Background: Bulgaria has had a statutory mediation framework for over two decades, yet mediation remains underused compared with court adjudication. In the context of judicial reform and caseload reduction, Bulgaria adopted rules in 2023 that introduced mandatory judicial mediation pursuant to which parties to pending court proceedings are required to attend a free-of-charge mediation information session of up to three hours before the first open hearing. The provision was scheduled to come into force on 1 July 2024. On that date, however, the Bulgarian Constitutional Court (Decision No. 11 of 1 July 2024, Constitutional Case No. 11/2024) declared the core provisions of the reform unconstitutional, reviving the question of how far the legislature can require a mediation step without impairing access to justice. In July 2025, Bulgaria adopted a revised model centred on mandatory participation in a mediation information meeting during pending proceedings for specified categories of disputes subject to additional referral by judges. This article analyses the new model, positions it within European approaches, and identifies design requirements for legislation that can stimulate mediation uptake without creating procedural barriers. Method: The article employs doctrinal and comparative legal analysis. It examines the 2025 amendments to the Bulgarian Civil Procedure Code and the Mediation Act, introducing mandatory participation in a mediation information meeting, and considers them in light of the Bulgarian Constitutional Court’s reasoning on proportionality and effective access to court. It situates Bulgaria’s approach within European standards, particularly the interpretation of mandatory ADR/mediation models by the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Court of Human Rights, as well as the mandatory mediation models applicable in Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Greece, and Cyprus. The analysis also draws on international discussions on the design features of effective mandatory mediation models, including incentives, costs, procedural safeguards, and protections in cases involving violence or risks to children, to offer suggestions regarding the features an effective mandatory mediation approach should adopt. Results and Conclusions: The 2025 Bulgarian mandatory mediation model is best characterised as a hybrid: it combines a legislatively defined set of case types with broad judicial discretion and multiple statutory exceptions. It compels attendance at an information meeting (not mediation itself), does not require settlement, does not automatically stay the court case, and limits adverse costs consequences to a modest fee, all features aimed at meeting constitutional proportionality requirements. At the same time, its effectiveness will depend on implementation choices (funding, quality control of mediators, clear referral criteria, and workable incentives). The Bulgarian trajectory confirms the broader European trend: mandatory or semi-mandatory mediation mechanisms can be compatible with the right to effective judicial protection, but only when designed to avoid turning ADR into a procedural barrier and when safeguards for vulnerable parties are robust. The ultimate conclusion is that it may be advisable to adopt uniform, mandatory mediation procedures that apply across the EU and form the backbone of an efficient mediation ecosystem across the Union that truly promotes out-of-court dispute settlement.

The aim of this study was to identify the fundamentals for the effective application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal field through analysing theoretical frameworks and comparing international regulatory models. The research was based on a systematic review of academic literature and a comparative analysis of regulatory approaches. Five key theoretical paradigms concerning AI use in jurisprudence were identified: technological determinism, which asserts the inevitable transformation of legal practice; critical legal theories emphasising the reproduction of structural biases; socio-technical constructivism with its concept of mutual co-determinacy between law and technology; regulatory realism focusing on practical normative measures; and the institutional approach that examines the adaptive processes of legal organisations. The study revealed varying levels of technological maturity across different areas of legal activity, with the automation of legal research and document analysis demonstrating the highest development, while the automation of judicial proceedings remains experimental. A comparative analysis of the regulatory models of the European Union, the United States, and Singapore uncovered three fundamentally different regulatory philosophies: a preventive European approach with mandatory certification and fines of up to 6% of global turnover, a market-driven American model with minimal state intervention, and a pragmatically flexible Singaporean approach with voluntary standards. The categorisation of challenges associated with AI use included nine risk categories, from technological hallucinations to institutional transformations within the legal profession.

The relevance of the study arises from differences in standards of liability for concerted anticompetitive actions under the law of Ukraine and the law of the European Union. National practice primarily focuses on establishing coordinated conduct between undertakings. The economic context and market effects are assessed to a limited extent. The European approach requires evaluation of the nature of the restriction of competition, market structure, actual or potential effects on competition, and proportionality of sanctions. These differences affect evidentiary standards and the determination of liability. The purpose of the article is to define contemporary standards of liability for concerted anticompetitive actions based on European practice and to formulate proposals for their application in national enforcement. The research methods include comparative legal analysis, formal legal interpretation, systemic analysis, and economic and legal assessment of market effects. Decisions of competition authorities and court practice were examined. The study establishes that the European standard of liability is based on the assessment of restriction of competition in light of the economic context and the role of each participant. It is demonstrated that national practice insufficiently accounts for market effects and the individual contribution of the undertaking. The article substantiates the need for a differentiated standard of proof depending on the type of conduct, market characteristics, and degree of impact on competition. Further research should focus on developing methodologies for economic analysis and criteria for individualizing sanctions.

In recent years, the evolving discourse surrounding Advanced Practice (AP) in radiography has highlighted potential need for a more harmonized educational approach across Europe. However, variations in healthcare systems, policies and curricula create challenges. This study aimed to explore the unique perspectives of European radiography educators on aspects of AP education at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Using a qualitative design, three focus groups were conducted with European radiography educators, as part of EFRS Research Hub at ECR 2023. The discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subsequently categorised and analysed using Braun and Clarke thematic analysis method to identify patterns and gain insights into AP education in radiography across Europe. Twenty-two radiography educators from nine different European countries participated in the focus groups. Analysis resulted in three main themes: definitions of AP, post graduate education in AP and undergraduate education in AP. Key findings include a growing consensus for a master's-level education as a requirement for AP, though clinical experience and mentorship were deemed essential. Participants advocated for integrating AP culture and concepts at undergraduate level, promoting critical thinking, research engagement, and potential future development in areas like patient assessment and artificial intelligence. This study highlights differences in interpretation and implementation of AP among European radiography educators. A shared sentiment emerged that the promotion of AP culture should start at undergraduate level, however different national regulations and curricula will likely make a single European approach problematic. Thus, the need for clear frameworks and well-defined career paths is evident. Standardized AP frameworks, supportive work cultures, and integrated undergraduate AP education are essential to support the development of AP in radiography across Europe, fostering clear career pathways.

The article examines the challenges of information support for Ukraine’s socio-economic policy in the context of moving from fragmented and untimely data toward an integrated information field capable of enabling evidence-based and data-driven governance across policy design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. It is shown that during 2014— 2021, gaps in statistical and administrative data (lack of censuses, limited capacity to conduct international surveys, underdeveloped administrative registry systems, lack of comprehensive statistics on IDPs) have led to poor data quality and institutional fragmentation of data. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, the situation further deteriorated due to the suspension or substantial limitation of multiple official statistical operations, increasing reliance on alternative sources that are often partial and unevenly verifiable. As a consequence, strategic documents and public programmes face heightened risks of setting goals and target indicators on an insufficiently robust empirical basis. The purpose of the article is the identification of the EU regulatory and peculiarities of legal regulation regarding the main aspects of data collection, processing, storage, and use, and to justify the main directions for the formation of modern information support (information field) for socio-economic policy in Ukraine. The main research methods are general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, as well as special methods of comparative analysis and institutional analysis. The novelty of the article lies in the fact that, based on research and assessment of the experience of developed countries, primarily EU countries, the authors have identified the main features of a new paradigm for the formation of an information space for the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of socio-economic policy. The main challenges and priorities for the development of the information space for the formation of socio-economic policy and the adoption of informed management decisions in Ukraine have been identified. The theoretical and methodological part synthesises European approaches to building a “data space” for governance, science and the economy, emphasising interoperability, re-use, confidentiality, accountability, and responsible application of advanced analytics and algorithmic tools, including in the context of expanding AI use. The paper discusses the core EU regulatory landmarks shaping data governance (GDPR, the Open Data Directive, the Data Governance Act, and the Data Act) and their role in structuring responsibilities and boundaries for key actors in the data ecosystem. The article substantiates the need for a multi-level integrated model of information support for governance in Ukraine, including harmonisation procedures, data-quality assurance mechanisms, and institutional arrangements such as trusted data intermediaries. It proposes a set of objectives and directions for developing a resilient national data environment as a prerequisite for higher-quality policy decisions and closer alignment with the European data and statistical acquis.

The aim of the article is, based on a summary of the development of legal regulation of geographical indications at the international level, to draw attention to the problem of inconsistent legal regulation of geographical indications in different countries and the resulting problems for authorised holders of these indications. The article clarifies the specific nature of this intellectual property right and the continuous conflict between the states of the old (EU) and the new world (USA, Canada, Australia). A contradiction between the European system of protection of geographical indications sui generis and Common Law protection through certification and collective trademarks is identified. The EU and developing countries argue that a different level of protection will allow competitors who do not fall within the geographical area of the protected geographical indication to ‘parasitise’ on the reputation of the products, while the rightful holders of GI rights cannot defend themselves against such abuse if the unauthorised producer indicates the true origin of the product. An evaluation of the Geneva Act as an attempt to bridge the conflict is carried out. The Geneva Act improves and simplifies the international registration procedure not only for designations of origin, but also for geographical indications in countries that are not members of the Geneva Act. In conclusion, the direction of the new European legislation implemented by Regulations 2024/1143 and 2023/2411 is analysed, and the “intransigence” of European states to remain in the sui generis system based on practically unlimited protection of geographical indications is stated. The historical-legal and theoretical-legal methods were used in the research.

The article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the regulatory and legal conceptualization of energy efficiency of buildings in Ukraine in the context of the implementation of European standards and the formation of a national legal regulation system. The evolution of the conceptual apparatus from the term "energy saving" to "energy efficiency" is analyzed, which reflects the transition from quantitative restrictions on consumption to improving the quality of energy use in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency. The basic legislative acts are studied, in particular the Law of Ukraine "On Energy Performance of Buildings", the Law of Ukraine "On Energy Efficiency" and the creation of the Energy Efficiency Fund as an institutional mechanism for supporting the thermal modernization of residential buildings with total funding of over 2 billion UAH. The main legal regulatory instruments are identified: a system of mandatory energy certification of buildings, energy audit, minimum requirements for energy efficiency of new buildings and the concept of buildings with a near-zero energy consumption level. An analysis of by-laws and technical standards that form a comprehensive regulatory system from design to operation of buildings, including methods for calculating energy characteristics and energy efficiency classification, was carried out. It was established that Ukrainian legislation successfully integrates European approaches, creating a legal basis for a systematic reduction in energy consumption in buildings and achieving climate goals by 2050. The practical implementation of the concept demonstrates positive results in the period 2018-2023. The average level of energy savings after thermal modernization is 31.3%, which confirms the effectiveness of legal mechanisms for stimulating energy efficiency and the need for further improvement of the regulatory framework.

The Italian assessment system for innovative medicines represents a distinctive European regulatory approach. Integrated with the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA), since 2017 it has provided a formal evaluation based on three predefined criteria, Therapeutic Need (TN), Added Therapeutic Value (ATV) and Quality of Evidence (QoE), granting access to dedicated funds and simplified procedures. This study investigated the evolution of the Italian system from 2017 to the 2025 reform, focusing on outcomes, decision criteria, timelines, and financial implications. Publicly available AIFA data on 266 assessments were analysed and stratified by outcome, therapeutic area, orphan status and Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) designation. Logistic regression models were used to assess the internal consistency of appraisal criteria and to explore whether regulatory attributes modified their association with innovativeness outcomes. Time to recognition (TIR) and Decision-to-Implementation Interval (DII) were calculated for "Full Innovative" medicines. Annual spending was compared to fund availability to assess the financial impact of innovative medicines. Among the 266 evaluations, approximately 29% were classified as "Full Innovative", 29% "Conditionally Innovative" and 42% "Not Innovative". Added Therapeutic Value and QoE showed the strongest associations with positive designations, while orphan and ATMP status showed no independent association. Access timelines were comparable across therapeutic areas, with slightly longer delays for ATMPs. Spending exceeded fund limits several times but fell below budget after fund unification in 2022. The Italian system has been applied consistently over time, with appraisal outcomes largely reflecting the formal decision criteria rather than regulatory status. The 2025 reform may represent a turning point, potentially changing designation patterns and their determinants. Ongoing monitoring is needed to ensure access does not compromise evidence standards or sustainability, offering lessons that may be relevant to other health systems considering similar mechanisms.

Abstract The growing importance of the concept of digital citizenship reflects the integration of online participation, rights, and responsibilities into everyday life. European policies and initiatives increasingly emphasise digital inclusion, universal access, and the promotion of digital literacy as prerequisites for active citizenship in the digital era. At the same time, the question arises of whether individuals should also be entitled to a right not to use the internet without facing social, economic, or political exclusion. This article explores the European approach to digital citizenship in the context of this emerging right, highlighting tensions between policies aimed at inclusion and the freedom of individual choice. It analyses how to reconcile the promotion of digital participation with respect for the autonomy of individuals who choose to remain offline. It also argues that recognising the right not to use the internet is crucial for protecting personal freedoms and preventing forced digital dependency, while inclusive strategies should ensure that non-users are not marginalised in exercising their civic rights.

This paper analyzes the newly enacted Article 26-2 of the Attorney-at-Law Act, which formally introduces the right to confidentiality between the client and attorney in South Korea, based on the U.S. Attorney-Client Privilege (ACP) and Work Product Protection. Passed on January 29, 2026, this legislation provides an explicit statutory basis for the right, overcoming previous Supreme Court jurisprudence that denied its existence based solely on the constitutional right to assistance of counsel. The amendment was driven by the necessity to protect confidential communications amidst aggressive investigative practices and expanded discovery procedures. The study examines the U.S. ACP and the Work Product Doctrine as theoretical models for the new Korean law. It comprehensively explores key aspects of the U.S. legal framework, including its origins, major requirements (client, attorney, legal advice, confidentiality, and communication), exceptions, waiver, and procedures for asserting the privilege. Regarding the interpretation of the new statute, the paper analyzes key concepts of the legislation. In particular, it argues that the scope of “attorney” should include in-house counsel, aligning with the U.S. Upjohn standard rather than the restrictive European approach, to ensure effective corporate compliance. Additionally, the paper suggests that the concept of ‘confidentiality’ should be interpreted based on existing Korean jurisprudence, which is more flexible than the strict U.S. standard. Regarding the exception for client consent, the study asserts that it should be interpreted to allow for selective waiver limited to specific parties or proceedings. Furthermore, the paper contends that the ‘significant public interest’ exception must be construed as narrowly as possible. Finally, the paper urges the revision of procedural laws to establish specific mechanisms, such as in camera reviews and privilege logs, to ensure the effective implementation of the privilege without causing excessive judicial delays.

The article is devoted to the analysis of European Union countries’ experience in using physical fitness tests within the school education system, with particular attention to their role in monitoring children’s health status and motor development. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing importance of evidence-based approaches to physical education assessment and the need to modernize national systems of physical fitness evaluation in line with contemporary European practices. The aim of the article is to identify and systematize practical approaches to the organization, content, and interpretation of physical fitness testing results in schools of EU countries. The study is based on the analysis and synthesis of scientific publications, official reports of the European Commission, materials of international initiatives and projects (EUROFIT, ALPHA Fitness Test, FitBack), as well as descriptions of national and regional testing programs implemented in Germany, Austria, and Poland. The results indicate that modern European models of physical fitness testing are predominantly oriented toward a health-related paradigm rather than normative control. These models are characterized by a high level of procedural standardization, the use of validated and reliable test batteries, age- and sex-specific reference values, and percentile-based interpretation of results. A significant trend identified is the active digitalization of data collection, processing, and feedback, which enhances the comparability of results at national and supranational levels and supports long-term monitoring. The generalized European experience demonstrates that systematic physical fitness testing can be effectively integrated into the educational process without excessive burden on students and teachers, provided that appropriate organizational conditions, specialist training, and clear communication with stakeholders are ensured. The findings may serve as a methodological basis for improving national systems of physical fitness assessment and for adapting European monitoring approaches within school physical education.

Objective: To assess State responsibility for due process violations in cases of enforced disappearance before the Inter-American Court and the European Court of Human Rights. Method: This research adopts a qualitative-documentary approach based on the analysis of court decisions, normative instruments, and institutional reports. A legal-comparative method and case study are used to contrast Inter-American and European approaches to enforced disappearance and procedural guarantees. Results: Significant differences are identified between both systems. The Inter-American Court adopts a restorative, victim-centered approach, emphasizing the rights to truth, reparation, and non-repetition. The European Court prioritizes minimum procedural guarantees, such as effective investigations and rigorous evidentiary standards. In the Colombian case, institutional gaps in investigation and reparation persist. Conclusions: A hybrid approach that combines the transformative dimension of the Inter-American Court with the procedural rigor of the European Court would strengthen State accountability in conflict contexts.

This paper analyses the regulatory readiness of Ukraine for governing artificial intelligence–driven gaming systems, with a focus on regulatory coherence, institutional capacity, and alignment with emerging European Union risk-based AI governance approaches. The study demonstrates that Ukraine’s current regulatory framework remains fragmented and functionally incomplete, relying primarily on horizontal digital, data protection, intellectual property, and gambling legislation rather than a dedicated AI-specific governance regime. As a result, regulatory oversight is predominantly reactive and sectorally dispersed, limiting the system’s ability to anticipate and mitigate algorithmic risks. The analysis reveals weak functional integration with core principles embedded in the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, including risk-based classification, ex ante conformity assessment, continuous monitoring, and algorithmic accountability. The findings highlight elevated regulatory risk exposure associated with algorithmic autonomy, adaptive learning, and behavioural manipulation mechanisms in AI-driven gaming platforms. At the same time, they identify a policy window for targeted regulatory convergence with EU risk-based AI governance standards.

Abstract Risk regulation has increasingly expanded in European digital policy, yet it is diverging from its roots, especially the precautionary principle. Rather than traditionally focusing on scientific evidence and knowledge, the European approach to risk regulation has been increasingly based on constitutional values such as the protection of fundamental rights and democracy. This article seeks to unravel the logic that has led the Union to move from an approach to risk more based on science to a model which considers constitutional values as parameters to assess and mitigate risks. By focusing on European digital regulation, primarily the GDPR, the DSA and the AI Act, this work underlines how the constitutional rationale of this transformation comes as a response to the intangibility of risks resulting from digital technologies and to imbalances of information and knowledge coming from the concentration of private power in the digital ecosystem. The primary argument is that risk regulation in European digital policy does not seek to rationalise uncertainty through science but to govern epistemological uncertainty through the instruments of constitutionalism, with the goal of addressing the impact of digital technologies on fundamental rights and imbalances of power.

The article analyzes key determinants and strategic directions for strengthening the competitiveness of Ukrainian banks in the context of integration into the EU financial space. The study highlights the necessity of adapting the national banking sector to European regulatory standards, improving financial stability, and increasing operational efficiency under growing competition. The research identifies institutional, regulatory, and technological factors influencing competitive positions, including harmonization with EU banking requirements, digital transformation, advanced risk management, and sustainable finance practices. The findings confirm that the implementation of European regulatory approaches enhances transparency, resilience, and long-term development prospects of Ukrainian banks.

The article examines judicial protection in disputes regarding public procurement as a tool for ensuring the economic security of the state. It is substantiated that public procurement, being one of the largest channels for distributing budget funds, belongs to the areas of increased corruption risks, and therefore requires effective control and appeal mechanisms. It is shown that the national model of protecting the rights of procurement participants combines extrajudicial (administrative) appeal in the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine and judicial control as the final guarantee of legality. The quasi-judicial nature of the procedures for considering complaints by the appeal body and their practical effectiveness due to integration with the electronic system "Prozorro" are highlighted, in particular through the automatic suspension of procurement actions during the consideration of the complaint. At the same time, the emphasis is placed on the limited integration of judicial control with the electronic procurement infrastructure, which complicates the execution of decisions to secure the claim and sometimes leads to the formal nature of judicial protection. A comparative analysis of appeal mechanisms in Ukraine and EU countries (in particular, on the example of Poland) was conducted, which confirmed the compliance of the Ukrainian model with European approaches according to the general architecture of “quasi-judicial body – court”, but at the same time revealed a significantly higher intensity of appeals to the appeal body in Ukraine and differences in the rates of satisfaction of complaints. It was concluded that judicial protection in the field of public procurement performs a preventive and restorative function: it deters abuse, creates legal certainty, supports competition and business confidence, and also promotes the rational use of public finances. It is proposed to direct further improvement of the system to increasing the efficiency of the execution of court decisions and strengthening the procedural and technical interaction of courts with the electronic procurement system.

The subject of the study is the governance architecture for managing an innovative economy in the European Union and the practical design of an implementation model for Ukraine under conditions of recovery and European integration. The paper examines how institutional design, regulatory frameworks, financial instruments, and coordination mechanisms interact in shaping innovation outcomes, and why innovation policy should be treated as a managed public-policy cycle rather than a set of isolated initiatives. Special attention is paid to the role of public administration and civil servants as carriers of delivery capacity, to analytics as decision infrastructure in the policy cycle, and to the embeddedness of innovation governance in international relations through standards, programme participation, and technology cooperation. The paper also addresses diplomacy and mediation as governance practices for aligning interests within complex innovation ecosystems and for maintaining legitimacy under heightened integrity requirements. Methodology. The research is based on a combination of systemic, comparative, and institutional approaches. It integrates analysis of leading innovation-policy models (national innovation systems, Triple Helix, mission-oriented policy, and open innovation) with an examination of EU multi-level governance logic and its delivery instruments, including programme cycles, portfolio financing, innovation procurement, competition and state-aid discipline, and evidence-based monitoring. This methodological design enables identification of institutional interface risks that typically arise between strategy and implementation, as well as assessment of Ukraine’s baseline constraints linked to fragmentation of competences, capacity limitations, wartime pressures, and regional heterogeneity. The aim of the work is to substantiate a coherent model of innovation governance for Ukraine that is compatible with European approaches and capable of operating under recovery-scale funding, while ensuring controllability, transparency, competition for resources, partnership, and accountability for results. The results of the study show that EU innovation governance functions as a portfolio-based management system in which priorities are operationalized through repeatable programmes, predictable funding windows, standardized procedures, and measurable performance signals. The effectiveness of this model is driven by delivery capacity within public administration, disciplined instrument design across the full innovation lifecycle, and analytics-based monitoring that supports policy correction. For Ukraine, the key challenge is the gap between strategic planning and administrable delivery, reinforced by overlaps of mandates and unowned zones at lifecycle transition points. The paper proposes a Target Operating Model built on functional separation between a policy owner responsible for portfolio coherence and specialized delivery agencies responsible for execution; a standing inter-ministerial synchronization mechanism to align innovation tools with procurement, skills, competition constraints, digital transformation, and recovery investments; and a regional contour grounded in smart specialization logic to generate pipelines and provide adoption environments. The proposed roadmap emphasizes innovation procurement as a demand-side scaling lever, standardized stage-gate progression for financing instruments, professionalization of civil-service competencies, data-driven management routines, and a compact KPI framework linking inputs, outputs, and outcomes with public reporting and effectiveness audit. Conclusion. Sustainable innovation governance requires shifting from declarative strategies and fragmented initiatives toward an integrated operating model that aligns institutional responsibility, procedures, data, and performance accountability in one coherent cycle. For Ukraine, the most feasible path is not replicating EU institutional forms, but reproducing their functional logic: predictable programme cycles, administrable instruments across the innovation chain, procurement-enabled demand creation, disciplined integrity safeguards, and analytics-based monitoring that enables continuous adjustment and strengthens trust in resource allocation during recovery and integration.

Managerial creativity is a key competency for ensuring innovation and competitiveness in the context of globalization and rapid technological change. This paper analyses the factors influencing managers' creative thinking, methods for its development and organizational strategies, with a comparative look at European and Asian approaches. Findings suggest that Asian organizations favour collective creativity, structured learning, and technocentric AI integration, while European models emphasize individual autonomy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a human-centered AI ethic. The study combines a qualitative literature review with a quantitative survey of 109 L&D professionals in industrial enterprises in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The results showed moderate effectiveness of internal learning processes, with adaptation of new employees, inadequate measurement of outcomes and low motivation to learn being the main barriers. Information flow was often restricted by outdated processes. However, respondents showed high interest in using AI to support personalisation, onboarding and the development of creative thinking. Based on the analysis, a model of AI supporting 'augmented creativity' is proposed, where generative AI acts as a partner to develop divergent thinking and flexibility in problem solving. The study also highlights ethical and organisational challenges, such as automation bias or the risk of limiting creative autonomy, and recommends a hybrid approach combining a European focus on individual initiative and ethics with an Asian collective responsibility and technology focus.

Clinical perfusionists manage and optimize extracorporeal circulation as well as physiological and metabolic stability, to support positive patient outcomes under artificial physiological conditions, such as cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and other extracorporeal circulation systems. Despite the central role of the profession in patient safety and surgical outcomes, clinical perfusion remains inconsistently defined, regulated, and recognized across Europe. In response to these challenges, the European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion, together with the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, convened a multidisciplinary task force to develop a unified expert consensus on the minimum academic education, supervised clinical training, and continuing professional development for safe and independent practice. It defines essential technical competencies, such as the operation of heart-lung machines and mechanical circulatory support devices, alongside critical non-technical skills in decision-making, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The document also introduces a tiered framework to classify perfusionists by experience level and proposes mechanisms for certification and recertification through the European Certificate in Cardiovascular Perfusion. Furthermore, the statement highlights the importance of structured quality assurance programs, simulation-based education, and incident reporting systems in advancing perfusion safety and clinical effectiveness. A harmonized European approach is urgently needed to ensure consistent training standards, enhance workforce mobility, and support formal recognition of clinical perfusion as a regulated healthcare profession. This consensus aims to serve as a benchmark for national regulatory efforts and future professional development across Europe.

ABSTRACT The EU’s democracy promotion defines much of the Union’s engagement with its Eastern neighbourhood and further afield. Yet the democratization progress among the EU’s Eastern neighbours has proven uneven and, in some cases, even reversible. Russia’s all-out military invasion of Ukraine has only further exacerbated domestic and regional politics in Eastern Europe, making democratic reform stand second to security considerations and, thereby, opening space for a renewed push of autocratization. Against the backdrop of this critical juncture and the related arguable change in the EU’s policy from promoting to protecting democracy in its Eastern neighbourhood, this article enquires into the established and emerging practices of the EU’s differentiated democracy support, focusing on three discernible foreign-political ‘relationalities’: ‘enlargement’, ‘engagement’ and ‘estrangement’ (3Es). Putting relationship at the epicentre of analysis in the EU’s democratization/counter-autocratization dynamics vis-à-vis its Eastern neighbourhood, this article embraces the ‘relationality’ perspective and thereby brings in insights from IR to the hitherto pursued democratization and European studies approaches. In so doing, the article compares and contrasts how the ‘values, wallets and walls’, as the three corresponding rationalities of the EU’s democracy promotion and protection through ‘enlargement, engagement and estrangement’, have manifested throughout the past three decades in the EU’s relations, especially with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia – and to what end so.