2006. vol. 1. No. 4

The paper looks at the historical development of the EU and Russia cooperation in energy. It focuses on the main documents and the structure of the Energy dialogue, main problems and positions of the partners. Special attention is given to the consequences of the  “gas war” between Russia and Ukraine in January 2006. In conclusion the authors  look into the future of the Energy dialogue.

The paper presents an analysis of the new phase in education policy developments in the EU. Lisbon March 2000 Council launched new phases of the decade: development, adoption and beginning of the “Education and Training 2010” programme, and deepening of cooperation following the 2006 Joint Interim Report of the Council and the Commission on progress under the Programme. The study indicates that though subsidiarity and proportionality principles and the intergovernmental nature remain the cornerstone of the education policy cooperation, the evidence base confirms its steady deepening (inclusion of quality issues is one example, development of the EQF is another) and widening (spilling over into the field of language learning and lifelong learning). The European (supranational?) dimension and role of the European institutions are gradually expanding. Meetings of the Council in its Education and Youth formation have become as frequent as three times a year, establishing a practice of two formal and one informal meeting a year. Funding of the Community action programmes is increasing. Instruments of the Open Method of Coordination are effectively employed in the programme.