Legislative Obstacles Research Articles

Legislative Obstacles to the Right to Be Forgotten in China’s Network Environment

Legislative Obstacles to the Right to Be Forgotten in China’s Network Environment

Can the UK Deliver Zero Carbon Ready Homes by 2050?

Climate change presents one of the most significant challenges facing the world in the 21st century. In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to pass laws to end its contribution to the world’s greenhouse gas emissions; parliament passed legislation requiring the UK government to achieve its carbon neutrality commitment by 2050. This will require all industries, including the housing sector, which currently contributes around 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce their carbon emission contribution. One of the ways in which the housing sector plans to accomplish this is through delivering new zero carbon ready homes by 2050, at the latest. This study makes an innovative contribution to advancing the field of carbon neutral construction through its identification of the barriers to the UK in regards to their ability to deliver zero carbon homes (ZCH) and the provision of potential recommendations to overcome these barriers. To achieve this, a mixed-review method is used, combining a qualitative systematic analysis and a quantitative bibliometric approach. Several key barriers were identified and assigned to following key themes: legislative, socio-cultural, economic, financial, skills and knowledge, technical, industrial, environmental, and procurement factors. Legislative obstacles were found to be a primary barrier due to a lack of certainty, clarity, and clear definitions, as well as the removal and excess of government policies. Significantly, the findings reveal the under-researched impact of recent disruptive events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, and economic factors in the UK, opening up novel avenues for exploring their implications. Overall, this study advances industry understanding and highlights innovative directions necessary to propel the sector towards realizing the UK’s legally-binding 2050 net zero target through the development of zero carbon ready homes.

Journalists’ Attitudes Towards Obstacles to Creativity in the Internal and External Environments of Saudi Newspapers: A Field Study

The study aims to monitor the attitudes of Saudi journalists toward obstacles to creativity in the internal work environment of journalistic institutions. These obstacles can be classified as personal, economic, and administrative, as well as obstacles to creativity related to the external environment, which can be identified as social, organizational, and legislative obstacles. Furthermore, the study seeks to identify the prominent proposed solutions from the journalists' perspective in order to enhance creativity in Saudi journalistic institutions. The study relied on a questionnaire tool applied to a sample of 150 Saudi journalists. Among the study's key findings, statistically significant differences were found between the study groups (males and females) regarding the personal, economic, and administrative obstacles journalists face in the internal environment of newspapers, with a significance level of less than 0.05. It was also found that the obstacles to creativity faced by journalists in the internal environment of newspapers were represented by economic obstacles at a rate of 86.02% in the first place, followed by administrative obstacles at a rate of 77.32%. Finally, personal obstacles were represented at a rate of 53.64%. Similarly, statistically significant differences were found between the study groups (males and females) regarding the social, organizational, legislative, and technological obstacles faced by journalists in the external environment of newspapers, with a significance level of less than 0.05. It was revealed that the obstacles to creativity faced by journalists in the external environment were represented by social obstacles at a rate of 78.98% in the first place, followed by organizational and legislative obstacles at a rate of 77.80%. Lastly, technological obstacles were represented at a rate of 78.41%. Keywords: Obstacles to creativity - Saudi newspapers - journalists.

Analyzing the Challenges of Cross-Border Disaster Response and Management: A European Perspective

This study investigates the challenges of cross-border disaster response and management in Europe, with a focus on legal and administrative barriers, cultural and linguistic differences, and existing frameworks and protocols. It seeks to understand their impact on the effectiveness of disaster management and identify areas for improvement. A quantitative approach was employed using a descriptive research design. A sample of 233 disaster management experts in Greece, representative of Europe, participated in the study. Data were collected through a well-designed questionnaire and analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The study found that in Europe, administrative and legislative obstacles seriously obstruct efficient cross-border catastrophe response and management. Although cultural and language differences have a statistically significant detrimental effect, hey equally have less of an effect overall. The current structures and procedures for cross-border disaster coordination positively impact the efficiency of catastrophe management. The study emphasizes how crucial it is to remove administrative and legal obstacles to improve cross-border catastrophe response throughout Europe. It implies that more efficient resource sharing systems, unified legal frameworks, and streamlined administrative processes are required. Furthermore, the impact of linguistic and cultural disparities can be lessened by fostering cultural awareness and multilingualism. To increase the efficacy of disaster management, the study recommends strengthening and standardize current frameworks and procedures. From a European perspective, this study offers insightful information about the difficulties involved in responding to cross-border disasters. It offers practitioners and policymakers evidence-based suggestions to improve coordination and response effectiveness, which will ultimately improve disaster management in Europe and beyond.

Financial Technology (Fintech) and Financial Inclusion: Analyzing the Role of Innovative Technologies in Expanding Access to Financial Services

This study examines the crucial role of Financial Technology (Fintech) in improving financial inclusion, with a specific focus on how innovative technologies are increasing the availability of financial services for marginalised communities. The report commences by providing a clear definition of Fintech and its extent, followed by a summary of financial inclusion, emphasising its importance in promoting economic expansion and mitigating inequality. A thorough literature analysis examines the historical background of financial inclusion, the development of Fintech, and the current study on how they cross. The report explores significant Fintech advancements, including mobile banking, digital payments, blockchain, and AI-driven services. It assesses how these innovations decrease transaction costs, enhance accessibility, and tackle the obstacles encountered by conventional financial institutions. The study additionally evaluates the impact of Fintech in reaching individuals without access to banking services and those with limited access, improving their understanding of financial matters, and providing assistance to microfinance and small enterprises. The report also examines the legislative obstacles, cybersecurity risks, the disparity in digital access, and the difficulties of trust in the adoption of Fintech. Lastly, it examines possibilities for future growth, such as developing technology and cooperative initiatives, and offers suggestions for policymakers and stakeholders to effectively utilise Fintech's potential in promoting financial inclusion.

School-to-school partnerships: an approach to improving Syrian schools in post-conflict recovery

PurposeThis research seeks to highlight school partnerships as an approach to improving schools and halting the deterioration of their performance in an environment that has suffered from the consequences of conflict for more than a decade.Design/methodology/approachThe research used the qualitative method, and the data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 school leaders and teachers.FindingsThe results showed the presence of positive attitudes toward inter-school partnerships and their perception of many benefits, the most prominent of which was increasing social cohesion in school and surrounding communities that suffer from divisions resulting from conflict. A set of obstacles includes legislative obstacles, a low degree of autonomy, low competency of school leaders, a lack of trust and incentives.Originality/valueThis study proposes a range of solutions to address the challenges associated with building partnerships. The research emphasizes the significance the school-to-school partnerships and their positive role in improving the performance of schools in developing countries, especially in environments suffering from the consequences of civil wars and social divisions.

Public-private partnership in the agrarian sector: conceptual framework for development

The article deals with the conceptual framework for the development of public-private partnership (PPP) in the agricultural sector of Ukraine. The author substantiates the need to reorient the model of agricultural development to the principles of deeper interaction between the State and business, one of the key mechanisms for ensuring which is PPP, which is carried out on a contractual basis to achieve a common goal by combining resources to obtain certain benefits for each participant. The purpose of the study is to develop a conceptual framework for the development of PPPs in the agricultural sector of Ukraine. The study shows a low level of implementation of PPP projects (18 projects out of 193, or 9,3 %) and its rather slow development in our country's economy, mainly due to legislative obstacles. It is substantiated that in the current conditions the issue of partnership development is extremely relevant, since budgetary funds are not enough to implement large-scale projects in wartime. Therefore, involvement of private partners and the use of mechanisms for building long-term relationships with them is essential. The author emphasizes the need for real changes in the implementation of PPP investment projects in agriculture, clarification of the tools for ensuring its development and their adaptation to sectoral issues, which requires the development of a Concept for the Development of Public-Private Partnership in the Agricultural Sector of Ukraine. The study argues that it is necessary to develop a unified approach to the development of PPPs, to determine the priority areas of application of such partnerships and the specifics of its use in solving the problems of agricultural development. The main factors hindering the development of such cooperation are identified and the main objectives of the Concept for the Development of Public-Private Partnership in the Agricultural Sector of Ukraine are substantiated. It is proved that improvement of PPP procedures will help to expand the scope of its application, accessibility, speed and scale of projects, as well as adaptation of such an investment support mechanism to the conditions of wartime/peace time. The article summarizes the main ways of activating PPPs as a mechanism for attracting investment in the reconstruction and development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine's economy. The fulfillment of these tasks will contribute to the revitalization of the use of PPPs in solving the problems of agricultural production development, development of the institutional framework for its implementation in Ukraine, in particular, the adoption of strategic directions for this development in the short and long term. Key words: state, concept, private partner, public-private partnership, agricultural sector, PPP projects, investment resources, development.

“Revealing the hidden” – challenges facing early digital entrepreneurs in Jordan

PurposeDigital entrepreneurship is the key to economic survival and the lantern of jobs in developing countries. The debate about the challenges facing early digital entrepreneurs (DEs) in developing countries is still ambiguous. This study attempts to fulfill the gap with an in-depth examination of Jordan.Design/methodology/approachReferring to a digital start-up database hosted by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship in Jordan, the study interviews a random sample of (n = 45) early (less than one-year seniority) DEs. Thematic analysis is carried out facilitated by NVivo 20 software. E-Commerce, agriculture technology, data and artificial intelligence and entertainment were at the top of the interviewed start-ups.FindingsNine challenges were observed, critically analyzed and discussed. The challenges are (1) the lack of realistic funding in terms and guarantees; (2) the negligence of guidance and advisory of incubators and entrepreneurship centres; (3) the emergence of unexpected risks; (4) the stringent economic situation; (5) competition; (6) legal and legislative obstacles; (7) obstacles to accessing markets; (8) team management and finally (9) disorganization in the entrepreneurial environment. The study sets recommendations to support early DEs in their journey.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the significant implications for aspiring DEs by focusing on some challenges that might face their start-ups such as institutional, technology and local dimensions of context and measures to develop the entrepreneurial and digital competencies. This includes sustainable funding, poor direct guidance and advisory, unexpected failures/risks, and economic obstacles. This study might be considered a road map for the decision-makers to build their strategies for eliminating the main barriers for early DEs and start-ups.Originality/valueAlthough recent literature discussed the challenges of entrepreneurs in Jordan, this is the first that identifies early DEs’ challenges and uses 45% samples of the community.

European Research Infrastructure Consortium: The Organizational and Legal Form of Research Infrastructures in the European Union

Problems setting. The scientific work is devoted to the legal form of research infrastructures in the European Union the European Research Infrastructure Consortium. The ERIC Regulation facilitates the quicker establishment of European Research Infrastructures by saving time in avoiding the repetition of negotiations, project by project, to analyse and discuss the best legal form for such international research organisations, with related advantages and disadvantages and the time saved in avoiding discussions in each national parliament related to the approval of a needed international agreement in case the ERIC Regulation would not have existed. Analysis of recent researches and publications. The issue of the functioning of research infrastructures in the EU in the form of ERIC has been relevant in European scientific literature for the last decade. In particular, it is worth noting studies by Maria Moskovko, Arnljotur Astvaldsson and Olof Hallonsten, Carlo Rizzutto. In Ukraine, some issues of legal regulation and information support of research infrastructures were studied by Golovashchenko O.S., Lyubchych A.M., Mamayev I.O. There are no thorough studies of the legal status of research infrastructures in the national jurisprudence, which is due to the novelty of this topic in the law of Ukraine. Target of the research is to provide an overview of the dominant legal form of functioning of research infrastructures in the European Union, the history of its implementation, legal regulation, features of activity. Article’s main body. The European Research Infrastructure Consortium is a legal entity established by a decision of the European Commission. It has legal personality and full legal capacity recognized in all EU Member States. The internal structure of the European Research Infrastructures Consortium is defined in the statute by its founding countries. The ERIC legal framework can be used for new or existing research infrastructures, locally located or distributed research infrastructures. The European Research Infrastructures Consortium has been granted the status of an international organization within the EU legal system, but it is not an international organization according to the international law, as the decision to establish ERIC is taken by the European Commission. Much attention is paid to the EU legal framework that allowed the introduction of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium – Council Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 on the Community legal framework for the European Research Infrastructures Consortium. The article specifies the law that applies to the European Research Infrastructures Consortium. The activities of the European Research Infrastructures Consortium are governed by EU law, additionally by the national law of the Member State where it’s located, and the statute, internal documents of ERIC. The legislation of the host state is to be applied in resolving issues related to the implementation of the statutory tasks of ERIC. Conclusions and prospects for development. The implementation of the legal framework of the European Research Infrastructure Consortium has resulted in removing legislative obstacles that hindered the development of cooperation of EU Member States with partners from other countries in the field of science. It has also led to the establishment a common European legal framework for scientific activities and thus has resulted in the development of the European Research Area. Despite the fact that more than ten years have passed since the implementation of the legal regulation of the functioning of research infrastructures in the form of ERIC, it is still in its infancy and questions arise in the process of its application. However, the rapid establishment of research infrastructures in the form of ERIC shows that it is effective for the development of research infrastructures in Europe and the establishment of the European Research Area.

Public control over the activities of local government bodies under the conditions of marital state

The article analyzes the peculiarities of public control over the activities of local self-government bodies during the war. The definition of the concept of «public control» has been clarified, as well as the subjects of implementation of this control. The importance of the functioning of the institution of local self-government in the conditions of martial law due to the performance of a number of functions that are directly related to the vital activities of the community has been established. In particular, it is about rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure, providing the population with food products, organizing the educational process, registering internally displaced persons, ensuring the operation of public transport, etc. At the same time, wartime conditions dictate certain legislative obstacles in the implementation of public control. In particular, the work of deputy commissions and local councils may take place in a closed format and, accordingly, their draft decisions may not be made public. In addition, information contained in public electronic registers may temporarily become inaccessible to citizens. An analysis of the legal forms of direct community participation in solving issues of local importance, such as: local referendum, general assembly, local initiative, public hearings, was carried out. It is also mentioned about other forms of public participation in the process of activities of local self-government bodies, in particular voter assignments to their local council members, citizens' appeals, the number of which has increased significantly in recent times, consultative surveys on the needs and interests of the community. Conclusions were made about the importance of maintaining and developing the relationship between the community and local self-government bodies in extremely difficult times. It is determined that these can be remote meetings, online consultations and any other forms of implementation of legal tools, taking into account security rules.

Получение доказательств по запросу суда и по запросу адвоката в гражданских делах

The procedural legislation provides for certain negative consequences for the persons participating in the case if they violate the rules for the sending and disclosure of evidence. By establishing the burden of proof for the persons participating in the case, the legislator presumes what exactly they know about the available evidence and where this evidence is. But this assumption is only partly true. The legal ignorance of the participant often leads to a misunderstanding of the structure of the legal relationship, and, as a result, the participant does not understand what evidence could be useful and where they can and should be claimed. Of course, in such a situation, it is better for a person to trust a lawyer - a professional. The persons participating in the case can delegate their problems to a professional in two ways: to ask the court for help in obtaining evidence or to entrust the case to a representative (lawyer, advocate). Purpose. Conduct a comparative analysis of the procedures for obtaining evidence at the request of the court and at the request of a lawyer to determine the effectiveness of each and develop proposals for improving these procedures. Methodology. The author uses such methods as: analysis, synthesis, formal-logical, comparative, formal-legal. Results. The article substantiates that the provision of assistance to the parties (at their request) in the collection of evidence should be regarded as a duty, and not as a right of the court. This assistance is provided by the coercive power of the court and is therefore effective. Advocate' requests are less effective, since they are often not fulfilled under various pretexts, and lawyers themselves subsequently have to resort to court assistance to obtain the necessary evidence. This redundant procedural activity can be avoided if advocates are removed from those legislative obstacles, with reference to whichadvocate'requests are currently rejected. Conclusion. It is in the interests of both the persons involved in the case and the court to provide the lawyer with greater powers to demand evidence.

THE PECULARITIES OF THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE TOURISM SECTOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

In the current economic conditions, tourism specialists are of the opinion that tourism is one of the sectors with the highest potential to provide economic growth and development at the national and international level. A growing tourism sector can effectively contribute to employment, increase national income and also make a decisive impact on the balance of payments. Thus, tourism can be an important engine of economic growth and prosperity, especially in countries with economies in transition, being a key element in reducing poverty and regional disparities. Despite its contribution to economic growth, the development of the tourism sector can be hampered by a series of economic and legislative obstacles that can affect the competitiveness of this sector. The tourism sector in the Republic of Moldova has faced a lot of obstacles, currently going through the most difficult period in its recent history. Starting from 2020, international and national tourism was faced with serious problems generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the economic crisis, the increase in the prices of oil products, as well as climate change, etc. But, not looking for these aspects of shock, the sector continues its activity and is currently experiencing a gradual recovery and gratifying results. In this context, the World Economic Forum proposes, through the Travel and Tourism Development Index, in addition to a methodology for identifying the key factors that contribute to increasing the competitiveness of tourism, and tools for analyzing and evaluating these factors. Through this indicator, it can be used in the analysis of the degree of competitiveness of the sector in relation to other countries. In this context, this paper aims to analyze the determinants that are the basis of the Travel and Tourism Development Index, in order to highlight the effects of communication on competitiveness in the tourism sector. The purpose of this analysis is to provide some answers, which can explain the performances but also the particularities of the tourism sector in the Republic of Moldova that could help in the development of strategies for the development of this sector.

Міжнародна фінансова підтримка організації освітнього процесу в умовах запровадження воєнного стану в Україні

The article examines the issue of financing the educational system in Ukraine during the active phase of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. The authors outline the general situation with the domestic educational system as a vital component of the socio-economic development considering Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression. The relevance of the research topic is driven by the necessity to meet the fundamental needs of the population, including the right to education, and thus the organization of the educational process for Ukrainian students under martial law in Ukraine. However, it is challenging without international financial support. The primary external sources and financial assistance instruments are analyzed by the cases of leading international financial organizations and foreign countries. The authors revealed that with the beginning of full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, several international partners have expressed willingness and have already taken the necessary steps to allocate funds to address pressing wartime problems, among which is the support of the continuity of education. The main regulatory and legislative obstacles that arise in providing financial support within Ukraine’s international cooperation framework are described. Our emphasis is on Ukraine’s European path to democratic development, as evidenced by the EU’s comprehensive financial support for the educational needs of Ukrainians (children and students, teachers and researchers) displaced abroad. The features of the support of the organization of the educational process in Ukraine by international partners in the context of different educational levels are analyzed. The paper offers some conclusions and recommendations for further steps to attract international financial assistance to develop Ukrainian education.

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Abstract. Introduction. Effective and transparent use of budget funds has always been the focus of society, scientists, government leadership at all times. A significant part of budget funds is used by managers and recipients of state and local budgets, state and municipal economic entities, funds of compulsory state social insurance to meet the needs of the state and local communities through the purchase of goods, works and services. According to the current legislation, in order to ensure efficient and transparent implementation of such procurement, create a competitive environment in the field of public procurement, prevent corruption in this area, develop fair competition, state regulation and control in the field of procurement, including procurement monitoring. ion of prospects for its development in Ukraine. Results. The study found that the public procurement monitoring system in Ukraine is transparent, efficient and individual. Other countries have no analogues of such a system of external control over the organization and conduct of public procurement. At the same time, there are technical, organizational and legislative obstacles to its further development. The directions of the complex control system, acceleration of processing of contracts, classification features and classification of monitoring, the main tasks of improvement of monitoring are offered. The proposed areas of improvement will contribute to some optimization of the research issue. Conclusions. Further improvement of procurement monitoring and dissemination of its results will increase the information rights and opportunities for civil society in public procurement procedures and will enable their impact on the processes of preventing and combating corruption.

Project approach as an alternative to the bureaucratic method of social management

The relevance of the research is conditioned by the need to develop the institution of social management in the transition of the society to the information stage of its development, which requires new management approaches in the face of exacerbation of globalization risks. Traditional methods of managing a society, primarily bureaucratic ones, do not provide the proper efficiency and effectiveness of the management process in such conditions. Therefore, the aim of the research is to consider adhocracy as a method of social management as an alternative to the traditional bureaucratic paradigm. On the basis of a comparative analysis, the bureaucratic and project (adhocracy) management approaches have been considered, the main characteristics of these methods highlighted, their advantages and disadvantages shown in relation to the institution of social management, and the practice of applying the project approach in public administration in modern Russian society briefly characterized. The author proposes options for achieving a balanced management approach based on a reasonable combination of process bureaucratic and result-oriented project management in the modern information society in order to maintain a balance of social innovation and homeostasis, ensuring the integrity and manageability of the social organism. It has been concluded that the application of the project approach in social management is promising, provided that the administrative and legislative obstacles that impede the use of the adhocracy method in management practice are eliminated.

Contributions and challenges of voluntary organizations towards the integration of refugees into the job market

PurposeThis study aims to understand the contributions and challenges of voluntary organizations towards the integration of refugees into the job market.Design/methodology/approachDescriptive research with a qualitative approach based on interpretivism was used, applied to mediators of social entities in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.FindingsThe findings of this study support the importance of voluntary organizations in the employment of refugees, based on background that will contribute directly to the training of displaced persons in the Brazilian labor market. Meanwhile, difficulties such as post-employment refugee monitoring, legislative obstacles to the verification of skills, structural and human capital limitations of mediators, the national economic crisis and the lack of government support are identified as the main challenges for long-term assistance to refugees.Practical implicationsThe results of the study can foster greater participation of public policymakers and society in supporting the third sector, aiming at a greater reach in the provision of services of mediators for the effective integration of refugees in Brazil.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on the integration of refugees into the labor market by demonstrating the importance of voluntary organizations in this process. It also demonstrates how the main challenges of the third sector in the Brazilian context impact its support in facilitating and maintaining the employment of displaced persons.

Clinical trial site identification practices and the use of electronic health records in feasibility evaluations: An interview study in the Nordic countries.

Introduction:Feasibility evaluations are performed to create the best possible starting point for the set-up and execution of a clinical trial, and to identify any obstacles for successful trial conduct. New digital technologies can provide various types of data for use in feasibility evaluations. There is a need to identify and compare such data sources for trial site identification and for evaluating the sites’ patient recruitment potential. Especially, information is needed on the use of electronic health records. We investigated how different data sources are used by pharmaceutical companies operating in the Nordic countries for identifying trial sites and for evaluating their potential to recruit trial participants.Methods:This was a semi-structured qualitative interview study with 21 participants from pharmaceutical companies and contract research organizations operating in Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Qualitative content analysis was applied.Results:For identifying countries and trial sites on a global level, the trial sponsors mostly used databases on previous trial performance. The use of electronic health record data was very limited. Sites’ and investigators’ visibility in various databases was seen as fundamental for their countries becoming selected into new clinical trials. For estimating the sites’ recruitment projections, most sites were seen to base their patient count estimates solely on their previous experience. Some sites had reviewed their electronic health record data, which was considered to increase the accuracy of their recruitment estimates and these sites’ attractivity. Along with dialogs with investigators, the sponsors used various data sources to validate the investigators’ estimates. Legislative obstacles were seen to hinder the use of electronic health record queries for estimation of patient counts.Conclusion:Visibility in the databases used by trial sponsors is crucial for the countries and sites to be identified. Site selection appears to be based on trust and relationships built from experience, but electronic data provide the support upon which the trust is based. Estimation of the number of potential trial participants is a complex and time-consuming process for both investigators and sponsors. Sponsors seem to favour sites who could support their patient count estimates with electronic health record data as they were quicker in providing the estimates and more reliable than sites with no electronic health record evidence. The patient count evaluation process could be simplified, accelerated and made more reliable with more systematic use of electronic health record evidence in the feasibility evaluation phase. This would increase the accuracy of the patient count estimates and, on its part, contribute to improved recruitment success.

Study of legislative and administrative obstacles to SMEs business in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Research background: SMEs represent an integral part of the economy environment in a majority of the countries all over the world. They signify the most efficient, progressive, and important part of the advanced economies. The long-term effort of the EU countries, as well as other advanced economies is to create quality and stable conditions for their development in order to be able to respond to all the possible changes in the business environment that is being changed to more and more comprehensive in the recent time.
 Purpose of the article: The objective of the contribution is to examine administrative and legislative obstacles to SMEs business in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and the quantification of the differences in perceiving legislative and administrative obstacles to business by entrepreneurs in both countries.
 Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted within SMEs in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2019. The research sample included 641 SMEs, 312 from the Czech Republic and 329 from Slovakia. We focused on 5 dimensions related to legislative and administrative obstacles to SMEs business within which selected statements were examined. Contingency tables were used to analyze the ratios of the examined variables.
 Findings & Value added: The differences detected in both countries in the respondents´ perception and assessment are evidence of the changes in the business environment of both countries, giving rise to the questions about the extent to which the legislative and administrative obstacles, as well as the obstacles related to law enforcement and bureaucracy are acceptable and by which groups of entrepreneurs. The results of the research provide valuable findings for the creators of regional and national policies, and represent a valuable basis for the creation of the concepts focused on the SMEs´ development in both countries. The results of the study also support the implementation of follow-up research in this area that will reveal other determinants affecting the development of SMEs. They also create a valuable platform for the construction of national and international benchmarking indicators in this area and the implementation of comparative analyses. This will also support the methodological area necessary for a creation of high-quality concepts and strategies.

Toward Regeneration of Public Open Spaces within Large Housing Estates–A Case Study of Niš, Serbia

Despite the multiple contributions of public open spaces (POSs) to the quality of life in large housing estates (LHEs), the comprehensive treatment of their improvement has so far been a rare occasion in post-socialist countries. This paper aimed to explore the transformations of POSs in inherited LHEs in the socialist and post-socialist period and the potential for their regeneration. The investigation was based on a comparative analysis of two case studies in Niš, Serbia, which represent typical modes of POS devastation. The performed research study has shown that POSs have succumbed to dilapidation, displaying a wide array of problems and that their regeneration is neglected. The paper proposes a comprehensive set of measures to regenerate POSs based on contemporary concepts of urban planning and design with a special focus on long-term actions and residents’ needs. Particular importance is given to establishing the development guidelines as future prerequisites for overcoming current institutional, economic, legislative, and social obstacles for sustainable implementation of regeneration measures. These findings might encourage future studies of creating a model option for improving POSs at the city of Nis scale, as well in other Serbian cities towards sustainable urban development.

دوافع العمل التطوعی المؤسسی بریف محافظة الشرقیة

The study aimed to: Identify the level of the motives of rural volunteers (Preventive, Values, Functional, Social interaction, Understanding, Progress and success) for institutional volunteer work, Test the significance of differences in the motives of rural volunteers for institutional volunteer work according to the gender variable, Identify the most important obstacles (personal, social and cultural, financial, administrative and organizational, and legislative) that hinder institutional volunteer work from the point of view of the researched, And to identify the most important suggestions for activating institutional volunteer work from the point of view of the researched. The study was conducted using the social survey method, and were selected Resala Charity Organization Branch, and Resala Charity Organization Negm Branch by the simple random sampling method. The sample size of the volunteers reached 130 volunteers in the two societies, including 90 volunteers in Belbeis branch, 40 volunteers in Deirb Negm branch. Data were collected by using an electronic questionnaire via Google Forms during the period from the beginning of August until end September 2020. Data were analyzed and presented using frequencies and percentages, mean, weighted average, Cronbach's Alpha coefficient, T-test. The results showed that the motivations of the volunteers' in descending order according to the weighted average is: Values Motives, protective motives, social interaction motives, understanding motives, success and progress motives, and functional motives, where the weighted average value was 61.3, 57, 53.5, 50, 45 and 30.2 respectively. Also the result showed significant differences at the level of 0.01 in each of the social interaction motives, the preventive motives of rural volunteers for institutional volunteer work for the benefit of the female with the highest mean of 30.45 and 30.21, respectively. Also the results indicated that the order of the obstacles that hinder institutional volunteer work from the viewpoint of the rural volunteers is: Financial obstacles, Social and cultural obstacles, legislative obstacles, administrative and organizational obstacles, and personal obstacles, where the weighted average value was 275.6, 269.4, 268.6, 249.6, and 245.6, respectively.