https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/18891 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:50:21 GMT 2026-04-23T11:50:21Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129757 Title: The role of the European Union in the Western Balkans Abstract: The Institute for European Studies organised a half-day seminar on 12 March entitled ‗The Role of the EU in the Western Balkans‘ This event was organised with the support of the European Commission‘s DG NEAR, and took place in the European Documentation Centre, which is located inside the Institute for European Studies, at the University of Malta. The panel was composed of Ms Natalija Sandić, from the Innovation Fund Serbia; Professor Roderick Pace, from the Institute for European Studies; and Mr Joe Tanti, from the Malta Business Bureau. Professor Roderick Pace, Director of the Institute for European Studies, introduced the seminar and explained the significance of the event, which was designed to create a better understanding of the EU‘s enlargement challenge in the Western Balkans. He stressed that once the EU emerges from one of the greatest economic crises in its history, there are diverse, and certainly more exciting, initiatives awaiting it, such as enlargement. He explained that throughout the seminar, the audience would be acquainted with the EU‘s Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), which provides financial and material support for the candidate countries and potential candidate countries and helps them to fulfil the requirements for accession in the EU by supporting them in five main sectors, namely the public administration reform, rule of law (justice and home affairs), economic development, transport, energy and environment, social development and inclusion, and agriculture and rural development. Ms Natalija Sandić, Senior Associate of the Innovation Fund Serbia, spoke about IPA in the Balkans and successful achievements of the Innovation Fund Serbia. Ms Sandić spoke of the objectives of IPA II and explained the budgetary allocations given to each of the candidate countries. She explained Serbia‘s experience in IPA II and outlined the grants program Serbia is benefitting from. The second part of the seminar dealt with Malta‘s EU accession experience, lessons from which can be useful to the Balkan countries as they prepare to take on the important challenge of enlargement. In this respect, Professor Roderick Pace, shared his reflections on Malta‘s EU membership experience, speaking of the profound changes that Maltese society and economy have undergone in the last decade - some directly linked to Europeanization, whilst others were caused by the process of globalization Mr Tanti spoke of the challenges and opportunities for Maltese business arising from Malta‘s EU membership, Mr Tanti spoke of the fears faced by Maltese businessmen in the pre-accession phase, most notably the idea that EU products would be favoured over Maltese products in local market. The postaccession phase for Malta has seen growing opportunities from the EU‘s Single Market and support from the EU with Malta‘s GDP per capita now at c. 86% of EU average. The seminar ended with an informal discussion in the form of a question and answer session. Questions from the floor referred to the budgetary allocations of IPA II and the sectors making most benefit from the instrument, the way Maltese businesses are dealing with competition from foreign businesses opening in Malta, and the effectiveness and efficiency of IPA II, amongst others. Description: Event held at the Institute for European Studies Library/European Documentation Centre on 12 March 2015. Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129757 2015-03-12T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129756 Title: Workshop on party politics in micro-states Abstract: In cooperation with the University of Nottingham, the Institute for European Studies organised a workshop on Party-Politics in Micro-States. The workshop took place on 13-14 April 2015 at the Valletta Campus of the University. The main organisers were Dr Fernando Casal Bertoa from the University of Nottingham, and Dr Marcello Carammia and Prof Roderick Pace from the Institute. Other participants included Dr Giorgos Charalambous (University of Cyprus), Prof Juli Minoves-Triquell (La Verne University, USA), Wouter Veenendaal (Leiden University, The Netherlands), and Ivan Vukovic (University of Montenegro). The papers presented covered Malta, Cyprus, San Marino, Montegro and Andorra. The workshop provided an opportunity to set up a research team that is currently developing further projects and will meet regularly in the coming years. The medium-term plan is to publish a book on party politics in small states. Description: The workshop took place on 13-14 April 2015 at the Valletta Campus of the University of Malta. Thu, 01 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129756 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129755 Title: Seminars on Malta and the EU Council Presidency Abstract: On Friday 30 October 2014, the Hon. Dr. Ian Borg inaugurated a series of seminars on Malta’s 2017 presidency of the Council of the EU hosted by the Institute for European Studies of the University of Malta. Dr Borg gave an overview of the main EU decision-making bodies, including the European Council, European Parliament, Council of the EU and the Court of Justice and subsequently went into detail on the workings of Presidency of the Council of the EU, including the principles underpinning its role – such as impartiality – and the formation of the trio of member states holding the Presidency for an 18-month period. Dr Borg subsequently examined the role of the Presidency in the EU legislative working process and Malta’s approach to the Presidency. He outlined the three main pillars of the Presidency Unit: logistics; programming and training for the human resources required; and media and marketing. Work is well under way with Slovakia and the Netherlands in order to identify areas of cooperation and mutual interest and exchange information as necessary for the January 2016-June 2017 Presidency. Dr Borg also clarified that the objectives for Malta during its term will be: to serve the responsibilities of Presidency efficiently and economically; to further Malta’s role and interest in the EU; and for the Maltese to take the opportunity to learn about, understand and participate in the EU process. Prof. Roderick Pace started the proceedings by a very brief introduction in which he noted that the main purpose of the seminar series was to foster further interest in the European Union (EU) Council Presidency among students and academics, in general discussion and particularly academic research. The Institute wishes to do all it can to stimulate interest in the 2017 Presidency. Following his presentation, Dr. Borg opened the floor to participants to field questions. One participant asked whether business issues would be tackled. Dr. Borg clarified that discussions and conferences set up jointly between the Commission and Presidency would be held on SMEs, energy, research, innovation and the digital agenda. Queried about the administrative burden of the Presidency, Dr. Borg stated the challenge should be met with the contribution of the public sector and civil society. The final question regarded what the Presidency should be remembered for, to which Dr. Borg answered that he hoped it to be the first occasion in which the EU institutions become clear to the Maltese people. Prof. Pace subsequently closed the proceedings by emphashising his optimism that Malta will certainly rise to the occasion.; The other seminars in the series consisted of three talks by Dr Peter Agius, Head of the European Parliament Office in Malta, examining the EU Presidency in further detail. The seminar held on 3 November tackled the roles and resources of the Presidency. Dr Agius explained the agenda-setting role of the Presidency and its part in brokering compromise during meetings. He went on to describe the resources available to the Presidency to carry out its function and fulfil its roles, in particular the Council Secretariat and its work with the delegations, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The following seminar held on 11 November covered the dynamics within the Council and the role of the Presidency. Dr Agius first tackled the organisation of the Council itself, in particular the preparatory bodies, COREPER, delegations’ order of priorities and the dynamics of these same delegations. In doing so, Dr Agius underlined the power of the Presidency to steer preparatory bodies and to push Council dynamics towards its goals. The final seminar on 4 December tackled the Presidency’s role in negotiating between the Council and the European Parliament. Dr Agius outlined the organisation of the Parliament, in particular rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs and Committee procedure and how the Council can gain interlocutors within this procedure. He subsequently explained the co-decision process, focussing on how recommendations originating from the Council can be managed within negotiations. Finally, Dr Agius tackled informal trialogues and the factors assisting and hampering agreement between the Commission and MEPs. Description: Seminar Schedule: Date: 31st October 2014 Time: 2-4pm Venue: Lecture Theatre 2 Guest Speaker: The Hon. Dr. Ian Borg Topic: The Obligations and Opportunities of the 2017 Presidency Date: 3rd November 2014 Time: 2-3pm Venue: Maths and Physics Room 401 Guest Speaker: Dr. Peter Agius Topic: The Presidency, Roles and Resources Date: 11th November 2014 Time: 1-3pm Venue: Engineering Lecture Theatre Guest Speaker: Dr. Peter Agius Topic: The Dynamics within the Council and the Role of the Presidency Date: 4th December 2014 Time: 2-4pm Venue: Gateway Hall E Guest Speaker: Dr. Peter Agius Topic: The Presidency’s Role in Negotiating between Council and Parliament Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/129755 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/128783 Title: Small states in the EU : passive policy takers or industrious agenda-setters? Abstract: The Institute for European Studies, in collaboration with the Centre for Small States Studies at the University of Iceland, organised a seminar entitled 'Small States in the EU: Passive Policy Takers or Industrious Agenda-Setters?'. The seminar focussed on small states within the EU context and the opportunities and challenges they face in maximising their influence within this context. The speakers included both local and foreign academics and practitioners were the following: Prof. Roderick Pace (Jean Monnet Chair and Professor, University of Malta), Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino (University of Malta), Professor Anders Wivel (University of Copenhagen), Prof. Lino Briguglio (University of Malta), Dr Mark Harwood (University of Malta), Prof. Baldur Thorhallsson (Jean Monnet Chair and Professor of Political Science, University of Iceland), Pia Hannson (Director, Centre for Small States Studies), Prof Stelios Stavridis (University of Zaragoza), Prof. Guido Lessing (Professor of History, Centre d´études et de recherches européennes Robert Schuman), Kulli Sarapuu (Ragnar Nurkse School of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology) and Dr Peter Agius (Head of Office, European Parliament Information Office in Malta). Mon, 11 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/128783 2015-05-11T00:00:00Z