European Commission Research Articles

Tracking bottom-fishing activities in protected vulnerable marine ecosystem areas and below 800-m depth in European Union waters.

Numerous studies have highlighted bottom-contact fishing gears as the primary threat to vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). In November 2022, the European Commission closed 87 VME protection polygons to bottom fishing in European waters. Using public automatic identification system (AIS) data, we found an 81% decrease in bottom-contact fishing effort within these areas in the year following the closures. However, approximately 3500 hours of bottom-contact fishing persisted within the closures. We also quantified up to 17,600 hours of bottom-contact fishing in unprotected areas where VMEs are known or likely to occur. Last, our analysis revealed ongoing bottom trawling below 800 meters in European waters totaling 19,200 hours over 2 years. These findings underscore the urgent need for states to enhance surveillance and monitoring of their fleets to ensure effective fisheries management.

Способы и критерии оценки степени экономической интеграции на примере стран Европейского союза

In this article the authors examined relevant experience of evaluating the effectiveness of economic integration using the example of the European Union as the most advanced integration association in the world nowadays. The article contains the analysis of the indices for integration measurement proposed by the supranational structures of the EU – the European Commission and the European Central Bank. The authors studied in detail two examples of approaches to assessing the effectiveness of integration within the EU by foreign researchers, which are based on an expanded theoretical and empirical base. The authors of the article highlight that besides the experience studied in the text, scientific publications also contain calculations of the old and new EU members integration level (Central and Eastern European countries), as well as integration and disintegration processes within the EU. Finally, the authors concluded that despite the methods adopted in the European Union for assessing the degree of its integration, this issue remains in the focus of attention of the European scientific community. Furthermore, the methodology for assessing the effectiveness of economic integration within the EU allows its leadership to timely adjust the development strategies of the integration association, which is strongly important in modern conditions. A question of integration is especially acute in the context of the systemic crisis in all EU countries, one of the main causes of which is the anti-Russian sanction policy.

Trans-2-Octenal controls Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, the causal agent of tomato wilt in vitro, in soil and in the field.

Fungal plant diseases cause major crop losses. Phytopathogenic fungi's ability to evolve resistance to fungicides, alongside ongoing prohibition of such agents by the European Commission because of their pronounced adverse effects on human health and the environment, make their control a challenge. Moreover, the development of less perilous fungicides is a complex task. Here we describe the process and challenges involved in the development of a novel fungicide, from in-vitro studies to field experiments. In-vitro experiments with trans-2-octenal, a bioactive compound secreted by the endophytic fungus Daldinia cf. concentrica, revealed its ability to fully inhibit and kill phytopathogenic microorganisms. A formulated version of trans-2-octenal was then used against the soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Forl), the causal agent of tomato vascular wilt disease, in pot experiments with different soil types. We found the highest fungicidal activity in sandy and loam soils, whereas heavy soil impaired activity. Lastly, we investigated the activity of the formulated trans-2-octenal against Forl in semi-field experiments. We achieved complete elimination of Forl, provided the soil is rotavated after trans-2-octenal application. trans-2-Octenal has the potential to control Forl in vitro, in pots and in the field. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Control (Supervisory) Powers of the Eurasian Economic Commission and the European Commission: Comparative Legal Aspect

Introduction. The article examines the powers of the Eurasian Economic Commission (hereinafter referred to as the EEC) and the European Commission (hereinafter referred to as the EC) in the field of control (supervision) over the implementation of integration legal orders by member states and business entities, their scope, limits of competence, and impact on the development of integration processes in the Eurasian Economic Union (hereinafter referred to as the EAEU) and the European Union (hereinafter referred to as the EU), as well as the role of the courts of the relevant integration associations in the implementation of the function under consideration by the Commissions. In addition, the author reviewed and analyzed the relevant law enforcement practice of the EEC and the EC, as well as the legal positions of the courts of the integration associations in question.Materials and methods. This study uses the works of both Russian and foreign experts in the field of European law and the law of the EAEU, as well as analyzes the legal acts of the EU and the EAEU. The research used general scientific methods of cognition – analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction. Special legal methods were also used in the work – formal legal, technical legal, the method of legal analogy, as well as the comparative legal method.Results of the study. As a result of the conducted research, it was revealed that despite the functioning of the EAEU for more than 10 years, there are certain problems in the activities of the EEC for the control (supervision) of the implementation by member States and economic entities of the EAEU law. In particular: the inability to apply to the EAEU Court with an application to bring to justice a member state that violated the norms of the EAEU law; the absence of a procedure in the law of the EAEU for prior notification of the EEC on acts adopted by the member States; the presence of fragmentation in the legal regulation of the EEC's control (supervisory) function over the implementation of the EAEU law by economic entities. The identified problems make it difficult for the EEC to effectively perform its duties in the part under consideration, and therefore they can be resolved through, inter alia, using the positive experience of the European Commission in exercising control (supervisory) powers over the implementation of European Union law.Discussion and conclusion. The presence of the problems indicated in the article in the field of the EEC's control (supervisory) powers necessitates the introduction of comprehensive amendments to the EAEU Treaty, acts of the EAEU bodies, as well as the issuance of new acts that will regulate issues that have not been regulated by the EAEU law to date. Thus, based on the results of a comparative legal analysis of the powers, the author identified problems and formulated conclusions on the similarities and differences in the legal status of the EEC and the EC in terms of their exercise of control (supervisory) powers. The trends in the development of the law enforcement practice of the Commissions in terms of the fulfillment by member States and business entities of obligations within the framework of relevant integration associations are determined. The ways of improving the implementation of the control (supervisory) function by the Eurasian Economic Commission on the basis of the identified positive experience of the European Union are presented.

Responsible Capital: The Evolution and Performance of ESG Investing

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing has rapidly evolved now into a critical component of global investment strategies, despite its roots in Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) dating back over two centuries. ESG gained prominence in the 1980s and was formally recognized in 2006 by the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), aligning it with global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. This paper reviews the evolution of the ESG investment ecosystem, examining key contributors, including regulators, fund managers, corporations, and rating agencies, and their roles in promoting ESG adoption. Recent regulatory initiatives, such as the U.S. SEC's ESG disclosure rules, the European Commission's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), and India’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework, represent significant efforts to streamline ESG reporting and reduce greenwashing. However, the lack of harmonized global standards and inconsistencies in ESG reporting and scoring methods remain critical challenges. This study analyses the performance of leading ESG funds in the U.S. and India over a four-year period, benchmarking their returns against major market indices. Additionally, it explores the correlations between ESG fund performance and market benchmarks, as well as the similarities in stock holdings between ESG and non-ESG funds. The findings reveal that while ESG funds perform comparably to or below traditional indices, significant gaps persist in defining ESG criteria and measuring performance effectively. The paper concludes with a call for global harmonization of ESG reporting standards and scoring methodologies to ensure consistency, transparency, and investor confidence. As ESG investing is poised for substantial growth, establishing clear definitions and robust frameworks will be essential to unlocking its potential as a transformative force in sustainable finance

Method Validation for Estimation of Imidacloprid and its Metabolites in Maize and Soil by LCMS-MS.

Validation of Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method was performed for estimation of imidacloprid (IM) and its metabolites in maize leaves, immature kernels, mature kernels, stalk, and soil using liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometry, coupled with electrospray ionization. The extraction in different matrices of maize and soil was performed using acetonitrile +0.1% formic acid followed by clean-up with primary secondary amine sorbent and anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The method was validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, matrix effect, ion ratios, quality control, robustness, accuracy, and precision. The validation of all parameters was done in accordance with European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) guidelines. A linear relationship with high correlation coefficients R2 > 0.99 was obtained for solvents and different matrices viz., maize leaves, immature kernels, mature kernels, stalk, and soil. The recovery and relative standard deviations were ˃78% and ˂5.4%, respectively. This method permits a simple, sensitive, accurate, cost-effective, precise, and rapid extraction of IM and its metabolites from maize leaves, immature kernels, mature kernels, stalks, and soil. This can help the residue analysts to address effective residue estimation, regular monitoring of residues and can also aid in the regulatory and food safety concerns about the usage of IM in maize.

Perspective on the role of norms for institutional behavior and policy design in European cross-border regions

The article analyses how a norm scientific perspective can advance our understanding of cross-border regions and guide future directions of research. Cross-border regions are territorial spaces comprising territory from two or more national states, located directly at the borders of those spaces. Since the 1950s it has become increasingly common that cross-border organizations, constituted by local municipalities and regional authorities and sometimes private entities, are established to coordinate governance processes around shared policy problems. These organizations fit into a Type II model of European multi-level governance as complex, fluid, and carried out in overlapping jurisdictions. A norm scientific perspective focuses on joint expectations as a primary predictor of behavior and thereby on social structures as well as social transformations. In accordance with institutional theory, norms are understood as intersubjective, widely shared, but often implicit, expectations and rules that guide human behavior. The article makes two arguments. First, it argues that a norm-scientific perspective has the potential to significantly advance the scientific community's understanding of various aspects related to how cross-border cooperation emergence and functioning. Second, it argues that cross-border regions constitute a promising venue to advance the knowledge of how norms can be studied and understood.

REMEDIES IN EU ANTITRUST LAW

Abstract Remedies are central in contemporary EU antitrust enforcement. However, they remain relatively misunderstood. Against this background, this article has three main objectives. It seeks, first, to shed light on the nature and purpose of remedial action under Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, with a focus on the European Commission’s activity. The point of intervention, the case law shows, is to bring an infringement effectively to an end. As a matter of positive law, it is unclear that there is room for restorative remedies (that is, remedies that seek to recreate the conditions of competition as they would have existed in the absence of the practice). Second, the article takes a critical perspective on the practice of the past decade. It appears, in particular, that a ‘principles-based approach’ to the administration of remedies is likely to lead to suboptimal outcomes. Finally, some recommendations are outlined so that the letter of the law matches the demands and ambitions of the sort of regulatory-like intervention that is necessary in digital markets and other industries presenting similar features.

The Colonial Imaginary of ‘Europe’ in the EU's Asymmetrical Response to the Russian and Israeli Aggressions: Ukraine as a Member of the ‘Family’ Whilst ‘Othering’ Palestine

AbstractWhat is ‘Europe’? The response to this question is not straightforward, as ‘Europe’ is a floating signifier that is in constant renegotiation. In this article, we focus on the imaginary of ‘Europe’ that has been deployed in the most salient international crises of the last years that have heavily shaken European Union (EU) politics: the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the attack of Hamas on 7 October 2023, followed by the ensuing offensive of Israel on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. More concretely, we ask: what is the narrative of ‘Europe’ articulated by the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and the HRVP, Josep Borrell, in response to these events? We argue that, in the context of these two cases, two distinct imaginaries of ‘Europe’ have been mobilised based on differentiated conceptualisations of the relationship of ‘Europe’ to Ukraine and Palestine. Whereas Ukraine is conceived as part of the ‘European family’, there is a process of ‘othering’ Palestine. Our article exposes the racism and double standards of the EU in regard to the defence of international law and human rights, the exclusiveness of who belongs to ‘Europe’ and the continuity of the colonial thinking that permeates the narratives of EU leaders.

Amalur EIS: a system for calculating the environmental impacts of industrial sites from E-PRTR records

This article presents Amalur EIS (https://www.amalur-eis.eus/), an Environmental Information System that estimates environmental impacts using data sourced from the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register database (E-PRTR). The system uses data on the releases into land, air and water of 31,556 European industrial facilities for the period 2007–2021. Amalur EIS calculates environmental impacts of industrial releases using 31 life cycle impact assessment methods (LCIA) and covering 78 of the 91 pollutants regulated by the PRTR Protocol. The system has been constructed using a two-layer software infrastructure: (i) a data layer supported by a relational database built in Postgres and (ii) a presentation layer built in Tableau, so it provides user-friendly access to the information. For an illustrative analysis of the tool, the EF 3.0 LCIA method recommended by the European Commission was used, including normalisation and weighting steps for a better comparison. The analysis concludes that the climate change impact category contributes the most (68.6%) to the total impacts, while the largest contributor from an economic activity perspective is the energy sector (59.5%). Geographically, both elements coincide in the German regions of Düsseldorf, Köln and Brandenburg, resulting in the concentration of the largest impacts at the European regional level. In fact, Germany is the country with the highest impact (20.3% of total). Beyond this analysis, Amalur EIS is poised to be a valuable tool for tracking the transition towards sustainability, particularly in Europe.

Evaluating the Progress of the EU Countries Towards Implementation of the European Green Deal: A Multiple Criteria Approach

The European Green Deal (EGD) is a package of policy initiatives launched by the European Commission in December 2019, which aims to set the European Union (EU) on the path to a green transition with the final goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The package includes interlinked initiatives covering the climate, the environment, energy, transport, industry, agriculture, and sustainable finance. It is thus evident that holistic and scientifically sound decision support systems are crucial to help EU policymakers and stakeholders in monitoring the progress of countries towards the implementation of the EGD. Indeed, the multidimensionality of this policy initiative lends itself well to its integration into a Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding (MCDA) approach to the identification of priorities for action. Therefore, this research aims to evaluate the progress of the EU countries towards the implementation of the European Green Deal, using MCDA. The PROMETHEE II method was applied to the data for EU countries, using 26 key indicators collected from the Eurostat database and organized into three thematic clusters. The results enabled us to calculate overall scores measuring the degree of implementation of the EGD by the EU countries, and their profiles with respect to the key indicators and thematic clusters. By analyzing these profiles, strengths and weaknesses were identified. Thus, the fundamental novelty of this research consists of the first concrete application of a holistic and ‘ready-to-use’ decision-making tool that can be adopted by EU policymakers and stakeholders to draw up a roadmap towards climate neutrality.

Nutrition Care in Cancer: An Overlooked Part of Patient-Centered Care.

Robust evidence highlights the crucial role of nutrition for people with cancer, and international organizations recognize it as a basic human right linked to health and food. Within this context, we aim to emphasize the critical role of nutrition care for cancer patients and to highlight the essential contributions of nurses in providing patient-centered nutrition care. This opinion paper synthesizes evidence and perspectives from peer-reviewed articles and position papers. Furthermore, insights were drawn from the European Commission's Health Policy Platform thematic network "Integrated Nutrition Cancer Care". Implementation of nutrition care is inconsistent, which can lead to inequalities in care. In oncology, nutrition care is vital as nutrition-related issues significantly impact clinical and patient outcomes. Studies show that cancer nurses can effectively integrate and manage nutrition care. Failure to address nutrition issues negatively impacts an array of patient outcomes and reduces quality of life. Thus, integrating nutrition care throughout routine cancer care is essential. Cancer nurses, as core multidisciplinary team members, are often the initial and consistent contact for cancer patients. They are ideally positioned to play a key role in securing nutrition care throughout the trajectory of cancer care. Cancer nurses should be empowered and enabled to manage all aspects of nutrition care in tandem with dietitians. This approach can improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of life, and ensure equitable access to essential nutrition care for all cancer patients.

When teaching competes with research for academics’ attention: addressing a key challenge in developing teaching excellence in the European university

ABSTRACT Many academics prioritise research activity over the pursuit of teaching excellence – a prioritisation that threatens the European Commission’s agenda for teaching excellence in higher education. This article considers what underpins such prioritisation, and how the tension it creates may be addressed. The discussion centres on micro-level theoretical perspectives on people’s attitudes to their work. The author’s ‘proximity theory’ explains such attitudes as determined by what people perceive as the proximity between their ‘actual’ and their ‘ideal’ job situations, and the extent to which their work requires them to compromise on their values and priorities – which for some academics may be research-focused and for others teaching-focused, while some may value a teaching-research balance. A policy of specialisation is accordingly proposed for the European HE sector, allowing academics to play to their strengths – teaching for some, research for others – with the aim of, collectively, achieving sector-wide excellence in both.

Detection of glyphosate, glufosinate, and their metabolites in multi-floral honey for food safety

Beehives can accumulate environmental contaminants as bees gather pollen, propolis, and water from their surroundings, contaminating hive products like honey. Moreover, in multifloral environments, bees can interact with plants treated with different pesticides, often causing higher pesticides concentrations in multi-floral honey than in mono-floral varieties. Glyphosate and glufosinate are both widely used herbicides. Glyphosate accounted for one-third of herbicide sales in Europe in 2017 and continues to raise health concerns, including its potential carcinogenicity. While the European Commission extended glyphosate’s authorisation for another 10 years in 2023, concerns remain about its impact on biodiversity and human health. This study aimed to monitor the presence of glyphosate, glufosinate, and their metabolites in 100 samples of multifloral honey representing Italian production by analysis using IC-HRMS. Results indicated that 12% of honey samples contained glyphosate residues ranging from > LOQ to 45 ng g−1, with the highest concentrations detected in the Puglia region. No sample exceeded the maximum residue levels set by EU regulations. Glufosinate and its metabolites were not detected in any samples. These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of pesticide residues in honey, particularly given the potential ‘cocktail effect’ of multiple contaminants and their combined toxicity. This study highlights the importance of safeguarding consumer health, especially in vulnerable populations, by addressing gaps in data on pesticide residue levels.

The reproductive tract microbiome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and across different menstrual cycle phases.

Do polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), menstrual cycle phases, and ovulatory status affect reproductive tract (RT) microbiome profiles? We identified microbial features associated with menstrual cycle phases in the upper and lower RT microbiome, but only two specific differences in the upper RT according to PCOS status. The vaginal and uterine microbiome profiles vary throughout the menstrual cycle. Studies have reported alterations in the vaginal microbiome among women diagnosed with PCOS. This prospective case-control study included a cohort of 37 healthy control women and 52 women diagnosed with PCOS. Microbiome samples were collected from the vagina as vaginal swabs (VS) and from the uterus as endometrial flushing (EF) aspirate samples, and compared according to PCOS diagnosis, the menstrual cycle phases, and ovulatory status, at Oulu University Hospital (Oulu, Finland) from January 2017 to March 2020. A total of 83 VS samples and 80 EF samples were collected. Age and body mass index (BMI) were matched between women with and without PCOS. Clinical characteristics were assessed using blood samples collected between cycle days 2 and 8, and microbial DNA was sequenced on the Ion Torrent platform. Microbial alpha diversity (i.e. the observed number of unique genera and Shannon diversity index) was analysed across sample types, PCOS diagnosis and menstrual cycle phases. Linear mixed-effects models were utilised to identify microbial features in relation to PCOS and the menstrual cycle phases. Associations between the beta diversity of the RT microbiome and PCOS- and cycle-related clinical features were calculated using PERMANOVA. Microbial alpha diversity showed no difference with PCOS (VS: Pobserved feature = 0.836, Pshannon = 0.998; EF: Pobserved feature = 0.366, Pshannon = 0.185), but varied with menstrual cycle phases (VS: Pobserved feature = 0.001, Pshannon = 0.882; EF: Pobserved feature = 0.026, Pshannon = 0.048). No difference was observed in beta diversity based on either PCOS or the menstrual cycle phases (VS: PPCOS = 0.280, Pcycle = 0.115; EF: PPCOS = 0.234, Pcycle = 0.088). In the endometrial flushing samples, we identified two novel microbial features, characterised by the ratio of differential abundance of two genera, associated with PCOS (FDR ≤ 0.1) and 13 novel features associated with the menstrual cycle phases (FDR ≤ 0.1). Although this was the first study to simultaneously analyse, the lower and upper RT microbiome in women with and without PCOS, the limited sample size of anovulatory cases may hinder the detection of differences related to PCOS and ovulatory status. The main finding suggests that PCOS and the menstrual cycle phases are associated with specific microbial features in the upper RT, indicating that the analysis of the upper RT microbiome can potentially identify biomarkers for both PCOS and menstrual cycle phases. This research was funded by the Research Council of Finland (grants no. 315921, 321763, 336449), the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation (grant no. NNF21OC0070372), and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant (MATER, grant no. 813707). This research was also funded by the Estonian Research Council (grants no. PRG1076, PRG1414), the Horizon Europe grant (NESTOR, grant no. 101120075) of the European Commission, and EMBO Installation Grant (grant no. 3573). The funders did not participate in any processes of the study. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. N/A.

R21 in Matrix-M adjuvant in UK malaria-naive adult men and non-pregnant women aged 18-45years: anopen-label, partially blinded, phase 1-2a controlled human malaria infection study.

R21 is a novel malaria vaccine, composed of a fusion protein of the malaria circumsporozoite protein and hepatitis Bsurface antigen. Following favourable safety and immunogenicity in a phase 1study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of R21 administered with Matrix-M (R21/MM) against clinical malaria in adults from the UK who were malaria naive in a controlled human malaria infection study. In this open-label, partially blinded, phase 1-2A controlled human malaria infection study undertaken inOxford, Southampton, and London, UK, we tested five novel vaccination regimens of R21/MM. Astandard three-dose regimen (groups 1and 6) was compared with a reduced (fractional) third dose (groups 2and 5) of R21/MM, concomitant administration with viral vectors ChAd63-MVA expressing ME-TRAP (group 3), and a two-dose R21/MM regimen (group 7). Controlled Human Malaria Infection (CHMI) was delivered by mosquito bite at Imperial College London, London, UK, 3-4 weeks after final vaccination (or 18months after final vaccination for group 6) alongside unvaccinated controls (groups 4A and 4B). The primary outcome measures were to assess safety of the vaccines in healthy malaria-naive volunteers and the efficacy (occurrence of blood-stage malaria infection) of the different vaccine regimens compared with non-vaccinated controls after CHMI. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02905019). 66volunteers were enrolled with 59undergoing subsequent CHMI. All vaccination schedules were well tolerated. The highest level of protection against CHMI was observed in participants receiving the standard three-dose regimen of R21/MM (group 1, nine of 11volunteers protected) with protection maintained in three of five volunteers re-challenged by CHMI 7·5months later. Protection against malaria was also seen in group 2, group 3, and group 5compared with unvaccinated control participants. Total IgG antibody responses to the NANP repeat region of circumsporozoite protein peaked after the third dose of R21/MM in all volunteers and were well maintained to 90days after challenge. Reducing the third dose did not affect protection or antibody concentrations. Our study shows that R21/MM elicits high-level efficacy against clinical malaria in a controlled human infection model of malaria in adults who are malaria naive. These data supported the evaluation of R21/MM in field efficacy trials in the target population of young children in malaria-endemic areas. EU Horizon 2020, the UK Medical Research Council, the European Commission, the UK National Institute of Health Research, the Imperial NIHR Clinical Research Facility, the Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and the Wellcome Trust.

"HEALTH INSPECTIONS OF RESTAURANT ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE ATTICA REGION, GREECE. NON-COMPLIANCE DATA WITHIN THE FOOD HYGIENE SECTOR".

Ensuring food safety is a fundamental priority for public health. The catering sector has become prominent as a convenient and cost-effective method of food supply worldwide. Adherence to proper food hygiene practices is crucial for preventing foodborne diseases. The inspection of food items is a key component of internal controls that enables the identification of non-compliance with food hygiene standards. The present study aims to assess Attica restaurant businesses' compliance with international food hygiene standards (FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius) and European legislation on unsafe food. From January to July 2023, 74 randomly selected restaurants of small, medium, and large capacity in Attica were examined through inspections in terms of compliance for food hygiene standards. The inspections were based on a) the completion of forms and b) the collection of water and food samples for laboratory microbiological analysis. Data were collected using a predefined form, referencing the manual of Codex Alimentarius regarding food hygiene standards (CAC/RCP 1-1969 / CAC/RCP 39-1993). Additionally, the assessment included the identification of unsafe food placement in accordance with Regulation EC/178/2002 on food safety, as well as Greek national legislation (European Commission, 2002; Hellenic Republic, 2006, 2014). The highest non-compliance rates are in "adequacy of facilities" (14.12%), "equipment maintenance and sanitization" (12.30%), "pest control" (12.45%), "personal hygiene" (7.58%), and "efficient separation of raw materials" (9.76%). Non-compliance rates for other food hygiene parameters (cooking practices, meal apportionment, storage, transport, reheating, etc.) were considerably lower. The inspection results showed that medium-sized restaurant businesses present the highest rate (56.41%) of total non-compliance compared to large-sized businesses (29.68%) and small-sized businesses (13.91%). This study demonstrate that restaurant businesses generally adhere to food hygiene and safety standards at a satisfactory level. There is a need for restaurant operators to prioritize enhancing compliance, particularly in addressing critical issues that could potentially result in outbreaks of foodborne diseases. Running Title: "Health inspections of restaurant establishments in Greece".

Assessing the EU27 Potential to Meet the Nature Restoration Law Targets.

The Nature Restoration Law adopted by the European Union in 2024 aims to implement measures to restore at least 20% of its land and sea by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050, focusing on among others agricultural land, forests, urban, marine, freshwater, and wetlands areas. The goal is to enhance the natural and semi-natural habitats' role in achieving climate targets and preserving biodiversity. Member States must submit detailed national restoration plans, outlining specific actions and mechanisms for monitoring progress. However, these plans should align with the ongoing Common Agricultural Policy and National Energy and Climate Plans objectives. Using data from European Commission reports and applying a semantic interval scale methodology, this study quantifies each Member State's ambitions and effectiveness under the National Energy Climate Plans and Common Agricultural Policy and establishes a benchmark for reporting under the Nature Restoration Law. The findings reveal the National Energy Climate Plans' wide disparities in implementing decarbonization measures, climate change adaptation and the implementation of nature-based solutions. The Common Agricultural Policy Plans exhibit only partial commitment to greening agriculture, yet their alignment with Nature Restoration Law objectives varies. Therefore, timely coordination between the three strategies is crucial to avoid conflicting goals, overlapping efforts, and wasting time and resources, ensuring the success of restoration actions.

Goal-Setting in Budget Expenditure Reviews: A Comparative Analysis of Russian and Foreign Practice

The purpose of the study is to analyze Russian and foreign goal-setting practices when choosing types of expenses and problems that will later be considered in the framework of budget expenditure reviews. The author used methods of comparative legal, logical and systemic analysis. The study showed that goal setting has a major impact on the process of selecting issues when budget expenditure reviews are preparing, on their structure and subsequent use: at the same time, there is a competition between the goals of saving and increasing the efficiency of budget expenditure. The goals of saving budget become a priority in a situation of increasing budget deficit, or under pressure from international structures such as the European Commission. At the same time, the task of overcoming budgetary incrementalism, that is, the annual “inheritance” of the structure and volume of current expenditures, is usually not solved, even if it is reflected in the reviews. Thus, the main task in preparing reviews is to increase the efficiency of budget expenditures, which, as a rule, means a very vague range of management decisions. In addition, increasing the efficiency of budget expenditures, as a rule, is not achieved in practice. The study also showed that most countries, as a rule, do not use any formalized methodology when setting goals and selecting types of expenditures for subsequent reviews of budget expenditures.

Safety of frozen and dried forms of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283.

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of frozen, dried and powder forms of whole yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor larva) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The term yellow mealworm refers to the larval form of the insect species T. molitor. The NF consists of the frozen and dried forms of the whole yellow mealworm. The frozen form mainly consists of water, crude protein, carbohydrates and fat, whereas the dried forms consist of crude protein, fat and carbohydrates. The Panel notes that the levels of contaminants in the NF highly depend on the occurrence levels of these substances in the insect feed. The Panel notes that there are no safety concerns regarding the stability of the NF if the NF complies with the proposed specification limits during its entire shelf life. The NF has a protein content that ranges between 13 and 48 g/100 g. The Panel acknowledges that the true protein content is overestimated when using the nitrogen-to-protein conversion factor of 6.25 due to the presence of non-protein nitrogen from chitin. The applicant proposed to use the NF as food ingredient in various food products. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population. Considering the composition of the NF and the proposed conditions of use, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. The Panel notes that no safety concerns arise from the toxicological information of the NF. The Panel considers that the consumption of the NF might trigger primary sensitisation to yellow mealworm proteins and may cause allergic reactions in subjects allergic to crustaceans, dust mites and molluscs. Additionally, allergens from the feed may end up in the NF. The Panel notes that allergic reactions may occur upon consumption. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed uses and use levels.