Europe has been at the forefront of labour mobility since 1957, when it enshrined the principle of free movement of workers in the treaty that created the European Economic Community. Over the years, the region worked to expand the rights of its mobile workers, mandating equal treatment and non-discrimination on the basis of citizenship. The
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Urbanisation is on the rise, and the conditions under which it takes place have profound consequences on the outcomes of millions, if not billions, of people. This report analyses the current smart cities initiatives in Europe and China, and it examines the state of the EU-China Partnership on smart and sustainable urbanisation. The report discusses
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The Mindanao region in the Southern Philippines has been the scene of a conflict for hundreds of years ever since the Spanish set foot on the islands. Since the 1970s, the conflict has cost the lives of 120,000 people and it has been estimated that since 2000 more than 3.5 million people have been displaced.
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In view of the EU 2020 energy targets and the indispensability of rare earths for the ICT and clean technology sector, European demand for rare earths will likely continue to increase progressively in the years to come. Whilst Europe has made considerable efforts to decrease its dependence on China’s rare earths by investing in domestic
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Myanmar is currently at an historical, yet fragile transitional stage. Since a new government, headed by previous military leader Thein Sein, was formed in 2011, the country has indeed embarked in a sincerely welcomed process of political opening-up to the external world, and has positively resumed its dialogue with the international community. This led to
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Academic relations and education exchanges between the EU and Japan have initially been encouraged by the former, followed by an intensified effort in recent years by the latter. Such a gap stems mainly from the differences in the demands from the labour markets of the two parties. While the European labour market typically appreciates the
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The year 2014 is a historical year for Afghanistan. The international forces will withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of the year and for the first time in its history, Afghanistan will see a democratic transfer of power from one elected president to another. After more than a decade of international presence in Afghanistan, the
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This briefing paper marks the fourth and final in a series of papers on Mongolia and its relationship with the European Union (EU). The preceding gap between the end of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2007-2013 and the beginning of the CSP 2014-2020, as well as the signing of the yet-to-be-ratified EU-Mongolia Partnership Cooperation Agreement
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This briefing paper marks the third in a series of papers on Mongolia and its relationship with the European Union (EU). The preceding gap between the end of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2007-2013 and the beginning of the CSP 2014-2020, as well as the signing of the yet to be ratified EU-Mongolia Partnership Cooperation
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Although India and China are experiencing ever-increasing levels of economic interdependence, their political relationship remains frosty, due, in large part, to the Sino-Indian border conflict. With its roots in the British Raj, their disputed boundary is a constant source of tension, not only due to the frequent incursions and incidents, but also the military infrastructure
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