European Union and its Neighbours in a Globalized World

This book explores the current state of society in Europe in general and the regimes and societies of the Western Balkans in particular. The pandemic and near-universal lockdown have provided an ideal cut-off date for the collection of indices from reputable academic sources that cover the nature of these regimes, individual human freedoms, economic freedoms, the rule of law, human rights and media freedoms. The aggregated findings from the 20 individual indices provide comprehensive data to support original findings and the characterisation of societies in 45 European states. Admittedly, there are differences in the methodologies and samples among the indices consulted. Nonetheless, taken together they offer a solid basis for developing arguments concerning the diversity of regimes, governance and societies in Europe and drawing well-founded conclusions on the nature of society in various parts of Europe. Though the book’s main focus is on the Western Balkans, the region is put in a pan-European context. The issues of migration, minorities, global geopolitics, the crisis of liberal democracy – they all play into developments that are specific to the Western Balkans. The book answers the question of whether the pandemic has allowed local regimes to strengthen their power and exert greater control over society, making it possible to formulate arguments regarding the future of Europe and its integrative processes. In closing, the book investigates Western Balkan regimes’ reactions to the pandemic in the context of governance, society and state power, before addressing the question of whether the future of the Western Balkans lies in the “liberal club”, or whether local hybrid regimes will become even more influential in the near future.

This book offers an authentic and original perspective on the principles of solidarity and rule of law that are variously interconnected and increasingly invoked in international relations and affairs, especially in the context of the European Union, where they are among the founding values common to all Member States.
The innovative approach the authors adopt consists in the joint reading of these two principles within the broader framework of EU security, thus offering a new interpretation and fertile ground for further research.
Divided into four parts, the authors consider EU security to be linked to the implementation of both these principles, particularly with regard to EU stabilization and enlargement to the Western Balkans, cross-border security, migration and asylum management, criminal justice and human rights, and police and judicial cooperation
The contributions of eminent scholars, international experts,and practitioners are the book’s greatest strength. In addition, it offers a valuable new perspective on the study of contemporary issues affecting the Western Balkans, but also all Member States and the Union itself. Therefore, the book is an essential resource for students and scholars of EU law, but also for lawyers and professionals involved in criminal proceedings or working in the field of human rights.

This is an increasingly timely book, focusing on issues arising from the impact of COVID-19 on the health care law of the Central and East European countries. It deals with dualism and system of health care law, depicts legal personality in the field of health care, examines property rights and turnover of human tissues, considers moral rights in this field, intellectual ownership in the field of medicine and pharmacy, contracts on health care and contracts on rendering medical services, the legal relationships of transplantology, post-mortem reproduction and donorship, features of family personal property rights in the field of health care, problems of legal regulation of medical workers labour, investigates private legal relationships of surrogate motherhood with foreign element. Special attention is given to the alternative resolution of health care disputes and impact of pandemic on the effective health rights protection. The book is intended for wide auditoria of scholars and practitioners, who engaged in health care rights protection, as well as judges and practicing lawyers, graduate and undergraduate students.