Abstract ▼

The subject of the paper is the presentation and analysis of Federal Republic of Germany’s (FRG) foreign cultural policy as well as its cultural organisations that carry out that policy towards Serbia. The author does it by analysing the characteristics of its cultural policy towards various states and especially the places, roles and significance that some institutions as the main agents of the German culture play in achieving the goals of this policy in building, promotion and improvement of mutual cultural relations and cooperation between Serbia and Germany. The paper will also discuss the notion of foreign cultural policy and its general characteristics, FR Germany’s foreign cultural policy, history, and the main features and objectives of that policy towards Serbia. The author has also analysed the role of some agents of the German culture in their field of acting abroad as intermediary institutions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of FR Germany that is in charge of creating and pursuing the foreign policy. By describing and analysing the activities of these organisations one gets a clearer picture of the official foreign cultural policy Germany pursues towards Serbia and its characteristics. The analysis of the German foreign cultural policy and activities of some institutions as its intermediary shows the characteristics of the German cultural policy in general as well as the directives that these cultural policy leads towards our country.

Abstract ▼

The author investigates whether the established political identity of the European Union is at present time a common denominator of the European identity. The research is based on the hypothesis that the European Union identity is being established as a political identity, which is grounded on the single European citizenship. Due to this, it provides necessary legitimacy to the European Union policy. The aim of this paper is to briefly review and critically analyse the discussion on building of the EU identity.

Abstract ▼

The Lisbon Treaty has brought changes in the EU foreign policy activities. One of the most important innovations is the institution of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The article presents a short history of this institution, the appointment and dismissal procedure, mandate length, competences, the position in the Foreign Affairs Council, European Commission and in the European Council as s well as the High Representative’s relationship with the European Parliament. Special attention is given to the organization of the European External Action Service.

Abstract ▼

After the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force the European Union has undergone significant reforms in the area of foreign policy. Intending to use the newly created institutions, this mainly including High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and President of the European Council, to improve the multilateral aspect of its international activities, in 2010, the European Union took initiative to reinforce its observer status in the United Nations and gain additional rights in the General Assembly. The study searches for the motives for transforming of the EU acting in the United Nations putting special emphasis on the factors that have, in the author’s view, made the influence of the block in this organisation the most prominent than it has ever been.

Abstract ▼

Among the most important initial steps in transition to market economy the focus had been on stabilizing the monetary conditions and, therefore, foreign exchange rates. The weakening of the domicile currencies continued after the initial shock of transition, although with moderate intensity. In the mid-1990s, the trend of depreciation was completed. Since the second half of the 1990s until late 2008, most of the observed currencies recorded nominal (and real) appreciation. The global economic crisis leads to weakening of almost all East European currencies, but relatively quickly, in the early 2009, their stabilization and strengthening slightly began. Most Eastern European countries introduced more flexible exchange rate regimes and finally generally accepted (managed) floating exchange regimes, while Central European countries have implicitly and explicitly adopted the inflation targeting framework. Looking ahead, the currencies of the countries with balanced net trade positions are expected to continue their appreciation during the 2010-2014 period; however, a large number of currencies should be actually depreciated in order to service their net external debt in a sustainable way.

Abstract ▼

Historically, the rules on international peace and security have always depended on the international structure system and relations among great powers. It was through the UN Charter and permanent membership in the Security Council that the end of World War II brought back to life the idea of great powers “concert”, which had been previously launched at the Vienna congress. Such an international legal and institutional arrangement has remained up to the present days in spite of some substantial changes in the international system. As a result of this, the informal hierarchy “contracts” took an advantage over the formal rules of international law, especially in interpreting the right to self-determination during and after the Cold war. The recent diminishing of the American power and the rise of other great powers, especially Russia, once again opens the question in what direction the international peace and security order are going to.