As a symbol of its legal and institutional complexity, the EU Regional policy is represented by a Rubick cub. Although symbols share some common traits with indicators, such as the power to capture the significance of an object, they differ fundamentally from the later by their multiple meanings and interpretations. If regarded from Brussels, the… » read more

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Usually, the indicators set up for cross-border co-operation Programmes are national driven and do not properly match the local needs for joint development. Furthermore, they lack transparency (non-clear data sources and no measurement methodologies), thus they are not well suited to reflect any improvements in the quality of life of the citizens living in the… » read more

Posted by windnielsen

The Arab Spring is also about the conflict between governments and governance. The former understand power from a top-down perspective and leave no real space for democratic participation. The latter sees power not exercise over but with the others as a better way to ensure participation and deliver public goods. In such circumstances violence seems… » read more

Posted by windnielsen

  On the following link Francis Fukuyama discusses the relation between governments and governance as part of a larger discussion on governance indicators. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4gD6GHEQVRQ

Posted by windnielsen

During the implementation of a cross-border programme, the following EU Regulations must be respected: EC Regulation 1080/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the ERDF; Council Regulation no. 1083/2006 laying down the provisions on the ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund and the Commission Regulation no 1828/2006 setting out the rules for the… » read more

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The Lisbon Treaty stipulates that the EU functions as a representative democracy . Furthermore, the Treaty considers that “in order to promote good governance and ensure the participation of civil society, the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies shall conduct their work as openly as possible”( 2009: art. 16). Consequently, good governance appears as one… » read more

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Last night thousands of people hit the streets of Bucharest in a rally against the decision of the Romanian government to allow the start of a long debated mining project that plans to use cyanide for the extraction of gold and silver. More details here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/01/us-romania-goldmine-idUSBRE9800FU20130901. Defining for the ways in which the actual left-liberal… » read more

Posted by windnielsen