Parliamentary scrutiny of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy

Abstract

This paper analyses under what conditions parties engage in parliamentary scrutiny of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. With insights from comparative literature on parliamentary oversight, two main incentives are identified. On the one hand, opposition parties initiate scrutiny to reduce their information asymmetry vis-à-vis the government; on the other hand, coalition parties use parliamentary scrutiny to control their partners. Empirically, the article uses information on scrutiny activities in six EU member states (Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom) covering 13 years and 21 governments. The findings suggest that opposition parties scrutinise the government if they have access to strong oversight instruments. In contrast, the strength of oversight instruments is not important for coalition partners. They resort to means of scrutiny if the leading minister is weak. Coalitions with a greater number of parties engage in scrutiny less often. Moreover, scrutiny is especially observed in questions with more direct distributional consequences (‘intermestic’ issues).     

The European Union Faced With the Challenges of Food Safety： Solutions Proposed in the Framework of the Common Agricultural Policy （CAP） and Strategies of the Actors Concerned

Within the framework of Common Agricultural Policy （CAP）, how has the European Union （EU） responded to new challenges emerging at the end of the last century？ The overall picture shows that the process of improving health conditions includes various players. The overall objectives of the CAP are specified in Article 39 of the Treaty of Rome： to increase agricultural productivity and ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community. The word ＂security＂ here refers to the stability of supply. The first major reform came in 1992, linked to the Uruguay Round Cycle of initial responses to consumes expectations regarding food safety and the prevention of health risks. The centrepiece of EU food policy, European Food Safety Authority （EFSA） is consumed with all maters effecting food safety, nutrition, animal health and welfare, and plant health. The controversy around the need for reforms and their implementation has featured prominently in the public debate. The paper analyzes these debates by drawing on scientific studies carried out by multidisciplinary laboratories.     

Problems of the Turkish Political Parties and Turgut Ozal＇s Motherland Party （ANAP）

Many political parties have been established in Turkey so far. But a large majority of these parties were dissolved or could not stand long-term. In this respect, the Turkish political history is also the history of short-lived political parties without Republican Populist Party （CHP）. Both in the Ottoman Period and the Republican Period, there were no durable political parties. Whereas, glancing over the United States and European Countries, it is seen long-lived and durable political parties, e.g., Republican Party in U.S., Conservative Party in U.K., etc. Within this context, Turgut Ozal＇s Motherland Party （ANAP） can be considered as one of the most excellent examples of a short-lived party in Turkey. This party was established in 1983 and then, it finished its life in 20 years. It was the reason why this finished. In this view, this study aims to indicate the common problems of the Turkish political parties by analysing ANAP as well as the weakness of institutionalism, extreme leader-oriented party, and the patronage system.     

Social Policy and Social Control： Case of San Joso del Rincon in the State of Mexico

This study sets out to analyze and evaluate the implementation of a system for the regulation and control of social policies （＂Social Comptrollership＂） involving civil society so as to reinforce the mechanisms for ensuring transparency and responsibility in the government＇s operation of social programs and the execution of public works Here is presented the analysis of the Federal Rural Housing Program （in Spanish： ＂Programa de Vivienda RuraF＇） that is aimed at providing accommodation to families in situations of severe poverty living in communities described as suffering from ＂high or very high levels of marginalization＂. The main conclusion of this research, which is based on a series of interviews with aid recipients, the officials and the social organizations involved, is that the regulatory aspects of this system for controlling social policies are not effective, since they lack mechanisms for enforcing the sanctions set down for participants who do not respect the agreements they have entered into.     

The Practical Way of Communist Party of China to Bring up and Assemble Young Talents in the Early Years of Reform and Opening up （1978-1989）

In 1978, China entered the era of reform and opening up. Faced the great depression, cultivating and assembling young talent became an important power to support rapid development of the country. The leadership of Communist Party led by Deng Xiaoping had a global sight, and began to reform higher education system, gradually cultivated and assembled the generation of young talents. This paper reviews the theoretical ideas and practical measures of Communist Party of China （CPC） to train and assemble young talents at the beginning of reform and opening up, analyzes and displays the particular and scientific method of young talents and the great achievements of young talents in this period. The paper consists of three parts, the practice of bringing up young talents, young cadres, young professional and technical personnel, and the modernization construction from young talents. These methods cultivate so many young talents as the pillars of state development, and the quality of youth increased rapidly. So many practical ways also have been used and influenced in China today, and these are not only the wealth for China, but also the important experience for the whole world.