SEER Journal for Labour and Social Affairs in Eastern Europe

The education system represents the foundation of the infrastructure and the growth and development of any society while, simultaneously, knowledge is the driving force of the new economy and intellectual well-being. The main objective of this...

During 2013-2014, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria and the Cyprus Workers’ Confederation (SEK) started to implement a joint project: In- formation Bridge: Bulgaria-Cyprus. This is a follow-up to a Co-operation Framework...

Regions that are rich in energy resources continue to be of crucial interest to our carbon-powered world. There are numerous concepts at stake, including interna- tional legal status, ownership rights, energy routes, transit corridors, state and...

Foreign policy and security have been significant issues for the European Union since its foundation, and the EU’s role in the maintenance of international peace and security has been discussed intensively. This article explores the international...

In this article, two cases of return migration are analysed, revealing the phe- nomenon in two different contexts (post-socialist Bulgaria and post-conflict Bosnia and Herzegovina) with a focus on return policies as regards highly-qualified young...

This article takes a provocative look at the future of the state of Bosnia i Herzegovina. The author, who is a friend to Bosnia i Herzegovina, describes the sclerosis inhibiting the country’s decision-making structures and the problems this has...

This article investigates the effect of remittances on health capital accumulation. Total expenditure is divided into expenditure on medicines; and expenditure on visits and laboratory services. An estimation is presented for rural and urban...

In the post-crisis world, employee organisations are not only finding it difficult to gain sufficient traction to engender the improvements in working conditions which might be associated with the upturn in a country’s economic fortunes; they are...

Today, the governments of the western Balkan countries are confronted with huge financing problems due to very low employment rates, high levels of undeclared work, low financial discipline and a lack of equity and efficiency in tax matters. The...

This article reviews the outcome of the 2014 general election in Bulgaria, which was held under complicated political, social and geo-political conditions which had led to the defection of one coalition partner and a premature end to the previous...

The post-1945 system has today been overcome and a new world order is about to emerge. This new, quite explosive, background does not signal the end of the EU, but provides evidence that its core features must be redesigned to receive broad popular...

Remittances can contribute to the economic development of a country also by going directly into productive investment, thereby increasing bank liquidity and making it possible to extend loans to entrepreneurs with competing interests, creating an...

The EU has responded to Moscow’s use of energy as a geopolitical force by creating a strategic priority to diversify its energy supply, particularly natural gas. The Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) within the Southern Gas Corridor...

This article reviews the position of the Alevis in Turkey, a group of Turkish Muslimswith a different set of beliefs to the Sunnis which make up the majority of Turks,and with particular regard to the stance of the JDP, the ruling party,...

The continuing development of the capacities of all governance and societal bodiesis an important requirement for western Balkans countries. EU experience, with theimplementation of the policy of economic, social and territorial cohesion...

This article discusses the challenges arising from international R&D projects inRussia. Specific problems are identified and discussed, namely: integration management;geographic factors; international networks; and virtual innovation...

Labour markets are a key element of an economy as they determine what proportionof the population is employed and what areas need attention in terms of gettingmore of the labour force into work. The performance of the labour market reflectshow...

This article seeks to examine the standing of Latvia in the new European constellation.The following lines objectively question, partially using the results of a smallscale,but representative, survey of 130 people in Latvia, how the well-being of...

The world’s attention remains focused on Ukraine, with Crimea portrayed as itshotbed. No wonder, since the peninsula is an absolutely pivotal part of the BlackSea theatre, with implications for the very survival of the Black Sea fleet as...

The authors of this article refer to the prospects for Russia’s Skolkovo innovationcentre. It is believed by many that this project will match California’s Silicon Valleywhen completed. The main aim of the article is to highlight the economic...

This article reviews the impact of the tax requirements in one country – the Republicof Macedonia – on EU integration processes. It focuses on international doubletaxation and its effects at the global level. In addition, it emphasises some...

Some twenty years ago, genocide was taking place just a one-hour flight fromBrussels: assassination of a very different kind from that of 1914 enveloped Sarajevo.Bosnia (and the Union of different peoples – Yugoslavia) was being turned intoa...