European Union Policy Research Articles

A comparative analysis of supply chain management between Portugal and Ireland

PurposeThis study investigates how insurance intermediaries in Portugal and Ireland evaluate supply chain management (SCM) practices within the insurance industry, specifically focusing on potential regional variations in their assessments.Design/methodology/approachA comparative research design was employed, collecting data through surveys administered to insurance brokers in Portugal and Ireland. These countries were chosen due to their well-developed intermediary-based insurance markets.FindingsThe results show that some dimensions of supply chain management are significantly different between Portugal and Ireland. Nevertheless, the insurance brokers from the two countries also share similar views on key aspects of supply chain management.Practical implicationsThis study offers valuable insights for insurance industry management, particularly regarding the dynamics of the insurer-intermediary relationship and the importance of catering to intermediary needs. The findings also highlight potential areas for European Union policy consideration, such as addressing potential asymmetries within the insurance sector across member states.Social implicationsImproved relationships and collaboration within the insurance supply chain can lead to enhanced access to insurance products and more tailored services for consumers.Originality/valueThis research addresses two key gaps in the literature. Firstly, it examines the insurer-intermediary relationship from the intermediary perspective, a viewpoint often neglected in prior research. Secondly, the study investigates and confirms the existence of regional variations in insurance SCM practices across two European countries.

How can we halve food waste by 2030 in a consumerist world?

The United Nations’ target for halving Food Waste (FW) and the related actions required by the 2030 Agenda should be achieved in just six years, and there is a lot to be done. Considering that FW worldwide is causing 8% to 10% of GHG, the phenomenon has become a preoccupation for the European Union (EU). As a member state, Romania is aligned with the EU policy lines regarding environment and sustainable development. Bearing in mind the consumption-based economic model, the governmental approaches, and challenges regarding environmental and sustainable development issues, a robust civil society is needed to influence the adoption of efficacious and improved public policies regarding FW and to contribute to maintaining green topics on the public agenda. This paper aims to identify the factors that explain civil society's ability to influence public policies on FW and keep these green topics on the governmental agenda. In this sense, I have carried out a literature review to identify the current situation and the levers available to Romanian civil society and data analysis. Data was gathered via 11 semi-structured in-depth interviews with representatives of central public authorities, HoReCa, civil society, and Romanian consumers conducted in the spring of 2022 for my dissertation paper. The interviews revealed that civil society as a soft power can influence Romanian public policies regarding FW and has a crucial role in covering the critical areas of education, communication, awareness, and changing consumer behavior. Moreover, the data underlines that, second to the central authorities, civil society is the next stakeholder responsible for taking action to reduce FW. The development and evolution of a solid and vigilant civil society is essential for influencing the adoption of effective and improved public policies regarding FW and contributes to maintaining green topics on the public agenda to achieve the ambitious goals set by the international community, which aim at the well-being of people, and the Planet, but also of the future generations.

Green Policies, Gray Areas

This paper presents a comparative analysis of farmer protests across seven European countries (France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Romania) from late 2023 to early 2024, focusing on the intersection of anti-environmentalist discourse and Euroscepti­cism within these movements. Amidst growing tensions between agricultural practices and environmental policies, these protests highlight how civil society can pose a threat to the implementation of environmental policy across the European Union (EU). Utilizing discourse analysis and comparative methodology, the paper examines the platforms and public statements of the protesting groups to identify core themes of resistance against environmental regulations and EU agricultural policies. Furthermore, it incorporates a Euroscepticism lens to explore how anti-EU sentiments exacerbate the protests, reflect­ing broader issues of sovereignty, identity, and economic survival in the face of EU-wide policy directives. Our findings suggest that while environmental policy concerns are at the forefront, a significant undercurrent of Euroscepticism influences the discourse and demands of these protests, presenting a multifaceted challenge for EU policymakers. By analyzing these protests in a comparative context, this study contributes to the un­derstanding of contemporary European social movements and the intricate balance between environmental sustainability and agricultural livelihoods within the EU policy framework.

Functional responses in habitat selection as a management tool to evaluate agri-environment schemes for farmland birds

Agri-environment schemes (AES), as part of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy, are intended to help prevent the decline of farmland biodiversity. Nevertheless, the ecological effectiveness of AES in supporting farmland bird populations remains inconclusive across studies. This inconsistency highlights a research gap: What behavioral mechanisms contribute to the variation in farmland bird populations? This variability may arise because farmland birds alter their habitat selection in response to available habitat—a phenomenon known as functional responses in habitat selection. Here, we examined the effects of AES and non-AES land-use variables on habitat selection of farmland birds, taking into account the species-specific functional response to availability. We built two types of hierarchical distance sampling models to analyze observational data of four farmland bird species from line-transect surveys during the breeding season in Saxony, Germany. First, we built mixed-effects models to estimate the marginal effects of AES and non-AES land-use variables on the occurrence of farmland birds. Second, we integrated linear models into the distance sampling model to relate habitat selection estimates to habitat availability. Results from the first mixed-effects model showed positive and negative effects of AES on habitat selection. In the second model, we observed inverse relationships between habitat selection and availability for both AES and non-AES variables. These results support the hypothesis of negative functional responses, as we found a decrease in the tendency of farmland birds to select both AES and non-AES land uses as their availability increased. Our findings suggest that the varying effects of AES on bird occurrences reported in the literature may depend on cross-study differences in AES availability. We propose that functional responses in habitat selection should be considered as a phenomenon in future AES research. Our study also highlights the importance of optimal AES provision and their spatial allocation in the agricultural landscape.

A critical review of climate change mitigation policies in the EU ——based on vertical, horizontal and policy instrument perspectives

The European Union (EU) has consistently held a prominent global position in climate governance. This paper compiles 152 climate neutrality policies issued by the European Commission (EU Commission) and employs a systematic analytical framework including "Vertical Policy Hierarchy - Horizontal Policy Path – Systematic Policy instruments" to conduct an in-depth analysis of the EU's climate neutrality policy system.This study produces several findings as follows: First, the EU's climate neutrality policy hierarchy is characterized by a structure comprising "Long-Term Planning – Specific Measures - Financial Support". Second, the EU's policy formulation process for climate neutrality emphasizes the integration of a multi-party engagement mechanism involving "Nongovernmental Level - Regional Level - National Level - Transnational Level - Supranational Level", while extensively employing a "framework-content" policy-making methodology. Third, the EU's climate neutrality governance is guided by the dual objectives of achieving a "Cleaner Energy Structure" and "Recover Ecological Environment" pursuing a broad-ranging and multi-tiered policy pathway towards climate neutrality. Fourth, the EU leverages a combined approach of mandatory measures and guiding policies to propel the climate neutrality governance process, aspiring to achieve breakthroughs in new energy technology innovation through climate neutrality governance, thereby solidifying its international standing. Moreover, this study provides an outlook on the future of the EU's climate neutrality policy governance, positing that the EU's emphasis on climate neutrality governance will remain undiminished, with a heightened focus on guiding policies and an emphasis on the roles of enterprises and the public in advancing the realization of climate neutrality.

The eco-social aspects of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork

With the publication of the European Green Deal (EGD) in December 2019, the European Union (EU) has recognised a link between environmental and social challenges and the need to tackle them together. A body of literature publishing under the umbrella concept of sustainable welfare and the term eco-social policies has acknowledged the environmental and social nexus and has been characterised by six prominent eco-social aspects namely, the integration between environmental and social policy goals, their link with economic growth, just transition, redistribution and compensation, citizens’ participation, and the state’s role. However, an in-depth analysis of the eco-social aspects contained in recent European policy documents that can be traced back to the eco-social literature is missing. To address this gap, this article focuses on two policy documents considered at the heart of the European ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, namely the EGD Communication and the Farm to Fork (F2F) Strategy. The article applies a document content analysis of these two documents and uses the six eco-social aspects as a heuristic to analyse and provide descriptive examples of the EGD and the F2F. The content analyses of these documents reveal several elements that advance the understanding of recent EU policies from an eco-social perspective. The study provides knowledge of envisaged compensatory and redistributive measures to the groups and entities affected by the socio-ecological transition and initiatives to enhance a global just transition. Both documents also recognise the primary role of citizens in driving the transition, complementing ongoing eco-social research on participatory processes. The EGD and the F2F reveal also some distinctions in the way the eco-social literature discusses states’ role in eco-social policy-making, the relationship between environmental and social policies and economic growth and intergenerational justice.

The twin green and digital transition: High-level policy or science fiction?

This paper contributes to the literature that critically engages with the so-called ‘twin green and digital transition’ by assessing the twin transition as a policy discourse. Our research question is: why and how is the twin transition legitimised and implemented in the European Union (EU) despite recognised pitfalls and uncertainties? The analysis is based on interpretative text analysis of high-level EU policy documents about the twin green and digital transition and of Member States’ resilience and recovery plans. The paper assesses the political and socio-economic context as a central factor that explains how the coupling of the green and the digital comes to be seen as desirable. Our results show that innovation associated with the digital imaginary is used to discursively reframe tensions between economic and sustainability policy aims as synergies. Legitimacy is derived not only from the promise of win-win ideas but also from the claimed ability of governing institutions to steer the twin transitions in the desired direction and avoid the recognised risks. With regard to implementation, the twin transition logic guided the allocation of funds by framing the need to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to accelerate the green and digital transitions. Hence, the digital imaginary merges environmental governance with the governance of innovation.

European Public Policy – Goal and Reality

The process of transformation of politics into public policy, which has been taking place in the democratic world since the 1950s and which also consists in the involvement of non-governmental (non-political) structures in policy making, started to develop more intensively in the structures of the European Union after 2000. This study analyses the ways in which market and civil society actors participate in policy making in selected EU policies. In particular, using examples from Slovakia it presents how and in what way this participation takes place. It notes the diversity of approaches and forms, but also the fact that current European Union policies already meet the basic criteria for being considered public policies.

Social value framing of physical activity in European Member State policies: a content analysis.

Engagement in physical activity (PA) benefits physical and mental health as well as many other areas of society. In Europe however, 1/3 adults do not meet minimum PA recommendations. Social value, and its quantification through social return on investment (SROI) evidence, may be a useful framing to enhance PA promotion. This study aimed to assess the current use of social value framing of PA in European Union (EU) policies. Content analysis of 45 EU member state policies which contain reference to PA was conducted to evaluate the presence of five social value domains and SROI evidence. Data was analysed using manual inductive coding, supported by DeepL translation and NVivo tools. Social value framing was present to a certain extent in existing policies, with improved health being the most commonly referenced benefit of PA, followed by reference to social and community and then environmental benefits. Acknowledgement of the positive impacts of PA on wellbeing and education was the least present. Reference to SROI evidence was also limited. Generally, policies lacked holistic recognition of the social value of PA. Policies from the health sector were particularly limited in recognising the wider benefits of PA, whilst those from the environmental sector acknowledged the widest range of co-benefits. Adopting social value framing could be a useful approach for enhancing PA promotion. Whilst it is present to a certain extent in existing policy, this could be increased in terms of comprehensiveness to increase issue salience and multisectoral policy action.

EU Energy Securitisation: Ukraine's Place in the European Energy System

This article focuses on the investigation of the European Union's securitisation policy in the energy sector, in particular, the provision of energy carriers to the Union, which was developed in response to Russia's energy wars of 2006–2007 and 2008–2009 against Ukraine and indirectly against the European Union. The theory of securitisation, formulated by S. Ozkan, B. Buzan and other researchers, focuses not so much on eliminating the consequences of crises as on creating a system of securitisation for the relevant industries with increased stress resistance, diversification of economic and technological ties with partners and strengthening the social orientation of their functioning. The algorithmization of this policy and the changes that led to the institutional response to Russian aggression in the energy sector are investigated. The research is based on the approach of sociological (neo)institutionalism, which allows explaining political processes in terms of not only economic benefits, but also their importance for the development of other spheres of public life and international cooperation. This approach is based on the notion that, first, the institutional environment in which a particular institution operates provides it with the necessary resources, as well as legitimates and regulates its activities. As a result, sociological institutionalism emphasises the role of norms, rules, and culture, influencing the self-identification of actors associated with this institution, as well as defining „friends” and „foes” in the overall institutional structure. It is shown that changes in the EU energy policy are dictated not only by economic or technological considerations, but also by the requirement to meet the needs of the population and economy of the EU member states. At the same time, Ukraine's inclusion in the EU's common securitisation system is in the economic, political, and social interests of Ukraine, which, both under the Association Agreement and in the event of its accession to the EU, will have the status of an acceptor country. The article considers possible options for the EU and Ukraine to establish Ukraine as the EU's eastern securitizer and their respective consequences for both parties.

Defining Aspects of the New Economy in Valea Jiului Carboniferous Basin

Abstract The new economy of Valea Jiului Carboniferous Basin changes the economic profile of the six localities with urban status in Hunedoara County: Petroșani, Vulcan, Lupeni, Petrila, Uricani and Aninoasa. The changes in the new economic landscape occurred in a relatively short period of time (about 33 years) and created educational, social and political imbalances. The new economy proposes the reintegration of a significant part of the population by abandoning extractive operations, reducing the secondary sector of the economy and focusing on the tertiary sector, the service sector. The business environment in the Valea Jiului coalfield is going through a new stage, which began with the restructuring that began in 1990. It is influenced positively or negatively by technological advances, European Union policies, local, national and international political events and the evolution of demand and supply. Technology and strategic innovators have the opportunity to quickly enter competitive markets and replace or assimilate local players.

Editorial

The Latin American Journal of European Studies (ISSN 2763-8685) is a publication of the Latin American Center of European Studies, currently supported by the Jean Monnet Network Policy Debate “BRIDGE Watch” project with funding from the Erasmus + Programme of the European Commission. With a focus on the editorial lines on European Union Law and Policies and International Relations of the European Union with third countries and Latin America, the seventh edition of the Journal also has a thematic dossier on “Rule of Law in Latin America and Europe” organized by Aline Beltrame de Moura of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (Brazil). The seventh edition of the Journal is open for submissions until May 1st, 2024.

Data justice in the “twin objective” of market and risk: How discrimination is formulated in EU's AI policy

AbstractBased on a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) policy in the European Union (EU), we explore the dominant approach taken to data justice in policy. More specifically, we ask how the particular issue of discrimination is translated into policy goals and measures as a way to address prominent concerns about AI. Looking at the stage of policy formulation, we provide an analysis of the way (non) discrimination is currently pursued within the EU's AI policy debate through the study of relevant policy documents and public consultations between 2017 and 2023. We argue that whilst the issue of discrimination has moved from the margins to the mainstream in policy debate, it has done so based on an understanding of discrimination as an inevitable risk of AI; such risk is specific to particular situations and the technological features of AI; the nature of this risk can be assessed and managed through a set of procedural safeguards; and such safeguards can be supported by the creation of a trustworthy AI market. Whilst this translation of justice is very important for contending with some of the critique surrounding the advancement of AI, it may also serve to contain and neutralize such critique in the interest of marketization.

Kebijakan Perdagangan Uni Eropa terhadap Produk Logam Dasar

Trade relations between the European Union and China experienced rapid growth during the first two decades of the 21st century. The increase in trade relations is in line with the implementation of EU trade barriers through anti-dumping investigation reports at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against Chinese products. In the period 2001 – 2022, Chinese base metal products became the commodity with the most reported cases in antidumping investigations carried out by the EU at the WTO. However, in the same period, the value of imports of basic metal products to the European Union was lower compared to the value of imports of other products such as electricity & equipment as well as machine products, nuclear reactors and boilers. This article aims to explain the reasons behind the European Union's stance in making Chinese base metal products the most common commodity in antidumping investigation reports at the WTO. This article uses Alan Bryman's qualitative method, and the neoclassical realism theory proposed by Gideon Rose to analyze European Union policy towards Chinese Base Metal Products. The application of systemic pressure variables in neoclassical realism theory influences the European Union's position in the international system as an external factor, while there are other variables, in this case internal factors, which also influence the European Union's strategic trade policy-making process through the European Commission. The findings of this article show that China's dominance in world metals consumption and production since the early 2000s, especially in the 2013 – 2017 period, triggered the European Commission's perception that the European base metals industry was experiencing a decline in competitiveness and needed protection. In the 2013-2017 period, China's contribution to the world base metals market increased by 13% compared to 8% in the previous decade. On the other hand, the European Commission has maximized its influence in mobilizing national forces as outlined in the resolution document 2017/C399/12 to build a sustainable base metals industry. The European Union's trade policy in making Chinese base metal products the highest case report in antidumping investigations at the WTO over the last two decades, was driven by the European Commission, as the trade policy formulation unit in the European Union, to respond to systemic challenges in the global base metals market.

Quay-to-quay mission with autonomous docking: a model-scale experimental validation

Transport of cargo by short-sea shipping is at the forefront of the European Union's transportation policy. It has the promise to alleviate congested land transport and decrease pollution [European Commission. 2021. Putting European transport on track for the future]. However, the shortage of qualified personnel might impede this solution. Autonomous sailing of ships could help, especially if the whole trip is automated. In this study a control system is designed that is capable of sailing a round-trip with a model-scale feeder vessel in Marin's Seakeeping and Manoeuvring Basin. The Guidance-Navigation-Control framework is used to sail this journey with attention given to smooth switching between the operational modes. A set of experiments is conducted to validate the controller and identify crucial parts in the operation. The experiments showed that the controlled vessel can sail a round-trip with different levels of waves and wind disturbances coming from different directions. Furthermore, the round-trip can be modified such that the approach angle to the quay changes and the ship still successfully docks at the quay. It was found that the approach to the quay is most difficult during transition from high to low speed, when the bow thrusters have yet to become effective, and a large change in course is needed. This can be circumvented by changing the trajectory to the quay to have a longer straight approach, or it can be corrected when the bow thrusters become active.

Political and Legal Developments in the EU Law

The European Union (EU) is a remarkable example of a supranational organisation in the 21st century political world, where its 27 Member States share power and resources to pursue common economic, environmental, political, and social goals. However, in recent years, it has encountered a myriad of challenges that fracture its structure and competency. This paper examines two such momentous case studies, the Migration Crisis and COVID-19, through a legal and political lens. The research, consisting of legislation and case law, finds systemic flaws within the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) and inefficiency caused by bureaucracy that sometimes causes a stalemate. On the other hand, the initial response to COVID-19 discloses unknown weaknesses in the EU’s ability to act as a collective union towards human health. The paper evaluates the successes and limitations of specific developments to EU law, including directives, economic mechanisms, and financial agreements, showcasing the workings of EU policy making and its impact on Member States. Then, the paper discusses the political implications of these legal developments and their role in redefining human rights for the EU in the 21st century. The paper concludes that the EU’s future relies on addressing the political implications of EU law that are essential to reinforce the EU’s role in crisis management and to better equip it to promote human development.

Multi-level empowerment strategies: Regionalist parties’ territory-oriented legislative initiative in the regional, statewide and European parliamentary arenas

In the European Union (EU), parties operate on the regional, the state, and the supranational level. Exploring how parties behave legislatively from a cross-level perspective, this paper evaluates the territory-oriented legislation introduced by three regionalist parties – Südtiroler Volkspartei, Femu a Corsica, and Plaid Cymru – in all parliaments they occupy (from 2018 to 2022). The parties initiate greater self-government, autonomy safeguards, and concrete region-oriented policies in the regional and statewide parliaments. Meanwhile, many specific, state-addressed proposals are generalised to all European regions in the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament (as are all demands directed to the EU) and concern the protection of ethnic minorities, regional development, and regional involvement in EU policies. Drawing on novel parliamentary data, this three-level study reveals multi-level legislative strategies of a distinct party family aimed at territorial empowerment while exposing available legislative channels and routes of interaction across the levels of governance.

EU policy on agricultural land turnover: general characteristics

The evolving land reforms in Ukraine and its recent strides towards EU membership accentuate the critical importance of addressing the circulation of agricultural land. This article analyzes the European Union's policies concerning the formulation and execution of regulations governing the transfer of agricultural land, given its doctrinal and practical significance in the context of Ukraine's transitional phase. This academic article examines the intricate relationship between European Union (EU) legislation and the regulation of land ownership within its member states, with a particular focus on agricultural land. The analysis delves into the legal framework provided by Article 345 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which preserves member states' autonomy in land ownership decisions while emphasizing compliance with the principles of free movement of capital. The article reviews key EU guidelines and directives, such as those concerning land policy design and reform processes, common agricultural policy, and financial regulations, which indirectly impact land transactions and ownership. Additionally, it explores the Union's response to challenges such as land grabbing and concentration of ownership, including guidelines for member states to protect agricultural land from speculative practices and monopolization. Furthermore, the article discusses recent legal precedents, notably the CJEU's ruling on Bulgaria's residency requirement for land acquisition, which highlights the tension between national policy objectives and EU principles. Through an analysis of EU legislation, court decisions, and policy recommendations, this article offers insights into the evolving dynamics of land ownership regulation within the EU, aiming to contribute to a deeper understanding of the balance between capital movement and national sovereignty in land governance.

Orchestrating network resources: How European Union green cooperation affects member states’ sustainable development

As an overarching goal of the European Union's (EU) policies, sustainable development has become one of the trickiest challenges in the EU. Despite the burgeoning literature on sustainable development in EU member states, few studies have explored the relationship between green cooperation and sustainable development. From the resource orchestration perspective, we aim to investigate how EU green cooperation affects member states' pursuit of sustainable development. Empirically, we constructed a sample of well-documented EU joint green projects, and found that the participation of the higher education sector (HES), business sector (BUS), and government (GOV) in EU green cooperation contributes to achieving its member states' sustainable development goals in different ways. Specifically, the contributions of the HES and BUS, compared to those of the GOV, are more essential for EU green cooperation projects, because of their dominant roles in green knowledge generation and carbon emissions make them pivotal for the EU member states' sustainable development. Moreover, our findings suggest that green cooperation among the HES, BUS, and GOV has a more significant impact on EU member states' sustainable development when those states possess a stronger capacity for transnational knowledge spillovers and a higher national digital level. These findings have important implications for the design of green policies in pursuit of sustainability within the EU region.

The Discursive Struggle for Digital Sovereignty: Security, Economy, Rights and the Cloud Project Gaia‐X

AbstractThis article explores the struggle for ‘digital sovereignty’ in the European Union (EU). A seeming contradiction – the internet, after all, spans the globe – digital sovereignty is portrayed as the winning geoeconomic formula to keep the EU secure, competitive and democratic in the digital future. Approaching digital sovereignty as a discursive claim and analysing it through a case study of the European cloud project Gaia‐X, we show that there is no singular understanding of digital sovereignty in the EU. Instead, we identify six different conceptions across the domains of security, economy and rights. This article outlines three scenarios for how the digital sovereignty agenda may develop and thus shape the EU's digital policy and its relations with the rest of the world: constitutional tolerance (where the conceptions co‐exist), hegemony (where one conception dominates) or collapse (where the agenda falls apart due to inbuilt conceptual contradictions).