International Law & Regional Integration
Executive–Legislative Relations in Italy after the Lisbon Treaty
Lisbon Treaty; national parliaments; executive–legislative relations; parliamentary scrutiny; subsidiarity; Italy
The article examines whether the Lisbon Treaty’s empowerment of national parliaments improved the balance between the Italian Parliament and government in EU affairs. It concludes that effective parliamentary control depends on adequate domestic procedures and genuine institutional commitment.
MANDÁK, FANNI
Can Crypto-Assets Be Used in International Investments? An Analysis of...
Crypto-assets, financial regulation, tokenization
This study examines the use of crypto-assets in international investment, focusing on their legal, financial, and regulatory dimensions. Against the background of declining global investment flows and the rapid growth of the digital economy, crypto-assets are assessed as an emerging component of international financial activity. The study evaluates key regulatory frameworks, including the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and Türkiye’s Law No. 7518, with particular attention to the legal status and usability of crypto-assets. The paper also explores the role of crypto-assets in cross-border payments and international financial transactions. Stablecoins are considered in terms of their potential to reduce transaction costs and improve efficiency, making them relevant not only for payment systems but also for investment flows. At the same time, the study highlights major limitations, including volatility, regulatory uncertainty, systemic risks, and market instability. In this context, tokenization methods used by international organizations are presented as a more integrated and sustainable alternative. The study further analyzes Türkiye’s evolving regulatory framework, especially the licensing and supervision of crypto-asset service providers. Finally, it hypothetically considers whether crypto-assets could be used as company capital within international investment law. The findings suggest that although crypto-assets offer functional advantages, they cannot currently serve as stable instruments in international investment processes due to regulatory fragmentation, market volatility, and valuation problems.
SOYGENIS, YUNUS EMRE
Data Localization, International Law Perspective
Data protection, data localization, data flow, international trade law, trade barriers, WTO panels
Although the core principles of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) can extend the agreement to the movement of data, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of GATS in the digital age, there is very little to prevent governments from implementing wide data localisation measures, as GATS provides broad exceptions that create leeway for circumventing these obligations. Additionally, the ambiguity surrounding internet technology has given governments more justification. After all, how could anyone challenge these policies when technology and intelligent services themselves were once incapable of detecting what Edward Snowden later exposed? In response to these uncertainties, and the existing security exceptions in GATS, countries continue to invent new data localisation measures through different approaches. China forbids data transfers by default, only allowing them as exceptions, and emphasises national security with ambiguous discretionary limits. The GDPR limits transfers from outside the EU in order to balance privacy and trade but provides exceptions. The USA, without a unified federal legislative framework, has focused localization on areas such as taxation and defence, motivated mostly by national security. Given these dynamics, and the sensitivity of national security, the author argues that greater emphasis should be placed on reactivating the role of WTO panels and, at the very least, establishing broad boundaries for what constitutes security, even if the concept itself is difficult to define precisely.
ALI, SHAREEF SANAR
Nation Branding in the Decade of Crises – Italy
Crisis, Italy, nation branding, public diplomacy, soft power
Italy, as most countries in the world, has been facing a long period of crises which has brought unprecedented challenges. Italian politicians and scientists interpret this period as the so-called “decade of crises” (2015–2024), starting with the migration crisis of 2015, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalation of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. These challenges have been generating health, financial and social crises and have profoundly affected our lives and our habits. The new challenges also influenced political leadership, and national governments and international organisations had to react to situations without precedent.
The new situation caused by the different crises forced nations to rethink the strategies, priorities and instruments they use for nation branding and public diplomacy. In this new and increasingly competitive and interconnected world, nation branding has become a crucial way to promote a country in a period when nation states have more need than ever to be assessed positively.
The research analyses how Italy has adjusted its policies, strategies and institutional system responsible for nation branding accordingly in this new and sometimes very conflictual and controversial context. The research examines primary sources, the relevant legislation, strategies, programmes and the institutional structure responsible for their implementation, and uses interviews with senior officials to assess the efficiency of the government's response to crises, the results of the introduced integrated approach and “shared” governance. The analysis of the efficiency will be completed by analysing the evolution of Italy's position in international rankings, assessing whether the measures introduced during the crisis period have had a measurable positive impact.
TANÁCS-MANDÁK, FANNI
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