Reform of Spain's profesional services market: Implementation of the EU Services Directive

The implementation of the European Commission Services Directive initiated the modernization process of services markets within the European Union. The objective was to guarantee the creation of a single market by ensuring the freedom of establishment and circulation. The transposition of the Directive in Spain triggered an initial wave of reforms in the Spanish legal system. A second package of reforms is currently underway, following recommendations by the EC, IMF and OECD, which highlight the relative lack of competition in Spain’s services as one of the major imbalances in its economy, alongside the public deficit and unemployment. Both the implemented and planned reforms represent a major step forward. Nevertheless, the government has recently announced modifications to the draft bill of the Professional Services and Associations Law, which is expected to soon be submitted for parliamentary debate and approval. Taking into consideration modifications already introduced, together with anticipated further changes, it will be important to maintain the main points of the draft bill and to introduce a deeper review of the legal framework for professional services, of the professional associations themselves, and for the activities that are subject to compulsory membership within a professional association. Spain’s territorial map of professional associations must too be redrawn.

Las estrategias de especialización inteligente: una estrategia territorial para las regiones

[ES] A pesar de que existe un amplio reconocimiento de que los territorios necesitan desarrollar estrategias de innovación para la construcción de ventajas competitivas, hasta ahora no han sido explicitados el contenido y las particularidades del término estrategia aplicado al ámbito territorial, por lo que se ha utilizado frecuentemente con significados ambiguos.

Pension system's reform in Spain: a dynamic analysis of the effects in Welfare

100 p. : graf.

Las casas-torre bajomedievales. Análisis sistémico de un proceso de reestructuración espacial/territorial

[ES] La torre banderiza es uno de los más relevantes elementos del patrimonio construido vasco. Diseminados por toda la geografía de la comunidad autónoma, se pueden encontrar ejemplos representativos de este tipo arquitectónico, característico de una convulsa etapa que se prolongó algo más allá del período de crisis bajomedieval (siglos XIV-XVI). Este trabajo pretende por un lado formular una propuesta interpretativa sistémica e integradora que, partiendo del análisis estratigráfico de las fábricas, muestre el peso específico de esta construcción como elemento de gestión de los recursos del territorio. Pero sobre todo, en las siguientes líneas se hace una decidida apuesta por una forma de entender la investigación histórico-arqueológica.

Territorial Integrity and Self-Determination : The Approach of the International Court of Justice in the Advisory Opinion on Kosovo

[EN] On 17 February 2008 Kosovo approved its declaration of independence from Serbia. The declaration was raised as a unilateral secession, a category which to date is widely debated by the international community, but supported in that case by a respectable number of the United Nation member states. A great many legal issues have been raised by the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion on Kosovo. This opinion was eagerly awaited by legal scholars due to both its possible effects and the scope of its principles outside the context of decolonization in what it could constitute of new approach to the international scenario for the twenty-first century. The ICJ stated that the declaration of independence was in accordance with international law if it was not prohibited. The answer turned on whether or not international law prohibited the declaration of independence, without ever examining whether an entity seeking secession is entitled with a positive right to secede and if so, under which circumstances. The basic issue can be summarised as whether or not we are facing a new course in the interpretation of certain classical categories of international law: the principle of territorial integrity, statehood, sovereignty, recognition, the right to external self-determination, etc. In this study we shall analyse some of the aspects arising from the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo focusing on the territorial issue. Firstly we shall analyse the scope of the principle of territorial integrity of States and how it operates ; secondly, we shall focus on the scope of that principle in relation to the interior of the State, and ask ourselves how international law operates in relation to declarations of independence. Lastly, we shall deal with the principle of respect for territorial integrity in the specific case of Serbia with respect to Kosovo, and then end with a series of general conclusions. This study aims, definitely, to contribute to the theoretical debate on the challenges to the traditional certainties of international law in this area.

Sostenibilidad de las propuestas de suelo para nuevos desarrollos residenciales en la planificación territorial de Bizkaia

[ES] Este trabajo analiza la sostenibilidad de la Planificación Territorial de Bizkaia en relación al parámetro consumo de suelo. Para ello se estudian las propuestas realizadas por los Planes Territoriales Parciales en materia de nuevo suelo residencial destinado a acoger las necesidades de vivienda de los municipios incluidos en sus respectivas Áreas Funcionales.

An austerity-driven energy reform

In July 2013, the government approved a major overhaul of the Spanish electricity sector to correct existing imbalances that have led to an exponential increase of regulated electricity costs and a huge tariff deficit. The reform addresses the problem of financial sustainability of the sector, severely affected by weak demand and overcapacity. Previous regulation introduced in 2012 and early 2013, also aimed at restoring financial stability of the sector, failed to correct the tariff shortfall and new regulatory measures were needed to reduce the 4.5 billion euros forecasted deficit for 2013. The frequent change of the rules of the game in the sector has created regulatory uncertainty, more so as it is not clear that the present reform will be sufficient to eliminate the deficit. Moreover, the government has left the door open to new regulation that would deal with the price formation system. In general, short run financial criteria have prevailed, while efficiency principles and a long run perspective have little weight in the reform.

Análisis del tratamiento del medio físico en el planeamiento territorial de la Comunidad Autómoma del País Vasco (1940-2006).

851 p. : il.

Environmental fiscal reform and unemployment in Spain in the presence of an informal sector

4 p.

Environmental Fiscal Reform and Unemployment in Spain

22 p.