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Asia Pacific Economics Energy & Environment Europe

Unveiling Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Challenges: The Potential Dispute Between China and EU

Introduction In December 2022, the European Union (EU) approved a green tax on carbon-intensive commodities called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It aims at reducing carbon leakage, a phenomenon in which manufacturers move carbon-intensive production to countries with laxer climate policies, resulting in decreased carbon emissions in one country but increased emissions in another. […]

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Africa Economics Europe International Development Policy & Politics Regional Security & Conflict Topical

Why the Global Skills Partnership between Morocco and Belgium is a Positive-Sum Game

Limon B. Rodriguez is a doctoral candidate in international affairs with a specialization in development economics at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). Tensions emerge between, on the one hand, labor shortages in higher-income countries in a range of sectors and, on the other hand, a general societal reluctance to allow greater […]

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Europe Governance & Law Policy & Politics Security & Conflict

Standing Tall on the Black Sea, For Now

Since the pivotal event of former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s execution on Christmas Day 1989, and the subsequent fall of the Soviet Union, Romania has established itself as a friend to democratic values and to global security and stability. In less than 30 years, Romania has adjusted its economy to support capital markets, strengthened its institutions enough to gain membership into the European Union, and invested in its security and its internal values enough to gain membership into NATO.

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Europe Governance & Law Policy & Politics Security & Conflict

The Geopolitical Variable Called Ukraine

At no point in modern European history have the people of Ukraine occupied as important a role in European geopolitical developments as they do today. Although not yet immediately apparent, the 2014 overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych and the political and economic transformation will have greater geopolitical consequences than European policy makers often assume. If Ukraine’s transformation fails, its example will deliver a shattering blow to those calling for increased liberalization in remaining illiberal states across Eastern Europe.

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Civil Society Europe Governance & Law Policy & Politics

EU Outliers: The Limitations of the EU in Reforming Illiberal Democracy in Bulgaria and Romania

Author Abigail Adams examines the primary obstacles to EU accession that faced Romania and Bulgaria, as well as the difficulties in maintaining EU standards that both countries have faced since 2007, and offers prescriptions on how to develop more successful EU accession processes.