https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131590 2026-04-11T09:49:15Z 2026-04-11T09:49:15Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145328 2026-04-06T09:28:36Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Ukraine's pursuit of European Union membership : the Russian factor Abstract: This thesis examines the impact of Russia's aggression on Ukraine's pursuit of European Union (EU) membership, exploring the geopolitical, economic, and social dimensions of this transformative period in Eastern Europe. Ukraine's trajectory toward EU integration has been profoundly shaped by the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region, and broader security threats posed by Russia. These events have forced Ukraine to recalibrate its foreign policy, shifting decisively toward the EU and NATO as vital partners for sovereignty and long-term security. Concurrently, the EU's response to the crisis has marked a significant evolution in its foreign policy and enlargement strategy, reflecting its recognition of Ukraine's strategic importance. The study employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating theories of international relations-realism, constructivism, and neoliberal institutionalism-to analyse the interplay of security dynamics, identity shifts, and institutional cooperation. Realist theory underscores Russia's desire to maintain regional hegemony and counterbalance Western influence, while neoliberal institutionalism explains the EU's mechanisms of economic support and governance reform in stabilizing Ukraine. Constructivist perspectives highlight the role of identity, as the conflict has catalysed a profound shift in Ukrainian public opinion toward democratic values and European norms, distancing itself from Russia's authoritarian model. The findings of the research are categorized into five key areas. First, the study explores the security challenges faced by Ukraine, including the annexation of Crimea, the Donbas conflict, and the hybrid warfare tactics employed by Russia. These threats have accelerated Ukraine's alignment with Western institutions and underscored the critical role of the EU and NATO in supporting Ukraine's resilience. Second, the thesis analyses the economic impacts of the conflict, including trade disruptions and energy dependency on Russia, and the EU's role in mitigating these vulnerabilities through financial aid and initiatives such as the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). Third, it examines the identity shifts among Ukrainians, who increasingly view EU integration as a symbol of sovereignty, democracy, and alignment with Western values. Fourth, the thesis reviews Ukraine's accelerated domestic reforms in governance, anti-corruption, and judiciary sectors, driven both by EU conditions for membership and the urgent need to demonstrate institutional resilience against external aggression. Finally, it evaluates the EU's multifaceted response to the Ukraine crisis, encompassing sanctions on Russia, political and financial support for Ukraine, and the granting of EU candidate status in 2022-a historic milestone in Ukraine's integrationjourney. The thesis concludes that Russia's aggression has paradoxically strengthened Ukraine's commitment to EU membership, catalysing reforms and aligning its policies with European standards. At the same time, the EU's response reflects a strategic shift in its enlargement and neighbourhood policies, prioritizing stability and security in Eastern Europe. This evolving partnership between Ukraine and the EU not only reshapes the region's geopolitical landscape but also underscores the EU's role as a geopolitical actor capable of addressing complex security challenges. This research highlights the broader implications of the Ukraine crisis for EU-Russia relations, European security architecture, and the future of EU enlargement. By analysing Ukraine's unique path to EU integration under conditions of external aggression, this study contributes to the understanding of how security, identity, and institutional frameworks interact in shaping foreign policy and regional stability. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145324 2026-04-06T08:52:35Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The principle of subsidiarity in the EU and Malta’s local councils Abstract: [...] The foundations of EU values and their contested interpretations, as well as the Union’s changing position in sport, are all thoroughly examined in the literature review. It includes academic arguments on the moral foundations of the EU, emphasising the legal and political framing of values like democracy, inclusivity, and solidarity. In parallel, it examines research on football governance and the indirect regulatory impact of the EU, especially through its collaboration with UEFA and landmark cases. A comprehensive understanding of the connections between values and football is made possible by this dual perspective. In the following chapter, the methodology used to answer the main research topic is laid out. It supports the selection of an exploratory, qualitative design in which document analysis serves as the main technique for gathering data. Over a 30-year period, from the Bosman ruling in 1995 until 2025, the chapter describes how case studies, institutional records, judicial decisions, and campaign materials will be examined. This creates a framework for identifying both structural mechanisms, like governance improvements, and symbolic manifestations of values, like anti-racism campaigns. The analysis chapter serves as the dissertation’s main analytical element. It views UEFA competitions to be both platforms for cohesion as well as venues of conflict. Using initiatives like the ‘Respect’ and ‘Equal Game’ campaigns and co-hosting agreements that demonstrate European collaboration, the chapter demonstrates how these competitions have fostered integration, inclusion, and transnational identity. On the other hand, it draws attention to enduring conflicts that challenge the EU’s normative objectives, like nationalism, commercialisation, and governance opacity. The chapter also highlights paradoxes, exposing the difficulty of using sport to promote common values, such as the coexistence of division and integration within UEFA competitions. The dissertation then concludes by summarising the findings, evaluating their broader implications, and outlining any potential options for any future research. It evaluates if EU values are promoted by UEFA competitions or if they are more frequently used as a tool for branding and political credibility. The dissertation adds to current discussions regarding the significance of sport in European identity and integration by examining the positive and negative aspects of the link between football and the EU. When compiled together, these chapters provide a thorough analysis of how football serves as an instrument for observing, evaluating, and contesting the EU’s normative objectives. Cruyff’s argument to restore football’s values is both applicable and timely in the European context. As the research shows, the sport is not only a cultural element but also a highly political arena where identity, governance, and values come together. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145323 2026-04-06T08:48:32Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The Europe à la carte approach : the cases of Hungary and Poland Abstract: This dissertation evaluates the concept of the "Europe à la carte" model of EU integration applied in Hungary and Poland. The study examines if and how soft Euroscepticism in these nations has resulted in selective participation in EU frameworks through a comparative analysis based on qualitative research, thematic, and secondary data analysis. The dissertation positions Hungary and Poland as representative of a larger conflict inside the EU between unity and national sovereignty, while engaging with the ideas of Europeanisation, flexible integration models, and Euroscepticism. Hungary and Poland have recently taken more confrontational positions on important EU policies, especially those pertaining to migration, LGBTQ+ rights, and the rule of law, even though their respective populations are generally in favour of EU membership, especially due to the economic advantages that it brings with it. Hungary’s confrontational approach kicked off in 2010 and started to intensify in 2015 up till now (Gulácsi and Kerényi, 2023). Poland’s conflicting approach with the EU meanwhile started to loom in 2015, upon the election of the Law and Justice Party in government and became evident in 2017 with the implementation of extensive reforms that reorganised the judicial system, shortened the tenures of existing judges, and giving out high posts to people close to the governing party, up until a change of government took place in 2023 (Liboreiro, 2024). These differences reflect a strategic embrace of the EU's advantages combined with opposition to perceived intrusions on national values and identity, rather than outright animosity toward the EU, as defined by hard Euroscepticism. The "Europe à la carte" strategy, in which member states only back EU initiatives that further their own domestic agendas, is consistent with this type of selective engagement (Brandi & Wohlgemuth, 2006). The research finds a pattern in both nations where the Law and Justice (PiS) party in Poland and Fidesz in Hungary adopt anti-EU rhetoric while still desire the advantages of EU funding and economic integration. The paradox is supported by public opinion data, which shows that strong hostility to several EU regulations coexists with high levels of popular support for EU membership. According to the findings, the "Europe à la carte" approach is used as a political narrative and a governance model to balance between the economic benefits of EU membership while preserving perceived national interests. This dissertation concludes that the EU's unity, solidarity, and legal consistency are at risk by the continued selective integration of influential member states. If left unchecked, it could legitimise a divided Europe that jeopardises the fundamental tenets of mutual accountability and collaborative governance. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145322 2026-04-08T09:59:34Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Towards a digital economy in the European Union : the digital transformation in Sweden over the past decade Abstract: This dissertation examines Sweden’s digital transformation during the period 2013-2023, contextualising it within the broader European Union (EU) path toward a digital economy. During this period, the EU has enacted ambitious strategies, for instance the Digital Single Market and the Digital Compass 2030, aimed at fostering competitiveness, innovation, and inclusivity. Sweden has consistently ranked among Europe’s digital frontrunners, partly as a result of its advanced infrastructure, innovation ecosystem, and digital literacy. The study addresses two research questions: (1) How has the ICT sector evolved in Sweden over the period 2013-2023, and what were the key factors behind this transformation? and (2) What are the key drivers and barriers in Sweden in adopting digital technologies, and how do these compare to those in other European countries? The research undertook a mixed-method approach using both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Also, it draws comparison with Denmark and the Netherlands to highlight both similarities and differences in their digital transformation trajectories. This study finds that Sweden’s progress has been shaped by decentralised governance, strong public–private collaboration, and proactive digital policies, while challenges remain in addressing regional disparities, inclusivity gaps, and emerging technologies readiness. Moreover, the findings show that while these countries adopted distinct approaches, they nonetheless share common drivers and face comparable barriers to digital adoption. The study contributes to understanding how national contexts shape digital transformation and offers insights for EU digital policy and governance. Description: M.A.(Melit.)

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z