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The impact of the 2014 amendment of the Directive 92/85/EEC in the presence of women in the production sector
Caria Fernandes Ferreira Nunes, Madalena ; Nekola, Martin (advisor) ; Mysíková, Martina (referee)
As with many other public policies, the 2014 amendment of the Council directive 92/85/EEC, concerning the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding, may have unintended consequences, beyond its original purpose. Thus, this research aims to study if the aforementioned amendment caused some disturbance in the participation of women in the labour market, differentiating by production sectors. To do this, a sample of OECD countries was used to employ a differences-in-differences methodology, where the treatment group was the set of EU Countries subjected to this law. In addition, the model is extended to control for country-specific variables allowing for a descriptive analysis of the influence of the selected variables on the share of women in the different sectors. Although the effect of the amendment on the share of women in the analysed industries was found to be statistically insignificant using the differences-in-differences methodology, the covariates model offers interesting insights on the topics of fertility, education, maternity leave and employment protection. A brief analysis of variance has also shown that the countries that implemented women-specific legislation...
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Frontex: A Gendarmerie of the EU or just a Border Assistance?
Netopil, Petr ; Kučera, Tomáš (advisor) ; Bahenský, Vojtěch (referee)
This research focuses on the Civil-Security Relations between the EU and its border agency, FRONTEX. Relationships between the state and its border guards vary wildly in space and time in terms of the level of militarization, which is why this thesis set out to define the situation of the EU's first uniformed and armed service. A single case study was used, as FRONTEX as a transnational border agency is a deviant case. This research creates a typology of security services within the state and then places FRONTEX within it. In the discussion that follows, the relationship between the EU and FRONTEX seems to be matched best by the relationship between a state and its gendarmerie, though the police force is also very close. Furthermore, there are exceptions where the agency behaves more like an army or a civilian service. In terms of real-world analogues, it tracks most closely the relationships between the Baltic states, Finland, Poland, and their respective border guards.
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The impact of crises on differentiation and integration in the EU: COVID-19 and Ukraine
Běhunčík, Radek ; Martinková, Viera (advisor) ; Jeřábek, Martin (referee)
The European Union has had to deal with an increasing number of crises over the past 15 years. The future of its integration is thus increasingly dependent on concrete crisis responses. At the same time, the increasing heterogeneity of its members makes it more difficult to find compromise solutions, and integration often takes a differentiated path. This paper has attempted to answer the question of what is the impact of crises on the integration and differentiation of the European Union. It did so through an explanatory two-case study of the most recent emergencies - the COVID-19 crisis and the high energy price crisis linked to the war in Ukraine. To find the answer, a congruence analysis of the Union's crisis responses was conducted based on the models of Riddervold et al. The supply and demand theory of differentiation then explained the absence or presence of differentiation. The central data source was the European secondary legislation, frequently neglected by integration theorists. The analysis results find the crises' effects to be pro-integration in the given cases, here primarily in a uniform pattern. However, in the case of COVID-19, the thesis reveals shortcomings of the crisis response models used, pointing to the need for their conceptual reformulation. For a more comprehensive understanding...
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The instrumentalisation and weaponisation of migrants, its impacts, and how the EU responds: the case of Belarus
Škopková, Lucie ; Parízek, Michal (advisor) ; Kazharski, Aliaksei (referee)
This diploma thesis will focus on the weaponisation of migration as a hybrid threat posed to states in an attempt to destabilise their internal systems. The case study of the Poland-Belarus border crisis will be used to examine and illustrate how the European Union can address such hybrid attacks and how this reflects on the notion of the European Union as a 'normative power'. This will be done by conducting a content analysis of relevant news articles from EURACTIV, EUobserver, and POLITICO on the case study and by holding interviews with experts and academics. The notion of the European Union as a normative power will be explored through the lens of realism and neo-realism, focusing on the role of human rights and the European Union's reliance on sanctions. This will help to explore the conclusion that the conceptualisation of the European Union should be more nuanced, making it appear as a civilian power with strong normative foundations in practice rather than a solely normative power.
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Analysis of dispute settlement mechanism in Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK
Kurková, Michaela ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (advisor) ; Tomalová, Eliška (referee)
The thesis deals with the analysis of the dispute settlement mechanism in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The present legal arrangements governing the relationship between the United Kingdom, as the first former member state, and the European Union entail a number of ambiguities in political and legal discourse. In order to obtain a comprehensive picture and achieve the research objective, the thesis also includes the Withdrawal Agreement and a selected new generation trade agreement, the EU-Korea Agreement, as part of its analysis. To achieve this objective, the thesis sets out to answer two research questions, that is (1) how the institutional provisions of the agreements involved in the system of dispute settlement differ from each other and, where applicable, from the provisions of standard trade agreements concluded by the EU, and (2) how the dispute settlement mechanism foreseen by the individual agreements differ from each other and, where applicable, from other dispute settlement mechanisms in EU trade agreements. By answering the research questions, the author tests the hypothesis of the persistence of EU influences on the dispute settlement system in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the...
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Determinants of the Residential Real Estate Prices in Selected EU Countries
Rákosníková, Andrea ; Hlaváček, Michal (advisor) ; Schwarz, Jiří (referee)
This thesis aims to identify the determinants of real housing prices in the 13 newest EU member states. Determinants were identified using individual time series and aggregate panel analyses to ensure the best results. Cointegrating relationships were confirmed through testing and factored into the choice of estimation methods. The time series regression was done using the VECM, and the same method was used to test the theory that the capitals are the price leaders in housing markets. Results revealed that this effect is limited to only some markets, particularly affecting Czechia and Slovakia. Panel analyses, done using the PDOLS and ECM, were used to examine determinants and the speed of convergence of variables to equilibrium. The results of the aggregate panel regression showed that numerous determinants, namely the construction prices, GDP, number of housing permits, rents, and population, affect housing prices significantly. However, area-specific panels and time series models highlighted significant variations in results across countries. For example, GDP is not a significant determinant in V4 countries, while its effect is vital for the Balkans. The most surprising results were observed for Cyprus and Malta, where the relationships between the prices and determinants seem to be distorted by...
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Small state capacity building with an agency of the European Union: The case of the Czech Republic and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)
Halaška, Tomáš ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Šlosarčík, Ivo (referee)
The main goal of this master's thesis is to discover why states are keen on acquiring an agency of the European Union from a perspective of the states' administration's approach towards the agency and its domain after acquiring it. This phenomenon is presented by an interpretative case study of the Czech Republic and the European GNSS Agency (GSA) obtained in 2012 and its expansion to the Agency of the European Union for the Space Programme (EUSPA) in 2021. The thesis verifies how are the three main motivations why a state wants an EU agency - prestige, economic potential, and quality and reputation enhancement of the given area - manifested in practice in the case of the approach of the Czech Republic towards the space sector. The verification is conducted through the operationalization of three scenarios based on the motivations. The data were collected from public sources and from fourteen semi-structured interviews with representatives of different space-related spheres.The research has shown that the approach of the Czech administration towards the space sector has been growing thanks to acquiring the seat of the GSA in 2010, obtaining membership in the European Space Agency in 2008, and appointing the Ministry of Transport as the main coordinator of national space activities in 2011. State...
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EU response to hybrid threats: the national position of the Slovak Republic
Ilkova, Alexandra ; Bahenský, Vojtěch (advisor) ; Rosendorf, Ondřej (referee)
The main purpose of this master's thesis is to illuminate the national position of the Slovak Republic on the EU response to countering hybrid threats. The national position is illustrated through 9 semi-structured interviews conducted with the Slovak national officials and experts working for the national authorities and alternatively for the non-governmental organisations within the field of hybrid threats. The national officials represent the various state departments, such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Ministry of Defense or the Office of the Government. The respondents' professional background heterogeneity leads to a more complex national position, incorporating as many national authorities' structures as possible. At the same time, the work also provides a comprehensive overview of the EU and Slovak approach to countering hybrid threats. While the EU response is mapped out through the adaptation of political and legal frameworks, the emergence of new institutional bodies and inter-institutional cooperation, the Slovak response is demonstrated through the development of national security and defense strategies and the emergence of the departmental units focusing on hybrid threats. Clarifying the approaches to countering hybrid threats from the...
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Europeanization of the non-profit sector in the Czech Republic: NGOs dealing with the integration of children from institutional care
Gillarová, Irena ; Váška, Jan (advisor) ; Weiss, Tomáš (referee)
In the international arena, European integration and globalization are becoming increasingly significant trends to which the Czech Republic must adapt by creating new international and supranational institutional and organizational structures. The Czech Republic's accession to the European Union and the process of Europeanization have opened up new opportunities and challenges for NGOs, which play a significant role in the participation of civil society in the European space. However, although Europeanization puts pressure on the political systems of EU member states, it is still unclear whether there is convergence between the member states, as empirical studies suggest that domestic changes tend to use alternative mechanisms. This diplomathesis deals with the impact of Europeanization on non-govermental organizations (NGOs) focused on integrating children from institutional care into society. The thesis explores the challenges and opportunities that arise with European integration for these actors and seeks to determine whether accessing EU funds provides sufficient motivation for the examined NPOs to Europeanize. The aim of the thesis is to examine changes in the structure, practices, and strategic planning of NPOs in order to gain insights into whether these organizations can adapt their...
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