This volume compares and analyses the national civil services and the most important reform trends in the 27 Member States of the European Union. The authors first examine the reform processes concerning civil servants' legal status, organisational changes, recruitment policies, remuneration, decentralisation of human resource responsibilities, job security and ethics. They consider in what ways similarities and differences can be detected amongst the 27 Member States and whether and to what extent the national civil services move away from traditional bureaucratic structures. Finally, the authors discuss the main outcomes of the reform processes and the future of the classical civil service. This publication contrasts with the many popular and speculative statements that too often capture the headlines on the future of the civil service and the different human resource management reforms. Instead, it is a measured conclusion about emerging trends and developments in this important policy area. The authors argue that the reform of the public sector will not, as many have predicted, be characterised by clear changes and progress in the area. Instead, the outcomes of the reform reveal a more complex picture of piecemeal and paradoxical patterns of change.

“Since reading [the book], I have been enthusiastic and impressed by it ... It will undoubtedly be of great use to all staff employed by the EU institutions and agencies interested in knowing their rights and obligations in EU Civil Service Law, as well as to interested practitioners for finding their way into this thrilling area of EU law." Jan Inghelram, Director, Legal Adviser on Administrative Matters of the Court of Justice of the European Union (from the Foreword to the book) This practical commentary interprets EU Staff Regulations on the basis of a rich set of judgments handed down by the EU courts over more than 70 years, complemented by insightful case studies on recent landmark decisions. In addition to presenting key aspects of employment law applicable to officials and other agents of the EU institutions, the book considers future legal developments. Several important areas of Union law meet in the practice of civil service matters: fundamental rights; general principles of EU law; social and labour law; family and tax law; and procedural, administrative, institutional and constitutional law. Mader explores this intersection across chapters covering civil service law context, its legal framework and interpretative principles; it covers procedural and substantial EU civil service law and closes with a chapter on collective EU civil service law. The result is an invaluable English-language commentary by one of the field's leading figures, written for all staff employed by EU institutions (and similar bodies) and for all organisations that apply and interpret EU civil service law, as well as for colleagues working across EU law, civil service and public sector law.

Drawing on research from the administrative sciences and using organizational, institutional and decision-making theories, this volume examines the emerging bureaucratic framework of the EU and highlights that analyzing the patterns and dynamics of the EU's administrative capacities is essential to understand how it shapes European public policy.

A fully revised fourth edition of a popular introduction to the comparative politics of Europe, written by a highly respected authority on the subject. This lively and thematically organised text provides an accessible guide to the institutions and the issues that matter in a continent where the boundaries between East and West, and between domestic and European affairs are increasingly breaking down. Covering a wide array of countries it is a concise yet comprehensive overview of one of the world's most important and fascinating regions. Written in an approachable style and packed with up-to-date, real-world examples and information, this is the ideal place for students to begin and to deepen their understanding of Europe's politics. It can be adapted as a standalone text on modules on Comparative European Politics and will be of use as a key reading on undergraduate courses on Comparative Politics more broadly, as well as European Union Politics. New to this Edition: - Updated throughout to provide coverage of developments such as the Eurozone crisis, the growth of left and right-wing populism, the rise of nationalism and Europe's on-going immigration challenge - Includes a short concluding chapter, rounding up and considering the future of the book's core themes of Europeanization and multilevel governance - Additional country profiles on Croatia and Greece to ensure representative treatment of the key countries in Europe today

Since the Treaty of the European Union was ratified in 1993, the European Union has become an important factor in an ever-increasing number of regimes of pooled sovereignty. This Handbook seeks to present a valuable guide to this new and unique system in the twenty-first century, allowing readers to obtain a better understanding of the emerging multilevel European governance system that links national polities to Europe and the global community. Adopting a pan-European approach, this Handbook brings together the work of leading international academics to cover a wide range of topics such as: the historical and theoretical background the political systems and institutions of both the EU and its individual member nations political parties and party systems political elites civil society and social movements in European politics the political economy of Europe public administration and policy-making external policies of the EU. This is an invaluable and comprehensive resource for students, scholars, researchers and practitioners of the European Union, European politics and comparative politics.

In European policy-making, the Nordic countries are often viewed as a relatively coherent bloc; in international and European affairs the Nordic position has traditionally been conditioned on being different from and better than Europe. This book offers a coherent, original and systematic comparative analysis of the relationship between the Nordic countries and the European Union over the past two decades. It looks at the historical frame, institutions and policy areas, addressing both traditional EU areas such as agriculture and more nascent areas affecting the domestic and foreign policies of the Nordic countries. In doing so, it examines how the Nordic approach to European policy-making has developed and explains why the Nordic countries are similar in some respects while differing in others when engaging with EU institutions. In highlighting the similarities and differences between the Nordic countries it explores what lessons – positive and negative – may be drawn from this approach for the Nordic countries and other small states. This book will be of interest to scholars, students and practitioners engaged with the Nordic Countries, EU politics and policy-making, European politics and comparative politics.

The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. The World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency. Comprehensive guide full of facts, maps, flags, and detailed information. A must for travellers, businessmen, politicians, and all who wants to know more about our fascinating world. -- We share these facts with the people of all nations in the belief that knowledge of the truth underpins the functioning of free societies (From official webpage). Tags: world, guide, facts, almanach

Bringing together the theory, structure, and practice of legal reasoning in an accessible style, this book explains how to uncover and exploit the mysteries of legal materials. It draws the student into the techniques of legal analysis and argument and the operation of precedent and statutory interpretation.

Building on the experience of hundreds of projects and programmes over more than a decade, this is a comprehensive study of East-West co-operation in public-sector reform since the collapse of communism.

The question of the United Kingdom's survival, once taken for granted, now looms large in British politics. This book brings to life the historical roots of a contemporary crisis, revealing the assumptions underlying how politicians and bureaucrats make sense of the Union. Why has the political class struggled to engage productively with devolution? Has the growing disenchantment of English voters with a detached central government influenced how MPs and civil servants regard the UK's territorial integrity? And how have seismic events fuelled the tensions between Westminster and the devolved administrations, from the election of an SNP government and the 2014 Scottish referendum to Brexit and the pandemic? Politics today is dominated by a profound sense of pessimism about the long-term viability of the UK. Where do we go from here? 'Fractured Union' offers a vivid account of the country's gradual loss of unity, and illuminates the forces and pressures which will shape the future of its nations and peoples. As nationalisms gain ground across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, this book issues a sharp challenge to those who believe in a united kingdom: deliver better and more responsive government, or risk seeing the UK fall apart.