As one of the components of the EU–China relations, the EU–China energy relationship has experienced an evolution of institutionalization for over two decades. Now, an EU–China energy cooperation institutional framework has been constructed. These institutions have been playing a significant role in helping EU–China energy cooperation by promoting bilateral dialogues and fostering cooperation projects. However,
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This paper seeks to examine the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy for Central Asia, utilizing a combination of primary and secondary sources to build an accurate picture of the European strategy in this fundamental area for global order. The study will provide a detailed analysis of the EU pivot to the region between the
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When the ‘Heartland’ theory was first published in 1904, it soon became a milestone for geopolitics. Due to the current events, Mackinder’s paradigm seems to have concrete relevance within the international scenario today. The geographical position of Central Asia as the crossroads of the Eurasian continent together with the abundance of important energy resources has increased the strategic
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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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