European Union Project Research Articles

The effect of fiscal austerity on citizens’ trust in the European Union

The signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 and the subsequent adoption of the single currency form the basis of the current European Union (EU) project, which, in the expectations of its founding fathers, should have brought about convergence of the macroeconomic fundamentals of a large part of the European continent. However, it seems that, over the last 20 years, enthusiasm for the EU has declined and this could have serious consequences for the success of the EU project in the future. This paper claims that one of the most important factors that have caused the growing disaffection towards the EU has been the implementation of austerity measures in the eurozone. Using data from between 1999 and 2019 from the ‘original’ 12 countries that joined the eurozone, the results show that the change in the primary balance has had a strong and negative impact on net trust in the EU.

The Otoacoustic Emissions in the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening: An Update on the European Data (2004 to 2024).

Background: The reported data on European universal neonatal hearing screening (UNHS) practices tend to be scarce, despite the fact that the European Union project, EUScreen, collected unofficial data from 38 collaborating European institutions. The objectives of this systematic review were as follows: (a) to identify the most recent (in a 20-year span) literature information about UNHS programs in Europe and (b) to provide data on the procedures used to assess the population, the intervention policies, and on the estimated prevalence of congenital hearing loss with emphasis on the bilateral hearing loss cases. Methods: Queries were conducted via the Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases for the time period of 2004-2024. The Mesh terms used were "OAE", "Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening", "congenital hearing loss" and "well babies". Only research articles and review papers of European origin were considered good candidates. The standard English language filter was not used, in order to identify information from non-English-speaking scientific communities and groups. Results: Very few data and reports were identified in the literature search. Eleven manuscripts were identified corresponding to eight UNHS programs. Except in Poland, most of the data refer to regional and not national programs. The screening coverage estimates of all programs exceed 90%; infants were mostly assessed by a three-stage protocol (TEOAE + TEOAE + AABR), followed by a clinical ABR test. The average prevalence (i.e., from well babies AND NICU infants) of bilateral hearing loss ranged from 0.5 to 20.94 per 1000 (Zurich sample). Infants presenting unilateral or bilateral hearing losses were first rehabilitated by hearing aids and consequently (>15 mo) by cochlear implants. Conclusions: Even though UNHS programs are well-established clinical practices in the European States, the amount of information in the literature about these programs is surprising low. The existing data in the timespan 2004-2024 corroborate the international UNHS data in terms of coverage and bilateral hearing loss prevalence, but there is a strong need to supplement the existing information with the latest developments, especially in the area of hearing loss rehabilitation.

Co-Designing a Conversational Agent With Older Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Who Age in Place: Qualitative Study.

As a reaction to the global demographic increase in older adults (aged 60+ years), policy makers call for initiatives to enable healthy aging. This includes a focus on person-centered care and access to long-term care for older adults, such as developing different services and digital health technologies. This can enable patients to engage in their health and reduce the burden on the health care systems and health care professionals. The European Union project Smart Inclusive Living Environments (SMILE) focuses on well-being and aging in place using new digital health technologies. The novelty of the SMILE project is the use of a cocreational approach focused on the needs and preferences of older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in technology development, to enhance access, adaptation, and usability and to reduce stigma. The study aimed to describe the perspective, needs, and preferences of older adults living with COPD in the context of the design and development of a conversational agent. This study carried out a data-driven thematic analysis of interview data from 11 cocreation workshops with 33 older adults living with COPD. The three particular features that the workshop participants wanted to implement in a new technology were (1) a "my health" function, to use technology to manage and learn more about their condition; (2) a "daily activities" function, including an overview and information about social and physical activities in their local area; and (3) a "sleep" function, to manage circadian rhythm and enhance sleep quality, for example, through online video guides. In total, 2 overarching themes were identified for the 3 functions: measurements, which were actively discussed and received mixed interest among the participants, and health literacy, due to an overall interest in learning more about their condition in relation to everyday life. The future design of digital health technology must embrace the complexities of the everyday life of an older adult living with COPD and cater to their needs and preferences. Measurements should be optional and personalized, and digital solutions should be used as a supplement to health care professionals, not as substitute.

Adapting International Business Models for EU Projects: Macro- and Micro-Foundations of the Uppsala Model in Multinational Collaborations

This study examines the adaptation of the Uppsala Model to enhance the management of European Union (EU)-funded projects, particularly focusing on the macro- and micro-foundational elements of the model. The Uppsala Model, originally developed for firm-level internationalization, provides a valuable framework for addressing the complex challenges of EU project implementation, which include bureaucratic hurdles, diverse stakeholder management, and the intricacies of European integration. This paper highlights the persistent issues faced by project managers despite improved application processes and skilled beneficiaries. By applying the Uppsala Model, which emphasizes incremental knowledge development and resource commitment, this study aims to bridge the gap between fund acquisition and project delivery. The integration of both macro- (broad external factors) and micro- (individual and organizational behaviors) perspectives of the Uppsala Model offers a comprehensive approach to managing international, multi-stakeholder EU initiatives. This approach is exemplified through the SuMaNu project, which addresses nutrient recycling and sustainable manure management in the Baltic Sea Region. The findings suggest that the Uppsala Model’s principles can be effectively applied to enhance the execution of complex EU projects by fostering better stakeholder relationships, incremental learning, and adaptive strategies. This study underscores the relevance of experiential learning and network perspectives in achieving successful project outcomes in the EU context.

Can the improvements in human capital quality mitigate the negative impact of ageing on growth? Evidence from selected EU countries

AbstractMost long‐term GDP projections in developed countries expect a substantial decline in GDP growth rates over time. The main factor behind it is demographic changes, especially the decreasing working‐age population. We argue that these projections do not consider improvements in the quality of the human capital, which may, at least to some extent, mitigate the effects of the negative demographic shock. We start with a simple observation—the skills of younger age cohorts are higher than of older cohorts. Assuming that the current level of skills will be obtained also by the generations which will enter the labour market in the future, the average level of skills among the working‐age population will increase. Trying to catch this effect, we use the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies standardised test results to create an aggregate human capital measure, the average skill level of the work force, for 18 European Union countries and project it until 2040. We show that on average at least one sixth of the negative impact of the shrinking of the working‐age population can be offset by the increase in the quality of human capital and that this number can increase to three quarters in a less conservative scenario.

Report on palliative sedation medication usage: a survey of palliative care experts in Eight European countries

BackgroundThe practice of palliative sedation continues to raise ethical questions among people, which in turn leads to its varied acceptance and practice across regions. As part of the Palliative Sedation European Union (EU) project, the aim of the present study was to determine the perceptions of palliative care experts regarding the practice of palliative sedation in eight European countries (The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, UK, Italy, Spain, Hungary, and Romania).MethodsA specifically designed survey, including questions on the most frequently used medications for palliative sedation, their availability per countries and settings, and the barriers and facilitators to the appropriate practice of palliative sedation was sent to expert clinicians involved and knowledgeable in palliative care in the indicated countries. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select at least 18 participating clinicians per consortium country. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted on the survey data.ResultsOf the 208 expert clinicians invited to participate, 124 participants completed the survey. Midazolam was perceived to be the most frequently used benzodiazepine in all eight countries. 86% and 89% of expert clinicians in Germany and Italy, respectively, perceived midazolam was used “almost always”, while in Hungary and Romania only about 50% or less of the respondents perceived this. Levomepromazine was the neuroleptic most frequently perceived to be used for palliative sedation in the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Between 38- 86% of all eight countries´ expert clinicians believed that opioid medications were “almost always” used during palliative sedation. The perceived use of IV hydration and artificial nutrition “almost always” was generally low, while the country where both IV hydration and artificial nutrition were considered to be “very often” given by a third of the expert clinicians, was in Hungary, with 36% and 27%, respectively.ConclusionsOur study provides insight about the differences in the perceived practice of medication during palliative sedation between eight European countries. In countries where palliative care services have been established longer perceptions regarding medication use during palliative sedation were more in line with the recommended European guidelines than in Central and Eastern European countries like Romania and Hungary.

Nanotechnology and knowledge relatedness: how to identify optimal regional partners in EU innovation networks?

Abstract Research & Innovation (R&I) policy initiatives employed by the European Union (EU) across its regional economies are important instruments to ensure the scientific and technological progress along with the associated benefits. One relevant aspect in this regard is to encourage and enable collaboration between regional partners to enhance potential learning opportunities and to ensure cohesive long-term development patterns. Furthermore, frequently these initiatives are also targeted at specific technology sectors, such as the EU R&I policy actions towards nanotechnology. Based on an advance theoretical framework and data from the official EU project databases as well as regionalized European Patent Office data, the present study develops a methodological tool through which it is possible to identify effective collaboration settings, while providing policymakers and evaluators with a practical tool that will enable them to predict the possible outcomes of such critical EU-funded R&I projects from the onset.

“Minorities”, the nation and Europe in the history textbooks of Germany, Spain and Turkey

A feature of the concept of “minorities” is the invisibility and stigmatization of communities, more so within the idea of the nation. The European Union project stimulated new vistas, and offers challenges to reconcile peoples under a new political, social and economic concept. However, in the midst of crisis and war in Europe, mistrust and hostility are increasing, incited by right-wing populism and nationalism and these aims of the last century are slowly making their way into history textbooks. This article analyses the representation and construction of these complex concepts in eight German, Turkish and Spanish secondary school history textbooks. In times of strengthening nationalism, it is also discussed here whether the representations convey essentialist ideas and imperialistic structures hidden between the lines in school textbooks, or whether they reflect the concept of “minorities” as a component of a pluralistic and hybrid European society. The research is divided into two areas: 1) A quantitative analysis of textbooks: A comparative research will be carried out on the representation of 'minorities' in English, German, Turkish and Spanish history textbooks. The textbook research is temporally limited to the period from the sixteenth until the twenty-first centuries.

Secondary use of helath data in EU: Exploring the legal challenges of the upcoming European Health Data Space Reguation in light of the findings of the TEHDAS project

Arguably, big data, data processing with advanced ICT solutions and data sharing were accelerated during the end of the 2010s, also fuelled by the COVID-19 pandemic. This latter can be reasonably considered a booster in health care for data-driven digital solutions and regulations, which led to issues concerning both primary and secondary use of digital (electronic) health data. There is an ongoing and comprehensive regulatory effort within the European Union to address the evoked challenges. Regarding the healthcare sector, the European Health Data Space Regulation can be considered a flagship legislation. The main ambition of the European Commission is, on the one hand, to create a common space where natural persons can easily control their electronic health data and, on the other hand, to make it possible for researchers, innovators and policymakers to use these health data sets for common societal purposes in a trusted and secure way based on a specific cross-border digital infrastructure. A European Union project, the Joint Action Towards the European Health Data Space (TEHDAS) has been initiated to support the establishment of the EHDS as regards the secondary use of data. Our analysis identified two important topics: legislative barriers to the secondary use of health data and challenges for citizens’ empowerment, including data altruism. The legal complexity of the ongoing strategic legislative initiatives within the EU poses several challenges for future application. Firstly, there can be a terminological issue based on the lack of a common definition of secondary use of data. Secondly, the regulation of the Member States adjusted to their national health and data utilisation systems can be diverse. Both of these may hinder the desired EU-level harmonisation regarding data-sharing. In this context, the division of regulatory competencies related to health care and the chosen legal basis can be decisive. Overall, the EHDS might be a regulation that can challenge the current legal paradigm of competence distribution among the EU and the Member States regarding digital transition, including data usage in health care. As for the citizens’ empowerment, the goal of an EU-wide ecosystem of health data utilisation requires individuals who are aware of the economic value of their health data and, via practising altruism, want to use these data also for the common good. Specific provisions of the EHDS, such as the right to data portability or the option for opt-out, are definitely for the empowerment of citizens. But, these can also reduce the potential health care-related benefits of data utilisation at both, individual and population level. Altogether, a concert of requirements should be fulfilled for meaningful citizens’ participation, engagement, and practice of data altruism, supported by the complex interplay of the relevant regulations.

Efficient flow reconstruction between dual tidal turbines: Large eddy simulation and reduced order modeling approach

The present investigation seeks to analyze the fluid dynamics associated with tidal turbines in the context of the EU (European Union) project NEMMO (The Next Evolution in Materials and Models for Ocean Energy, nemmo.eu). A pair of counter-rotating tidal turbines is employed for propelling a ship. The separation between these turbines is approximately one rotor diameter. Consequently, the power output of the downstream turbine is adversely affected by the heightened turbulence generated by the rotation of the upstream turbine. This power imbalance poses a substantial challenge in terms of power management. Therefore, this study concentrates on conducting a flow analysis of these counter-rotating turbines. Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of a dual tidal turbine rotating in opposite directions is conducted using the actuator line method. The flow is scrutinized by employing proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). The flow field is then reconstructed using the reduced order method. It is observed that a reduced number of modes is sufficient to reconstruct the flow between the tidal turbines. However, more modes are necessary to replicate the flow beyond the downstream turbine. The utilization of fewer modes proves effective in comprehending the flow at the inlet of the downstream turbine, ultimately resulting in reduced computational power requirements through faster matrix operations and lower memory usage for the POD decomposition.

PERFORMANCES AND SELF-DECLARED OPINIONS ON HANDHELD MOBILE PHONE USE (DISTRACTION IN TRAFFIC) IN POLAND

This article presents the Motor Transport Institute’s research to set out road safety indicators of behaviors and opinions on one of the increasingly important road traffic problems. Two types of studies on the unsafe use of mobile phones and others on board devices (distraction) by road users in Poland between 2014 and 2023 are presented. Safety Performance Indicators (SPI) on handheld mobile phone use from roadside observations and declared opinions on talking, reading messages, checking social media/news, and listening to headphones while driving, cycling, and walking are presented. Overall, 306,240 passenger car drivers observed on all road types all week long in Poland showed a dropping trend (1.8%) between before the study in 2014 SPI 4.1% distracted drivers to SPI 2.3% after the study in 2022. More drivers used mobile phones on single carriageways both in built-up and outside built-up areas. On motorways outside built-up areas, where vehicles are speeding, drivers of passenger cars rarely talk on their handheld mobiles. Results from the first European Union (EU) Baseline project to collect road indicators produced a Key Performance Indicator of 3.8% distracted passenger car (all types of roads, all weekdays and weekend) from 44,011 observed in Poland in 2021. Results from the EU project E-Survey on Road Users’ Attitude, third edition (ESRA3), showed declared opinions of mobile use while driving, cycling, and walking down the street in Poland in 2023 compared to 2018 (ESRA2). A positive trend is seen among car drivers who declared lower use of handheld mobile phones than in 2018 (a drop of 11.2%). The survey showed Polish cyclist used more often headphones to listen to music, checked news and messages than cyclists in Europe in 2023. More by 10.1% pedestrians in Europe than in Poland declared checking social media/news, reading messages/emailing while walking down the street in 2023. This lower rate in Poland can be explained by pedestrian’s legal prohibition of mobile phone use while crossing the street since 2021. There is strong support for policy measures forbidding all drivers of motorized vehicles to use handheld mobile phone use while driving in all of Europe. Enforcement measures are twice as strong in Europe than in Poland. As the number of accidents and fatalities on distraction is unknown, calculating SPI during roadside observations and questionnaire surveys gives in-depth knowledge of the problem. The authors of the paper represent the Motor Transport Institute’s (MTI’s) research institution, which systematically analyzes trends in road safety in Poland during its own, national, and international projects.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Engineering Competencies for IoT in Green Transformation within the Western Balkans Economy: A Case Study from UAMD University

The need and sensitivity in the energy sector has raised the sensibility of the education and industry sectors to accelerate the inclusion and perception of all the technologies that effect in the enrichment of the capacity buildings related to internet of things and green transition technologies. Considering the fact that Albania is at the basic phases is very important to orchestrate two parallel lines in this highway. The first one is the education area in order to instill is the best way the concepts of these modern technologies at the students in order to have future generations with the proper knowledge by integrating in the curricula new courses on IoT and green transformation. About the second on facilitation of the implementations rules of these technologies in industry by the support of national and European Union projects and regulations would be of great interest because will offer to the students a suitable environment for hand-on practice cases. Analyzing the findings based on the methodology of a survey it is highlighted on all categories of the question the gap that exists in Albanian education system on IoT and green transformation fundamental concepts and also they eagerness and readiness of academic staff and students to welcome every possibility that they encounter to feel more confident in these new technologies.
 
 Received: 19 February 2024 / Accepted: 15 March 2024 / Published: 23 March 2024

Access and cost of services for autistic children and adults in Italy: a carers' perspective.

Limited information exists on autistic service access and costs in Italy. This study aims to investigate access to educational, healthcare, social, and related services for autistic individuals in Italy as part of the Autism Spectrum Disorder in the European Union (ASDEU) project. Italian carers of autistic individuals completed an online survey regarding services and costs in the 6 months before completion. Three hundred and three carers of autistic people participated in the survey. The majority of those receiving care were children, males, and lived at home with their parents. Autistic adults were often students (17%) or unemployed but willing to work (17%). Employed carers (49%) worked on average 32.23 ± 9.27 hours per week. A significant portion (82%) took work or school absences to care for autistic individuals, averaging 15.56 ± 14.70 days. On average, carers spent 58.84 ± 48.36 hours per week on caregiving duties. Fifty-five of the autistic individuals received some form of support, 5% utilized residential care, and 6% were hospitalized. Thirty-four percent received outpatient hospital care, and 20% underwent some form of autism-related psychopharmacological therapy. School support was primarily provided by support teachers (18.16 ± 7.02 hours/week). Educational psychologists (80.73%), psychomotor therapists/physiotherapists (53.85%), and speech therapists (50.91%) were frequently paid by carers who paid more per hour. Autistic children received support from educators (73.96 hours/week), group therapy (32.36 hours/week), and speech therapists (31.19 hours/week). Psychologists (76.00%) and counseling/individual therapists (89.13%) were often paid by carers. Carers reported high costs for psychiatrists and psychologists, with frequent use of psychiatric services (8 ± 8 times in 6 months). Carers' perspectives on the access and costs of services for autistic individuals in Italy can provide insights into areas for improvement in the delivery of autism services.

Evolution of European prostate cancer screening protocols and summary of ongoing trials.

Population-based organised repeated screening for prostate cancer has been found to reduce disease-specific mortality, but with substantial overdiagnosis leading to overtreatment. Although only very few countries have implemented a screening programme on a national level, individual prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is common. This opportunistic testing may have little favourable impact, while stressing the side-effects. The classic early detection protocols as were state-of-the-art in the 1990s applied a PSA and digital rectal examination threshold for sextant systematic prostate biopsy, with a fixed interval for re-testing, and limited indication for expectant management. In the three decades since these trials were started, different important improvements have become available in the cascade of screening, indication for biopsy, and treatment. The main developed aspects include: better identification of individuals at risk (using early/baseline PSA, family history, and/or genetic profile), individualised re-testing interval, optimised and individualised starting and stopping age, with gradual invitation at a fixed age rather than invitation of a wider range of age groups, risk stratification for biopsy (using PSA density, risk calculator, magnetic resonance imaging, serum and urine biomarkers, or combinations/sequences), targeted biopsy, transperineal biopsy approach, active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer, and improved staging of disease. All these developments are suggested to decrease the side-effects of screening, while at least maintaining the advantages, but Level 1 evidence is lacking. The knowledge gained and new developments on early detection are being tested in different prospective screening trials throughout Europe. In addition, the European Union-funded PRostate cancer Awareness and Initiative for Screening in the European Union (PRAISE-U) project will compare and evaluate different screening pilots throughout Europe. Implementation and sustainability will also be addressed. Modern screening approaches may reduce the burden of the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death in European males, while minimising side-effects. Also, less efficacious opportunistic early detection may be indirectly reduced.

COVID-19 and CBRNE: Effects of the pandemic in the field of CBRNE.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected our lives in all aspects, including key fields such as social interaction and economic supply chains. The field of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive substances (CBRNE) was already directly affected by the pandemic in that the COVID-19 virus is, in a sense, a biological agent. This paper elaborates on how the field of CBRNE has changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It does so by drawing on the results of an interview study with CBRNE practitioners (Fire Brigades, Law Enforcement Agencies, etc.) conducted as part of the European Union project PReparedness against CBRNE threats through cOmmon Approaches between security praCTItioners and the VulnerablE civil society, as well as findings from research literature on links between CBRNE and COVID-19. This paper highlights four areas where the influence of the pandemic on the CBRNE field has been evident. The four areas are as follows: preparedness for CBRNE incidents and likelihood of future CBRNE incidents (with a focus on terrorist attacks), CBRNE training and education, increased awareness of CBRNE-related behaviors and measures among the general public, and greater awareness of the needs of vulnerable groups (older people, etc.).

Improved sampling and DNA extraction procedures for microbiome analysis in food-processing environments.

Deep investigation of the microbiome of food-production and food-processing environments through whole-metagenome sequencing (WMS) can provide detailed information on the taxonomic composition and functional potential of the microbial communities that inhabit them, with huge potential benefits for environmental monitoring programs. However, certain technical challenges jeopardize the application of WMS technologies with this aim, with the most relevant one being the recovery of a sufficient amount of DNA from the frequently low-biomass samples collected from the equipment, tools and surfaces of food-processing plants. Here, we present the first complete workflow, with optimized DNA-purification methodology, to obtain high-quality WMS sequencing results from samples taken from food-production and food-processing environments and reconstruct metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). The protocol can yield DNA loads >10 ng in >98% of samples and >500 ng in 57.1% of samples and allows the collection of, on average, 12.2 MAGs per sample (with up to 62 MAGs in a single sample) in ~1 week, including both laboratory and computational work. This markedly improves on results previously obtained in studies performing WMS of processing environments and using other protocols not specifically developed to sequence these types of sample, in which <2 MAGs per sample were obtained. The full protocol has been developed and applied in the framework of the European Union project MASTER (Microbiome applications for sustainable food systems through technologies and enterprise) in 114 food-processing facilities from different production sectors.

Reinforcing or moderating? The impact of Brexit on Italian and German Euroscepticism

This article investigates the impact of Brexit on Eurosceptic parties' arguments for leaving (or remaining in) the European Union (EU). Drawing on a comparative design, the article looks at the images and narratives of the EU that Eurosceptic parties in Italy and Germany have advanced in the aftermath of the 2016 Brexit referendum and reflects on the broader implications in terms of the prospects of further states leaving the EU. This research is motivated by two assumptions grounded in the literature on Euroscepticism and EU polity contestation: firstly, that Euroscepticism is fuelled by external circumstances that are exploited by interested political actors; and secondly, that both the Brexit referendum and the UK's departure from the EU have had a profound impact on discourses on the EU within member states, most importantly because this process has highlighted the real possibility of replacing EU membership with trade agreements and other specific arrangements. By means of a comparative analysis of the development of Eurosceptic discourse in Italy and Germany after Brexit, the article reveals that on the structural level, Eurozone membership remains the main obstacle to leaving the EU. Yet on the ideological level, Eurosceptic discourse in the two countries centers on two principles that are at odds with each other. Beyond the alleged lack of democratic representation within EU institutions that is pointed out by Eurosceptic parties in both countries, the main criticism of the EU project in Germany is that the country shares the costs of states with lower economic outputs. In Italy, on the other hand, the criticism is that the EU benefits wealthier states while constraining the country's opportunities for development.

The impact of high-performance human resource practices on subjective career success: The mediating role of psychological capital and organizational commitment

Utilizing insights from positive psychology, social exchange theory, and social cognitive career theory, this study aims to investigate the mediating role of psychological capital and organizational commitment in the relationship between high-performance human resource (HR) practices and subjective career success. Data were collected from a sample of 429 private sector employees working on European Union projects in Turkey. Hypotheses were tested using regression, correlation, and mediation analyses, as well as Sobel test statistics. Results indicate that high-performance HR practices, organizational commitment, and psychological capital positively influence subjective career success. Additionally, there is evidence that, unlike organizational commitment, psychological capital mediates the relationship between high-performance HR practices and subjective career success. Our study underscores the need for organizations to foster and develop psychological capital among their employees to maximize the effectiveness of HR practices in promoting subjective career success.

Tracing the Feminist Maternal in a European Context: A Review

“What might motherhood and Europe have to do with one another?” is a question posed by Lisa Baraitser in the Foreword to the collection, Motherhood in Literature and Culture: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Europe. The question is certainly pertinent at a time when the very concept of Europe as a geopolitical space and an imaginary construct is being interrogated and critiqued from both within and without the carefully policed borders of the European Union project. It is also pertinent given the increased amount of scholarship on the maternal produced by scholars occupying various transnational locations and positionalities, working to deconstruct unitary and essentialist ideas about mothers and motherhood. The possibility of identifying a specifically European maternal theoretical and lived space thus invites us to carefully theorize the diversity of European contexts, a diversity that is often occluded or elided by easy references to Eurocentric bias in feminist research, as well as the dis/continuities between European-based and Anglo-American feminist scholarship on the maternal. And yet, precisely because the work of mothering always unfolds within specific micro and macro geographic, social, cultural, and ideological spaces, the question merits closer attention. In this essay I consider the cluster of three books delineating the contours of an Italian, as well as a more broadly conceptualized European, philosophy of the maternal in light of these evolving academic and experiential realities.

«Европейская комиссия сейчас подобна ЦК КПСС». Беседа с журналом «Логос»

In his conversation with the editors of Logos about the key plots and the context of the book Endgame Europe. Why the Europe Political Project Has Failed and How Can We Dream of It Again (2022) its co-author, Hauke Ritz, emphasizes that it was induced by a reflection on the reasons of the European Union project’s failure at the time of the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Maastricht Treaty. This failure has both an internal political — the failure of democracy and republicanism in the internal structures of the EU, and a foreign dimension — the deterioration of relations between Germany (Europe), the West and Russia and, of course, the conflict in Ukraine. Moreover, the internal political failure in the implementation of the European peace project, largely associated with the choice of an extensive path of its development (EU enlargement, coupled with NATO expansion to the east) at the expense of intensity (deepening political integration) leads to deep foreign policy complications and is aggravated by them. The fact that the EU project, which has not made progress in its domestic political (democratic and republican) content and is artificially limited through the exclusion of Russia from the European world and the common security architecture, has turned out to be instrumentalized, along with support for the US position on Ukraine, according to Ritz, constitutes a betrayal of Europe. The problem is compounded by the disregard of the university community and the mainstream media for this catastrophic state of affairs. However, new, alternative media are emerging and gaining popularity all over Europe, critically and responsibly exploring these topics and contributing to the formation of reflective European solidarity.