Opatija: Jean Monnet Inter-University Centre of Excellence, Vladimira Nazora street 2.

12 October 2017, 10.30-13.30 hours

The POLO round table “Energy Union – opportunities and challenges in Croatia” was held on Thursday 12 October 2017 in the Jean Monnet Inter-University Centre of Excellence in Opatija. The round table as the fifth such event within project “POLO-Cro28: Policy Observatory in Croatia” was organized in cooperation between IRMO the European Commission Representation in Croatia and the Faculty of Law at the University of Rijeka. The event was opened with welcoming words of Emil Priskić deputy mayor of Opatija, Vesna Crnić Grotić dean of the Faculty of Law from the University of Rijeka and Višnja Samardžija, project coordinator from IRMO. Introductory part was followed by the panel which discussed the EUʼs Energy Union as a framework for implementation of reforms, technical and technological development within the Energy Union, market competition, energy transition as well as the role of civil society organizations in this area. Speakers at the event were Denis Redžepagić from the EC Representation in Croatia, Slavko Krajcar from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb, Vlatka Butorac Malnar from the Faculty of Law at the University of Rijeka, Vedran Horvat from the Institute for Political Ecology from Zagreb and Vjeran Piršić from the association Eko Kvarner. The round table moderator was Ana-Maria Boromisa* from IRMO. The panel was followed by the Q&A session between speakers and the audience.

Program

*supported by HRZZ Research Project IP -11-2013

Results in implementation of the European Semester process: an overview for the Czech Republic, Croatia and Hungary (Croatian) is the fifteenth commentary within the project POLO-Cro28, written by Ivana Skazlić. The commentary provides a short overview of the European Semester implementation results in Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia. This includes the novelties incorporated in the process in 2017 such as an increased focus on the multiannual perspective, given the fact that many measures require longer time for implementation and evaluation of their results. The commentary is published in Croatian language.

The policy paper ʺSearching for the best practices to reduce youth unemployment in Croatia“ written by Hrvoje Butković has been published in English. It was prepared as an activity within triennial Jean Monnet project for institutional support ʺPOLO-Cro28 – Policy Observatory in Croatiaʺ financed from the Erasmus+ program of the European Commission. This work analyses main characteristics of the EU policies and measures designed for reducing youth unemployment. It evaluates how these measures were implemented in Croatia, Slovenia and Poland from the outbreak of the global economic crisis until today. The paper also engages in comparative analysis of various practices in the area of youth unemployment in these selected new EU member states based on which recommendations were made for the policy makers in Croatia.

Commentary by young IRMO researcher on Energy Union published

Energy Union and Climate: Clean Energy for all Europeans (Croatian) is the fourteenth commentary within the project POLO-Cro28, written by Anastasya Raditya Ležaić. The „Clean Energy for all Europeans“ package is the continuation of european initiatives of creating low-carbon economy. This commentary analyses the main measures that should enable economic modernisation and transition to low-carbon economy.

Commentary by young IRMO researchers on urban governance models published

“Urban governance models” (Croatian) by Ivana Keser, is the next commentary within the POLO-Cro-28 project. The commentary analyses the integrated urban governance model which is becoming increasingly important not only in the cohesion policy but also in other European development policies, and finds its application in many European cities.

Recommendation by the European Commission for Croatia to exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure

On 22 May 2017 the European Commission recommended that Croatia (as well as Portugal) should exit the Excessive Deficit Procedure. The European Commission issued for Croatia five recommendations which are almost identical to those issued in 2016. The recommendations refer to public finance and taxation; pensions, the labour market and social welfare; salaries; public administration and state companies; and the services sector and the judiciary. The EC recommendations are the answer to responsible fiscal policy, wise budget management, GDP growth, reduced public debt and very good results in reducing the budget deficit to 0.8% of GDP. It is expected that the Government will pursue to continue with structural and other reforms.

Commentary by young IRMO researches on Investment Incentives published

“Investment Incentives in Croatia and selected new EU member states” (in Croatian) written by Martina Basarac Sertić from Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, is the twelfth commentary within the POLO-Cro28 project. The commentary analyses the EU initiatives within the state aid concept available for the EU member states as well as the incentives that are implemented in Croatia, Bulgaria, Czechia and Slovakia.

POLO round table „Challenges of competitiveness for the new EU member states and Croatia“ held

Zagreb: European Commission Representation in Croatia (House of Europe), August Cesarec street 4

26 April 2017, 10.00-12.30 hours

The POLO round table “Challenges of competitiveness for the new EU member states and Croatia” was held on Wednesday 26 April 2017 in the House of Europe in Zagreb. The round table as the fourth such event within project “POLO-Cro28: Policy Observatory in Croatia” was organized in cooperation between IRMO and the European Commission Representation in Croatia. The round table was opened with the welcoming words of H.E. Branko Baričević, Head of the European Commission Representation in Croatia and Višnja Samardžija, project coordinator from IRMO. The introductory part was followed by the panel which discussed mechanisms and instruments for strengthening competitiveness in the EU, causes for legging behind of Croatia on the European and international scales of competitiveness, importance of increased productivity and positive business climate, education for competitiveness, strategy of smart specialization for Croatia and other questions important for competitiveness. The speakers were: Manica Hauptman from the EC Representation in Croatia, Krešimir Jurlin from IRMO, Andrea August, from the Agency for Investments and Competitiveness and Martina Basarac Sertić from Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The panel was followed by the Q&A session between speakers and the audience.

European Commission presents the European Pillar of Social Rights

European Commission adopted a proposal for the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Pillar sets out 20 key principles and rights to support fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems. The Pillar is designed as a compass for a renewed process of upward convergence towards better working and living conditions in the EU. It is primarily conceived for the euro area but it is also applicable to all EU Member States wishing to be part of it.

The Pillar was prepared by the Commission, under the leadership of Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Thyssen, in close consultation with stakeholders at all levels. It reaffirms rights that are already present in the EU and international legal acquis and complements them to take account of new realities. The principles and rights enshrined in the Pillar are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions and social protection and inclusion. They place the focus on how to tackle new developments in the world of work and society at large so as to deliver on the promise of the Treaties of a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress.

More on European Pillar of Social Rights: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1007_en.htm

Communication from the Commission – Establishing a European Pillar of Social Rights: http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=17624&langId=en

Commentary by young IRMO researches on Waste Menagement published

How is the adjustment of waste management policies in Croatia and in the Czech Republic advancing? (croatian) written by Marina Funduk, senior research assistant at IRMO, is the eleventh commentary within the POLO-Cro28 project. The commentary analyses Croatian and Czech Republic experiences in the implementation of EU waste management legislation and identifies the main challenges in this area untill 2020.