EU Countries Research Articles

Efficacy of Deucravacitinib in Plaque Psoriasis Across a Range of Body Surface Area Involvement: Post hoc Analysis of the Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 3b/4 PSORIATYK SCALP Trial

Introduction: Deucravacitinib, an oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, is approved in the US, EU, and other countries for treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. Scalp involvement affects approximately 80% of patients with plaque psoriasis. PSORIATYK SCALP (NCT05478499) is an ongoing, 52-week, multicenter, phase 3b/4 trial evaluating deucravacitinib in patients with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis, including those with a range of total body surface area (BSA) involvement (≥3%). These patients are candidates for systemic therapy, according to the AAD/NPF and IPC treatment guidelines. This post hoc analysis assessed efficacy in overall body psoriasis. Methods: Adults (age ≥18 years) with moderate to severe scalp psoriasis (scalp-specific Physician Global Assessment [PGA] ≥3, scalp surface area involvement ≥20%, and Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index ≥12 at baseline) and BSA involvement ≥3% were eligible for inclusion. Patients were randomized 1:2 to oral placebo (n=51) or deucravacitinib 6 mg once daily (n=103) through Week 16. Stratification factors included prior biologic use and body weight. Outcomes at Week 16 included static PGA score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear) (sPGA 0/1), change from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), and change from baseline in whole-body itch numeric rating scale (NRS). Nonresponder imputation (binary outcomes) and modified baseline observation carried forward (continuous outcomes) were used for patients with missing data. All P values are nominal. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (deucravacitinib: mean [SD], BSA 10.5% [9.6%], PASI 10.2 [6.7], whole-body itch NRS 5.8 [2.8]; placebo: mean [SD], BSA 10.0% [8.1%], PASI 9.4 [5.6], whole-body itch NRS 5.8 [2.4]). Baseline total BSA involvement was 3%-10% in most patients (deucravacitinib, 68.0%; placebo, 74.5%). At Week 16, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving deucravacitinib versus placebo achieved sPGA 0/1 (47.6% [95% CI, 37.6%-57.6%] vs 3.9% [0.5%-13.5%], respectively; P<0.0001). Similarly, patients treated with deucravacitinib achieved greater decreases in adjusted mean change from baseline in PASI (−6.4 [95% CI, −7.3 to −5.5] vs −1.3 [−2.6 to −0.1]; P<0.0001) and whole-body itch NRS (−2.9 [−3.4 to −2.4] vs −0.4 [−1.1 to 0.3]; P<0.0001). Conclusion: In the phase 3b/4 PSORIATYK SCALP trial, deucravacitinib was efficacious in improving overall psoriasis. Efficacy was consistent with the results observed in the phase 3 POETYK PSO-1/PSO-2 trials, despite including patients with less extensive total BSA involvement.

Deucravacitinib in Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis: Comorbidities and Use of Prior and Concomitant Medication in Patients Enrolled in the Phase 3 POETYK PSO-1 and PSO-2 Trials

Introduction: Deucravacitinib, an oral, selective, allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, is approved in the US, EU, and other countries for treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. Deucravacitinib was superior to placebo and apremilast in two global, phase 3 trials, POETYK PSO-1 (NCT03624127) and POETYK PSO-2 (NCT03611751), in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Here, we evaluate the comorbidities present at baseline and use of prior and concomitant medications in the pooled POETYK PSO-1 and PSO-2 trial populations to more comprehensively describe the medical history of individuals who participated in the deucravacitinib phase 3 trials. Methods: In POETYK PSO-1 and PSO-2, adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were randomized 1:2:1 to oral placebo, deucravacitinib 6 mg once daily, or apremilast 30 mg twice daily. The rates of baseline comorbidities and medications received before and concomitantly with deucravacitinib in the pooled POETYK PSO trials were assessed. Medication classes evaluated included antidiabetic, antihypertensive and cardiovascular, lipid-reducing, anti-anxiety/depression, and oral contraceptive therapies. Results: Baseline patient demographics were similar across treatment arms. Metabolism and nutrition disorders were reported most often in each treatment arm (placebo, 42.7%; deucravacitinib, 39.2%; apremilast, 38.4%), followed by vascular disorders (33.7%, 34.9%, and 31.8%, respectively). Hypertension was the most common baseline medical condition (placebo, 30.3%, deucravacitinib, 32.8%, and apremilast, 29.1%), with obesity, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and seasonal allergies each reported in 10% to 12% of patients in at least one treatment arm. Antihypertensive and cardiovascular agents, lipid-reducing agents, and antidiabetic agents were the most commonly reported medications. Conclusion: The phase 3 POETYK PSO trials enrolled adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis with a range of comorbidities consistent with the real-world population of patients with psoriasis. Medication classes used by patients were consistent with the comorbidities reported at baseline in both trials.

Assessment of Safety Probability of Fastening Operations in Loading-unloading Work Process

One of the important strategic objectives in the target programs for economic and social development adopted by the Government of Georgia is to improve the coordination of all types of transport – sea, rail, road, air, and pipeline. The methods of organizing and managing the transport system at different levels greatly impact solving the problems faced by water transport. Therefore, research in the field of improving the organization and management of the transport hub (port), as an integral part of this system, plays an important role in increasing the traffic volume and service quality of all types of transport on the transport corridors of Georgia. Foreign and domestic experience shows that a large percentage of waiting times for cargo operations by ships and berths is mainly due to the lack of coordinated actions between the adjacent modes of transport and ports and the imperfection of the organization and management of loading and unloading processes in ports. In this regard, it is necessary to focus on identifying and eliminating "vegetables". First of all, this link of the transport system connects water and land transport routes. Transport communications have long been called the arteries of life. Without them, the economy's rise and the country's prosperity, even if it has huge natural resources, is impossible. Whoever controls the transportation system holds the levers of economic management, which means that he can decide the fate of the entire state. The development of transport communications of the global transport system puts new demands on the quality of functioning of the existing intermodal corridor through Georgia. In particular, the transport corridor created by the EU countries under the name ITC TRACECA creates new challenges for the existing transport system of Georgia to maintain the transit cargo flows between Europe and Asia in competition with the seaports of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and partly Ukraine and Russia. In this regard, all the main directions of improving the organization and management of the technological processes of seaports become relevant: (i) increasing the capacity of berths and transport complexes in the Black Sea ports of Georgia to the maximum limit by reducing costs; (ii) creating new methods for identifying capacity reserves, which will ensure the competitiveness of Georgian seaports in competition with these ports; (iii) speeding up the process of transit cargo transportation through seaports, as well as reducing the processing time of cargo going to export and import in Georgian ports. Keywords: Transport hub, organization of technological processes, ship unloading work.

Environmental Impact of Wind Farms

The aim of this article is to analyse the global environmental impact of wind farms, i.e., the effects on human health and the local ecosystem. Compared to conventional energy sources, wind turbines emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, which helps to mitigate global warming. During the life cycle of a wind farm, 86% of CO2 emissions are generated by the extraction of raw materials and the manufacture of wind turbine components. The water consumption of wind farms is extremely low. In the operational phase, it is 4 L/MWh, and in the life cycle, one water footprint is only 670 L/MWh. However, wind farms occupy a relatively large total area of 0.345 ± 0.224 km2/MW of installed capacity on average. For this reason, wind farms will occupy more than 10% of the land area in some EU countries by 2030. The impact of wind farms on human health is mainly reflected in noise and shadow flicker, which can cause insomnia, headaches and various other problems. Ice flying off the rotor blades is not mentioned as a problem. On a positive note, the use of wind turbines instead of conventionally operated power plants helps to reduce the emission of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM 2.5), which are a major problem for human health. In addition, the non-carcinogenic toxicity potential of wind turbines for humans over the entire life cycle is one of the lowest for energy plants. Wind farms can have a relatively large impact on the ecological system and biodiversity. The destruction of animal migration routes and habitats, the death of birds and bats in collisions with wind farms and the negative effects of wind farm noise on wildlife are examples of these impacts. The installation of a wind turbine at sea generates a lot of noise, which can have a significant impact on some marine animals. For this reason, planners should include noise mitigation measures when selecting the site for the future wind farm. The end of a wind turbine’s service life is not a major environmental issue. Most components of a wind turbine can be easily recycled and the biggest challenge is the rotor blades due to the composite materials used.

Workplace health promotion interventions in EU-27 public administrations.

The objective of this article is to make an exploratory study about European public administrations (public administration, public agencies, public law entities, entities dependent on the public administration and public universities) in relation to workplace health promotion interventions. The sample was extracted from the ESENER-3 (Third European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks) (EU-OSHA, 2019) and consists of 7,981 public entities from the EU-27 countries. Four WHPI have been studied: healthy nutrition interventions, sports activities after working hours, back exercises at work and prevention of addictions. This is an exploratory study. The sample was extracted from the ESENER-3 (Third European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks) (EU-OSHA, 2019) and consists of 7,981 public entities from the EU-27 Public Administration. In total, 45,420 establishments were interviewed. Different patterns have been observed when implementing workplace health promotion interventions in the EU-27 public administration. The promotion of sports activities outside working hours is the one with the highest level of implementation in European public administration. On the other hand, the measure with the least implementation level is the promotion of healthy nutrition. The limitations of the study are that the studied items are nominal and comprise more than two categories, so it has not been possible to develop a correlation analysis. The EU-27 public administrations can see which workplace health promotion interventions need to be improved. Differences that may exist in the adopted workplace health promotion interventions by European public administrations have not yet been addressed in depth by the literature.

Tężec w Polsce w latach 2020-2022

BackgroundTetanus is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium <i>Clostridium tetani,</i> which produces a neurotoxin (tetanospasmin) that causes spastic paralysis. This disease can only be prevented by vaccination. Tetanus is very rare in EU countries, where it mainly affects people over 60 years of age. Tetanus is a serious health problem in countries with low vaccination rates and poor hygiene conditions, and neonatal tetanus is a particularly significant problem in these countries. In Poland, according to the Vaccination Program, mandatory vaccinations against tetanus should be given to children and adolescents up to the age of 19.ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation of tetanus in Poland in 2020-2022.Material and methodsThe assessment of the epidemiological situation of tetanus in Poland in 2020-2022 was made based on the interpretation of data from the annual bulletins "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland" for 2020-2022 and the bulletins "Vaccinations in Poland" for 2020-2022 as well as data from individual epidemiological reports on diseases registered in the "Epibaza" system.ResultsIn 2020, 2 cases of tetanus were registered in Poland, in 2021 – 5 cases, and in 2022 also 5 cases. The total incidence in 2020 was 0.005 per 100 000 people, in 2021 and 2022 – 0.013 per 100 000 and was lower compared to the median for 2015-2019 (0.031). In 2020-2021, all reports concerned hospitalized people, while in 2022 one person was treated as an outpatient. No cases were recorded in people under 30 years of age.ConclusionsIn Poland, a decrease in the number of reported tetanus cases was observed in 2020-2022 compared to previous years. Sporadic tetanus cases in Poland are recorded mainly in older age groups but also occur among adults under 60 years of age. The cases can be associated with the lack of booster vaccinations in adults.

Developing A Conceptual Model of Factors Influencing Express Delivery Packaging Recycling Behaviors of E-Commerce Enterprises in China

The rapid growth of the e-commerce industry has led to a significant increase in express delivery service volumes, resulting in substantial environmental pollution and resource depletion from express delivery packaging (EDP) waste. Recycling express delivery packaging (EDPR) has become a critical global concern, particularly in China, the largest contributor to EDP waste for decades. Despite numerous government regulations aimed at promoting recycling behavior to support carbon peaking and neutrality targets, China’s recycling rate remains low, at just 25%-30%, compared to rates as high as 65% in EU countries, with some exceeding 80%. Drawing on Structuration Theory (ST), this study posits that the authority effect positively influences the recycling behavior of e-commerce organizations. It also examines the mediating role of recycling intention in the relationship between authority effect and recycling behavior and the moderating role of social sanction on recycling intention and behavior. This research aims to develop a comprehensive model for understanding the factors influencing EDPR and offers valuable insights from an organizational perspective. The findings will guide future empirical studies and help policymakers devise more effective strategies by understanding the impacts of authority and social sanction on recycling behavior.

Exploring the sequence diversity and surface expression of Factor H-Binding Protein among invasive serogroup B meningococcal strains from selected European countries

ABSTRACT Factor H-Binding Protein (fHbp) is a key component of meningococcal vaccines such as MenB-fHbp, licensed in the EU, UK, and other countries. Sufficient expression of fHbp on the bacterial surface is necessary for vaccine-induced antibodies to bind and exert bactericidal activity. The flow cytometric MEASURE assay quantifies fHbp expression in vitro, and previous studies have shown that strains with a Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI) >1000 are likely to be killed by MenB-fHbp-induced antibodies. This study assessed fHbp peptide distribution and expression among 451 invasive group B strains collected in 2016 across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (EW&NI), Germany, Italy, and Spain. We found that 92% of the strains expressed fHbp above the MFI 1000 threshold. The strain distribution across EW&NI, Germany, and Italy was similar, with coverage ranging from 92.1% to 94.6%, dominated by a small number of clonal complexes and fHbp peptides. Although, the Spanish subset had a higher proportion of lower-expressing strains, particularly clonal complex 213, resulting in a lower predicted coverage for Spain (84%). These results, along with other published MEASURE data, can provide a basis for genotypic MenB-fHbp coverage predictions, however, inclusion of the upstream intergenic sequence of the fHbp gene in the prediction improved its accuracy by distinguishing between low- and high-expressing strains. Future MEASURE analyses of strains with less common fHbp variants would serve to further refine vaccine coverage predictions.

SMART-STRATEGIES AND INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE EU REGIONS

The purpose of the article is to generalize the foundations of formation of smart-strategy of country / region development as a factor of impact on the level of investment attractiveness. The development of globalization processes has led to positive consequences, resulting in the growth of the world’s economy. At the same time, the competition in the sphere of attracting investment resources has aggravated. Based on the analysis of indicators of investment activity of European countries and the investment attractiveness of the EU countries, it was found that the specified area is characterized by the presence of negative trends, which actualizes the need to develop tools for increasing the level of investment attractiveness. The system of factors of impact on the level of investment attractiveness of the country / region was studied. It was found that in current conditions, in addition to the traditional factors of influence on investment attractiveness, intellectual potential, flexibility, education and innovation, networking, etc. are added, which serves as the basis for the implementation of smart approaches in the formation of regional development strategies. The article defines the features of the formation of a smart approach to development strategies, which is based on the combination of technological and industrial components. It was found that the basis of smart-strategies is the specialization of the country / region, which is formed considering the resource provision and development potential of the region, the ability to diversify, the ability to achieve a high level of concentration of business entities in the region, the place of the region in the economic system. Building a regional policy based on smart-strategies will stimulate economic development, increase competitiveness and investment attractiveness of countries / regions. On the basis of the conducted research, a number of challenges related to the implementation of the smart approach were identified, namely, a high level of subjectivism and the need to ensure a high level of qualification of the participants in the discussions when implementing the mechanism of inclusive management; the growth of internal competition in the case of the formation of homogeneous specialization of several EU countries / regions; taking into account external risks, one of which is a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war; implementation of adaptive approaches in the process of formation and implementation of smart-strategies. Addressing these challenges will contribute to increasing the efficiency of smart-strategy formation for a high level of investment attractiveness of the EU regions.

A global re-analysis of regionally resolved emissions and atmospheric mole fractions of SF6 for the period 2005–2021

Abstract. We determine the global emission distribution of the potent greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) for the period 2005–2021 using inverse modelling. The inversion is based on 50 d backward simulations with the Lagrangian particle dispersion model (LPDM) FLEXPART and on a comprehensive observation data set of SF6 mole fractions in which we combine continuous with flask measurements sampled at fixed surface locations and observations from aircraft and ship campaigns. We use a global-distribution-based (GDB) approach to determine baseline mole fractions directly from global SF6 mole fraction fields at the termination points of the backward trajectories. We compute these fields by performing an atmospheric SF6 re-analysis, assimilating global SF6 observations into modelled global three-dimensional mole fraction fields. Our inversion results are in excellent agreement with several regional inversion studies in the USA, Europe, and China. We find that (1) annual US SF6 emissions strongly decreased from 1.25 Gg in 2005 to 0.48 Gg in 2021; however, they were on average twice as high as the reported emissions to the United Nations. (2) SF6 emissions from EU countries show an average decreasing trend of −0.006 Gg yr−1 during the period 2005 to 2021, including a substantial drop in 2018. This drop is likely a direct result of the EU's F-gas regulation 517/2014, which bans the use of SF6 for recycling magnesium die-casting alloys as of 2018 and requires leak detection systems for electrical switch gear. (3) Chinese annual emissions grew from 1.28 Gg in 2005 to 5.16 Gg in 2021, with a trend of 0.21 Gg yr−1, which is even higher than the average global total emission trend of 0.20 Gg yr−1. (4) National reports for the USA, Europe, and China all underestimated their SF6 emissions. (5) Our results indicate increasing emissions in poorly monitored areas (e.g. India, Africa, and South America); however, these results are uncertain due to weak observational constraints, highlighting the need for enhanced monitoring in these areas. (6) Global total SF6 emissions are comparable to estimates in previous studies but are sensitive to a priori estimates due to the low network sensitivity in poorly monitored regions. (7) Monthly inversions indicate that SF6 emissions in the Northern Hemisphere were on average higher in summer than in winter throughout the study period.

DIGITAL PLATFORMS AS A CONDITION FOR INCREASING INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN THE EU

The purpose of the study is to consider the potential of digital platforms as an environment for the formation of new types of relationships to promote the development of innovation and competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU. The main goal of digitalization, as defined in the normative documents of the European Commission, is to improve the use of the potential of information and communication technologies to promote innovation, support economic development and stimulate scientific and technological progress in general, and ultimately contribute to the formation of “smart”, sustainable and inclusive growth of the region’s economy A set of important measures is already being implemented and developed. Among them, the creation of a single digital market, which is considered as a primary goal of the European Commission strategy to ensure guaranteed access to online activities for citizens and businesses in a fair competitive environmen. Measures are being taken to reduce the cost of intercountry shipping of goods purchased online, the prices of which are 3-5 times higher than those for transactions carried out within individual countries. In order to enable the digital transformation of European industry and services, particular attention will be paid to the development of cross-sector, integrated digital platforms and large-scale pilot platforms for experimentation and co-creation with users. We define a digital platform as an organisation that offers digital services facilitating interactions between two or more different but interdependent groups of users (suppliers and individuals) via the Internet and that generate network effects. The following are characteristics of a systemically important digital platform: operating in a majority of EU countries; having significant influence on the internal market, namely the annual turnover of a group of companies; the ability to connect a large number of users with a large number of suppliers of goods (services), namely more than 45 million monthly active users located in the EU, or more than 10,000 commercial users located in the EU in the last financial year); having established economic power and stable income from intermediary services provided in the EU. In the presence of indirect network effects, the volume of demand for the platform's services will depend, among other things, on the price level and the economic model of the ecosystem. Also, when developing the EU draft law on digital markets, the European Commission, while formulating the characteristics of digital ecosystems (large digital platforms), noted the importance of having a plurality of digital services. The concept of a digital ecosystem should not include digital platforms with a single service. The digital nature of the ecosystem allows it to quickly introduce new functions and integrate data across multiple unrelated business lines and markets. These factors allow the ecosystem to avoid the traditional costs associated with rapid business expansion, both vertically (by using its services in new markets) and horizontally (by expanding the “range” of services). The digital platform uses information about the sales of suppliers on its platform to research the market and develop its own line of competing products. In this regard, the company can be accused of promoting its own products in this way. These features of the functioning of digital platforms determine the need to revise the criteria for compliance with the principles of competition. As a result of processing the user habits of citizens, the ecosystem issues a personalized offer. The consequence of this may be price discrimination, when some customers are offered more expensive goods than others, depending on their purchasing power. In this regard, it is proposed to oblige platforms to disclose the principles of such pricing. Disclosure requirements and pricing transparency are effective mechanisms for regulating the existing problem, since they increase consumer awareness, facilitate price comparison and prevent consumers from being misled. However, experts note that disclosure of pricing rules can weaken competition in the market and increase the overall price level. This measure can also lead to a lag in the development of recommendation services in the global market, a violation of commercial secrets, additional costs and a slowdown in the development of digital platforms.

Outside the Western bubble: Explaining anti‐immigrant attitudes in 28 post‐communist countries

AbstractMost studies on anti‐immigrant attitudes have been conducted within the US or in Western European countries. As a result, the theoretical frameworks utilised to comprehend these attitudes are often based on a limited subset of the global population. Hence, it remains uncertain how these theories apply to regions beyond the Western context. Based on the Life in Transition Survey, we explore whether the theories and factors discussed in Western contexts can be applied to understanding anti‐immigrant attitudes in 28 post‐communist countries. We find that the impact of macroeconomic variables in the post‐communist region differs from what would be expected based on existing theoretical frameworks. The study adds complexity to the debates surrounding the positive impacts of modernisation, economic development and democratisation on anti‐immigrant attitudes. Our research suggests that intolerance levels are notably highest in Central and Eastern European EU countries. Interestingly, these levels are higher than those found in less developed and less democratic post‐communist countries outside the EU. This study highlights the difficulty of deploying a comprehensive theoretical framework that can account for the complexities of attitudes across a broad range of countries.

New Study Mapping Hydrogen Pipelines Between Poland And Ukraine

Abstract This study focuses on developing the appropriate infrastructure between Poland and Ukraine to enable the import and export of hydrogen, ensuring EU consumers have access to sufficient quantities. Such infrastructure is crucial in achieving climate neutrality goals, as it will serve as a key transit area for hydrogen, thereby contributing to sustainable energy development in Europe. To address this, the article reviews existing solutions for hydrogen transportation via pipelines and proposes mapping the hydrogen transportation system between Poland and Ukraine. Specifically, it examines the possibility of constructing a hydrogen pipeline from Ukraine to Poland, with potential connections to the designated hydrogen supply corridors of the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) infrastructure. Through the use of Python-created maps and algorithms, the study demonstrates how a hydrogen supply corridor can be established between Poland and Ukraine and effectively integrated with the broader EU hydrogen supply corridors. Furthermore, the article discusses the complex challenges involved in building hydrogen pipelines, particularly the unification of design standards between EU and non-EU countries. Equally critical is the management of hydrogen export and import, given that no platform currently exists between Poland and Ukraine for this purpose. The integration of hydrogen pipeline transport systems is thus highlighted as a matter of international importance, providing a platform for cooperation between the two countries and facilitating the creation of a hydrogen corridor linked to the EU infrastructure. An original contribution of this study is the presentation of a map illustrating the potential corridor connecting the hydrogen pipeline systems between countries, along with the development of algorithms using Python, which open up possibilities for future expansion of the map.

Development sustainability levels in EU countries

AbstractThis article is a response to the existing need for seeking and improving research methods aimed to assess the achievement of sustainable development goals. The article evaluates the levels of development of EU countries from the perspective of particular development components: economic, social, and environmental, as well as development sustainability levels in those three aspects. The research shows that in 2010–2021, EU countries made a general progress from the perspective of all the aspects of development. Development dynamics in the period after the adoption of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development increased as compared with the preceding period with respect to social and economic development, but not from the point of view of environmental issues. Development processes in EU countries do not indicate a higher level of cohesion with regard to the three components of development: economic, social, and environmental issues. Therefore, development in the analysed countries cannot be regarded as fully sustainable.

The impact of western sanctions on the role and place of Russia in relations with Kazakhstan (political and economic aspect)

The paper is dedicated to the impact of anti-Russian sanctions on the investment activity of Russian companies in the post-Soviet space, in particular in Kazakhstan. After 2014, Russian capital was forced out of the Ukrainian economy and partially relocated to Kazakhstan, which today is a key place for foreign direct investment among the CIS countries. China, the USA, Turkey and EU countries also show high activity in the capital market of Kazakhstan. The conflict of commercial interests of these countries on the territory of Kazakhstan may become a significant factor of political tension in the post-Soviet space.

New realities of economic cooperation between Russia and Mongolia

The article examines the development of the Mongolian vector of foreign economic policy, the strategy of Russia’s turn to the East, within which it seeks global multipolarity and a reduction in opportunities for U.S. domination. In Russia’s confrontation with the United States and its allies after the reunification of Crimea in 2014 and especially after the start of the Russian Special military operation in February 2022 of particular importance is the development of Russian-Mongolian economic and political cooperation in the Russia-Mongolia-China triangle and in regional associations (EAEU, SCO, ASEAN, etc.). The article shows that Mongolia, which sticks to political neutrality, is actively developing economic ties with both neighboring countries – Russia and China – and (within the framework of the “third neighbor” concept) with the United States, the EU, Japan, South Korea and other developed countries, in competition with which Russia now has to renew the economic partnership with Mongolia once lost after the collapse of the USSR. The result of the study is the conclusion that currently Russia’s foreign economic interests in Mongolia are mainly built on the economic and infrastructure projects of the Chinese Initiative “One Belt, One Road”, thereby strengthening the Chinese factor in the bilateral Russian-Mongolian economic partnership, which in the future may lead to new risks to national economic security.

The Practice of Qualifying Environmental Crimes at Critical Infrastructure Facilities in the Criminal Justice of EU Countries

The Practice of Qualifying Environmental Crimes at Critical Infrastructure Facilities in the Criminal Justice of EU Countries

Assessment of Circular Economy Development in the EU Countries Based on SAW Method

The transition to a circular economy is important in achieving sustainability, promoting resource efficiency, and reducing environmental impact. This paper aims to assess the development of a CE in EU countries and highlight the use of environmentally friendly practices for its development. Decision-making methods based on various criteria provide a solid basis for evaluating complex and multidimensional circular economy (CE) initiatives. Simple Additive Weighting (SAW), the widely used MCDM method, facilitates sorting and selection according to the generalised results obtained according to weighted criteria. Due to its simplicity and ease of use, this method is particularly useful for assessing CE development in different countries. The evaluation will be based on a comprehensive overview of the available literature and empirical data, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of the CE’s development initiatives in the European context using the SAW method. The results show that while significant progress has been made in the EU’s transition to a circular economy (CE), disparities among Member States and data limitations hinder a comprehensive assessment. Italy, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Spain are among the most advanced countries in achieving a circular economy’s objectives. The study proposes a novel MCDM-based framework that effectively evaluates CE performance, identifying key strengths and weaknesses across countries. By focusing on competitiveness and innovation indicators and incorporating environmental factors, the framework offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.

PFAS, PCBs, PCDD/Fs, PAHs and extractable organic fluorine in bio-based fertilizers, amended soils and plants: Exposure assessment and temporal trends

Bio-based fertilizers (BBFs) produced from organic waste contribute to closed-loop nutrient cycles and circular agriculture. However, persistent organic contaminants, such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), as well as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be present in organic waste or be formed during valorization processes. Consequently, these hazardous substances may be introduced into agricultural soils and the food chain via BBFs. This study assessed the exposure of 84 target substances and extractable organic fluorine (EOF) in 19 BBFs produced from different types of waste, including agricultural and food industrial waste, sewage sludge, and biowaste, and through various types of valorization methods, including hygienization at low temperatures (<150 °C) as well as pyrolysis and incineration at elevated temperatures (150–900 °C). The concentrations in BBFs (ΣPFOS & PFOA: <30 μg kg−1, Σ6PCBs: <15 μg kg−1, Σ11PAHs: <3 mg kg−1, Σ17PCDD/Fs: <4 ng TEQ kg−1) were found to be below the strictest thresholds used in individual EU countries, with only one exception (pyrolyzed sewage sludge, Σ11PAHs: 5.9 mg kg−1). Five BBFs produced from sewage sludge or chicken manure contained high concentrations of EOF (>140 μg kg−1), so monitoring of more PFAS is recommended. The calculated expected concentrations in soils after one BBF application (e.g. PFOS: <0.05 μg kg−1) fell below background contamination levels (PFOS: 2.7 μg kg−1) elsewhere in the literature. This was confirmed by the analysis of BBF-amended soils from field experiments (Finland and Austria). Studies on target legacy contaminants in sewage sludge were reviewed, indicating a general decreasing trend in concentration with an apparent half-life ranging from 4 (PFOS) to 9 (PCDD/Fs) years. Modelled cumulative concentrations of the target contaminants in agricultural soils indicated low long-term risks. Concentrations estimated and analyzed in edible plant part were low, indicating that exposure by plant consumption is well below tolerable daily intakes.

Successful NH3 abatement policies and regulations in German agriculture

Anthropogenic ammonia (NH3) emissions, of which about 95 % are from agriculture, have led to environmental pollution, resulting in tremendous damage to human health and ecosystems. Thus, the NEC Directive 2016/2284/EU sets national reduction targets for NH3 emissions in individual EU countries. To implement the NEC Directive for NH3 emission targets, Germany amended the Fertilizer Application Ordinance in 2017 and 2020 (DüV_amended) and set the air pollution control regulation, Technical Instructions on Air Quality Control (TA_Luft). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the DüV_amended on NH3 mitigation from applying livestock manure, digestates, synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers, and TA_Luft on housing and storage. This study showed that Germany reached the first national NH3 reduction target in 2020, as set by the NEC directive. The German DüV_amended, a significant policy change, has profoundly impacted NH3 emission mitigation from agriculture after 2017 by implementing measures aimed directly at NH3 reduction, reducing N surpluses, and improving N use efficiency. The reduction in NH3 emissions from synthetic N fertilizers between 2016 and 2022 contributed about 51 % to the decrease from the agricultural sector over the same period. Among the synthetic fertilizers, NH3 reduction from urea between 2016 and 2022 accounted for around 83 % of the total reduction from synthetic N, indicating that the NH3 emissions from urea fertilizer by reducing urea application and mandating urea to be incorporated immediately or to be stabilized with urease inhibitors played a crucial role in the sharp decrease in NH3 emissions over the last years in Germany. Achieving a high yield by lowering the synthetic N rate in this study strongly suggests that optimal reduction in N rate does not necessarily result in yield losses but rather in a pivotal relationship between the agronomic and environmental performance and indicates that the DüV_amended was an effective measure that can reduce the NH3 emissions.Over 80 % of Germany's annual agricultural NH3 emissions in 2021 and 2022 originated from livestock and digestates from energy crops. Mandatory close to the soil band application of slurry and digestates on cultivated cropland since 2020 reduced NH3 emissions. In addition, banning of broadcast application of slurry to grassland and manure incorporation within one hour on uncultivated soils will become mandatory in 2025 to comply with NEC 2030´s target of 29 % NH3 reduction relative to 2005. The recent German air pollution control regulation (TA_Luft) enforces abatement measures such as air purifiers in large poultry and pig housings and covered storage of slurry and digestate storages of large farms. The results of the German NH3 abatement strategy for synthetic N fertilizers may help reduce NH3 emissions worldwide, especially for countries consuming high amounts of urea fertilizers.