The potential accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union (EU) has been widely discussed in scientific, political, and public discourse. However, much of the existing literature remains largely political, with limited attention paid to rigorous economic analysis. This gap underscores the relevance of assessing Armenia’s prospective EU membership using objective economic evaluation tools. Irrespective of political considerations, the economic implications of Armenia’s possible EU accession can be examined through quantitative analysis, allowing for an evidence-based assessment of its impact on the national economy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the economic efficiency of Armenia’s EU membership by comparing it with a baseline scenario in which the country does not participate in any economic union.

ABSTRACT Regional differences in institutions is a threat for political and economic integration. In this paper, we analyse the institutional convergence across regions of the European Union (EU). Preliminary results show that there is continuous improvement fostering institutional convergence. However, heterogeneity analyses point-out that the speed of institutional development is influenced by the enlargement phases of the union. Additional results indicate that the regions of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and the southern regions belonging to Greece and Spain experience faster institutional convergence. Accordingly, the enlargement process, fostering further heterogeneity, is an important element to improve the institutional quality of the new EU members. However, temporal convergence trends show that the dynamics of institutional convergence shift over time, reflecting the non-stationary evolution of success-failure cases.

Abstract The main goal of the study is the quantification of the disparities in the recycling rates of the individual types of waste in the European Union member countries. The data on the waste recycling rates for the period 2004–2021 come from Eurostat. A linear regression analysis is engaged for the analytical processing. The outcomes confirm the statistically significant differences among the explored countries – the European Union members. The most extreme increases reach the levels as follows and occur in the particular countries. The plastic packaging waste recycling rate causes an increase of 1.0965 percentage points for Belgium, the metallic packaging waste recycling rate an increase of 0.7763 for Italy, the glass packaging waste recycling rate an increase of 0.9105 percentage points, and the construction and demolition waste recovery rate an increase of 5.5667 percentage points for Italy. These rates are important for achieving net zero. The study outcomes are desired for policymakers, authorities, creators of strategic development plans and methodologies to support global economy aimed at the circular economy strategies, sustainable development and economic growth. Setting an appropriate mixture of policies and regulations can determine outcome of the recycling procedures that is used for further processing.

This paper analyzes the effects of the European integration process on the labor market in candidate countries for European Union (EU) membership, with a special focus on Albania. European integration brings a series of labor market reforms, including alignment of employment policies, increased labor mobility, and adaptation to the demands of an increasingly digitalized economy. The aim is to analyze key trends, challenges, and opportunities brought by European integration to the labor market, as well as to evaluate the policies and reforms being undertaken in Albania to meet EU standards. The comparative analysis includes Western Balkan countries and current EU member states, focusing on unemployment, employment structure, the impact of technology, and migration.

Abstract Since being declared eligible for European Union (EU) membership in 1999, Turkiye has undertaken numerous reforms toward accession. Despite meeting several criteria, its accession negotiation has stalled. Existing analyses typically adopt an institutional lens, arguing that the country fails to meet EU benchmarks. Rather than focusing on institutional explanations, this article aims to revisit the failure of Turkiye’s EU accession process through the lens of civilizational discourse in Europe. Methodologically, it employs Critical Discourse Analysis approach by examining statements from several key European political elites and religious leaders, as well as official EU reports. It examines how cultural and religious narratives were shaped in the context of the rejection of Turkiye’s EU membership. This article argues that civilizational discourse has been a prominent lens through which Turkiye has been perceived in the sense of EU accession and European public opinion as a whole. Europeans’ rejection of Turkiye is grounded in the perception of “non-Europeanness” and its incompatibility with Europe’s cultural and religious traditions. While Turkiye’s institutional backsliding has contributed to the accession process being stalled, identity factors remain a persistent barrier. Overall, this study revisits Turkiye’s failed bid to join the EU from a civilizational perspective; the often-overlooked dimension in examining the failure of the accession process. It highlights the need to recognize civilizational Islamophobia as a critical, yet under-analyzed, determinant in the context of EU enlargement policy and broader relations between Europe and Muslims.

Despite more than two decades of macroeconomic stability and European Union membership, Bulgaria continues to display one of the lowest income levels in the EU, with GDP per capita in purchasing power standards remaining well below the Union average. This paper addresses the puzzle of slow economic convergence despite sustained nominal stability. It argues that Bulgaria’s convergence path is constrained not by a single structural weakness, but by the interaction of several mutually reinforcing factors. The central thesis is that the country’s currency board regime, while successful in delivering price stability and fiscal discipline, has shifted economic adjustment toward domestic channels-wages, employment, and labor mobility. In an integrated European labor market, this adjustment has coincided with significant human capital outflows, particularly among younger and skilled cohorts. At the same time, persistent demographic decline and population aging have reduced labor supply and weakened long-run growth potential. Using comparative descriptive statistics, literature synthesis, and a mechanism-based analytical framework, the paper shows how these elements combine into a self-reinforcing “convergence constraint” that limits Bulgaria’s catch-up process relative to peer economies. By integrating macroeconomic regime choice, labor-market adjustment, migration dynamics, and demography, the paper contributes a unified analytical perspective relevant not only to Bulgaria, but to other small open economies pursuing convergence under strong nominal anchors. The paper contributes by framing slow convergence as an interaction effect rather than a single-policy failure, highlighting migration and demography as internal adjustment channels under hard pegs.

Abstract This study evaluates the extent of separation of religion and state (SRAS) in 28 countries which were European Union members in 2014 using data from the Religion and State (RAS) dataset. It applies three different standards of SRAS: absolute separationism, neutralism, and laicite. The results show that none of these countries meet a “zero-tolerance” application of any of these standards, and only five meet even very loose interpretations of any of these standards. In addition, no EU state provides full religious freedom to their religious minorities. Finally, EU states have less SRAS when compared to non-EU democracies. This calls into question either the assumption that SRAS and religious freedom are essential elements of liberal democracy or the assumption that the European Union’s member states are, in fact, liberal democracies. It also calls into question the extent of the West’s secularity.

ABSTRACT This study examines the potential impact of accession to the European Union (EU) on firms’ willingness to innovate focusing on five Central and Eastern European countries. To achieve this objective, we construct an original pooled cross-sectional dataset by exploiting data from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) covering the period from 1998 to 2018. Employing a probit model, our empirical analysis indicates that: (i) the accession of new countries to the EU appears to have a negative correlation with innovation willingness of firms within these countries and (ii) EU financial support is positively correlated with innovation willingness in the pre-integration phase, this association becomes weaker after the EU accession. These findings suggest that EU membership, while offering new opportunities, is also associated with institutional and competitive pressures that may reduce firms’ innovation willingness, especially in less developed economies.

This paper analyses the evolution of Poland’s foreign trade (FT) at the regional (NUTS-2) level during the country’s first 20 years of European Union (EU) membership. The goal is to uncover region-specific export dynamics and structural adjustments that are often masked by national-level aggregates. We focus on export quality and structure, intra-industry trade (IIT) intensity, and the role of foreign-owned entities (FOEs). A novel contribution lies in our application of cluster analysis to dynamic export changes over time, rather than to static cross-sectional levels typically used in the literature. Using Ward’s agglomerative method, we identify six distinct regional clusters that capture heterogeneous trajectories of export transformation. While EU membership fostered expansion into the EU single market, it also served as a catalyst for diversification into non-EU markets, revealing Poland’s increasing global trade competitiveness. This approach reveals a strong degree of regional idiosyncrasy despite increasing national openness and EU integration. Our findings provide new insights for policymakers seeking to design regionally differentiated export support strategies.

Membership of the European Union had a cohesive regulatory effect on the United Kingdom. Coinciding with devolution, the obligations of European Union membership served as a regulatory scaffolding within which the United Kingdom Government and the United Kingdom devolved governments could pursue their own legislative and policy paths. European Union membership alongside Ireland also facilitated the 1998 Belfast ‘Good Friday’ Agreement, particularly as regards north–south cooperation on the island of Ireland. Brexit therefore raised the prospect of the regulatory scaffolding being removed and so questions about how to manage the regulatory consequences domestically. This article establishes the regulatory effects of European Union membership on the United Kingdom before considering the impact of the post-Brexit United Kingdom–European Union relationship and approaches of the United Kingdom to managing the regulatory effects of withdrawal. It then considers the replacement domestic scaffolding put in place to manage devolution outside the European Union and Northern Ireland’s unique post-Brexit position under the terms of the Windsor Framework.

Abstract This article contributes to debates on the politics of European Union (EU) enlargement to the Western Balkans (WB) in the 2020s. During the 2010s, the enlargement process stalled due to a lack of progress on the EU’s fundamental requirements of ‘rule of law’ and ‘democracy’. Since 2022, Russia’s protracted war against Ukraine suggests that geopolitical considerations have become more important in the politics of EU enlargement. In order to overcome the enlargement impasse, the EU has recently proposed a gradual approach to integration, particularly with regard to market integration, which is to be facilitated by a new growth plan for the Western Balkans. This article argues that this ‘carrot’ and greater flexibility in general are intended to re-legitimise the EU-WB relationship. The EU can demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the region in a political process that remains open-ended, while WB governments can benefit from new opportunities and new budgets. Despite the ‘new momentum’ in EU enlargement policies, I argue that Serbian political discourse and action have become more violent in recent years and that a negligence of the security needs of the most fragile WB states has the power to derail the enlargement process. Reinforced commitments to KFOR and EUFOR Althea as well as reinvigorated EU assistance efforts in the fundamental requirements are needed to make full WB EU membership eventually happen.

The article presents the results of a gender analysis of school textbooks on Ethics for grades 5–6 within the framework of the New Ukrainian School educational reform. It emphasizes that modern textbooks should offer significant developmental potential and that their content should include both a knowledge component and contribute to the formation of students' personalities and behavioral practices.The value potential of Ethics textbooks for grades 5–6 in the context of educational reform and their impact on fostering democratic and universal human values is outlined.The visual and illustrative materials are examined, including content such as quotations, excerpts from biographies of prominent figures, and the use of gender-sensitive or androcentric language. Hidden narratives and gender stereotypes embedded in the analyzed textbooks are also identified. The study’s methodology is based on the algorithm for gender analysis of textbooks developed by Ukrainian researchers. In addition, a qualitative content analysis approach, commonly used by the academic community in Poland, is applied. This method relies on the Gender Equality Index (GEI), designed to monitor progress in addressing gender equality across European Union member states.The findings reveal that the Ethics textbooks developed as part of the New Ukrainian School reform generally meet anti-discrimination standards. However, attention is drawn to the presence of gender stereotypes and cultural norms that reflect the influence of the "hidden curriculum" and perpetuate dominant patterns of social interaction between men and women. This includes their portrayal in public and private spheres, as well as socially standardized notions of gender roles and behavior.The article highlights the need to develop uniform criteria for textbook creation that promote gender-sensitive content and offer a balanced, stereotype-free portrayal of women and men – including their roles, responsibilities, and contributions to society.

Background. Medical devices are essential components of modern healthcare, but their increasing use has heightened the need for structured safety monitoring. Materiovigilance refers to the systematic detection, reporting, and evaluation of adverse events associated with medical devices. While several countries maintain well-established regulatory systems, India formalized its framework through the Materiovigilance Programme of India (MvPI), coordinated by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission. Aim. This narrative overview summarizes the global development of materiovigilance systems, describes India’s regulatory framework, and outlines the relevance of medical device safety monitoring to pharmaceutical professionals. Methods. Literature from PubMed, Scopus, regulatory authority websites, and policy documents published between 2015 and 2025 was reviewed to identify national and international approaches to materiovigilance, common challenges, and opportunities for implementation. Results. Countries such as the United States, European Union members, Japan, Australia, and Canada have established post-marketing surveillance systems for medical devices, whereas India’s MvPI is still evolving since the implementation of the Medical Device Rules (MDR) 2017, which categorize devices into four risk-based classes (A–D). Challenges persist in under-reporting, lack of awareness, limited traceability, and uneven institutional integration. Pharmaceutical professionals can contribute to improved materiovigilance through adverse event reporting, device handling oversight, risk communication, and integration of device safety into existing pharmacovigilance workflows. Conclusion. Materiovigilance complements pharmacovigilance and forms an essential part of broader patient safety systems. Strengthening reporting mechanisms, enhancing awareness among healthcare workers, and involving pharmacists in device safety activities can improve the overall effectiveness of materiovigilance initiatives in India and globally.

The study aimed to assess the competitiveness of agriculture and agri-food trade in the Visegrad Group (V4) countries during their European Union (EU) membership. Using data from Eurostat and the Agri-food Data Portal, labour productivity in agriculture and competitive position in agri-food trade within the EU internal market were analysed. In each V4 country, the labour productivity indicator was lower than the EU-27 average; however, Poland and Hungary had the least favourable scores. Of the four countries surveyed, Czechia recorded the highest productivity and Poland the lowest, influenced by the agrarian structure and level of employment in agriculture. However, it was positive that the dynamics of labour productivity change in all V4 countries were higher than the EU average. The research also showed that accession of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to the EU contributed to an increase in agri-food exports and imports in all analysed countries. Poland has a comparative advantage and is export-specialised in the food and live animals (SITC 0 commodity group) and beverages and tobacco products (SITC 1 commodity group), but not in the animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes (SITC 4 commodity group). In the SITC4 commodity group, Hungary performed best, having both a comparative advantage and export specialisation in this area. Slovakia is the worst performer compared to the other countries surveyed, having neither a comparative advantage nor export specialisation in any of the analysed commodity groups.

This paper explores the influence of European Union (EU) integration on financial inclusion in Albania, a Southeast European country undergoing structural reforms in preparation for EU membership. It investigates how Albania’s alignment with EU policies and standards has affected access to financial services, banking sector development, regulatory frameworks, and the adoption of digital financial tools. The study uses a qualitative methodology with data from official EU reports, national banking statistics, and academic literature to assess the extent of progress made in financial inclusion. It argues that while EU integration has had a positive impact, challenges such as low financial literacy, regional disparities, and institutional weaknesses continue to hinder full inclusion. Received: 2 August 2025 / Accepted: 8 September 2025 / Published: 04 October 2025

Abstract Cyprus, an Eastern Mediterranean nation and a European Union member, underwent a significant healthcare transformation with the introduction of the General Healthcare System (GHS) in 2019. This reform established a single-payer model under the Health Insurance Organization (HIO), ensuring equal access to healthcare services through a network of public and private providers. The GHS aims to deliver high-quality, sustainable healthcare, improving long-term survival, healthy life expectancy, and overall quality of life. While initial evaluations of the system have been positive, certain challenges have emerged, including inconsistencies in clinical practice. One contributing factor is the lack of a standardized medical training system designed to enhance efficiency and sustainability. The adoption of locally adapted guidelines could help address these inconsistencies, promoting equitable care, optimizing resource allocation, and enabling more effective clinical auditing. Creating new clinical guidelines from scratch is a complex, time-intensive, and resource-heavy endeavor. However, adapting existing guidelines for local use offers a more efficient alternative, reducing redundant efforts and fostering greater acceptance by involving local stakeholders in the process. To bridge this gap, the HIO, the University of Cyprus (UCY), and the United Kingdom's (UK) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) formed a strategic partnership. With over 25 years of experience in rigorous guideline development, NICE also provides support for adapting its guidelines to different national contexts through a structured and supervised process based on a modified version of the ADAPTE framework. This approach not only facilitates the localization of guidelines but also strengthens local expertise in guideline development and quality indicator formulation, ensuring greater ownership and long-term sustainability of adapted recommendations. The objectives of this scientific session, through four oral presentations, an open discussion, and ample interaction, are to outline the methodology and share insights from the process of adapting six NICE guidelines and developing corresponding quality indicators for implementation in Cyprus. Attendees will have the opportunity to share experiences and brainstorm potential solutions relevant to their own national or regional settings, and to ask questions and receive feedback during the Question-and-Answer segments. The added value of this session is that the Cypriot experience holds valuable lessons for other European nations, particularly smaller states or those seeking a more efficient approach to evidence-based policy. Through strategic international partnerships and tailored methodologies like ADAPTE, countries can overcome barriers related to resource scarcity, increase standardization of care, and uphold high-quality clinical and public health practice. Key messages • Globalize evidence – localize recommendations. Effective guideline development and adaptation require tailoring global evidence to the specific realities of a country, region, or healthcare setting. • The Cyprus-NICE model shows how global evidence could be interpreted through the lens of local healthcare priorities, resources, and cultural norms.

In contemporary international relations, cultural diplomacy and strategic communication are pivotal instruments of foreign policy, particularly for nations undergoing significant geopolitical transitions. This paper examines the role of these soft power tools in Ukraine's ongoing pursuit of European Union membership. Using a qualitative comparative case study methodology, this study analyzes Ukraine's approach in the context of two distinct EU accession precedents: the successful integration of Croatia and the stalled candidacy of Turkey. The analysis reveals that while crisis-driven communication has generated short-term international support for Ukraine, long-term success hinges on adopting a process-oriented, institutionally embedded cultural diplomacy strategy, similar to Croatia's model. Key findings indicate that sporadic, event-focused initiatives are insufficient to overcome deep-seated political and cultural barriers, a lesson underscored by Turkey's experience. The paper concludes that for Ukraine, a sustained and strategic cultural engagement is fundamental to navigating the complexities of EU integration and solidifying its European identity.

The war in Ukraine has generated the greatest political, social, and economic challenge to Europe since the end of the Cold War. The devastation of infrastructure, industry, and communities is immense, yet the process of reconstruction has already begun. Unlike earlier episodes of post-conflict recovery, Ukraine’s trajectory is inseparable from its aspirations for European Union membership, and therefore from the interests of its immediate neighbours. For the Visegrád Four (V4) countries — Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic — Ukraine’s integration represents both an extraordinary challenge and a historic opportunity. This special issue of the journal brings together a set of articles that engage with different facets of Ukraine’s reconstruction and integration. Collectively, they demonstrate that the challenges Ukraine faces cannot be reduced to technical fixes or isolated reforms. They concern the very principles of statehood, development, and governance in a post-war context. At the same time, they reveal that Ukraine’s path forward is intimately tied to the strategies, policies, and political choices of the V4 countries, which have themselves undergone profound transformation since the 1990s.

ABSTRACT The geopolitical upheaval triggered by Russia-Ukraine war has induced significant shifts in European security architecture and enlargement policy, with profound implications for the Western Balkans. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), a country still grappling with internal divisions and institutional fragility three decades after the Dayton Peace Agreement, has emerged as a critical focal point within this readjusted geopolitical context. The European Union's (EU) enlargement policy, which has stalled due to both Bosnia's internal problems and the challenges the EU has encountered, has begun a new phase after the Russia-Ukraine war. BiH was swiftly recognized as a candidate for European Union membership in the wake of the war and received greenlight to start accession negotiations. This study investigates whether the Russian-Ukrainian war, which both disrupted Bosnia's internal balance by encouraging the separatist rhetoric of Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik and meanwhile opened the door to faster EU integration, constitutes a threat or an opportunity for Bosnia's European future. The study argues that the answer hinges on whether the EU adopts a renewed enlargement strategy that simultaneously addresses security concerns and democratic reforms, while placing particular emphasis on Serbia.

ABSTRACT Joining the European Union (EU) is a complex process involving significant and often difficult domestic reform. Under the logic of the External Incentives Model (EIM), states engage in this process because of the substantial rewards, including EU membership. However, politicians also pursue their own individual rewards, which may or may not align with accession and are constrained by a culture of informality in which they are embedded. Drawing on documentary analysis and elite interviews, this paper examines the interaction between individual, subjective rationality and the state-level rationality espoused by the EIM as mediated by informality. Specifically, it addresses the question of under what conditions the EU was successful in promoting Europeanization in Croatia and Serbia from 2000 to 2020. In doing so, the article identifies periods of successful and unsuccessful Europeanization, which may help the EU better align its incentives to promote change in the new candidate states.