EU Networks Research Articles

A Simple Quantum Integro-Differential Solver (SQuIDS)

Simple Quantum Integro-Differential Solver (SQuIDS) is a C++ code designed to solve semi-analytically the evolution of a set of density matrices and scalar functions. This is done efficiently by expressing all operators in an SU(N) basis. SQuIDS provides a base class from which users can derive new classes to include new non-trivial terms from the right hand sides of density matrix equations. The code was designed in the context of solving neutrino oscillation problems, but can be applied to any problem that involves solving the quantum evolution of a collection of particles with Hilbert space of dimension up to six. New version program summaryProgram Title: SQuIDSCPC Library link to program files:http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/hnchbtnybs.1Developer’s respository link:https://github.com/jsalvado/SQuIDSLicensing provisions: GNU Lesser General Public License, version 3.Programming language: C++11.External routines: GNU Scientific Library (http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/).Journal reference of previous version: Comput. Phys. Commun. 196 (2015) 569–591Does the new version supersede the previous version?: Yes.Nature of problem: Solve the evolution of open quantum systems of Hilbert space dimension N with self interactions and interaction with classical fields.Solution method: The algebra is implemented as a C++ object and is embedded into the GSL ordinary differential equation solver.Reasons for the new version: Added new features and improved runtime.Summary of revisions:•Library names have been moved into the ‘squids’ namespace.•Support for extraction of SU vectors and basis transformations to GSL matrices.•Implementation of matrix exponentiation for use cases like evolution with non-diagonalized Hamiltonians.•Implementation of a number of useful matrix operations on SU vectors, including applying arbitrary unitary transformations, extracting real and imaginary components, transposition, and generalized, weighted rotations.•Support for obtaining the eigensystem which diagonalizes an SU_vector.•Explicit disallowance of creating or manipulating SU(1) vectors, which are degenerate with scalars.•A fix to a severe issue in the use of the GSL ODE interface, now giving good output for much less stringent tolerance values.•Optimization of element-wise operations on SU vectors without the need to allocate temporary storage.•Redesign of SU vector operations for vectorizability, including optimized allocation of element storage with optimal alignment.•Implementation of a more efficient version of SU vector time evolution which can share initialization costs across multiple evolutions by the same operator over the same time interval.•A more precise definition of the meter.•Improvements to configuration and build system.•Clean up of capitalization for file and class names.•Rearrangement of project files to a more standard layout.•Elimination of memory leaks.•Limited support for the Intel and Portland Group compilers. These should not be considered guaranteed to work, but have been given minimal testing and appear compile the library correctly.•Added additional unit conversions to SQuIDS constants.Additional comments including restrictions and unusual features: The code is only implemented up to Hilbert spaces of dimension six, but a Mathematica notebook is provided in order to generate higher dimensional solutions. Furthermore, only ordinary differential equation solution methods that require only the first derivative can be used. Acknoledgements CAA is supported by NSF grant PHY-1912764. JS acknowledges financial support from EU Networks FP10ITN ELUSIVES (H2020-MSCA-ITN-2015-674896) and INVISIBLES-PLUS (H2020-MSCA-RISE2015-690575), by the MINECO grant FPA2016-76005-C2-1-P and by the Maria de Maeztu grant MDM-2014-0367 of ICCUB.

Book review: Transformation of EU and Eastern Mediterranean Energy Networks. Legal, Regulatory and Geopolitical Challenges, edited by Leigh Hancher and Antonis Metaxas. (Deventer/Leuven: Claeys & Casteels, 2018)

Book review: Transformation of EU and Eastern Mediterranean Energy Networks. Legal, Regulatory and Geopolitical Challenges, edited by Leigh Hancher and Antonis Metaxas. (Deventer/Leuven: Claeys & Casteels, 2018)

Transformation of EU and eastern mediterranean energy networks: Legal, regulatory and political challenges

Transformation of EU and eastern mediterranean energy networks: Legal, regulatory and political challenges

Transformation of EU and Eastern Mediterranean Energy Networks

Transformation of EU and Eastern Mediterranean Energy Networks

A sustainable myth: A neo-Gramscian perspective on the populist and post-truth tendencies of the European green growth discourse

In the search for environmentally sustainable economic paradigms, the green growth approach has been developed by the EU and economic networks, as part of a wider sustainability discourse. While the EU repeatedly promotes sustainable development in the context of its greened hegemonic economic discourse, its member states’ frustrations regarding the EU’s integrative policies have been a breeding ground for counter-hegemonic populism. Such anti-EU and typically right-wing populism promotes national and conventional modes of energy production that is emancipated from foreign providers, science, and EU legislation; and it reveals post-truth tendencies in the sense that it relativizes conventional knowledge as well causation and correlation. In this paper, we seek to uncover the populist and post-truth tendencies within the hegemonic green growth discourse itself. In our paper, we seek to unmask the myth of sustainable energy transformation of the green growth discourse, in terms of a hegemon’s engagement – EU and associated economic networks – with post-truth: we find that post-truth tendencies are not only manifested by counter-hegemonic anti-EU and right-wing populism but is also expressed within the environmental populist expressions of the hegemonic green growth discourse itself.

Interview with Peter Dolog

Peter Dolog is associate professor at the department of computer science, Aalborg University in Denmark where he works since September 2006. His main research interests are applied machine learning, personalization, recommender systems, user modeling, and web science and engineering. Peter Dolog is a general chair of ACM Hypertext 2017 conference. He was also a general chair of ICWE 2013 and UMAP 2014 conferences. He served on steering committee for ICWE conferences between 2013 and 2016. He participated in various roles in many conference and workshops. He also participated in several research and management roles in several EU project and networks. Peter Dolog received his doctoral degree in computer science from Leibniz University of Hannover in 2006 where he was employed at L3S Research Center between 2002 and 2006.

The Dynamics of Europeanness of Lithuania’s Media Elite (2008–2015)

This article presents insights about Lithuania’s media elite, gained during research carried out on the basis of a complex Europeanness model, developed by Heinrich Best (Best 2012: 208-233). Data describing Lithuania’s media elite are analyzed with reference to three dimensions or facets, identified in the original model of Europeanness: emotive, cognitive-evaluative and projective-conative. However, the list of variables examined in the study is considerably longer as compared to the initial static model offered by Best, and the analysis is much more detailed. This comparative study is aimed at identifying and describing the evolution of emotive identi­fication of Lithuania’s media elite with Europe in terms of the objective and judging approach of the EU in the period from 2008 to 2015. Results of the research revealed a clear trend that Lithuania’s media elite have been be­coming European. It was noticed that it tends to increasingly associate itself emotionally with Europe. Besides, the number of representatives of this elite group that assesses the common EU governance negatively (when the EU’s common foreign policy in respect of countries found beyond the EU borders is becoming increasingly accepted) has been consistently decreasing and the trust in the EU institutions has been enhancing. Looking to the future, the representatives of Lithuania’s media elite tend to assess the EU prospects in the medium-term and long-term (10 years) optimistically. They also hold the view that 10 years later the EU, as a geopolitical, political and economic entity will be stronger, and that both social and economic differences among the EU member states will not be so sharp. Euroscepticism is seen not only on the cultural plane. Correlation analysis has revealed that young age (people under 40) and an intensive socialization in the EU networks (constant com­munication with the EU partners) determine that Lithuania’s media elite have been becoming European.

Free Trade and FDI in Kosovo: Prospects for Integration into the EU and Turkish Production Networks

Abstract. Kosovo has recently signed two major trade agreements, the SAA with the EU, andan FTA with Turkey. However, as the experience from developing countries shows, trade liberalisation is a precondition, but it does not ensure economic growth and prosperity, especially when the supply-side constraints limit country’s ability to reap the benefits of free trade. Violencein the nineties; years of underperforming post-war institutions; the neglect of policy reforms, especially poorly managed privatisation process; reduced greatly Kosovo’s industrial base and its manufacturing capacities. Moreover, these factors, coupled with problems with the rule of law, produced a high-risk environment that is deterring the inflow of foreign capital. Following the signing of the two agreements, one can expect that Kosovo will become more attractive tothe European and Turkish investors. In addition to other benefits, the flow of foreign capital may enable Kosovo’s industries to integrate intothe global value chains. However, as with free trade, the impact of FDI inflow and the integration into global value chains depend largely on domestic market conditions. This paper provides a discussion on the developments regarding trade liberalisation and FDI, and the opportunities the latter create on the integration of Kosovo’s industries into global production networks. In terms of policy directions, the paper argues that, although the trade liberalisation will act as a pull factor, the existingstructural impediments in Kosovo will mostlikely limit the flow of foreign capital and the impact of the existing FDI in Kosovo, specifically, integration into global value chains. Keywords. Trade liberalisation, FDI, GVC, Kosovo. JEL. F15, F23, F60.

Implementing European climate adaptation policy. How local policymakers react to European policy

EU policy and projects have an increasing influence on policymaking for climate adaptation. This is especially evident in the development of new climate adaptation policies in transnational city networks. Until now, climate adaptation literature has paid little attention to the influence that these EU networks have on the adaptive capacity in cities. This paper uses two Dutch cities as an empirical base to evaluate the influence of two EU climate adaptation projects on both the experience of local public officials and the adaptive capacity in the respective cities. The main conclusion is that EU climate adaptation projects do not automatically lead to an increased adaptive capacity in the cities involved. This is due to the political opportunistic use of EU funding, which hampers the implementation of climate adaptation policies. Furthermore, these EU projects draw attention away from local network building focused on the development and implementation of climate adaptation policies . These factors have a negative cumulative impact on the performance of these transnational policy networks at the adaptive capacity level in the cities involved. Therefore, in order to strengthen the adaptive capacity in today’s European cities, a context-specific, integrative approach in urban planning is needed at all spatial levels. Hence, policy entrepreneurs should aim to create linkage between the issues in the transnational city network and the concerns in local politics and local networks.

Pushing administrative EU integration: the path towards European network codes for electricity

ABSTRACTThe expansion of the European Union's (EU's) administrative capacity could ultimately strengthen the influence of EU bodies at the expense of national governments. Recent scholarship has focused on the establishment of executive-administrative capacity beyond the European Commission, as in the form of EU agencies or networks. Previous research has identified interest constellations and existing transnational networks as important explanations, showing how the interests of national- and EU-level organizations have tended to group along a national–supranational axis. In 2009, the EU adopted a procedure for making binding EU legislation (network codes), delegating substantial tasks to a new EU energy agency (ACER), a new private European association (ENTSO-E) and to the Commission. Prior to the procedure's adoption, however, ‘intra-sectoral’ divisions overshadowed national–supranational divergence. Enquiring into the causes, this article finds that complementary use of perspectives can deepen our understanding of why and how the ‘European administrative space’ emerges.

From Hard to Soft: Governance in the EU Internal Market

AbstractAt least three generations of governance methods have been—and are still being—used for the regulation of the internal market: the classic EU method, leading to harmonisation and (more rarely) unification; the ‘new approach’ based on mutual recognition and the use of standards; and ‘new governance’ which does not entail any formal delegation of powers to the EU and operates through self-regulation, the creation of EU agencies and networks, administrative cooperation and other means of open coordination. It is impossible to establish either a hierarchy or a clear chronological order between these methods, while it is also quite difficult to reach a clear conclusion as to their efficiency. What is certain is that all methods of governance are under constant adjustment and that they all feed into one another in order to secure the smooth operation of the internal market. The interaction between these methods is the topic of the present chapter.

From Hard to Soft: Governance in the EU Internal Market

AbstractAt least three generations of governance methods have been—and are still being—used for the regulation of the internal market: the classic EU method, leading to harmonisation and (more rarely) unification; the ‘new approach’ based on mutual recognition and the use of standards; and ‘new governance’ which does not entail any formal delegation of powers to the EU and operates through self-regulation, the creation of EU agencies and networks, administrative cooperation and other means of open coordination. It is impossible to establish either a hierarchy or a clear chronological order between these methods, while it is also quite difficult to reach a clear conclusion as to their efficiency. What is certain is that all methods of governance are under constant adjustment and that they all feed into one another in order to secure the smooth operation of the internal market. The interaction between these methods is the topic of the present chapter.

Mycotoxins: Risks, regulations and European co-operation

Mycotoxins and mycotoxicises have been problems of the past and the present, but scientific attention for mycotoxins did not start until the early 1960?s. Nowa?days, many mycotoxins are known, and their occurrence in food and animal feed may cause various adverse effects on human and animal health, including carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, immunotoxic, nephrotoxic, neurotoxic, oestrogenic and teratogenic effects. Some important mycotoxins include the aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, the fumonisins and the trichothecenes, and their significance is briefly described. To protect human and animal health, many countries have enacted specific regulations for mycotoxins in food and animal feed. Risk assessment is a major factor for scientific underpinning of regulations, but other factors such as availability of adequate sampling and analysis procedures also play an important a role in the establishment of mycotoxin regulations. In addition, socio-economic factors such as cost-benefit considerations, trade issues and sufficiency of food supply are equally important in the decision-taking process to come to meaningful regulations. Nowadays, more than 100 countries have formal mycotoxin regulations for food and feed. The mycotoxin regulations are the most stringent in the EU, where various organizations and pan-European networks contribute to combat the mycotoxin problem. It is to be expected that mycotoxins will stay with us in the future and climate change might have a negative influence in this respect. Several possibilities exist to mitigate the problems caused by mycotoxins. In particular prevention of mould growth and mycotoxin formation is key to the control of mycotoxins.

Policy review: national action plans for combating poverty and social exclusion – from 1997 to the present

Against an historic social deficit and deep seated inequalities, Ireland adopted its first National Anti-Poverty Strategy in 1997 which held out the prospect of a comprehensive, structural response to poverty and social exclusion. Subsequent plans followed, and this review overviews these developments, placing the Irish strategy within the context of the EU social inclusion strategy. Progress is evaluated by examining key reports emanating from the EU and anti-poverty networks, and methodological questions are raised about the way government measures progress. Analysis suggests that selective priority actions within a context that defers to economic interests are unlikely to resolve deep seated structural features of society that reproduce inequalities. In addition, austerity measures are likely to mean that social progress will stagnate, unless there is a sea change in culture, politics, economy and society based on political values that embody social justice.

Governance and policy learning in the European Union: a comparison with North America

Several scholars argue that policy-making in the EU occurs in horizontal networks more frequently than in nation states. They add that EU networks, unlike networks in nation states, are not subordinated to any formal structure of authority. Moreover, EU networks seek consensus as their actors are concerned about the EU's democratic deficit. Consequently, learning features prominently as a method to make policy decisions in EU governance. This article tests this proposal. The test rests on a comparative survey yielding 666 completed questionnaires from actors involved in biotechnology policy development in Europe and North America. The survey was conducted twice, once in 2006 and once in 2008, and provides information on policy learning intensity, on consensus formation and on policy transfers. The survey fails to provide evidence that policy actors involved in EU governance learn more than those involved exclusively in European and North American nation states.

Market Revenue and the Scope and Scale of SME Networks in Europe's Vulnerable Regions

‘For some, networks have ontological status, being associated with the embeddedness of social life in general and the necessary embeddedness of firms in their industries and regions in particular. For others less certain about ontology, networks are vital ingredients in firm-specific competitive strategies and long-term growth prospects. In this paper we approach the issue with reference to firm-specific competitive strategies, reporting the results of a large-scale pan-European survey of small and medium-sized enterprises' (SMEs) network-related responses to changing market conditions. Distinguishing between different types of production network (supply and distribution) operating at various geographical scales (regional, national, EU, and global), it is shown that the scope and scale of firm networks are strategic issues. All things being equal, firms adopt advanced technologies in response to changing market conditions, enabling their networks to change in scope and geographical scale. We also show that the significance of local as opposed to national and EU networks is changing with less ‘localism’ and wider geographical scope becoming increasingly important. Using probit models for different types of networks, we identify and distinguish between predictive variables driving network formation, including the type of SME ownership. Implications are drawn for the theoretical status of networks in industrial organisation and their significance for European economic development.

Nanotechnology in Europe: scientific trends and organizational dynamics

We give evidence on how closely different areas of research in the nanometre range are integrated and on what established and new networks and research programmes at EU level may contribute to the further development of the nanosciences. A Delphi study, participant observation, interviews and informal contacts form the basis of this empirical and sociological study. The analysis shows that the invention of scanning probe techniques and other nanotools is entering a variety of areas of research, which are largely unrelated. The EU networks and research programmes present in the selection environment stimulate the emergence of nanotechnology as one among several technologies which use nanotools, are based on nanometre-long structures and utilize properties which can only be made at a nanoscale.

Common Baltic Energy Systems – A Precondition for Sustainable Development

The Baltic Sea is turning to be an inland sea of the European Union. Interlinking the energy systems of the Baltic Sea countries and the relevant EU networks should concur with the process of unification of the states. The primary strategic goal is to create a common free energy market based on regional energy systems around the Baltic Sea – the Baltic Ring. This common energy system must cover both electricity transmission lines and natural gas pipelines. The Baltic Ring project is of major importance for the economic interaction and growth, sustainable development and security of the energy supply of Baltic Sea states.