European Union Member States Research Articles

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FUNDING OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN EU COUNTRIES

This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the funding models for university education in the European Union (EU), focusing on government, private, and alternative funding sources. Purpose of the study is to analyze and compare the different funding models for university education in the EU and evaluate their efficacy. The basis of the study was the scientific works of researchers from different countries of the world and the OECD report, which presents the features of public, private and alternative financing of higher education. The main methods used in the article are methods of analysis and synthesis, comparative analysis and generalization. The analysis examines how these funding models impact accessibility, quality, and sustainability of higher education across different EU member states, including Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom (pre-Brexit), and Italy. Through a review of existing literature and an evaluation of different funding mechanisms, the study identifies key trends and outcomes associated with each funding type. The paper also explores how European integration and policies influence these funding mechanisms. By comparing models across various countries, this analysis aims to highlight best practices and recommend policy enhancements to harmonize educational opportunities and meet future economic and social demands. The study recommends that EU countries consider a balanced approach to funding that combines the strengths of government support, private investment, and innovative funding mechanisms. This approach should aim to ensure equitable access to high-quality education while fostering financial sustainability and adaptability to changing economic conditions. Further, the paper suggests that ongoing evaluation and adaptation of funding models are essential to address the evolving needs of students and the broader socio-economic landscape. These findings and recommendations contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities and dynamics of funding university education in the EU, providing a foundation for policymakers to enhance the effectiveness and fairness of higher education systems across Europe.

What can location-based social media reveal on human migration patterns in Europe?

ABSTRACT Numerous visualisation methods have been proposed, including Origin-Destination maps to represent movement patterns gathered from social media; however, visual clutter remains a persistent issue due to complex data dimensionality. Besides, most Origin-Destination maps fail to illustrate the temporal dimension of social network phenomena within the geographical environment. To tackle this issue, we propose the visualisation method for geo-located Facebook social-media data while emphasising the time aspect. Based on the citizen-generated data for the European Union (EU), we estimated the EU citizens’ residing or travelling across the EU member states as a means of current and previous destinations to reveal the extent of the hypothetical human migration. The proposed methodology consists of Origin-Destination maps implemented within the time geography framework as a model to support the process of analysis for decision-making. The generated visualisation allows comprehension of the scale of human movement distribution internally within the EU from a space–time perspective.

New Generation EU Agreements – The Basis for Future World Trade

International trade agreements contribute to the development of international trade and services. The European Union is currently modernizing the system and structure of international agreements related to international trade, investment and services. The aim of the scientific study is to clarify and identify the characteristic features of the agreements of new generation that are concluded between the European Union and non-EU member states. Based on the facts, we can confirm that trade policy supports, among others, values such as the protection of human rights, the protection of labor rights, the environment and the fight against climate change. Such an approach of the European Union to the liberalization of world trade through comprehensive trade agreements is also supported by the strategy of the European Commission „Trade for All”.

Concept for improving customs and tariff mechanisms for regulating international trade

The purpose of the study is to develop main provisions of the concept of improving customs tariff mechanisms for regulating international trade. As the subject of the study, the fundamental elements of the customs mechanisms development concept have been defined: principles, tasks, tools, etc. In order to develop competitiveness in the world economy and international trade, it is relevant to adapt to the changing conditions of international business and identify the area where it is necessary to take measures to support it. The necessity of improving customs mechanisms for regulating international trade has been substantiated. The research methodology is based on the scientific literature analysis, comparative analysis, statistical data systematization and analysis. The main study result is the presentation of the concept of the processes of improving customs-tariff mechanisms of international trade and its elements regulation, aimed at increasing the effectiveness of customs-tariff measures for developing international trade in the Eurasian Economic Union member states. The concept proposes directions for systematization and improvement of supranational level customs regulation tools, which remains an important task for the near future, especially in view of changes in the foreign trade of Russian enterprises as a result of the trade conflicts aggravation caused by political and economic relations deterioration between the US, the European Union member states, and Russia. The study results application scope can be determined by a wide range of users, such as government executive authorities and customs service, logistics and commercial companies, as well as the scientific community. In the future, the proposed concept application in practical activities will ensure a business-friendly environment creation in accordance with the requirements of the general trade and customs policy and investments promotion related to the international trade development.

Praxeological and functional trends in improving the economic integration of the European Union: to the problem statement

This article analyzes the problems and trends of improving the economic integration of the European Union (EU) in modern conditions. It analyzes the key challenges that the EU faces in the process of deepening integration and creating a common market. Carrying out an in-depth review of economic integration in the EU, the article reveals the main challenges facing European leaders and institutions.
 The problems of the international economic integration of European countries into the system of relations of the European Union have recently become more and more urgent. The relevance of the chosen topic is determined by the fact that in the modern world, the problems of economic and international integration have gained importance, integration communities play an increasingly important role in global economic and political processes, accordingly, a constant analysis of their activities is necessary for timely amendments to the current, rapidly changing integration processes.
 First of all, the article focuses on issues of deep integration, such as the single currency - the euro, common fiscal policy and the European budget. The authors analyze how successful these initiatives were and whether they managed to achieve harmonization of the economic policies of all EU member states.
 The second aspect considered in the article is the issue of inequality between regions and countries within the EU. The authors analyze how regional differences in the economy can threaten the stability of the EU and what measures are being taken to reduce these inequalities.
 In addition, the article highlights the external challenges facing the EU in the context of geopolitical changes and global trade relations. It also examines the impact of various factors, such as Brexit and EU enlargement, on integration processes.
 The article highlights key trends such as the strengthening of the role of the euro, the development of the digital single market and the expansion of common rules and regulations. Attention is also drawn to the influence of new members and possible withdrawal from the EU on the integration process.
 The general conclusion of the article is that the economic integration of the European Union remains important and relevant, but requires constant adaptation to changes in the global economic environment. To ensure stability and prosperity, the EU needs to constantly improve its integration strategies and find solutions to the important problems it faces.

Gender in European Union Asylum Law: The Istanbul Convention as a Game Changer?

Abstract The European Union (EU) has historically been a proactive player in advancing equality between women and men, and fighting gender-based discrimination. The past two decades have also seen the EU becoming a major actor in asylum law, with several EU secondary law instruments and a large amount of case law in EU Member States relating to the application of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Yet, these two areas of EU legislation – gender equality and asylum – have yet to become consistently connected. Similarly, judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union addressing gender-related elements of asylum cases are scarce. Could the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) help bridge the gap? The Istanbul Convention identifies gender-based violence as an extreme form of discrimination and contains a whole chapter dedicated to women in the context of migration. This article sheds light on the yet-to-be-realized potential of the Istanbul Convention to amplify the protective power of the Refugee Convention in the EU. While at present neither the Common European Asylum System, nor its new iteration in the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, fully meets the standards of the Istanbul Convention, it may be expected that the EU’s accession to the treaty will further encourage a gender-sensitive approach in EU asylum law. The Istanbul Convention may well be a game changer for the protection of female asylum seekers, and possibly also for asylum seekers with other gender identities.

Suitable law-based location selection of high-power electric vehicles charging stations on the TEN-T core network for sustainability: a case of Poland

With the upcoming implementation of the amendment to Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council, from 2035 there will be a ban on the registration of new vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE) in the Member States of the European Union (EU). Consequently, changes in the transportation sector, resulting from the increasing use of electric vehicles, appear to be inevitable. According to the adopted legal acts, the European Union Member States will be obliged to develop, among others, a charging infrastructure and access to public charging stations for electric vehicles. As a result, there will be a need to ensure a significant increase in the power and the number of charging stations and to determine their appropriate location. The article presents the challenges faced by charging station operators and difficulties related to the further development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Poland. The still poorly developed public charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, especially in service areas located along the main communication routes, remains the main obstacle to the development of electromobility. In the context of legal, financial, technological, and organizational challenges, the problem of the proper distribution of electric vehicle charging stations along the main communication routes is therefore of particular importance. The aim of the article is to present a new, proprietary method for determining the location of electric vehicle charging stations in Poland within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which considers objective location factors: adherence to AFIR requirements, the specificity of the Polish power system and existing parking infrastructure. As a result of using the developed method, a list of 188 recommended locations for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations in Poland along the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) was created. It has been shown in this way that the use of the presented method enables the suitable determination of the location of electric vehicle charging stations along transport routes, considering legal, financial, and technological requirements, which will significantly facilitate the operation of zero-emission transport.

The Role of Procedure Duration in the Sustainability Assessment of Contaminated Site Management in Italy

The European Union (EU) has placed a strong focus on soil contamination and remediation in its Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, emphasizing the critical need for comprehensive soil data at the EU level. To effectively support EU soil management strategies, it is necessary to develop soil-related indicators and standardized datasets across all EU member states. However, the lack of standardized methodologies for estimating the time required for contaminated site remediation is a dilemma in Italy and throughout Europe. This study examines statistical data on the time-consuming nature of the contaminated site remediation process in Italy. In fact, early intervention not only simplifies site remediation but also reduces long-term financial obligations such as monitoring costs and potential legal implications. This study categorized data according to remedial procedures, explored different management phases, and revealed different timescales for completing the procedure. The findings show that processes completed after preliminary investigations are often shorter in time than those completed following conceptual model assessments. In contrast, processes that require corrective measures typically take a longer period of time to complete. Notably, remedial interventions tend to have a shorter duration compared to risk management interventions. Furthermore, procedures that address both soil and groundwater contamination generally require more time compared to those that focus only on soil remediation. This study provides valuable insight into the time-consuming aspects of remediation procedures, recommending potential changes to regulatory frameworks to accelerate site remediation activities.

Assessing social protection influence on health status in the European Union.

Health status and access to healthcare services are crucial factors that directly impact the well-being of individuals and societies. In the European Union (EU), social protection measures are significant in supporting citizens' health and providing access to healthcare resources. This study investigates the relationship between social protection and health status in EU countries. We collected data from Eurostat on the EU member states' health status, healthcare expenditure, and social protection expenditure. The paper used structural equation modeling (SEM) and cluster analysis to analyze the complex interplay among these variables. Findings revealed a strong positive correlation between EU countries' social protection expenditure and healthcare status. Higher social protection spending was associated with improved access to healthcare services and facilities. Moreover, the analysis showed that countries with higher social protection expenditure tended to exhibit better overall health status indicators among their populations. The results suggest that adequate social protection expenditure positively influences health status in the European Union. By investing in robust social protection programs, governments can enhance citizens' access to healthcare services and resources, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of prioritizing social protection policies to address health disparities and promote public health in the EU.

The relationship between digital development and economic growth in the European Union

AbstractNumerous studies have proven that digital development positively affects economic growth. This study aims to confirm or refute the positive impact of digital evolution on economic growth by applying the dimensions of the International Digital Economy and Society Index (I-DESI). The analysis refers to the period 2015–2020 of the European Union member states. The study's novelty is that the I-DESI index has yet to be used in research to investigate the relationship between the digital transition and GDP production. The present study, therefore, goes one step further than the previous typical DESI-GDP models. The research uses Pearson correlation and F-statistic analysis to show the relationship between the variables. The study confirms that digital development has positively impacted the economic growth of EU member states. This result was confirmed by both Pearson and Spearman correlation. However, the results are ambivalent. The empirical results indicate that the more digitally developed member countries had a higher GDP per capita. However, the positive effect is different. The results confirm that the development of digitalization and GDP increased more dynamically in the more digitally developed EU member states than in the less developed member states. Therefore, an increase in the backwardness of the less developed member countries and not a catch-up can be observed in the period under review.

Trends in mortality related to venous thromboembolism in the European Union, 2012-2020.

We sought to assess the sex- and age-specific trends in venous thromboembolism (VTE) mortality in the 27 European Union Member States (EU-27) between years 2012 and 2020. Data on cause-specific deaths and population numbers by sex for each country of the EU-27 were retrieved through the publicly available European Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) dataset for the years 2012-2020. VTE-related deaths were ascertained when ICD-10 codes I26, I80, and I82.9 were listed as the primary cause of death in the medical death certificate. To calculate annual trends, we assessed the average annual percent change (AAPC) with relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Joinpoint regression. During the study period, 96,037 (55,278 males and 40,759 females) died for VTE. The age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) linearly declined from 2.86 (95% CI 2.84-2.90) deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2012 to 2.53 (95% CI 2.50-2.56) deaths per 100,000 population in 2020 [AAPC: - 2.1% (95% CI - 3.6 to - 0.6), p = 0.001] without differences between sexes (p = 0.60). The higher AAMR was observed in some eastern European countries such as Bulgaria, Czech Republic, and Lithuania. On the contrary, the lower AAMR was mainly clustered in the Mediterranean area (Italy, Spain, and Cyprus). Over the last decade, the age-adjusted VTE-related mortality has been continuously declining in most of the in EU-27 Member States. However, some disparities still exist between western and eastern European countries.

Digital Progression and Economic Growth: Analyzing the Impact of ICT Advancements on the GDP of European Union Countries

This research thoroughly examines the dynamic relationship between the European Union’s economic growth and rapid advancements in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Specifically, it assesses how certain ICT indicators are associated with significant economic growth. Utilizing an extensive dataset from the Digital Economy and Society Index 2022 (DESI), the Statistical Office of the European Union (EUROSTAT), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), this study encompasses data from all 27 European Union member states. Employing structural equation modelling, our analysis illustrates the positive correlation between ICT development and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) index. Our findings highlight the critical role of swiftly evolving technological landscapes, emphasizing the growing influence of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in business sectors. Furthermore, this study showcases the need to enhance human capital and expedite the growth of e-government technologies. These advancements are pivotal in strengthening the infrastructure supporting citizens and public enterprises across European countries, thereby contributing to their economic vitality.

The Role of Entrepreneurship in Changing the Employment Rate in the European Union

AbstractThe aim of this research is to examine the role of entrepreneurship in changing the employment rate in the European Union (EU). With the aim of understanding the relationship between entrepreneurship and employment dynamics, this research investigates the impact of entrepreneurial activities on job creation, job opportunities, and overall employment trends across EU member states. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset encompassing various economic indicators and entrepreneurial metrics, including business startups, self-employment rates, and entrepreneurial ecosystem factors, this study provides insights into the mechanisms through which entrepreneurship influences employment in the EU. The analysis considers both the direct and indirect effects of entrepreneurship on employment, exploring how entrepreneurial ventures contribute to job creation, stimulate economic growth, and shape labor market dynamics. The findings of this study reveal that entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in changing the employment rate in the EU. Entrepreneurial activities, such as new business startups and self-employment, contribute significantly to job creation, particularly in sectors characterized by innovation, technology, and services. Furthermore, entrepreneurship fosters a dynamic and flexible labor market, promoting job opportunities and reducing unemployment rates. The study also highlights the importance of supportive policies, access to financing, and a favorable regulatory environment in facilitating entrepreneurship and its positive impact on employment. Understanding the role of entrepreneurship in changing the employment rate has implications for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders involved in fostering economic growth and labor market development in the EU. The findings emphasize the need to encourage and support entrepreneurial initiatives, provide resources and support mechanisms for startups, and create an enabling environment that nurtures entrepreneurship and innovation. By leveraging the potential of entrepreneurship, the EU can stimulate employment growth, enhance competitiveness, and achieve sustainable economic prosperity.

Round-up of European enforcement case law 2023

Abstract In 2023, several noteworthy decisions relating to the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs) were handed down, including in relation to anti-counterfeiting, parallel trade, litigation aspects and restrictions on the enforcement of IPRs. The decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union and Supreme Courts and Courts of Appeals of the European Union Member States that the authors consider important are summarized in this contribution. The judgments were rendered between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023. As in previous editions, the authors have adopted a practical approach aimed at readers seeking an overview of the key IPR enforcement decisions of 2023.

Variability in Alzheimer's disease mortality from European vital statistics, 2012-2020.

Data regarding the trends in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mortality in the modern European Union (EU-27) member states are lacking. We assess the sex- and age-specific trends in AD mortality in the EU-27 member states between years 2012 and 2020. Data on cause-specific deaths and population numbers by sex for each country of the EU-27 were retrieved through publicly available European Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) dataset from 2012 to 2020. AD-related deaths were ascertained when the ICD-10 code G30 was listed as the primary cause of death in the medical death certificate. To calculate annual trends, we assessed the average annual percent change (AAPC) with relative 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using Joinpoint regression. During the study period, 751,493 deaths (1.7%, 233,271 males and 518,222 females) occurred in the EU-27 because of AD. Trends in the proportion of AD-related deaths per 1000 total deaths slightly increased from 16.8% to 17.5% (p for trend <0.001). The age-adjusted mortality rate was higher in women over the entire study period. Joinpoint regression analysis revealed a stagnation in age-adjusted AD-related mortality from 2012 to 2020 among EU-27 Member States (AAMR: -0.1% [95% CI: -1.8-1.79], p=0.94). Stratification by Country showed relevant regional disparities, especially in the Northern and Eastern EU-27 member states. Over the last decade, the age-adjusted AD-related mortality rate has plateaued in EU-27. Important disparities still exist between Western and Eastern European countries.

The Right to Scrape Data on the Internet: From the US Case hiQLabs, Inc. v. LinkedIn Corp. to the ChatGPT Scraping Cases: Differences Between US and EU Law

Data scraping is of the essence for generative artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, as the data needed for AI training are in most cases obtained by this means. The first litigations regarding data scraping for training of generative AI systems are starting now. It is therefore relevant reviewing the case Law and regulation regarding data scraping, including the United States (US) Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit in the hiQ v. LinkedIn case. This case reveals the important differences between the US Law and the European Union (EU) (and United Kingdom (UK)) Law under several points of view: criminal law, privacy/data protection law, intellectual property (IP) rights (and sui generis rights), and even law of contracts. The idea that there is no ownership to unprotected, non-personal, publicly available data coincides with some recent EU Member States rulings. Data scraping is not illicit as such (the Google search engine is always scraping, and has been doing so since its creation), but it needs to respect some criminal law restrictions, privacy or data protection obligations, copyright and contractual Law. This article reviews this protection in both the US and the EU/UK and analyses the impact of the existing data scraping case law in the ChatGPT issues and very recent litigations. Data Scraping, AI, ChatGPT, hiQ v. LinkedIn, Data Protection, GDPR, Intellectual Property

Don’t blame the government!? An assessment of debt forecast errors with a view to the EU Economic Governance Review

In view of the increased importance of debt developments in the EU governance framework, this paper investigates the accuracy and the main economic causes of forecast errors in (government) debt projections. We find a positive average debt forecast error for European Union member states, which increases with the projection horizon. Underestimation of debt growth is particularly relevant for countries with high government debt. The main drivers of the debt forecast errors seem to be partly outside direct government control: Wrongly projected overall GDP developments and stock flow adjustments - a factor which has not been considered in the literature so far. Moreover, the high uncertainty in debt forecasts is also inherent in the European Commission’s benchmark forecasts: only their now-cast remains unbiased.

Welfare Euroscepticism and socioeconomic status

While the European Union (EU) increasingly strengthens its social integration, opposition towards this process can also be observed, here defined as ‘welfare Euroscepticism’. To better understand this newly defined policy paradigm, this article aims to explain longstanding cleavages in both social policy and EU research: socioeconomic status (SES) divides. Contrary to the literature on public support for European integration, this article argues that higher SES groups are more likely to be welfare Eurosceptics than lower SES groups. This argument and its underlying explanations are examined through a multilevel approach using European Social Survey data from 18 EU member states, using the example of a potential EU-wide minimum income scheme. First, the results demonstrate that welfare Euroscepticism is indeed more prevalent among higher SES groups than lower SES groups (measured through occupation, education, income, and employment). The results indicate robust self-interest patterns among higher SES groups that do not want to carry (perceived) financial burdens of EU social policies. The opinion patterns also emphasize the multidimensionality of attitudes towards EU policies since the SES cleavages can reverse, depending on the policy in focus. Overall, the results indicate much potential to mobilize the larger proportion of the public to support EU social policies, that is, lower SES groups. However, potential conflicts may arise when the EU expands on policies that their traditional supporters – higher SES groups – are more likely to oppose. The article also shows that welfare solidarity on the individual and the country level can mitigate such conflicts. This is because higher levels of welfare generosity and lower levels of welfare chauvinism on the individual and the country level are related to smaller SES cleavages.

Impact of european funds upon rural development in the European Union

Rural Development Funds are an important part of the European Union strategies, under the Common Agricultural Policy. They should help in the development of rural areas, which are the most subjected to poverty and social depravation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of these funds upon rural development in an attempt to assess the efficiency of their usage. To do this, we use data for the 27 European Union members states for the 2000 – 2022 period. Data related to productivity in agriculture, employment and poverty in rural areas is used as dependent and modelled with the help of dynamic panel regression against the amount of money used from these funds. We show that as rural development funds increased in time, poverty decreased, which is an important indicator of efficiency. Additionally, while the variables related to the rural areas, like importance of agriculture in the national economy, employment and poverty in rural areas follow the classical spatial distributions on the West-East direction, the use of rural development funds does not. Absorbed rural development funds have significantly impacted the gross value added in agriculture, employment, and poverty in rural areas. Our most important result is the inverse relationship between rural development funds absorbed and the percentage of rural people at risk of poverty and social exclusion, clearly pointing out the need for continuous support for rural development.

CLUSTERING OF EU MEMBER STATES BY THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR ASSET MANAGEMENT

The financial landscape within the European Union is characterized by a significant disparity in the development of institutional investor asset management across its member states. Institutional investors, such as pension funds, insurance companies, and investment trusts, are vital in shaping financial markets and influencing economic stability. This study aims to fill the gap in the existing literature by examining the grouping of European Union member-states. The research focuses on examining key attributes, trends, and performance indicators of institutional investor asset management across various EU member-states. It utilizes data from 2017 to 2022, reflecting the average values of financial assets held by institutional investors as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This data provides a critical perspective on the investment landscape within the EU, particularly focusing on investment funds and insurance corporations. A notable observation from the data is the significant variance in the financial assets to GDP ratio among EU countries, with Denmark and France showing exceptionally high ratios, indicating a substantial role of institutional investments in their economies. In contrast, Lithuania and Greece demonstrate much lower ratios. This disparity is further analyzed through cluster analysis, grouping EU member-states into five clusters based on their asset management profiles. The clusters reveal distinct patterns in the distribution and development of asset management across the EU. Countries like Denmark and France, with highly developed financial markets, contrast sharply with those like Lithuania and Greece, which have less mature markets. The study highlights the influence of various factors such as economic structure, regulatory environment, and cultural attitudes towards savings and investment on these disparities. The study suggests that future research should focus on developing comprehensive policy recommendations, taking into consideration the distinct characteristics of each cluster to promote balanced economic growth and stability within the EU.