The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe publishes a volume of adopted texts for each of its four part-sessions and Standing Committee meetings. The Assembly, or the Standing Committee on its behalf, can adopt three different types of texts: opinions, recommendations and resolutions. Opinions are mostly expressed by the Assembly on questions put to it by the Committee of Ministers, such as the admission of new member states to the Council of Europe, but also on draft conventions, or the budget. Recommendations contain proposals addressed to the Committee of Ministers, the implementation of which is within the competence of governments. Resolutions embody decisions by the Assembly on questions which it is empowered to put into effect or expressions of views for which it alone is responsible. They can also be addressed to national parliaments. References to committees: the Bureau of the Assembly decides whether communications - in particular from the Committee of Minister

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe publishes a volume of adopted texts for each of its four part-sessions and Standing Committee meetings. The Assembly, or the Standing Committee on its behalf, can adopt three different types of texts: opinions, recommendations and resolutions. Opinions are mostly expressed by the Assembly on questions put to it by the Committee of Ministers, such as the admission of new member states to the Council of Europe, but also on draft conventions, or the budget. Recommendations contain proposals addressed to the Committee of Ministers, the implementation of which is within the competence of governments. Resolutions embody decisions by the Assembly on questions which it is empowered to put into effect or expressions of views for which it alone is responsible. They can also be addressed to national parliaments. References to committees: the Bureau of the Assembly decides whether communications, in particular from the Committee of Ministers and from the Secretary General, and motions for recommendations and resolutions should be referred to the appropriate committee for action, if any. Referrals are then ratified by the Parliamentary Assembly.

This pioneering and in-depth study into the regulation of shale gas extraction examines how changes in the constitutional set-ups of EU Member States over the last 25 years have substantially altered the legal leverage of environmental protection and energy security as state objectives. As well as offering the first formal assessment of the legality of fracking bans and moratoria, Ruven Fleming further proposes a new methodology for the development of legally sound regulation of new energy technologies in the context of the energy transition.

This book delves into the major developments triggered by the hydrocarbon discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean over the last twenty years, focusing on maritime boundary delimitation. Examining the impact that the hydrocarbon discoveries have had on the application of the law of the sea rules by the East Med states, the book looks at the new trends concerning the implementation of the law of the sea in the region. The book analyses regional state practice in terms of maritime delimitation, namely the conclusion of bilateral agreements based on the law of the sea rules, both conventional and customary, reflecting the East Med states’ willingness to cooperate in order to reap the benefits of the energy windfall. Alongside this analysis, an outline of the hydrocarbon discoveries and the pertinent maritime activities is given, as well as further coverage of the overlapping maritime claims and disputes between Greece, Cyprus and Turkey on one side, and Lebanon and Israel on the other. Moreover, the book examines the validity of maritime claims made by or through non-state entities in the region, namely the State of Palestine, the UK Sovereign Base Areas and the so-called ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ and their potential impact on the delimitation agreements already in place. The book argues that the East Med paradigm concerning the successful application of the pertinent norms in maritime delimitation proves that international law is resilient and capable of providing solutions in other turbulent regions around the globe. This book will be of interest and importance to academics and students of international law, professionals in the oil and shipping industries, legal professionals and government agencies.

This book explains why the European Union (EU) Member States – in response to the euro crisis – agreed to establish banking union, despite previous objections, and why they chose its hybrid institutional design. Analysing its establishment from 2012 to 2020, the book offers a comprehensive view of the preferences of the Member States and EU institutions, as well as of the negotiation dynamics and latest developments in the three pillars of banking union, namely, the Single Supervisory Mechanism, the Single Resolution Mechanism and the common backstop, and the European deposit insurance scheme. Furthermore, empirically, the book looks beyond the usual focus of the northern and southern coalition of states to underline the influence of powerful smaller Member States in the intergovernmental bargaining process. Adopting a range of theoretical perspectives, it questions the solidity of the northern versus southern camps and reveals distinctive and particular positioning from individual countries during the process. This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of European financial market regulation, European economic governance, EU institutions, European integration theory and EU politics more broadly.

This new, fully updated sixth edition of Investors’ Guide to the United Kingdom provides an authoritative and essential guide to the current investment climate in the United Kingdom. The Guide includes the principal sectors of opportunity for foreign investors, the grants and incentives available, the financial sector and the laws and business regulations that affect foreign investors, as well as guidance on taxation and financial accountancy .In its World Investment Report 2013, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported that global foreign direct investment (FDI) shrank by 18% in 2012. Against the trend, while FDI inflows to the USA declined by 26% and to the EU by 42%, the UK secured an annual increase of 22%, attracting US$62 billion. Independently, Ernst & Young and the Financial Times confirm that the UK remained the number one FDI location in Europe in 2012.Aimed at foreign businesses of all sizes, from multinationals to SMEs and private investors in the UK, this unique guide offers in-depth briefings on the technical aspects of investment as well as business start-up, covering topics such as:Grants and incentivesCompetition lawCompany formationFinancial reportingBusiness taxationBanking and FinanceCommercial lawIntellectual propertyImmigrationPensions and benefitsMergers & acquisitionsJoint venturesThe AIM market of the London Stock ExchangeInvestors’ Guide to the United Kingdom is published in association withUK Trade & Investment and includes a Foreword from Michael Boyd, Managing Director Investment, UKTI.