Institutionalization of Imported Rules in the European Union's New Member States: Bringing Politics Back in the Research Agenda

This paper sets out to explore the puzzle of possible institutionalization or reversal of rules 'imported' by new member states from Central and Eastern Europe during their preparation for accession to the EU. It argues that the institutionalization of formal rules adopted as part of enlargement requirements is not automatic post accession. New formal rules can be reversed, supported by secondary rules and institutionalized or ignored and not implemented. The paper proposes a politics framework that suggests that these different outcomes will be influenced by the environment of weak post communist states and will depend on the area specific configuration of formal and informal veto players and on the EU's ability to impose sanctions. In the case of non acquis imported rules, reversal of formal rules would be possible without sanctions whereas in the case of acquis rules, the likely outcomes are institutionalization or 'empty shells'. Another outcome, 'capture' of the new rules is likely in areas with distributive implications.enlargement; East-Central Europe; acquis communautaire; institutionalisation; administrative adaptation

Bulgaria’s low election turnout is a symptom of the growing mistrust for the ruling GERB party and the country’s political system.

Last weekend’s election saw GERB continue as the largest party in Bulgaria’s parliament, a success for former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov. Antoaneta Dimitrova argues that while European commentators may see the election result as confirmation of the government’s good management of the country, the low turnout of 53 per cent suggests that Bulgarians have become disenchanted with GERB and the country’s political system. Recent protests over government corruption, and an electoral system that means 25 per cent of voters are not represented in parliament, may mean more troubled times are ahead in Bulgarian politics

What can the EU do to promote rule of law in members and neighbours? Lessons from Bulgaria and Romania

Introduction: The European Union’s focus on political integration2, in the sense of evaluating and supporting democratic regime consolidation and democratic institutions, rule of law, human and minorities’ rights dates back to the early years of the 2004-2007 enlargement. While the EU was considered an important factor in the consolidation of democratic regimes in Spain and Portugal (Preston 1997), the Spanish and Portuguese transitions were viewed as nearly completed when these countries joined the European Community. While the EU’s contribution to the overall strengthening of democratic institutions is considered by many (Vachudova 2005; Dimitrova/ Pridham 2005; Schimmelfennig/Sedelmeier 2005; Levitz/ Pop-Eleches 2010 a,b, but see Mungiu-Pippidi 2008; 2014 for a different view) to have been essential for the consolidation of democracy in Central and Eastern Europe in general, the evaluation of the Union’s efforts to promote rule of law and support the struggle against corruption shows mixed results. The question arises why has the Union as a whole and its various institutional actors and networks managed to support democratic consolidation and a host of other regulatory reforms needed to apply the policies of the Union, but not influence the struggle against corruption to the same extent

Reforming judicial recruitment and training in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia under EU guidance:implementation without institutionalisation?

How successful is the EU at institutionalising judicial reforms in accession countries of the Western Balkans? Does its aid and assistance deliver formal compliance and sustainable institutionalisation of new rules and processes? Using a neo-institutionalist approach, we assess the extent to which new EU-supported measures introduced to improve the recruitment and training of judges and public prosecutors in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are being implemented and institutionalised. We conclude that whilst there is clear evidence of implementation and a widely-held belief in both countries that judicial training and recruitment are improving as a consequence, the institutionalization of new rules and procedures is a far more complex process. It involves continual negotiation between different domestic actors against a backdrop of perpetual threats to undermine new formal rules.Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)320115Security and Global Affair

Complex Effects of Hot and Cold Procedures on Skin Elasticity in Spa & Wellness

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the complex effects of the hot and cold procedures, practiced in modern Spa & Wellness, on skin elasticity, as that indicator is an integral factor defining the aesthetic vision of the skin. Material and Methods: The present study tracked 60 women aged 35 to 65 years. The methods included an aesthetic skin rejuvenation program that contained a complex of 12 Spa and Wellness rituals conducted in a period of one month, three times per week. Each treatment was а temperature contrast procedure through a Parafango body thermo-application and a face cryo-gel application. The facial skin condition was assessed by an A-ONE apparatus - an automatic skin diagnostic analyzer. Results: A significant improvement in the skin elasticity in the three studied age groups was observed after the procedures. This indicator increased 3.75 units (9.93%) in the 35-44 age group, 3.5 units (11.36%) in the 45-54 age-group and 1.80 units (8.22 %) in the observed individuals from 55-65 age-group. At the end of a treatment, the increase in all three age groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Skin elasticity assessment was significantly lower for all three age-groups before the procedures, compared to the established standards. After the applied procedures, the skin elasticity was approaching the established standard (the first age group exceeded the standard, the second approached the standard and the third was slightly below the standard). Conclusion: The study reveals that the complex effects of hot and cold procedures result in improved skin elasticity

Understanding Enlargement: discourses in six countries

Introduction: Enlargement of the European Union involves a process of asymmetric intergovernmental negotiations, in which the candidate state negotiates how and when it would adopt the rules of the Union (Avery/Cameron, 1998: 31-33). Accession negotiations have been part of the EU’s development since its inception and especially in the last three decades have been almost a continuous process: the fifth enlargement of the EU took place between 1998, when the first seven of the group of twelve candidates began negotiating for membership with the EU, and 2007 when the last two of the second group, Bulgaria and Romania, joined the Union. The ‘Eastern’ or ‘big bang’ enlargement did not mark the end of the process of EU expansion: the next candidate, Croatia, was already negotiating and joined in 2013, followed by Serbia and Montenegro, negotiating at the time of writing. Negotiations with Turkey have been resumed and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has the status of a candidate, ready to start

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Sports

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most common causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes. Knowledge of the problem is essential for detection of the disease. According to the current recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in individuals with established HCM disease, including those without phenotypic expression, participation in competitive sports is forbidden. The recommendations of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) are more liberal, allowing participation in competitive sports in people with non-phenotypic manifestations of the disease and participation in low-intensity sports for patients with phenotypic manifestation. An individual approach will most likely be adopted in the future, mainly on the basis of precise risk stratification

Living in Parallel Universes? The implementation of EU rules on movable cultural heritage in Bulgaria

This paper proposes an analytical framework, which we use to examine the implementation of the European Union’s policy on movable cultural heritage. We apply this framework to the case of transposition and implementation of the EU rules regarding movable cultural heritage in Bulgaria. We find different implementation outcomes stemming from one and the same formal policy. Due to high levels of polarization between political decision makers, the implementing actors have broad discretion to apply different informal policies. In depth analysis of implementation also suggests that under these conditions different implementing players have followed their normative orientations and applied completely different informal policies. Different implementing actors apply different policies and, thus, as it were, they live in parallel universes where different implementation practices exist

can non-state actors use EU rules to promote better governance?

This article investigates whether EU accession can help Bulgaria and Romania limit state capture and the undue influence of business actors on the policy process. Particularly vulnerable to such influence, Bulgarian and Romanian institutions are monitored through the EU's co-operation and verification mechanism and the Commission and ECJ infringement procedures. We argue that, under certain conditions, these tools can improve the quality of democracy in both countries. The key conditions are the presence of domestic actors able to use the EU and carry over procedural policy requirements from the acquis to other policy-making. Analysing policy-making processes in the forestry sector, we find NGOs able to use EU links and governments sensitive to naming and shaming can result in a positive influence of EU rules on the policy process and quality of democracy. This is true even in least likely cases, such as non-acquis policy areas in Bulgaria and Romania

The Effectiveness and Limitations of Political Integration in Central and Eastern European Member States:Lessons from Bulgaria and Romania

Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)320115The politics and administration of institutional chang