non-EU Countries Research Articles

Evaluation of Digital Development Based on the International Digital Economy and Society Index 2020 Data

Digitalization and technological advances develop together with our society. The European Commission intends to monitor this development using the International Digital and Society Index (I-DESI) and provide an objective comparison of the participating countries. This comparison of the counties can be an important part of the roadmap of digital transformation for companies and other participants in the market. The aim of this study is to further analyze the 2020 data of I-DESI using multivariate statistical methods not included in the official report. Our objective is to show whether there are differences between the EU and non-EU countries (discriminant analysis, variance analysis), whether the dimensions of the I-DESI index are overlapping (correlation analysis, factor analysis), and whether different country groups can be formed (cluster analysis). Answering these questions, we can give a useful tool to companies for a more successful digital transformation.

A Widening Moral Rift: The Complex Interactions between EU Externalization and Afghan Border Ecosystems

The European Union has worked with non-EU countries, including Afghanistan, to manage migration from that country since 2015. EU policies regarding Afghan migration aim, in part, to change a migration dynamic in which smugglers have played a key role. This approach was maintained even in the immediate aftermath of the return of the Taliban in 2021 and was mainstreamed into EU humanitarian efforts. Here, we argue that current efforts at so-called border externalization have contributed to a moral rift between the EU and Afghan smugglers, one in which the smugglers develop moral justifications for their work. We show that the EU’s short-term gains with regard to lower arrival numbers have come at the expense of developing a sense of legitimacy for their migration principles, governance, and infrastructure among the Afghan people over the long term. The widening moral rift between Afghan smugglers and EU policymakers is likely to bolster an existing migration infrastructure that provides a logic for grassroots resistance.

EU-27 ecological footprint was primarily driven by food consumption and exceeded regional biocapacity from 2004 to 2014

The European Union (EU) plans to decarbonize the region by 2050. As highlighted by the Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy, food systems are essential for this transition. Here we investigate the resource dependence and carbon emissions of the EU-27’s food systems from 2004 to 2014 via an ecological footprint (EF)-extended multi-regional input–output approach, accounting for demand and supply (including trade), and considering multiple externalities. Food contributes towards almost a third of the region’s EF, and appropriates over half of its biocapacity. Average reliance on biocapacity within national borders decreased, while reliance on intra-EU biocapacity increased; yet a quarter of the biocapacity for food consumption originates from non-EU countries. Despite a reduction in both total EF and food EF over the study period, EU-27 residents demand more from nature than the region’s ecosystems can regenerate—highlighting the need for new or strengthened food and trade policies to enable a transformation to sustainable EU food systems.

Promoting societal resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-country analysis of public health strategies.

Enhancing public health communication during a global crisis is crucial to promote resilience. This study examines the influence of health communication in ten countries, analysing its positive and negative impact on society's behavior regarding the origin, symptoms, and prevention of SARS-CoV-2. A comprehensive narrative analysis of available data was conducted to evaluate societal and resilience responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study consulted academic and grey literature, from February 1, 2020, to March 1, 2022, focusing on ten countries that exhibited heterogenous responses to pandemic, including EU (Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Romania, France, and Germany) and non-EU (United Kingdom and Israel) countries. The stringency of policy responses varied between countries and over time, with some countries implementing strict lockdowns while others only issued recommendations. Vaccination campaign and the spread of less virulent variants of the virus has led most countries to lift most restrictions by April 2022. However, vaccine uptake and refusal remain complex issues influenced by social norms, cultural beliefs, access to information, and trust in government authorities. Social media played a significant role during the pandemic, but healthcare professionals' active participation in addressing misinformation was lacking. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of Public Health in developing proper strategies and utilizing digitals tools to counteract infodemic and spread relevant information. Healthcare workers should improve their communication skills to face future epidemics and be trusted by the population. Social media and digital platforms should be studied and used effectively in times of emergency.

Foreign subsidies and financial contributions: much fine-tuning ahead

The Foreign Subsidies Regulation, which came into force on 12 January 2023, constitutes the missing piece to protecting the internal market from the distortive effects of public intervention and bridges a glaring regulatory gap. However, although tackling distortions of competition caused by non-EU countries’ public intervention has always been widely recognized as a worthy objective, the complexities and administrative burden deriving from Commission-designed tools have been broadly and harshly criticized. Even though more conceptually interesting topics are on the table, the present contribution focuses on the issue that seems to be the most controversial in the current phase: the quantity and type of information required in the notification process with regard to foreign subsidies/financial contributions received by the notifying undertaking in the previous three years. Indeed, the Commission requires all foreign financial contributions to be listed (with few exceptions) in the context of concentrations and public procurement procedures. Therefore, after a brief overview of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, the contribution analyses the rationale and related risks of the Commission’s choice to require the notification of foreign financial contributions rather than foreign subsidies, it evaluates the possible alternative paths proposed during the public consultation and it concludes by proposing a reasonably balanced solution.

Survey on public acceptance of insects as novel food in a non-EU country: a case study of Serbia

Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the state of public perceptions and acceptance of insects as food in Serbia. The data was gathered via an online survey involving 1102 participants who completed Google Forms questionnaire shared through mailing lists and social media channels. The findings indicate that, while 85.3% of the respondents were aware of the use of insects in human diet, only 12.5% had previously consumed edible insects. The results of the chi-square tests further revealed that both familiarity and experience significantly affected willingness to buy insect-based food, whereas age and educational level did not. Men were more open to purchasing edible insects than women. Twice as many participants (49.4%) responded positively to eating insect-based food in which insects were not visible than to consuming recognisable insects (25.4%). Crisis (shortage of conventional sources of protein), curiosity, nutrition, and health benefits were the most frequently chosen reasons for including insect-based products in a diet, whereas disgust was the main reason against. Multiple correspondence analysis resulted in two dimensions that accounted for the largest amount of variance. The first dimension referred to familiarity with entomophagy, experience of eating edible insects, and willingness to buy insect-based products, whereby sustainability, affordability, taste, nutrition, and curiosity were the reasons for including insect-based products in a diet, while high price was a reason against. The second dimension indicated lack of familiarity, experience, or willingness to buy, with crisis as the most common motivating reason, and the perception of insects as pests and socio-cultural unacceptance as the main reasons against. Although almost half of the respondents reported willingness to consume processed insect-based products, the actual acceptance is possibly lower. Therefore, future research should focus on the provision of tasting opportunities as well as information on the benefits associated with the production and consumption of insects.

Interdisciplinary Legal, Forensic and Pharmaceutical, Forensic and Chemical, Forensic and Narcological, Forensic and Toxicological, Criminal and Legal Study of the Illegal Trafficking of Amphetamine

Noted that the illegal circulation of amphetamine in the world is growing. A legal, forensic and pharmaceutical, forensic and chemical, forensic and narcological, forensic and toxicological, forensic and psychiatric, criminal and legal study of the illegal circulation and distribution of amphetamine and its derivatives in an interdisciplinary context was conducted. The classification and legal group of amphetamine has been established. The experience of the international anti-narcotic association on the impact of amphetamine on life, the state of the body, and side effects was studied. Forensic and pharmaceutical analysis of criminal offenses was conducted. The results of a European online survey on the circulation of prohibited psychoactive substances in 21 EU countries, 9 non-EU countries, including Ukraine, were studied. Types of illegal amphetamines were analyzed. Drugs with amphetamine for the pharmacotherapy of narcolepsy were given. Forensic and pharmaceutical practice was summarized. Amendments and additions to Part 3 of Art. 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine regarding the strengthening of criminal liability for illegal trafficking of amphetamine were proposed. The peculiarities of the toxicology of amphetamine in the human body were given. The algorithm of pharmacotherapy of amphetamine addiction was summarized.

Use of harmonised epidemiological indicators (HEIs) for broilers in Europe

In 2012, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) proposed harmonised epidemiological indicators (HEIs) for poultry at different production stages: Salmonella, Campylobacter, extended-spectrum β-lactamase/AmpC β-lactamase (ESBL/AmpC) producing Enterobacteriaceae and generic Escherichia (E.) coli. The HEIs are based on existing monitoring systems or the sampling strategies provided by EFSA. To realise the full benefit of HEIs, risk managers should use them for farm and abattoir categorisation and for adapting the existing meat inspection systems. As HEIs are not legal requirements within the European Union (EU), it is unclear which HEIs are used in which country, to date. Therefore, an online survey was conducted in Europe to gather knowledge about the implementation, application and consequences following on from the HEIs in existing official and private monitoring and surveillance systems (MOSS).A total of 34 answer sets from participants working in the framework of official surveillance or as food business operators in broiler abattoirs were collected from eleven EU member states (EU-MS) and four non-EU countries.While all participants stated that testing for Salmonella is performed, HEI 4-Salmonella, which corresponds to the process hygiene criterion (PHC) for Salmonella was applied by 62% of the participants. In total, 94% of the participants reported that they test for Campylobacter. Among them, 71% stated that testing is performed for HEI 5-Campylobacter, which corresponds to PHC for Campylobacter. Although testing neck skin samples for Salmonella and Campylobacter after chilling are official and mandatory MOSS in the EU, not all participants from EU-MS (Salmonella: 6/11 EU-MS; Campylobacter: 8/11 EU-MS) confirmed to comply with. Altogether, 56% of the participants (from 6 EU-MS and 2 non-EU countries) stated that they test for E. coli. Ten of them reported that the testing is performed at the abattoir after chilling according to the suggested HEI for generic E. coli as a hygiene indicator. Consequences that result from the existing MOSS for the three examined pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli) were mainly rising awareness, farm risk categorisation and feedback to the farmer.According to the answers from the participants, the HEIs suggested by EFSA for broilers are currently implemented in most EU-MS. One reason could be that some of the according MOSS are required by EU law. As intended by EFSA, the participants stated that they use HEIs for farm risk categorisation as one of the three top consequences following from MOSS for the three mentioned pathogens. For improving the knowledge and application of HEIs in the context of risk-based meat safety assurance systems, specific training could be helpful.

The future of protein feed: a case study of sustainable substitutes in the German livestock industry

The use of imported soybean/soybean meal is criticized in the context of the sustainability discussion in Germany. Imported soybean is often associated with deforestation and genetic modification, which is largely viewed critically by consumers. This study aims to forecast changes in future demand for imported soybean/soybean meal and its possible substitutes in the German livestock industry. The two-round Delphi method was used in the study by sending questionnaires to 28 experts from four groups: food retailers, livestock associations, animal nutrition manufacturers and research institutes. Our main result is that the total use of soybeans in German livestock farming will decrease from almost 4 million tons of soybean equivalents in 2018/19 to approximately 3.4 million tons by 2030/31. In contrast, the share of non-GM soybean is forecast to increase from 26 to 53%. Factors that influence the increased use of non-GM protein feeds most are “specifications from downstream processors” and “demand from the feed industry.” Experts forecast that about 36% of imported soybean/soybean meal (from non-EU countries) for German livestock farming could be replaced by protein feed produced in the EU. Rapeseed was considered to have a particularly high potential for production in the EU, followed by soybean and sunflower. Experts considered the factors: “requirements by the food retailers,” “reasonable price,” “political regulation” and “better profitability for the producer” as the most influential for extended use of regional protein feeds.

A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF EXTERNAL COSTS OF ACCIDENTS

A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF EXTERNAL COSTS OF ACCIDENTS

Policy Transfer Framework in the Environmental Governance of Non-EU and EU Member Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

This study offers a comprehensive examination of environmental governance within the European Union (EU), focusing on the comparative experiences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (a non-EU member) and Croatia (an EU member). The research uses policy transfer theory to investigate the practicality and effectiveness of EU-led environmental initiatives when implemented at state and local levels. The study reveals a disconnect between these initiatives and their execution, with corruption and fragile political arrangements identified as significant barriers to environmental protection. The research further underscores the complex nature of EU-driven environmental governance policies and the impact of post-war political agreements and transitional struggles on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s and Croatia’s governance structures. The methodology involves a detailed analysis of the legal frameworks, policies, and plans employed by the EU and the countries under study. The results highlight the importance of context and capacity in evaluating the effectiveness of environmental governance. The study contributes to understanding environmental governance in the EU context and provides insights into the challenges and opportunities for policy transfer to state-level governments.

EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: Legal Challenges and Relevance in Light of the Current Sanctions Regime

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (СBAM) is one of the European Union's Green Deal initiatives aimed at creating a “climate neutral” economy. The specific feature of this mechanism is the creation of additional costs when importing goods from non-EU countries, the production of which is associated with emissions of large amounts of greenhouse gases. The measure implies the reporting of carbon emissions amount and the sale of CBAM certificates depending on the amount of carbon emissions resulting from the production of imported goods. The author of the article analyses the dynamics of CBAM legal framework development as well as challenges that CBAM may face following its entry into force given the current trade restrictions introduced within the sanctions regime against Russia. The article also addresses challenges to CBAM in terms of its consistency with WTO law. The conclusion is made that new obligations for EU importers imposed by CBAM together with import bans and trade restrictions against the former major exporter of CBAM-covered goods to the EU would be very burdensome for EU importers. Furthermore, the compatibility of CBAM in its current form with WTO law non-discrimination standards is questionable; CBAM has been subject to criticism by the WTO members that are likely to be affected by the measure. This explains the recent shift of CBAM entry into force from January to October 2023 and could be a ground for further adjustment of CBAM rules.

Application of the continuum suitability index (csi) model to display the permeability of the alpine-dinaric landscape and to define intervention priorities for ecological linkages

The Alps and the Dinaric Mountains are European biodiversity hubs and still show one of the lowest levels of landscape fragmentation in Europe, although some parts of the two mountain ranges are subjected to heavy human-related pressures. The aim of the present study was to analyse the current state of landscape connectivity and identify the most important geographical areas for preservation of unimpeded movement of species and the flow of natural processes from northern Italy to northern Greece, using the Continuum Suitability Index (CSI) in combination with a least-cost path (LCP) model.Results show 21.2% of the of the area displays high level of permeability with functioning ecological linkages (named Strategic Connectivity Areas, SACA1) of which 82% are already under environmental protection. However, results indicate a noticeable difference in the proportion of SACA1 area under environmental protection between EU and non-EU countries. The proportion of the national territory assigned to SACA1 varies considerably among countries from 7.2% in Bosnia and Herzegovina to 31.3% in Albania. The identified macro-regional LCP covers 105,669 km2 interlinking 52% of the SACA1 surface. Almost half of the SACA1 are transboundary, indicating high importance of synchronised cross-border conservation efforts and spatial planning. Results of this structural connectivity model are useful for policy maker on the macro-regional scale, however future efforts should focus on functional connectivity on the local and regional scales.

Institutional quality and economic growth in the non-EU post-Soviet countries: Does energy abundance matter?

ABSTRACT. After regaining independence, most of the post-Soviet countries encountered socio-economic difficulties during the transition period. These challenges were also accompanied by low institutional quality. Some of the post-Soviet countries, such as Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, can be categorized as energy-rich, while the remaining countries are non-rich in terms of energy. Thereby, the aim of this study is twofold: first, to analyze the impact of institutional quality on economic growth in the case of non-EU post-Soviet countries, and second, to determine whether there is any difference in the link of institutional quality and economic growth between the energy-rich and non-rich sample countries. Two-Stage Least Squares reveal a U-shaped association between institutional environment and economic growth. Furthermore, the results suggest that this impact is lower in the energy-rich countries compared with their non-rich counterparts. With regards to the control variables, the findings indicate a positive and statistically significant impact of openness on economic growth. Finally, there is a negative association between the remaining control variables, such as inflation, population growth rate and the dependent variable.

THE IMPACT OF AVIAN INFLUENZA ON THE POULTRY MARKET

The main goal of the study is an attempt to indicate the effects of the occurrence of avian influenza on the poultry market (production, gate price, export to third countries) in Poland in three seasons of this disease (2016/2017, 2019/2020, 2020/2021). In Poland, in the last few years there has been a fairly frequent occurrence of avian influenza in poultry flocks. The eradication of this disease is associated with huge costs to the state budget. Compensation is payable for the birds killed if biosecurity requirements were respected on the farm. Farms, although probably not all, whose operations are in a protection or surveillance zone also suffer losses. These losses are related to many veterinary constraints on kept stocks. Poultry farms must bear the costs associated with undertaking and searching for innovative activities aimed at preventing the penetration of this disease into the herd. Another consequence of the occurrence of this disease in poultry is the introduction of restrictions on imports from Poland by some non-EU countries

The UPC long-arm jurisdiction and the UK

... The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is a court system running in parallel to national courts of European Union (EU) Member State countries that are not participating in the UPC, as well as national courts that are outside the EU but members of the European Patent Convention (EPC). This raises matters of the UPC’s jurisdictional relationship with those national courts. The relationship between the UPC and the non-UPC EU Member State courts is governed by the Brussels Regulation.1 Once the UPC has begun, the Brussels Regulation will allow, in certain circumstances, the continuance of cross-border actions between the national courts of non-UPC Member States and the UPC itself. But what about non-EU countries and, specifically, the UK, which is no longer a party to the EU or Brussels Regulation? This article examines how cross-border matters between the UK and the UPC will be regulated and how the UK courts might respond.

Choosing the civilisational path of modern society in post-Soviet countries based on European values of quality of life

European values, such as democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, equality, and social justice, are considered key components of the quality of life. The study of the impact of these values on society and their acceptability in post-Soviet countries is relevant today and is of immense importance for their future development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the basic European values, their perception, and application in post-Soviet countries. Methods: analysis, comparison, generalisation. The study analysed the extent to which post-Soviet countries such as Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan adhere to European quality of life values. This analysis included indicators on freedom, democracy, human rights, equality, and other aspects. The study also examines aspects of attitudes towards European values in the post-Soviet countries, with a detailed consideration of Ukraine as a non-EU country and the Baltic states that are members of the European Union. This study showed a tendency to adhere to European values in Ukraine and a high indicator of the civilisation path of modern society in the countries that are members of the European Union. However, for Ukraine, the issue of adhering to European values of quality of life is complicated by the war, which as of 2023 is still ongoing in the country. The findings of this study may be useful for international organisations such as the United Nations, the European Union, and others in planning and implementing programmes for the development and support of democracy in post-Soviet countries

Extending Migrants’ Rights but Limiting Long-Term Settlement: Migrant Integration Policy Trends in EU and OECD Countries Between 2010 and 2019

Due to a lack of data, quantitative analysis of integration policy trends during the past decade has received limited attention. This research note presents newly collected data from the Migrant Integration Policy Index, which includes information on several different policy areas related to migrant integration in 36 EU and OECD countries between 2010 and 2019. Employing a wide set of methods, we investigate whether migrant integration policies have become more liberal or restrictive and whether they have converged across these countries during this period. We find that overall these policies have become more liberal, except in non-EU countries as well as in the areas of family reunion and permanent residence. However, the magnitude of these changes is rather small. We also show that there has been a trend of convergence in integration policy, which varies in intensity across policy areas. We conclude that while migrants’ rights have been extended, long-term settlement has been limited. The popular idea that this decade, marked by crises, has triggered a comprehensive restrictive backlash in migrant integration policies is refuted.

Treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis - advancements and perspectives

In recent years significant progress has been made in the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), especially in the area of topical corticosteroids. Novel EoE-specific formulations have been developed and first approvals have been obtained for induction and maintenance of remission in adult EoE patients with the orodispersible budesonide tablet in Germany and other European and non-EU countries. A novel budesonide oral suspension is currently under priority review by the FDA for first approval in the U.S. In contrast, the scientific evidence on the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors remains limited. Moreover, new biologicals have been identified which showed promising results in phase 2 trials and are now being studied in phase 3. This article aims to summarize and discuss recent advances and perspectives in the treatment of EoE.

Possible bottlenecks in clean energy transitions: Overview and modelled effects – Case Finland

Limiting the negative effects of human-induced global warming is the focus of climate policy worldwide. In the European Union (EU), the target for reaching carbon neutrality is set to 2050, including a proposed renewable energy target of 45% for 2030. In Finland, the government has pledged to reach net-zero emissions already by 2035, which is expected to require large increases in wind and nuclear capacity, as well as sector coupling with, e.g., transport and heating. In view of these plans, this study evaluates the feasibility of attaining carbon neutrality in Finland by 2035, while considering delays from potential bottlenecks, such as limited raw material availability, fuel availability, manufacturing capacity, and import reliance. The literature review highlights the considerable dependence of renewable technologies on critical raw materials and other minerals, largely imported from non-EU countries. Modelling revealed how increased biomass usage considerably reduces the size of national carbon sinks, vital for reaching net-zero emissions in Finland in the coming decade. In light of this, current climate strategy was shown to be partially outdated and short of reaching carbon neutrality by 2035, already without including potential delays from the analyzed bottlenecks. Subsequently, alternative measures to improve sustainability and reduce emissions are presented. The findings of this paper are also relevant for other countries aiming to reach net-zero emissions, especially for those which have climate strategies emphasizing bioenergy and wind power.