European States Research Articles

Predictive parameters of the efficacy of varicocele repair: a review.

Varicocele has a prevalence of 15% in the population and represents a primary cause of infertility in 40% of cases and a secondary cause in approximately 80% of cases. It is considered the major correctable cause of male infertility. Despite its high prevalence in the infertile population, a large number of patients with varicocele do not experience reproductive difficulties. For this reason, it is still highly debated which parameters could be used to predict which patients with varicocele will be most likely to benefit from its repair. The main international and European guidelines state that treatment should only be considered in infertile patients with abnormal sperm quality. However, these guidelines do not help physicians to identify which of these patients may benefit from the treatment. Therefore, this narrative review collects the evidence in the literature on the usefulness of some factors as predictors of improvement, highlighting how some of them may be effective in an initial selection of patients to be treated, while others are promising but further studies are needed. Finally, a brief consideration on the possible role of artificial intelligence is proposed.

Molecular Hosts for the Sensing and Separation of 99TcO4.

In recent years, European Union member states have hastened energy policy deliberations to address supply and sustainability concerns, placing a significant emphasis on nuclear energy as a means to achieve decarbonization goals. However, despite its significant role in power generation, nuclear energy faces significant challenges linked to fuel reprocessing and waste disposal, that hinder its broader expansion. In this context, the separation of technetium represents a concerning issue. Indeed, technetium's catalytic activity can impede the extraction of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium, affecting waste reprocessing efficiency. Additionally, the stable form of technetium in aerobic conditions, pertechnetate (TcO4-), poses risks of groundwater contamination due to its mobility and solubility. Hence, sensing and separation of TcO4- is imperative for both nuclear fuel processing and minimising radioactive contamination in the environment. However, the binding of TcO4- and its separation from contaminated solutions present challenges due to the acidic (or basic) waste components and the high ionic strength in real matrices. Supramolecular chemists have addressed these issues by designing receptors inspired by molecular recognition principles. This article explores recent advancements and future directions in TcO4- sensing and separation (using extraction and sorption) with a focus on molecular hosts. Metal-organic receptors will also be discussed.

THE EXERCISE OF PUBLIC HEALTH POWERS IN MENTAL HEALTHCARE - THE IMPACT ON PUBLIC SAFETY

To ensure public safety, most European states have statutory powers enabling a range of compulsory interventions for persons with infectious diseases and mental disorders. The evidence of their meaningfulness in mental health patients is dubious, especially regarding their preventive effect on public safety. To reveal the mental health services' impact on violent offense commissions after discharge from involuntary inpatient care, a retrospective three-case series study was conducted. A scoping literature review was performed to construct the recommendations for practice improvement and further studies. Based on individual clinical expertise, the common issues in delivering involuntary mental healthcare in Latvia are described. To conclude, coercive psychiatric interventions shall be considered as a part of internal security and human rights protection and, therefore, shall be surveilled, in line with communicable diseases. Legal mechanisms (temporary protection against violence, coercive measures of a medical nature) are not effective against persons with severe mental illness and fail to prevent violent incidents. By the time being, during involuntary admission and treatment, the patient is subjected to various safety risks, that are inconsistent with the basic rights or best interests, and thus determines the state's obligation to promote voluntary treatment and provide the least restrictive approach.

Lifestyle and metabolic risk factors, and diabetes mellitus prevalence in European countries from three waves of the European Health Interview Survey

Population shift towards healthier lifestyles can help reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), therefore understanding and monitoring the lifestyle-related risk factors are crucial for setting up effective preventive strategies and disease management. The present study aimed to explore the changes in prevalence of DM and major risk factors including smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as body mass index (BMI) over three waves of European Health Interview Survey, and to investigate the association between risk factors and presence of DM across 11 European Union member states. Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the association between risk factors and DM, adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables. The estimated age-standardized prevalence of DM increased from 7.01% in 2009 to 7.96% in 2019, with substantial increase in subgroups with higher BMI and unhealthy lifestyle including physically inactive people, or current smokers. Obesity and overweight and physical inactivity were significantly associated with DM in all survey waves. Our findings underline that obesity prevention and weight loss promotion along with physical activity promotion are the subject of lifestyle interventions to reduce the burden of DM in EU member states.

Re-interpreting basic values underlying social security law in times of climate change and ecological crisis

Shaping solidarity, guaranteeing basic subsistence, maintaining income and employment activation can be seen as basic values underlying social security law in many European welfare states. This article argues that the meaning of these values or concepts is determined by legitimating discourses within which they are interpreted. While so far Rawls's theory of justice and related egalitarian liberal philosophies have had a great impact on these discourses, the ecological crisis has given rise to new discourses which are inspired by neo-republican theory and green republicanism. Instead of legitimising a capitalist economy based on economic growth, these discourses promote a post-productive society that seeks to realise human flourishing and meaningful lives. The aim of this article is to contribute to the emerging debate on social security reform by explaining how neo-republican theory and green republicanism can fill social security law's basic values or concepts with meaning that is more in line with current ecological concerns. In contrast to previous contributions that have sought to rethink labour and social security law (‘social law’) in a way that is more compatible with our ecological and climate crisis, this article builds on Poststructuralist Discourse Theory to develop its argument.

Realpolitik in Global Governance: Understanding the Competing Realist and Cosmopolitan Narratives of the Nineteenth Century Era of International Law

Realpolitik in Global Governance: Understanding the Competing Realist and Cosmopolitan Narratives of the Nineteenth Century Era of International Law

Sun from Behind the Clouds: the Appeals Board of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts

Abstract One of the lesser-known regional international organizations in Europe is the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). It has a mandate to undertake tasks such as the production of weather forecasts, conduct scientific research to improve meteorological projections, maintain extensive datasets, and to better coordinate European meteorological infrastructure. The Centre has three sites across three European states where it has over 400 staff, and given it is immune from suit, its staff members only have an internal justice mechanism to resort to in the event of employment/pensions disputes. Little is known about the ECMWF Appeals Board given its untransparent nature. As uncovered in this article, it has undergone partial reform, and simultaneously, there has been an uptick in the number of cases. This article analyses these developments and highlights that more must be done to align the ECMWF Appeals Boards with the features of other international administrative tribunals.

Mediation in Ukraine: historical and legal background and perspectives

In the article, the author reveals the historical prerequisites for the birth and development of the mediation institute on the territory of modern Ukraine. Attention is focused on the prospects for the further development of mediation, the expansion of the practice of its application in Ukraine. It was noted that the law, as a result of the evolution of society and the most effective social regulator tested by thousands of years of experience, is designed to prevent the emergence of acute conflicts in society and to balance the interests of the main segments of the population regarding the use, protection and protection of material goods and intangible values. The dialectics of legal regulation proves that society has historically tried to develop and implement mechanisms to prevent and overcome legal conflicts, realizing that legal conflicts are potentially dangerous for the entire society and for each person. It has been established that the institution of mediation is not new in the system of combating legal conflicts, it was born in the European states of the ancient era and retains its relevance even today. Therefore, it is quite logical to start the scientific study of mediation, its theoretical-legal and practical aspects with the analysis of the historical-legal prerequisites of its emergence in Ukraine and further prospects for its development. The author concluded that the prerequisite for the development of the institution of mediation in all developed legal systems is the awareness of the majority of the international community (states and international organizations) and active consumers of mediation services – participants in international private legal relations - of the effectiveness, convenience and perspective of settling their legal disputes not through numerous courts , and through the mediation of a jointly chosen independent entity – a mediator. The clearest proof of Ukrainian society’s readiness for mediation was the adoption at the national level of a special legislative act «On Mediation», which defines the legal basis and procedure for conducting mediation as an extrajudicial procedure for conflict (dispute) settlement, the principles of mediation, the status of a mediator, requirements for his training and other issues, related to this procedure.

Implementation of European approaches in reforming the institution of separation in Ukraine

The article examines the possibility of introducing European approaches in the process of updating the institution of separate residence of spouses. The experience of European states regarding the regulation of the institution of separation (France, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, etc.) is clarified in a comparative aspect. Three main approaches to the regulation of the legal regime of separate residence of spouses in foreign countries are singled out: an approach in which the independence of the institution of separation and termination of marriage is preserved; an approach in which the grounds for separation and divorce are the same, so the spouses can choose one of the specified two models; an approach in which dissolution of marriage depends on separation, which must precede termination of marriage. Two approaches in the world regarding the contractual method of establishing a regime of separate residence have been clarified, in particular. The common and distinctive features between separation and the actual termination of marital relations, as well as divorce, have been clarified. The judicial practice in cases of establishing the actual termination of marital relations, separation, as well as the termination of the regime of separate residence of spouses has been analyzed. The position of the Supreme Court regarding consideration of counterclaims for establishment of separation is noted. The need to settle the issue of the place of residence of spouses and children when the regime of separate residence of spouses is established, and the issue of child support, has been clarified. It is substantiated that in the process of Europeanization of the provisions of the Civil Code of Ukraine, it is necessary to provide norms that would provide that during the establishment of the regime of separate residence of the spouses, the rights of children are properly protected and the best interests of the child are taken into account. Other issues related to the rights and responsibilities of husband and wife as spouses can be settled by agreement if they wish. Corresponding changes to the Civil Code of Ukraine have been proposed to provide for a contractual procedure for establishing separation and proper protection of the best interests of the child.

The influence of the reception of roman private law on the formation of higher legal education in the countries of the romano-germanic legal family

The article analyzes the historical aspects of the emergence and formation of higher education in the countries of the Romano-Germanic legal family. It has been found that the traditions of higher education are laid down in the University of Bologna, which became the first famous secular scientific and educational institution, whose professors and graduates enriched science and education with new ideas, thanks to which a new humanistic worldview was formed: law should be a measure of freedom and justice in the state and society. It is substantiated that the development of education has a civilizational significance in the state-building process, but the civilizational «growth» of the state requires professional human capital. An important source of information for acquiring a system of knowledge in medieval Europe was Roman private law, which was universal in application to new economic and other conditions, regardless of their complexity. The merit of the Roman jurists is that they formalized the customary law and supplemented and developed it according to social needs. It has been proven that Roman law was «safe» for medieval rulers and in fact indispensable for the maintenance of various types of private legal relations, so there was no reason to oppose its introduction into the educational process. It was concluded that the study of Roman law in the medieval universities of Europe led to the assimilation of the formation of the legal system in a number of European states and the formation of the Romano-Germanic legal family, because the principles and norms of Roman law formed the basis of European codifications. It is important that the law of the Romans was used as an active law even in those states that did not have a legal mechanism for solving controversial issues, especially in interstate relations, because this law is saturated with classic examples of solving various life situations. Addressing them contributed to the development of the student’s skills not only in legal analysis and thinking, but also in the practical selection and application of normative material in order to solve life’s legal problems.

Multi-scalar and diasporic integration: Kurdish populations in Europe between state, diaspora and geopolitics

Abstract This article challenges both methodological nationalist and decolonial approaches to ‘integration’ by drawing attention to how transnational factors—including trans-state diaspora networks and geopolitical relations between European states and Kurdish ‘homelands’—have direct impacts on the integration trajectories of newly arrived Kurdish displaced populations in Europe. Based on over 200 interviews with Kurdish immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers across seventeen sites in rural and urban regions in six European countries, our research suggests the need to move beyond local and national-level understandings of integration to one which is also transnational, diasporic, and multi-scalar, taking account of the enduring effects of homeland politics on integration determinants. Such a model of integration does not throw out the concept, but recognizes both the protective and empowering role that local and national policies can play in enabling refugee and diaspora populations to function autonomously in a broader transnational and global context.

Slovakia's departure from strong labor protection of employees as a consequence of the pandemic and the transposition of european directives

This scientific paper delves into the notable shift in Slovak labor law, which has departed from its historically strong emphasis on safeguarding the rights of employees, traditionally seen as the weaker party in labor relations. Until recently, this emphasis served as a substantial barrier against the globalizing and standardizing influences of employers. The paper identifies two key factors driving recent legislative "reforms" in Slovakia's labor regulation. These changes are rooted in the transposition of European labor law directives while also embracing a more liberal political perspective regarding the nature of labor relations. This shift involves moving away from rigid employee protection and adopting the concept of "increased flexibility" in employee work as a remedy for addressing the post-Covid-19 economic challenges. The previous emphasis on employee or employee representative involvement in defining working conditions, wages, and important employer decisions regarding work organization has shifted. This shift allows employers to act unilaterally, contingent on fulfilling new information obligations towards employees. However, the recent labor law reforms run counter to this historical legal tradition. Taking into account the wage levels in the Slovak Republic compared to the majority of other European Union member states, these reforms establish an unsettling level of labor law protection pro futuro of Slovak employees.

Solidarity on a divided continent: Perceptions of ‘centre’ and ‘periphery’ determine European citizens’ willingness to help other EU countries

This article argues that citizens structure their fiscal solidarity with other European Union countries along a ‘centre–periphery’ divide. This claim is empirically investigated using a Heckman probit selection model on two surveys in 2020 and 2021 among citizens of 13 European countries, which allows to account for differences in the familiarity of the issue and other countries. The results show that individuals in centre countries are more likely to express solidarity with other centre countries than with periphery countries, and vice versa. More broadly, the findings show that citizens perceive a power hierarchy among European Union member states, and that there is a spatial relational dimension to European fiscal solidarity. These results underscore the challenges facing the European Union in achieving greater fiscal solidarity. They also highlight the need to address the structural inequalities between member states.

Follow the media? News environment and public concern about immigration

AbstractImmigration is a hot topic in Europe, but research on the media effects on public attention to immigration remains limited. We examine how media coverage affects the degree of importance attached to immigration in seven Western European Union member states. Data come from an extensive analysis of claims in printed newspapers, and the Eurobarometer (2002–2009). The continuous sample of news coverage is aggregated into a biannual panel, and we relate these data to citizens’ perceptions of the most important issues in their country 6 months later (lagged). The public consider immigration more important than other policy‐related issues when there is an increase in the volume of news and more political claims on the topic in the media. The media environment appears to be an exogenous actor that can have agenda‐setting effects on public concern about immigration. Our results highlight limitations of both the ‘policy‐gap’ thesis and thermostatic models of policy making.

Cybersecurity and Online Formation of Companies in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany

67Within the European Member States, it should now be possible to establish a limited liability company fully online. This study compares how the Directive which mandates online formation, has been implemented in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. In particular, it examines whether and, if so, how these countries approach the various cybersecurity risks involved in online formation. The Directive considers these cybersecurity risks, however, the focus is mainly on the requirements regarding the availability of online formation and to a lesser extent the requirements pertaining to the authentication of the founders, as well as the authenticity and integrity of electronic documents. The primary emphasis of the Directive is strongly placed on achieving the objective of facilitating easier, quicker, and more time- and cost-effective company formation. The approach taken by the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany in implementing the Directive and enabling online formation demonstrates a notable level of similarity. All have made sure to safeguard the traditional role of notaries in company formation in these countries. Despite the Directive’s emphasis on availability, the primary concern for these Member States lies in ensuring the security of online formation. All impose strict requirements regarding cybersecurity and opted for the highest standards regarding authentication (assurance level ‘high’) and authenticity (qualified electronic signatures).

Capacity for Competence Development: Unlocking Potential for Lifelong Learning in Later Working Life

ABSTRACT The retention of older workers has become a key policy issue in European welfare states. Consequently, there is an increased focus on how lifelong learning, or continued competence development, can extend working life. This article explores the dynamics of competence development among employees aged 55 years and older regarding their learning practices and attitudes toward competence development, based on qualitative fieldwork conducted in nine governmental workplaces across Denmark. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence willingness to participate in competence development, the article introduces the analytical framework “capacity for competence development” and highlights five factors that influence this capacity: time, economy, learning culture, energy, and purpose. The article argues that (non)participation in competence development is not static and is not solely the responsibility of employees or managers. Rather, it is co-produced by complex workplace dynamics, including policies, age stereotypes, as well as ways of organizing work and learning. In conclusion, the article emphasizes the potential for competence development and suggests that most employees aged 55 years and older want to participate but await the right circumstances. Their participation could be enhanced through an increased focus on the five identified factors in the capacity for competence development.

Входження України до ЄС та формування нової архітектури європейського континенту

The article examines the key challenges of the European security system and the threats Ukraine and the EU face with. The author notes the onset of an era of global conflict and instability. The text analyzes Ukraine's path to integration with the EU, its main stages, achievements, and unresolved problems. Attention is paid to the study of the dangers that have arisen because of Russia's aggressive retro-imperial policy, and the importance of consolidation of the EU member states to counter Russian encroachments is shown. It’s also emphasized that Ukraine's contribution to European security is growing considerably, but the country needs more comprehensive support and assistance from European and other democratic states in the world. The author points out the problems in the EU itself in developing and ensuring an effective foreign and security policy, especially in view of the subversive activities of the so-called Putin's circle of friends. The vital importance of granting Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidates for EU membership is underlined as well as a fundamental decision to start accession negotiations with both countries. Attention is also drawn to the need to reform the EU itself, primarily to ensure its greater ability to respond to emerging challenges and threats.

The cross-border legal recognition of parenthood under European law: current law and future prospects

ABSTRACT Historically, the issue of who were a child’s parents was in most instances settled as it was considered that the nuclear family was the (only) valid family formation and, as such, should be the (only) family configuration that should be protected and recognised under the law. Thus, traditionally there was an overall uniformity in the laws of different European States regarding parenthood-related issues. Although some European States continue to maintain a dividing line between nuclear and alternative families by offering legal recognition and protection only to the former, in other European States the law increasingly gives legal recognition and protection to parenthood in situations where the family does not fit within the nuclear family model. This diversity in the legal regulation of parenthood has given rise to the problem of non-recognition of parenthood: in some instances, parenthood validly established under the laws of one State is not recognised in some other States. The article considers the ways in which European law has responded to this problem to date and concludes that currently there is no comprehensive solution to it. Although recent years have seen a surge in efforts to find such a solution, the chances of this materialising appear grim.

Probing the carbon neutrality drive of environmental-related technologies and energy transition in France and Germany: a novel time–frequency technique

AbstractThis study presents a rare comparative analysis of the factors influencing environmental quality through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union member states’ largest economies, i.e., France and Germany. By considering the unique economic, energy, and environmental characteristics of both countries, the finding unveils a novel perspective in the literature. The research utilizes a recently developed wavelet local multiple correlation (WLMC) technique with quarterly dataset spanning from 1990/Q1 to 2020/Q4. The results demonstrate that environmental-related information and communication technologies innovations, energy transition, and financial development play significant roles in limiting the growth of GHGs emission, particularly in the medium and long term. The wavelet-based Granger causality analysis reveals evidence of feedback causality among the variables in both countries in the medium and long term. Moreover, there are slight differences in the short-term relationships given that the observations are generally similar in later period. Overall, the findings offer a deeper understanding and policy insights regarding the time and frequency dynamics of GHG drivers in France and Germany. Graphical abstract

Enviro‐economic and feasibility analysis of industrial hemp value chain: A systematic literature review

AbstractA recent renaissance of industrial hemp has been driven by a plethora of ecologically amicable products and their profitability. To identify its environment and economic fate across the value chain (VC), this study conducts a systematic review of 98 studies published in ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus‐indexed journals. The thematic content of the articles is categorized using three deductively derived classification categories: lifecycle analysis (n = 40), VC analysis (n = 30), and feasibility analysis (n = 28). Bibliometric analysis indicates that the majority (>90%) of the studies were conducted in selected regions of Europe or North America, with further findings around regionally prioritized industrial hemp products, such as hempcrete in Southwest Europe, solid biofuel in North European states, and textile fiber and bio‐composites in East Europe and North America. Lifecycle analysis studies highlight nitrogenous fertilizer use during industrial hemp cultivation as a major ecological hotspot, which is taking a toll on the climate change index. However, hemp‐based products are generally climate‐friendly solutions when contrasted against their fossil fuel counterparts, with hempcrete in particular a highly touted carbon‐negative (−4.28 to −36.08 kg CO2 eq/m2) product. The review also identifies key issues within the hemp VC and presents innovative solutions alongside the recognition of value‐adding opportunities. Furthermore, feasibility analysis indicates unprofitability in using hemp for bioenergy production and there is a relative cost worthiness of hemp bio‐composites and hempcrete at the upstream level. Positive returns are observed under co‐production schemes. In contemplating the literature findings, we discussed and identified gap in existing literature for future exploration, including more studies to provide insights from the Global South, and the production of industrial hemp under a biophysically constrained landscape.