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Browsing by Subject "Austria"

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  • Differences in the interpretation of the EC-regulations of organic farming between Finland, Sweden and Austria 
    Öhman, Jenny (2016)
    The EC regulations for organic farming (OF), No. 834/2007 and 889/2008, apply in all EU countries but still, different rules are being implemented. Every country in the EU has its own certification bodies and certification systems, and the interpretation of the EC regulations for organic farming is done nationally. The purpose of this research is to fill a gap in the understanding how rules of organic farming differ between three countries in Europe: Finland, Sweden and Austria. In particular, this study aims to examine the role of the national interpretations of the EC regulations for OF at different stages in the food supply chain. The main interest lies in why these differences in interpretation occur, and what interpretations are made at what stage in the system. The methods chosen for answering the research questions is a literature review, a survey with qualitative interviews for gathering relevant topics from the field and finally a comparison of the EC regulations for OF and the national legislations and guidelines in Finland, Sweden and Austria for these topics. This study shows that there are many topics in OF where the EC regulations for OF leave room for variable interpretations and hence, it is unclear to the implementing authorities in the member states how to interpret these. The most significant result is that some of the differences in interpretation lead to the organic farmers being unequal across the countries. Even for statements with clear reasoning and precise instructions there can be significant differences in interpretation between the countries. Based on the results of this research I can state that the farmers in OF would benefit from a more harmonized landscape of OF rules on EU-level, as this would lower the inequality between farmers in OF in the different countries. One mean of doing this would be to reduce the number of statements of qualitative character.
  • Finnish and Austrian Wood Markets in a Changing Environment 
    Paatela, Heli (2010)
    At present the operating environment of sawmills in Europe is changing and there are uncertainties related in raw material supply in many countries. The changes in the operating environment of roundwood markets and the effects followed by these changes have brought up several interesting issues from the viewpoint of research. Lately new factors have been influencing the roundwood markets, such as increasing interest towards wood-based energy and implementation of new energy policies as well as changes in wood trade flows that affect the domestic markets in many countries. This Master’s thesis studies the adaptation ability of Finnish roundwood markets in a changing operating environment, aiming to produce an up-to-date analysis considering new development trends. The study concentrates on the roundwood markets from the viewpoint of sawmill industry since the industry is dependent on the functioning of the markets and sawmills are highly affected by the changes on the roundwood markets. To facilitate international comparison, the study is implemented by comparing Finnish and Austrian roundwood markets and analysing changes happening in the two countries. Finland and Austria share rather similar characteristics in the roundwood market structures, forest resources and forest ownership as well as production of roundwood and sawnwood. In addition they both are big exporters of forest industry products. In this study changes in the operating environment of sawmill industry both in Finland as well as in Austria are compared to each other aiming to recognise the main similarities and differences between the countries. In addition both development possibilities as well as challenges followed by the changes are discussed. The aim of the study is to define the main challenges and possibilities confronted by the actors on the markets and also to find new perspectives to approach these. The study is implemented as a qualitative study. The theoretical framework of the study describes the operating environment of wood markets from the viewpoint of the sawmill industry and represents the effects of supply and demand on the wood markets. The primary research material of the study was gathered by interviewing high level experts of forestry and sawmill industry in both Finland and Austria. The aim was to receive as extensive country specific viewpoint from the markets as possible, hence interviewees represented different parties of the markets. After creating country-specific profiles based on the theoretical framework a cross-country comparison was implemented. As a consequence the main similarities and differences in the operating environment and on the roundwood markets of Finland and Austria were recognized. In addition the main challenges and possibilites were identified. The results of the study offer a wide analysis regarding the main similarities and differences of the wood markets of Finland and Austria and their operating environments as well as concerning challenges and possibilities faced on the markets.
  • Muslims Under General Suspicion? : A Discourse Historical Analysis of Security in the Amendment Process of the Austrian Islam Act 
    Turk, Jana Barbara (2018)
    There is a general tendency of perceiving religion as a problem in Europe. This perception is rooted in a secular European self-image which is historically defined in its opposition to Islam. The discourse on Islam thus has been Othering, drawing on danger or fear, calling for interventions or discipline on part of the state, to contain the perceived threat. Historically, Austria seems to have been partly outside this discourse, as it followed a friendly line towards different religions and denominations during the times of the pluralist and pluri-confessional Habsburg Empire. In 1912 the Islam Act was passed, officially recognising Islam as a religion in the empire and governing the relations between Muslim communities and the Austrian state for over 100 years. When the Islam Act was amended in 2015, it sparked a controversy, as many Muslims felt put under general suspicion. This thesis investigates the amended Islam Act through the lens of securitisation theory by applying a discourse historical approach (DHA) to the law text as well as to the relating Parliamentary discussions. A detailed analysis of the law texts identifies why redundancies and special insertions function as securitisation mechanisms, while the Members of Parliament’s reproduce the secular self-image vis á vis Muslim subjectivities. The application of the “two faces of faith” narrative (see Hurd, 2015) is utilised as discursive strategy justifying securitisation. While the Members of the Parliament say that it must not be a contradiction to be Austrian and Muslim, the regime of truth their discourse reproduces and is situated in, says differently.

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