to the approval of the European Constitution, and it will also strengthen the integration process. Today, consolidating the EU is a matter of security, so Europe is securitizing its agenda.Los atentados del 11 de septiembre de 2001 en Washington, del 11 de marzo de 2004 en Madrid y del 7 y 21 de julio en Londres han convertido a la seguridad en un asunto central en las agendas nacionales e internacionales de Norteamérica y Europa, lo cual se está extendiendo hacia otras regiones del mundo. Como resultado de los atentados terroristas, la seguridad se ha tornado en un elemento importante de la integración, al transformarse en un catalizador de los acuerdos orientados a edificar comunidades de seguridad. La representación más completa de la construcción del bloque norteamericano se puede observar en los acuerdos de fronteras inteligentes y en la creación de la Alianza para la Seguridad y la Prosperidad de América del Norte. Sin duda, el componente de la seguridad de América del Norte como región se incrementa y da lugar a un marco para la convergencia trilateral. En el caso de la Unión Europea , la preocupación respecto a la seguridad fue claramente la base principal de los acuerdos con miras a la aprobación de la Constitución europea y también fortalecerá el proceso de integración. Actualmente, la consolidación de la Unión Europea es un asunto de seguridad; es por ello que Europa está securitizando su agenda

Serum human chorionic gonadotropin is associated with angiogenesis in germ cell testicular tumors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Germ cell testicular tumors have survival rate that diminishes with high tumor marker levels, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG may regulate vascular neoformation through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Our purpose was to determine the relationship between hCG serum levels, angiogenesis, and VEGF expression in germ cell testicular tumors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a retrospective study of 101 patients. Serum levels of hCG, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and lactate dehydrogenase were measured prior to surgery. Vascular density (VD) and VEGF tissue expression were determined by immunohistochemistry and underwent double-blind analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Histologically, 46% were seminomas and 54%, non-seminomas. Median follow-up was 43 ± 27 months. Relapse was present in 7.5% and mortality in 11.5%. Factors associated with high VD included non-seminoma type (<it>p </it>= 0.016), AFP ≥ 14.7 ng/mL (<it>p </it>= 0.0001), and hCG ≥ 25 mIU/mL (<it>p </it>= 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, the only significant VD-associated factor was hCG level (<it>p </it>= 0.04). When hCG levels were stratified, concentrations ≥ 25 mIU/mL were related with increased neovascularization (<it>p </it>< 0.0001). VEGF expression was not associated with VD or hCG serum levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first study that relates increased serum hCG levels with vascularization in testicular germ cell tumors. Hence, its expression might play a role in tumor angiogenesis, independent of VEGF expression, and may explain its association with poor prognosis. hCG might represent a molecular target for therapy.</p

Consensus and Dissensus over the European Constitution: Security as the Pivotal Point of the Accords. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series, Vol. 4 No. 4, April 2004

The approval of the European Constitution is one of the key issues in the developmental process of integration in the European Union. The process of negotiations about the future European Constitution has clearly passed through two stages: the first, as coinciding with its presentation at the Thessalonica Summit in Greece, in June 2003, was characterized by the discrepancies between the members of the Union, particularly over the voting system, and the stalemate of the negotiations; and the second, commencing at the conjuncture of the 11-M terrorist attacks and their repercussions both inside Spain, with the victory of Rodríguez Zapatero in the general elections, and in the rest of Europe in which the issue of security has become a priority, having a direct impact on the desire to approve the Constitution as soon as possible. The central hypothesis of this document is that the consolidation of the Union is currently presented as a matter of security; therefore this can be the driving force behind the necessary accords for the approval of the constitutional text

A Comparative Perspective between the European Union and NAFTA. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series, Vol. 3 No. 5, August 2003

(From the introduction). There are currently several expectations regarding NAFTA that clearly foresee something beyond a simple free trade area (FTA). Moreover, there are analytical exercises in a comparative perspective with the European Union (EU) that confer the benefit of the doubt on the idea of a North American Community. (1) If we agree that the NAFTA is a region in the making and its objectives tend to be overtaken by the dynamics of the region, we are in business. North America has become a real region for security reasons, for economic advantages and for political interests. The point is whether the NAFTA has its own model or its evolution reveals features common to the European experience, although we do not see the need for North America to become a loyal copy of the European regional integration model. In summary, what the NAFTA needs is a theoretical tradition to debate its progress as well as its obstacles, in order to study its nature beyond simple negative integration and assuming that the Regional Integration Agreement entered between among Canada, the United States and Mexico, could perfectly evolve towards a community with a stronger institutional system

"Is there a comparative perspective between the European Union and NAFTA?"

There are currently several expectations around NAFTA that clearly foresee something beyond a simple FTA. Moreover, there are analytical exercises in a comparative perspective with the European Union (EU) that confer the benefit of the doubt to the idea of a North American Community. If we agree that the NAFTA is a region in the making and its objectives tend to be overtaken by the dynamics of the region, we are in business. North America has become a real region for security reasons, for economic advantages and for political interests. The point is whether the NAFTA has its own model or its evolution reveals common features like the European experience, although we do not see the need for North America to become a loyal copy of the European regional integration model. In summary, what the NAFTA needs is a theoretical tradition to debate its progress as well as its obstacles, in order to study its nature beyond simple negative integration and assuming that the Regional Integration Agreement entered among Canada, the United States and Mexico, could perfectly evolve towards a community with a stronger institutional system

La Unión Europea a 50 años de los Tratados de Roma: balance y perspectivas de una integración exitosa

The article deals with the challenges and achievements of the European Union to 50 years after the signing of the Treaties of Rome, thus becoming the regional integration process in the most successful of world. Based on common values, the 27 States that today make up the bloc have built a community with shared institutions and relations of interdependence that today give it the status of key actor in the international system. Thus, the author refers to the successes of the European Union, the opportunities that are emerging for the twenty-first century, the aspects to consider on its relations with the outside world and the main elements and scopes of the new Treaty of Lisbon.En el artículo se realiza un análisis sobre los retos y logros de la Unión Europea a 50 años de la firma de los Tratados de Roma, convirtiéndose así en el proceso de integración regional más exitoso del mundo. A partir de valores comunes, los 27 Estados que hoy integran dicho bloque han construido una comunidad con instituciones compartidas y relaciones de interdependencia que hoy le otorgan el status de actor fundamental del sistema internacional. De esta forma, el autor se refiere a los éxitos de la Unión Europea, las oportunidades que se vislumbran para el siglo XXI, los aspectos a considerar en sus relaciones con el exterior y los principales elementos y alcances del novedoso Tratadode Lisboa

The Mexican foreign economic policy and the process of formal integration in North America : Mexico's participation in NAFTA : national preference formation

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

El debate sobre los referentes del desarrollo y la Cumbre Mundial de Desarrollo Sostenible Río+20

El presente trabajo presenta una revisión crítica en torno al concepto de desarrollo sostenible a partir de su discusión en los distintos foros internacionales que culminaron en la Cumbre Mundial de Desarrollo Sostenible Río+20. Más allá de la sustentabilidad ambiental, la multidimensionalidad del desarrollo nos obliga integrar a nuestra comprensión las visiones económicas y sociales. Los referentes concretos varían de acuerdo a distintos momentos, foros y actores involucrados. En este sentido, el desarrollo histórico del concepto se ha dado en tensión con la generalización del paradigma neoliberal. El documento concluye con una propuesta de revaloración del papel del Estado en la búsqueda del desarrollo sostenible