The Amsterdam Treaty has established the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ). Since then, it is an example of a policy-making area creating its way quickly and comprehensively. However, in this paper the main dilemma is to what extent the Schengen development has modified the framework of AFSJ and how it adapts in this policy while being an example of enhanced cooperation and differentiated integration model. Developments in this area are part of a realisation that European states need to act together to better face new challenges to peace and internal security, while ensuring respect for democracy and human rights. It is important to add, that cooperation in the Area of Freedom Security and Justice has been driven by forces different from that seen in other policy areas.

The article presents basic relations which happen among Europeanization and the public politics on the example of the politics of the cohesion. The author makes the broad exploration objective concepts and also postulates determined conclusions and recommendations.

Europe, slowly but surely, appears to be recovering from one of the most damaging financial crises ever, but still our continent dangles in a sort of political suspension. The “Eastern Enlargement” from 2004 has been digested badly by the European Union. Currently, we are witnessing an overwhelming shortage of common ideas for the Community consisting of the twenty eight Member States, which is striking and, is in fact a grievous phenomenon. A number of exclusive political and economic initiatives realized beyond the institutional skeleton of the Union evolve, at least partially, into disruption of pure solidarity and rudimentary concord among nations. The multi-tier Europe, evidently faltering at a political crossroads, is gradually rising from the diff erentiation of the Community and, in consequence, presupposes some kind of socio-political and economic Centre and Periphery.

Jak możemy wyjść z kryzysu gospodarczego i społecznego  poprzez pogłębienie integracji europejskiej?

The article regards the challenges which was brought by economic and social crisis durin European integration within EU. Author concerns questions taken up in this scope by ETJ and constitutional courts in European states as well as political and legal cicrcumstances of them.

Czynnikiem determinującym charakter stosunków brytyjsko-kosowskich jest ogromna dysproporcja potencjałów obu państw we wszystkich możliwych sferach. Nieposiadające pełnego uznania międzynarodowego, słabe pod względem ekonomicznym Kosowo nie może stanowić partnera dla Wielkiej Brytanii, dysponującej niekwestionowaną pozycją na płaszczyźnie gospodarczej, politycznej i militarnej. Nie znajduje się ono również w centrum zainteresowań brytyjskich, a wzajemne kontakty zostały nawiązane niejako przy okazji wypełniania przez Brytyjczyków „moralnego zobowiązania”, a nie na podstawie racjonalnych przesłanek. W tym kontekście obowiązująca formuła relacji opiera się na założeniu brytyjskiego paternalizmu, który wyraża się oddziaływaniem na kierunki aktywności politycznej oraz rozwój gospodarczy i społeczny Kosowa, a także występowaniem w obronie interesów Kosowa przed społecznością międzynarodową (w szczególności na forum Unii Europejskiej i NATO). Natomiast mieszkańcy Kosowa poprzez korzystanie z udzielanej przez Brytyjczyków na bieżąco pomocy wojskowej, politycznej i finansowej oraz udostępnienie know- -how zaciągnęli wobec Wielkiej Brytanii dług wdzięczności, którego spłata jest tym trudniejsza, że ani jej termin, ani warunki nie mają wymiaru formalnego. Nie ulega jednak wątpliwości, że w przypadku wejścia Kosowa do Unii Europejskiej i NATO istnieje spora szansa, że kosowscy politycy będą głosowali w tych organizacjach w sposób odpowiadający życzeniom brytyjskim. Dalekosiężna polityka Wielkiej Brytanii zmierzająca do pozyskania przyszłego sojusznika wewnątrz struktur europejskich wydaje się zatem przynosić pożądane efekty, służąc równocześnie stabilizacji i rozwojowi tej części Bałkanów Zachodnich.

From the European Union perspective regional cooperation in the Western Balkans is one of the fundamental conditions determining the pace of accession to European structures. This question is emphasized in EU documents concerning the enlargement, and it is also each time a subject of the EU’s discussion with representatives of Western Balkan countries. The aim of this paper is to articulate and characterize the premises of EU activity towards Western Balkans and to analyze forms of regional cooperation with the participation of Western Balkan countries as well as an exegesis of factors determining this cooperation.

The role of Harold Macmillan in the work of the Assembly of the Council of Europe between 1949 and 1951

European issues were obviously very close to Harold Macmillan’s heart from the beginning of his political path, which goes back to 1924. This paper looks at the activities of Harold Macmillan in the Assembly of the Council of Europe between 1949 and 1951 and discusses his views on European cooperation.

The purpose of the article is to present a proposal to amend the Basic Law and to indicate its close connection with the nature of the political (system) decision. The amendment to the Basic Law may be extended or limited. Possible legal constructions were carried out in the article. This would determine the conditions of Poland’s participation in the euro area, which are acceptable from the Polish constitution’s point of view.

The current period of development of Ukraine is characterized by the intensification of European integration processes, among which ensuring the adaptation of the national border security system to the European standards takes an important place. The mechanism of implementation of the border policy implementation to ensure the border security of the European Union is the European integrated border management, the complex basis of which is the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR). For the successful European integration of Ukraine, it is important to take into account the European experience of formation, functioning, and prospects for the development of European integrated border management. Planning of preventive strategic steps, which in the future will ensure a successful integration of Ukraine’s border security system and its state border into similar components of the European Union, should be included in the content of all thematic strategic documents (legislation, concepts, strategies, programs, plans, etc.).

Class struggle in Poland and Europe

The main thesis of article is class struggle in contemporary Poland and Europe. Author is giving the explanation of the main features and socio-political characteristic of the contemporary epoch, the main features and conditions of revolutionary and counter revolutionary forces in Poland, especially at the time 1956, 1968–1970, 1980–1981 and 1989. More attention become the “Solidarity” movement and its leader L. Wałęsa and their counter revolutionary role in the working movement not only in Poland. The analysis contains also the explanation of the socio-economic situation in the PR China and political and ideological changes in CPC, the perspective of development of Poland in EU, socio-economic conditions of Polish peoples and their political behaviors, different classes and stratas, the level of the democracy and the causes of collapse of People’s Poland. What is the influence had accession of Poland to EU on the contemporary polish working movement, the role of Communist Party of Poland and other left parties and trade unions? What is the perspective of socialism in the time of European integration and globalization?

This article addresses the problem of the EP’s role in the process of multi-level governance illustrated with the example of EU expansion policy through the accession of the West Balkan states. As an effect of the European integration process, resulting in the transfer of decision-making competences from the state level to the transnational level, nation-states have lost their monopolistic position in the European decision-making process. This has enabled the formation of multi-level political system within the EU. Within the system, there is a multi-level governance model, with the EP as its crucial element. This article reveals an important role of the EP as a transnational decision-making centre, which with its specific competences (giving consent to the accession of a country to the EU, giving consent to sign international agreements crucial for the integration process, budget rights, co-decisions on the form of the EU law with an ordinary law making procedure) considerably forms the policy of the EU in relation to the Balkan countries. The explanation of the policy’s functioning and its outcomes are based on the concept of multi-level governance, which is analyzed herein in depth.

Economic and political changes in Europe, particularly in the last decade have led to an increase in the cultural diversity of its citizens. Latvia, which received a troubling legacy from the former Soviet Union – a diverse ethnic mix, also found itself EU. In 1989, after nearly fifty years of Soviet domination it regained its independence and stood on the way of reform and transition from a totalitarian to an independent style of governance. Among the many problems that appeared in front of this small country in 2004, there were also those that are lively debated in contemporary Europe. Some of them are laws for immigrants and minority rights. Analysis of past and present situation in Latvia seem to be particularly important to the events which have recently been seen in Ukraine which is an another country of the past Soviet Union – and after 1990 also the Russian – sphere of influence. Article deals with the integration process, with Latvian law regulating issues of citizenship, minority rights and the status of the state language as conforming to international standards. It also deals with the education of national minorities in Latvia. Bilingual education proposed to the minorities has goal to integrate the Latvian society as a whole, to build a multicultural state based on unity. Bilingual education also enables the acquisition of language skills allowing the free movement on the labor market. This ensures both the protection of ethnic and religious identity by providing the understanding of the language and culture of the country of residence. Problems of this young state are still waiting for a solution by the future government in Latvia. This small Baltic country, for ten years, is integrating multinational community of its own country into the tissue of Western Europe to which it was a stranger till the year 2004.

The article aims to refer to issues related to the understanding of national identity, assuming that the basic reference point for the theoretical analysis is the model of universally recognised European values. Attempting to concretise the concept of national identity and identify determinants affecting its shaping, reference was made to the problem of identifying Poles with European values. Since the problem of national identity was often the object of interest of researchers, especially during the intensification of integration processes in Europe and the impact of such phenomena as globalisation, migration or development of mass culture with a cosmopolitan character, there were observed increased anxieties of various nations encouraging underlining their own “separateness”, and also greater identification with the national community. The author does not treat this phenomenon as disturbing because, according to the latest trends related to the understanding of European identity, it can crystallise as the sum of the identity of European national countries.

Brexit Negotiation Process in David Cameron and Theresa May’s Policy

Great Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (aka Brexit) is one of the most significant events in the history of European integration. It is also the first event in the history of the Community, yet not the only one proposed by the UK government. This article aims at the analysis of political activity of British Prime Ministers: David Cameron and Theresa May related to the United Kingdom’s leaving the European Union structures. British Government’s decision was taken after the referendum, which was held on June 23, 2016, followed by invoking Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty. Consequences of Brexit are highly dependent on the results of negotiations, although most definitely they will have political, economic and social implications. The most important conclusions are contained in the summary.

The aim this present article is to describe what are the possible consequences may arise from the British Parliament’s amendment to the European Community Act. This includes the so-called “referendum lock” (is requires a referendum after any change in the EU’s institutional and legal status that would lead to an essential transfer of sovereignty to the EU), as well as the “sovereignty clause” (it confirms that it is solely the Parliament that holds direct legislative power within the territory of the United Kingdom). The passing of this act into law may have farreaching consequences for the future of the European Union. The necessity of conducting a referendum in European issues, in light of Britons’ extensive and continuous reluctance to European integration, may result in Great Britain’s exclusion from future pro-integration activities. This, in turn, could shatter the unity of the European nations and effectively lead to the victory of the “multi-speed” idea of integration.

Chairing the Council of the European Union underlines the importance of the state in integrated Europe. However, the recent amendments to the Treaty have given rise to significant changes in the functioning of this institution. Our understanding of this concept as well as of its functions and methods has changed. This is particularly important for Poland, which in July 2011 will take over the half year presidency. The new conditions of operation pose both opportunities and challenges. This article presents the model of the Presidency and its role both before the Treaty of Lisbon and immediately after it. It also discusses the ability of countries holding presidency, especially Poland, to handle these changes. The author examines the conditions, strengths and weaknesses of Poland with respect to exercising this function.

An Improvement of Protection of Industrial Designs in Conditions of Reforming the National Legislation

In conditions of construction and functioning of innovative model of economy, of a necessity of creation and introduction of new technics and advanced technologies in manufacture the right to results of scientific and technical creativity acquires importance. The vast majority of scientific works of authors devoted to an analysis of the legal protection of industrial property, concerns only certain aspects of problematic issues of legal regulation of relations arising in the protection of industrial designs in the conditions of European integration of Ukraine. Therefore, there is a need for theoretical research on issues related to the improvement of Ukrainian legislation in this area to the legislation of the European Union. The article considers the problems of bringing the institute of industrial designs of Ukraine in line with the legislation of the European Union. The ways of improvement of the legislation of Ukraine in the field of protection of the rights to industrial designs to the European norms are offered. The concept of „industrial design” in the relevant national legislation has been improved. Emphasis is placed on the expediency of expanding the range of products, an appearance of which may receive legal protection in Ukraine as industrial designs. It is proposed to harmonize the relevant national legislation with the Civil Code of Ukraine on the validity of intellectual property rights to registered and unregistered industrial designs. It is concluded that Ukraine’s aspiration for European integration presupposes taking into account the positive experience of the relevant legislation of the European Union member states. Since measures aimed at introducing effective mechanisms for the protection of rights to industrial property objects are determined by the course of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, therefore they are determined by the need to comply with European norms for such protection. However, it is emphasized that it is important not just to copy certain approaches to the protection of industrial property rights, which are enshrined in European Union law, but a systematic scientific approach to internal coherence and consideration of all elements of positive national law. The strength of scientific and technical, economic and legal development of Ukraine and the formation of an effective innovative model of the national economy depends on this.

The real system of government in Poland after the country’s accession to the European Union

The subject of research presented in the article is the system of government in Poland. The considerations concern the relationship between the normative solutions defined in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 1997 and the influence of the EU on the modification of political solutions in Poland. It was hypothesized that after Poland’s accession to the EU, the system of government in Poland changed in terms of political practice. It has been shown that functioning in the EU resulted in a departure from the characteristic rationalization of the system of government and bringing it closer to the parliamentary model. The prediction presents possible further directions of modification of the system of governance depending on the evolution of the EU. The research was based on the following methods: institutional-legal, systemic and comparative.

The Impact of the International Situation on the Shape of the Twentieth-Century Polish Constitutions

The subject of the article is the issue of the impact of the international situation on the shape of Polish twentieth-century fundamental laws and the determination of how the Polish constitutional legislator made it possible to implement the assumptions of Polish foreign policy. The first part of the article discusses the impact of the international situation on the provisions of the Constitutions of 1921 and 1935, with particular emphasis on the provisions relating to wartime. The second part of the article draws attention to the issues of political changes related to Poland’s membership in the Eastern Bloc countries. The third part of the article concerns the impact of the geopolitical situation on the shape of constitutional reforms during the period of Poland’s political transformation. The last part of the article analyzes the impact of Polish aspirations for European integration and NATO accession on the shape of the currently binding Constitution of 1997.

The aim of education in the uniting Europe is to teach people of different cultures, religions and nationalities how to live together in peace. In the political aspect, it means bringing about rapprochement between nations. In Polish circumstances, Europeanism in the school context means carrying out activities aimed at making pupils realize the existence of the European Union, as well as its objectives and guiding rules. European education assumes that the European Community should be perceived not only in the institutional, economic or poHtical perspective, but mainly in the human one, as related to ever tightening bonds within the frameworks of the OId Continent that build an integrated community. However, the consciousness of the on-going changes can hardly be acknowledged as prevailing and well founded, since the probing research reveals that the knowledge of European problems among present and future PoHsh teachers from the Upper Silesian region is only fragmentary. Such a state of affairs should be a subject of retlection, especially in view of PoIand's imminent accession to the European Union.