European Coordination Research Articles

Workshop: Cohorts: coordinated tools for decision support

Abstract Longitudinal cohorts, by allowing to follow over the time a group of persons with common characteristics to identify the occurrence of health events, have proven to be very valuable instruments in medical and public health research. For instance, it is possible to investigate links between exposures (demographic, biological, behavioral, environmental, or genetic) and the occurrence of observed health events. And indeed the applications of the cohorts are multiple: besides public health research (links between risk factors or exposures and disease, health effects of unusual or still unknown exposures), it is possible, for example, to investigate the impact of a therapeutic strategy or complex healthcare intervention on the population status. Therefore, observations resulting from cohort studies are now often at the heart of public policy decision-making. In addition, health-data collections are increasingly broad in our societies (data from research, care, patient communities, or using personal initiatives such as smartphone applications and connected objects) and heterogeneous (genomic, physiological, biological, clinical, social and environmental). However, the efficiency of these epidemiological studies is limited by many factors, while resources required to develop them are very important. The lack of knowledge of the European landscape, the lack of harmonization of practices or governance or the lack of communication between various stakeholders, have an impact on the strategy to adopt. It would be essential to consider procedures to optimize resources, harmonize methodologies and coordination between structures, in such a context where epidemiological expertise is sometimes scarce and under-resourced. Furthermore, possibilities of international cross-cohorts linkages and collaborations could allow for unique and fruitful research opportunities, impossible to achieve in the setting of a stand-alone cohort. During this workshop, we propose to present different European initiatives and coordination models, but also to highlight collaborations between these cohorts. This brainstorming would allow us 1) to expose methodologies and best practices, which are developed by the various stakeholders; 2) to identify common or transposable procedures in order to participate in sustainable European strategy and at last, to address the challenges of developing future cohorts and using personal health data. For this purpose, four speakers will present the French landscape developed over the past ten years and three models of cohort coordination and data mining in Europe: the French cohort Constances, the Swedish consortium Cohorts.se and the German National Cohort. Each participant will speak for 15 minutes. Then the chairperson will lead the workshop’s joint discussion with the four speakers and the audience. Key messages cohorts are one of the reference instruments for epidemiological and public health research, and represent a significant advantage in decision support. efforts are need to improve the coordination of these cohorts, both nationally and internationally, to sustain these expensive instruments and foster the development of international collaborations.

Neither existing nor emerging: euro stabilization by means of European wage coordination

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s and even more so since the introduction of the euro, European trade unions have been committed to the transnational coordination of wage demands. This commitment has prevailed until today although, under conditions of persistent institutional heterogeneity, coordination attempts have continuously failed. Keeping the commitment nevertheless alive aims at retaining the option of effective wage coordination for the long-term future. In the short to medium term, in contrast, no evidence suggests that transnational wage coordination will be able to correct the distorted real effective exchange rates that have emerged since the introduction of the euro.

Internal social security coordination in seven European States

In the first chapter, we examine the importance of the difference between federalism and decentralisation as far as issues of internal social security coordination are concerned. In the next chapter, factors limiting the importance of internal coordination are reviewed and in the following chapters, traditional internal coordination questions are addressed. The concluding chapter questions the approach taken by the European Court of Justice in respect of the interaction between European and internal social security coordination.

Social devolution and the impact of European Union Law: A critical analysis

This article examines the extent to which EU law impacts on the relationship between the sub-national entities of a Member State where these sub-national entities have regulatory powers in the field of social protection. More specifically, it explores whether the criteria relied on in EU law for determining the scope of the circles of solidarity in the relationship between the Member States can also be applied in the context of the relations between the sub-national entities of regionalised Member States. It appears that EU law on the free movement of persons influences these matters, more specifically the European social security coordination system that determines to which national circle of solidarity a person migrating between Member States belongs. Indeed, in its judgment in the Flemish care insurance case, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) also applied these rules to some categories of persons in a cross-border situation between different regions of a single Member State. This article critically analyses this case law specifically in terms of respect for the regionalised identity of socially devolved Member States. It concludes that this kind of respect requires that in the context of the relations between sub-national entities of a regionalised Member State, the domestic constitutional rules determining the boundaries of circles of solidarity between these entities should, in all circumstances, have preference over the EU rules applicable between Member States.

Інституціоналізація системи координації європейської політики: досвід Польщі.

The article is an analysis of the Polish European policy coordination system and its planned changes regarding both its institutional structure as well as its current legal and institutional development. The analysis is supported by an elaboration on the European Union’s (EU’s) general matters coordination system as one of the most important aspects of the Europeanization of EU Member States (MS). The central thesis of this article proposes that the Polish coordination system is not based on a single, clear model (although it has been influenced by certain solutions applied in different models), but rather it is inconsistent, stretched between ambitions to include European issues in the daily operations of public administration institutions and the tendency to treat European issues as a political tool. The models of coordination are briefly presented in the article. The level of efficiency of European policy coordination in Poland is briefly characterized in the article mainly considering the Metcalfe scale and the World Bank benchmarks. The article also indicates Poland's coalition potential in voting in the European Council. The current system of co-ordination in Poland (set up by the reform of 2009) is based on dual center, namely on Committee for European Affairs, located in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and reporting to the PM as well as on Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The reform of 2009 was necessary to efficiently prepare the Polish Presidency in the Council of the European Union (2011). In the system decentralization is steadily challenged by the tendency to centralize, sectoral ministries have relatively large autonomy, but are nevertheless steadily challenged by the MFA, PM, the minister responsible for European affairs (yet with weak political power as a deputy minister in MFA), finally (since 2015) by strong political leader of PiS. The Polish coordination system is planned to be replaced by one main center in the PMO, with the MFA providing a supporting role. The strong influence of the PM in EU coordination models usually leads to centralization and better efficiency of representing policy preferences at the European level. In comparison, systems lead by the MFA are more efficient in implementing EU policies. Law and Justice – the Polish ruling party (PiS) - is planning to shift the center of the coordination system to the PMO for the purpose of centralization and easier control by the Prime Minister (or, as many analysts state, by the leader of PiS), as well as to make it more efficient. This is related not only to the fact that the position of the MFA in Poland is recently rather weak and of the PM quite strong but also to the fact that Poland has been involved in numerous conflicts with the EU institutions over the question of rule of law, which has increased necessity of involvement of politics into Poland-EU relations. However, the planned reform may deprive professional and highly-skilled public administration employees of influence on this process. It can also undermine the Polish participation in the multi-level activities of EU institutions, impeding the Europeanization. Taking into consideration the fact that Polish EU policy is rather reactive, centralizing the system and making it more politicized can bring clearer, better-grounded and stronger voice regarding Polish policy preferences in the EU. However, it can also make this voice more radically nationally-oriented than ever before.

The Permissibility of Interventions Into Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in the Exercise of Police and Security Activities

This scientific study is part of research no. 130 Metenko Jozef, Methods of research and development of police activities, research no. 201 Metenko Jozef, Strengthening of European coordination in the field of national security research programmes for major events, research no.182 Metenko Jozef, Administrative practice for dialogue and communication, as the strategic principles of police activities for political manifestation and research no. 173 Metenko Jozef, Coordination of national research and policy to ensure security in major events in Europe. The scientific study deals with the issue of police interventions into fundamental rights and freedoms as a result of police activities connected to the execution of tasks and duties of police officers, and also with other provisions of the Act on the Police Force. The authors consider the rule of law to be synonymous with constitutional or legitimate governance and which also characterises the exercise of state authority on the basis of constitutionally issued laws. The authors associate police interventions with the protective function of the state, establish conditions for interference with fundamental rights and freedoms from the perspective of police activity which compliance with, or breaching of, indicates whether the particular rights and freedoms are violated or not by the intervention. Subsequently, the authors identified the concepts of prevention and prophylaxis, which they interpret on the basis of chosen international scientific results and conclusions.

Transformative agroecology learning in Europe: building consciousness, skills and collective capacity for food sovereignty

Agroecology has been proposed as a key building block for food sovereignty. This article examines the meaning, practices and potentials of ‘transformative agroecology learning’ as a collective strategy for food system transformation. Our study is based on our qualitative and action research with the European Coordination of Via Campesina to develop the European Agroecology Knowledge Exchange Network (EAKEN). This network is linked to the global network of La Via Campesina and builds on the strong experiences and traditions of popular education in Latin American peasant movements. Rather than focusing on agroecology education as a process of individual learning, we analyse how a transformative agroecology education can be strengthened as a critical repertoire of action used by social movements to advance food sovereignty. Our analysis contributes a new theory of transformative agroecology learning based on four key characteristics or qualities: horizontalism; diálogo de saberes (wisdom dialogues); combining practical and political knowledge; and building social movement networks. While these different elements of transformative agroecology learning were present across EAKEN, they were unevenly developed and, in many cases, not systematized. The framework can help to strategically and reflexively systematize and strengthen a transformative agroecology learning approach as a key building block for food sovereignty.

A Utilitarian Approach for the Governance of Humanitarian Migration

Abstract Humanitarian migration creates, on the one hand, huge benefits for those who are protected from war, persecution and other forms of violence, but, on the other hand, involves also net monetary and social costs for the population in host countries providing protection at the same time. This is the core of the ethical and political problem associated with the governance of humanitarian migration. Against this background, this paper discusses whether the provision of protection can be founded on rational ethical principles. By drawing on a utilitarian approach a simple criterion is derived: Humanitarian migration is welfare improving, as long as the benefits of the marginal humanitarian migrant exceed the marginal costs of providing shelter per refugee. Based on this principle, practical solutions for the admission of humanitarian migrants and the international and European coordination of asylum policies are discussed.

Operations reliability study of small aircraft powered by piston engines

PurposeEurope has adopted Flight Path 2050 (FP 2050) challenge with an objective of 90 per cent of the travelers being able to reach door-to-door European destinations within 4 hours by 2050. The aim can be achieved by reliable, well-organized small aircraft transport (SAT). Analysis of the currently operating small aircraft operational reliability data will support the development of future aircraft designs as well as reliability and safety requirements necessary for commercial operations.Design/methodology/approachThe paper provides results of a statistical analysis of small aircraft current operations based on the reported events contained in the Database named European Coordination Centre for Aviation Incident Reporting Systems database. It presents identified safety indicators and focuses particularly on those related to the aviation technology.FindingsIt has been found that certain airframe and powerplant systems have the biggest influence on flight safety.Practical implicationsMultidisciplinary analysis of the operational and aircraft components reliability data will help in a proper preparation of the SAT supporting facilities, a design process of new aircraft and improvements of the existing airframe and powerplant systems.Originality/valuePresented results are valuable for further developments of the statistical tools facilitating new product introduction.

The Emergence, dynamics and agency of social innovation in seed exchange networks

Seed movements are more than a manifestation of the struggle to increase farmers’ and gardeners’ access to seeds. In this article, we explore seed saving and sharing as networked practices for the maintenance of genetic diversity as well as for social innovation in a new type of seed exchange networks in Hungary, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK and the European Coordination of the Let’s Liberate Diversity network. We analyse our qualitative interview data using Transformative Social Innovation theory as a new perspective to link social movement and social innovation literature. We focus on the emergence, dynamics, and agency of seed exchange networks in Europe as innovative social configurations to explore how seed networks promote transformations in agricultural, ecological, political, material, social, and cultural realms. We conclude that social innovation arises when the material exchange of seeds is intertwined with interpersonal sharing of knowledge that helps to create new social relationships and reframe global agricultural problems. The materiality of the seed is the intermediary that unites people, ideas, and networks across sectors, and serves as a means to redefine social relationships and create new modes of learning, doing, framing, and organising.

The emerging EU framework on cybersecurity certification

The emerging EU cybersecurity certification framework proposed by the European Commission by means of the Cybersecurity Act seeks to complement the efforts of the EU Member States in the area of certification of products and services. While EU Member States retain full operational capacity in the aftermath of this proposal, a European Cybersecurity Coordination Group undertakes the governance of the certification framework and ENISA assumes a role in the drawing up of certification schemes. The expectation that the EU certification framework build upon is that it will enhance the ability of the EU to compete in the global cyber-security arena and improve security conditions for consumers and businesses in the EU as a whole.

Can national management measures achieve good status across international boundaries? - A case study of the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast sub-region

Coastal countries have historically implemented management measures to improve the status of their national marine waters and little effort has been made to take coordinated actions to improve the status of the entire region or sub-region of which they are part. At the European level, the adoption of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) aims to remedy this deficiency and to promote coordination among countries and an integrated management of the marine environment. The MSFD requires each country to propose and adopt a programme of measures to achieve Good Environmental Status of the regional seas. This study compares the programmes of measures of the three countries of the Bay of Biscay and Iberian coast sub-region – France, Portugal and Spain – presenting a novel use of multivariate analyses using semi-quantitative policy information. Among the four North-East Atlantic sub-regions, this study area was chosen because it showed the lowest levels of coherence during the first phase of the implementation of the MSFD, according to the European Commission assessment. The results show the differences among the three programmes, confirming the difficulties that neighbouring countries face when they are required to adopt common approaches in the implementation of this multi-sectoral Directive. Most of the measures developed in the sub-region address marine biodiversity but this is through a wide range of actions, covering different pressures and different species/habitats. The integration with other legislation is more similar between Spain and France and differs between these and Portugal. The three countries also recognise the lack of knowledge to perform the economic analysis, in particular in quantifying the costs of and social benefits derived from their measures. It is concluded here that a better use of the regional and European coordination structures is needed to fill the gaps in knowledge and to exchange good practices. More political will is necessary to take action at European and international level to mitigate the impact of those socio-economic activities through joint programmes, for which Community funding is available.

How the European Community Entered the United Nations, 1969–1976, and What It Meant for European Political Integration

ABSTRACTDuring the first half of the 1970s, the European Community became a recognisable actor at the United Nations [UN]: The Community itself became a permanent observer, and it was customary for Community member-states to express common positions on most of the issues discussed within the organisation. It was a remarkable development for the Western European states—yet one not satisfactorily accounted for by the existing literature. The perspective adopted in this analysis highlights the connexions between the growing activity of the Community at the UN and the increasing co-ordination of its member-states even on matters falling outside the Community’s purview, as well as the connexions between the affirmation of the European Community at the UN and other major contemporary developments in European political integration. In this way, this analysis sheds light on some fundamental motives, features, and limits of Western European co-ordination on the international stage.

Hazards in the Polish Civil Aviation resulting from engines failures

Published by the Civil Aviation Authority in May 2017, the State Safety Programme 2017-2020 in the appendix A presents "Events Data - 2016". Detailed description of the hazard arising from the technical condition of aircraft limits to the general presentation of the events in terms of SCF-NP (System Component Failure Non Powerplant) and SCF-PP (System Component Failure Powerplant). The analysis of these events performed in the Institute of Aviation (aviation events reports are collected in the European Coordination Center for Accident and Incident Reporting System database - ECCAIRS) has shown that the general aviation and commercial aviation (CAT) should be treated separately. Especially events caused by the powerplants failures must be considered separately for piston, turbofan, turboshaft, turboprop types and also their each installation has to be taken into account. Events caused by the technical condition of aircraft, especially engines, are the most common cause of accidents in general aviation. The aim of the article is to improve risk awareness and, ultimately, reduce the number of the aviation events associated with exploitation of the piston engines. Particularly significant impact on reducing the number of accidents in general aviation can be achieved by the implementation of modern technical solutions to control the technical condition of the engines and reduce their operating costs, while operators are fully aware of the risks resulting from the possibility of extending engine time on wing. In conclusion: reversing the dangerous trend of piston engine failures causing aviation safety hazards requires, above all, changes in the way these engines are operated.

Benefits and impediments for the integrated and coordinated management of European seas

New multi-sectoral policies with a regional implementation are developed when maritime states recognise the importance of managing the marine environment under an ecosystem-perspective rather than a use-perspective. In Europe, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) is the first attempt to promote an integrated management of the seas from the coastline to the limit of the Exclusive Economic Zone. This paper shows that, nine years from the MSFD adoption, there remain several ecological, economic, social and governance challenges. Using information gathered in a dedicated survey of the European Union Marine Strategy Coordination Group and in the recent literature the paper identifies the obstacles preventing a successful regional cooperation and policy integration. The survey indicates that the MSFD coordination structures are, in general, well-developed but there is an apparent lack of political will to coordinate actions at the regional level. Member States request greater flexibility to implement the Directive but they put their national interests before the benefit of a coherent and integrated approach for the entire region. Differences in budget, economic sector predominance, lack of staff and the MSFD short time-scale are identified as the factors that can hamper cooperation. These have produced recommendations of possible strategies for optimising regional coordination structures which respect the subsidiarity principle underpinning the MSFD.

New Profiles, New Skills, New Education for Digital Heritage Professionals: European Spotlight on Competency-Based System

ABSTRACTIn Europe, the competency-based system of lifelong learning has been adopted with the objectives of improving professional competencies and promoting professionals' mobility. European coordination is carried out through international programs, guidelines, and frameworks. The benefit for digital heritage professionals is to have the responsibility for their continuous professional development and recognition of their competencies. However, some issues are highlighted: How to recognize new profiles using national and static competencies lists? Who needs to evaluate individual competencies? How can we adopt internationally the competencies of digital heritage profiles?

Ontological Foundations of European Coordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems

The European Coordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems develops an information system for reporting aviation occurrences on the European scale. The system makes use of various taxonomies, like the taxonomy of event types, or a taxonomy of descriptive factors. However, the European Coordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems data model and associated taxonomies are complex and difficult to understand, which reduces interpretability of the records. In this paper, the problems European Coordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems users face during occurrence reporting are discussed, as well as subsequent searches in reported occurrences. Next, it is shown how proper conceptual modeling with ontological foundations could leverage the quality of occurrence categorization, and thus better exploitability of the European Coordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems system. The ontological model is demonstrated on the Aviation Vocabulary Explorer, which is a new prototypical tool for exploring European Coordination Centre for Accident and Incident Reporting Systems.

‘A few sparks of inspiration’?: analysing the outcomes of European Union cultural policy coordination

ABSTRACTThis article examines the outcomes of cultural policy coordination in the European Union using a case study of one policy priority in the 2011–2014 Work Plan for Culture. The Open Method of Coordination brings Member States together to exchange and cooperate on key policy priorities. Drawing on interviews with key actors as well as participant observation material, the article demonstrates the limited influence of the culture OMC on domestic policy, showing that domestic usage tends to be on the scale of individuals and organisations rather than Member State-wide. The article finishes by contextualising the outcomes, highlighting the constraints and challenges of intergovernmental coordination in fields where the EU holds a supporting competence.

Recommendations from the European Working Group for Value Assessment and Funding Processes in Rare Diseases (ORPH-VAL)

Rare diseases are an important public health issue with high unmet need. The introduction of the EU Regulation on orphan medicinal products (OMP) has been successful in stimulating investment in the research and development of OMPs. Despite this advancement, patients do not have universal access to these new medicines. There are many factors that affect OMP uptake, but one of the most important is the difficulty of making pricing and reimbursement (P&R) decisions in rare diseases. Until now, there has been little consensus on the most appropriate assessment criteria, perspective or appraisal process. This paper proposes nine principles to help improve the consistency of OMP P&R assessment in Europe and ensure that value assessment, pricing and funding processes reflect the specificities of rare diseases and contribute to both the sustainability of healthcare systems and the sustainability of innovation in this field. These recommendations are the output of the European Working Group for Value Assessment and Funding Processes in Rare Diseases (ORPH-VAL), a collaboration between rare disease experts, patient representatives, academics, health technology assessment (HTA) practitioners, politicians and industry representatives. ORPH-VAL reached its recommendations through careful consideration of existing OMP P&R literature and through a wide consultation with expert stakeholders, including payers, regulators and patients. The principles cover four areas: OMP decision criteria, OMP decision process, OMP sustainable funding systems and European co-ordination. This paper also presents a guide to the core elements of value relevant to OMPs that should be consistently considered in all OMP appraisals. The principles outlined in this paper may be helpful in drawing together an emerging consensus on this topic and identifying areas where consistency in payer approach could be achievable and beneficial. All stakeholders have an obligation to work together to ensure that the promise of OMP’s is realised.

ARIES – Development of Accelerator Technology in Europe 2017-2020: Global and Local Consequences

Abstract The article describes chosen, yet key parts of newly established European, infrastructural research and development project ARIES (2017-2020) - Accelerator Research and Innovation for European Science and Society, to be realized inside the framework of the H2020 programme. Two institutions from Poland participate in ARIES – these are Warsaw University of Technology and Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology. ARIES is a topical continuation of the previous infrastructural accelerator projects realized uninterruptedly since 2003 – FP6 CARE – Coordinated Accelerator Research in Europe and FP7 TIARA – Test Infrastructure and Accelerator Research Area, EuCARD – European Coordination for Accelerator Research and Development, and EuCARD2. The article is simultaneously a part of a series of papers concerning the participation of Polish doctoral students and young researchers, especially from the Warsaw University of Technology, in large European and world experiments of the discovery class, including building large research infrastructures like: FLASH and EXFEL, ESS, ITER and DEMO, IFMIF, but also satellites built by the ESA, etc. ARIES embraces, among others, the following subjects: energy efficiency and management, cost lowering, miniaturization and ultra-high field gradients, promotion innovation, industrial applications, societal implications, new materials and components, new methods of particles acceleration including laser-plasma-particles interaction, and building new generations of systems.