Northern EU Countries Research Articles

Pest categorisation of Lepidosaphes malicola.

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Lepidosaphes malicola (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), the Armenian mussel scale, for the territory of the European Union, following commodity risk assessments of Prunus persica and P. dulcis plants for planting from Türkiye, in which L. malicola was identified as a pest of possible concern. L. malicola is a polyphagous insect of temperate and arid areas, feeding on more than 60 plant species belonging to 26 families. Important crops significantly affected by L. malicola in parts of Asia include stone fruits (Prunus armeniaca, P. persica), pome fruits (Malus domestica, Pyrus communis), grapes (Vitis vinifera), pomegranate (Punica granatum), walnuts (Juglans regia) and ornamental plants (Berberis spp., Cornus spp., Jasminum spp., Ligustrum spp.). L. malicola has two generations annually. The overwintered eggs hatch from late May to early June. First-instar nymphs crawl on the host plant for a short period, then settle to feed. Nymphs reach maturity in late summer or early autumn. Plants for planting, fruits and cut flowers provide potential pathways for entry into the EU. Host availability and climate suitability suggest that southern, central and some parts of northern EU countries would be suitable for the establishment of L. malicola. Despite being a pest in Armenia, Iran and Tajikistan, there is no evidence of it being a pest in Türkiye. L. malicola was detected in Bulgaria and Greece over 30 years ago, but there have been no records since, and its status is uncertain. Its ability to cause an impact in the EU is also uncertain. It is not listed in Annex II of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2072. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of entry. Except for the criterion of having an economic or environmental impact, for which there is great uncertainty, L. malicola satisfies all other criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest.

Variations in the costs of atrial fibrillation: a longitudinal study across 27 European and Central Asian countries

Abstract Background/Introduction For many conditions, disease complications are the main driver of care costs. Atrial fibrillation (AF) – the commonest manifestation of cardiac arrhythmia – increases the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease, both of which are costly. Although the clinical burden of AF is widely documented, it is unknown to what extent AF-related complications contribute to healthcare costs and if these costs vary across countries. Purpose To assess the individual patient healthcare costs associated with AF-related complications and their variation across 27 European and Central Asian countries. Methods We used data from the European Society of Cardiology’s Atrial Fibrillation General Registry, a prospective, multinational registry of 10,249 atrial fibrillation patients from 27 countries with two-years of annual follow-up. Information on patients’ clinical characteristics, healthcare visits, as well as diagnostic and interventional procedures were collected at each visit. Atrial fibrillation related complications were angina, non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), thromboembolic events, haemorrhagic events, and new onset or worsening heart failure. All healthcare resource use (inpatient stays, outpatient visits, and medications) were costed using 2019 UK unit costs to better assess variations in overall resource use across countries. We used panel data methods to assess the association of AF-related complications and healthcare costs and resource use. The models were adjusted for patients’ clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, prior medication use and geographical location. Results Over the follow-up period, 745 (8%) patients had an AF-related complication at 12-months and 477 (6%) at 24-months. Of the total 1,222 complications, the most common AF-related complication was new onset or worsening heart failure which occurred in 567 (3%) patients with complications. Overall, angina (£2,629, 95% CI: 1869 to 3361) and haemorrhagic events (£2,549, £2,199 to £2,900) incurred the highest cost, whereas non-stable myocardial infarction (£1,367, £687 to £2,048) incurred the least additional cost. We found significant regional variation. Costs of angina in Eastern EU and in non-EU former Soviet republics were, respectively, £1,362 (-£2,262 to -£461) and £1,416 (-£2,571 to -£261) lower than in Western Europe. Whereas costs in Southern EU and Northern EU countries were £721 (-£2,629 to £1,186) and £344 (-£1,460 to £ 674) lower than in Western Europe. Conclusions Although disease complications are costly in all countries, notable differences were observed across countries. These differences were driven by fewer investigations, clinic visits, and ER admissions. Our results, therefore, highlight the regional variations in resource use patterns across countries, limiting the generalisability of country-specific economic evaluations to other jurisdictions.

Investigation of Community Energy Business Models from an Institutional Perspective: Intermediaries and Policy Instruments in Selected Cases of Developing and Developed Countries

Community energy development and the empowerment of customers as producers are the main contributors to decentralized market solutions in energy transition policy. Despite the growing literature on community energy projects from the perspectives of various business models, drivers, and barriers, few studies display the impact of institutional factors on the community energy business model configuration. Using insights from Ostrom’s institutional framework, this study develops a conceptual framework comprising policy instruments and the intermediaries that configure the various community energy business models, and it examines this framework in the developed world of northwestern European countries (Germany, Denmark, Belgium, and the UK) and in selected cases in developing countries (Rural Central America, South Africa, Iran, and Indonesia). The findings indicate that ambitious renewable energy consumption targets and national policies in northern EU countries have resulted in political and financial incentives, as well as greater financial security than other investment markets, which encourage citizens to contribute to the proliferation of community energy. On the other hand, in the studied developing countries, top-down energy policies and a centralized energy system are insufficient for participatory energy planning. Due to unsupportive policies, a lack of appropriate regulatory frameworks, and a lack of institutional support in these countries, the initiation of community energy projects requires the presence of intermediaries such as developers who work ‘in-between’ other actors, such as energy providers, users, or regulators.

Bioenergy Perspectives in the EU Regions: Carbon Neutrality Pathway

Bioenergy plays an important role in the climate neutrality targets of the EU. However, the status of bioenergy implementation varies greatly across the EU. The aim of this paper is to assess the role of bioenergy in different EU countries using EU experts’ opinions of bioenergy implementation in their own country. The paper identifies leading and lagging countries in biomass development by focusing on the current share of bioenergy in the total energy supply. The study shows differences in bioenergy development between Southern and Western EU countries with Northern and Eastern EU countries. The anti-bioenergy movement and continuing political support for the fossil fuel industry are important barriers inhibiting biomass development in many EU countries, especially in Southern Europe and Western Europe. Our analysis finds that the EU needs more factual bioenergy information and improved promotion of bioenergy throughout society, especially in southern and western parts of the EU. Bioenergy development in the EU can be looked at optimistically, especially in Northern and Eastern Europe. The experience of societal acceptance of bioenergy in countries such as Finland and Sweden is applicable to countries that have thus far seen less progress in bioenergy implementation such as Poland and the Netherlands.

Behavioral and Cultural Insights, a Nationwide Study Based on Repetitive Surveys of WHO Behavioral Insights Tool in Greece Regarding COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Acceptance.

Monitoring behavioral and cultural insights during the pandemic is a useful tool to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and confront the pandemic’s vast impact. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed according to the “survey tool and guidance” provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). Surveys were conducted by a market research company for five consecutive months, with a sample of 1000 individuals recruited per survey. Vaccination acceptance increased from 55.2% to 67.2%, while the percentage of undecisive individuals decreased from 16.3% to 10.6%. The proportion of vaccine resistant participants remained relatively steady (25−30%). Knowledge about the pandemic and compliance with preventive measures was high (>90%). Factors associated with vaccination included: Increased age, male gender, influenza vaccination, following authorities’ recommendations, being informed by HCWs or formal information sources, care for others, concern about the country’s economic recession and health system overload. Pandemic fatigue was reflected across the surveys, indicated by a decrease in the intention to self-isolate and remain at home when ill. Despite the decrease of undecisive individuals, a firm core of vaccine resistant individuals may be responsible for the relatively lower vaccine coverage compared to northern EU countries. Study results could be useful for developing approaches tailored to a reluctant population.

EU-wide mapping of ‘Protected Designations of Origin’ food products (PDOs) reveals correlations with social-ecological landscape values

The Geographical Indications (GIs) scheme is the EU’s primary policy tool for increasing the market values of geographically distinct food products. Although GIs are linked to the landscapes of food production, little is known about the social-ecological values they represent, mainly due to a lack of spatial data. In this study, we, therefore, mapped all 638 food products labeled as Protected Designations of Origin (PDOs), using NUTS-3 areas as proxies for their actual extent, and correlated their distribution with 13 social-ecological indicators. By compiling this novel dataset, we show that the presence of PDOs strongly overlaps with environmental and cultural values. We reveal positive correlations of PDO frequency with high nature value farmland, semi-natural agriculture, tourism, and cultural heritage indicators. Further, we find that PDOs occur more often in economically weaker areas with older and declining populations. Besides differences in PDO distribution between northern and southern EU countries, we find different correlation patterns across the four largest food categories. For example, cheese and meat products are less correlated to environmental values compared to oils and fats, or fruit, vegetables and cereals. On that basis, we identify the potential of PDOs to support structurally deprived areas and propose PDOs as entry points for sustainable transformation and rural development policies—while simultaneously contributing to the conservation of cultural landscapes and their associated environmental values. As outlined in the Green Deal of the European Union and its Farm to Fork strategy, PDOs should be a part of this transformation. Based on the results of this study, we discuss more specifically for which production systems and under what enabling conditions PDOs are fit for this challenge. We recommend that future governance interventions for a sustainable transformation of EU’s agriculture should take the differences across regions and product categories into account.

Evaluation of the Level of Electricity Generation from Renewable Energy Sources in European Union Countries

Changes in recent years have resulted in an increase in the ways in which renewable energy is used and shared in total electricity generation. Each type of renewable energy is characterised by its uniqueness of the physical specificity and, therefore, differences in technological solutions. In this study, one of the methods of multidimensional comparative analysis (WAP)—Hellwig’s taxonomic measure of development—was used to assess the level of development of electricity production from renewable sources. Twenty-eight countries were surveyed, including 27 countries of the current European Union and the United Kingdom. Panel models were used to describe the relationship between the share of electricity production from RES in total electricity production and GDP per capita, public spending by countries on energy as a percentage of GDP as well as electricity production from water, wind, solar, and biogas per capita. The presented synthetic measures confirmed the more favourable situation of the rich northern EU countries in the production of electricity from renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, and bio), at the same time highlighting problems with the greening of electricity production in a large group of the new EU member states. The panel study confirmed the importance of differences in economic potential and wealth between EU countries for the development of the use of RES for electricity production.

Burden of disease from second-hand tobacco smoke exposure at home among adults from European Union countries in 2017: an analysis using a review of recent meta-analyses

Smoke-free legislation reduced second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in public places, and indirectly promoted private smoke-free settings. Nevertheless, a large proportion of adults is still exposed to SHS at home. The aim of this paper is to quantify the burden of disease due to home SHS exposure among adults in the 28-European Union (EU) countries for year 2017.The burdens by gender from lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breast cancer, ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, asthma, and diabetes were estimated in an original research analysis using the comparative risk assessment method. Relative risks of death/diseases by gender for adults exposed to SHS at home compared to not exposed ones were estimated updating existing meta-analyses. Prevalence of home SHS exposure by gender was estimated using a multiple imputation procedure based on Eurobarometer surveys. Data on mortality and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors Study.In 2017, 526,000 DALYs (0.36% of total DALYs) and 24,000 deaths (0.46% of total deaths) were attributable to home SHS exposure in the 28-EU countries, mainly from COPD and IHD. South-Eastern EU countries showed the highest burden, with proportion of DALYs/deaths attributable to SHS exposure on total higher than 0.50%/0.70%, whereas northern EU-countries showed the lowest burden, with proportions of DALYs/deaths lower than 0.25%/0.34%.The burden from SHS exposure is still significant in EU countries. More could be done to raise awareness of the health risks associated with SHS exposure at home.

Process Simulation for Li-MnO2 Primary Battery Recycling: Cryo-Mechanical and Hydrometallurgical Treatments at Pilot Scale

Li primary batteries are currently treated along with other Li batteries in several big pyro- metallurgical plants in Northern EU countries. Nevertheless, pyro-metallurgical processes do not allow for Mn and Li recycling and present negative environmental impacts, on the other hand hydrometallurgical processing can potentially ensure the integral recovery of all materials in Li primary batteries. In this work, preliminary experimental findings obtained in the LIFE-LIBAT project (LIFE16 ENV/IT/000389) are reported. In this project, end of life Li(0)-MnO2 batteries were cryo-mechanically treated and then the metals were recovered by a hydrometallurgical process. Representative samples of end of life Li(0) batteries were characterized by type and composition. Batteries were stabilized in an N2 bath and then crushed, sieved, and magnetically separated in the SEVal pilot units. Separated fractions (fine fraction, magnetic coarse fraction, and non-magnetic coarse fraction) were chemically characterized for target metal content (Li and Mn). Fractions were first treated for Li extraction and recovery, then the fine fraction was also leached for Mn recovery. Mass balances evidenced a 55% recycling rate and process simulations outlined profitability in the potentiality range in agreement with battery collection fluxes.

SMEs debt financing in the EU: on the eve of the coronacrisis

SMEs are the main drivers of economic development. As the debt crisis and coronavirus crisis show, despite their importance, they are extremely sensitive to economic downturns. Therefore, SMEs need to be supported through various tools. The paper is aimed at evaluating the SMEs’ bank and governmental support in the northern and southern EU countries in two crisis periods and assessing the financial state of SMEs on the eve of coronacrisis using micro-level data. It was proved that bank loans and credit lines remain the main sources of SMEs’ financing. After the debt crisis, banks are becoming more loyal to SMEs.It was proved that SMEs from the northern EU countries suffered less from the previous crisis and therefore started their recovery earlier than the southern ones in terms of profitability, liquidity and debt burden. In addition, it was shown that both groups on the eve of the new turbulence period were in better financial state compared to the previous debt crisis. The southern EU countries suffered more from both crises. At the same time, due to effective governmental support and bank loyalty, their SMEs entered the coronacrisis at the same level of financial stability as the northern ones. Since the new support measures are concentrated primarily in the banking sector through loan guarantee schemes and reduced interest rates, it is essential to provide debt financing to high-quality borrowers and avoid the debt crisis in southern counties.

Cultural Political Economy: An Alternative Approach to Understanding the Divergences between Italian and German Positions during the Euro Crisis

AbstractSo far, the Euro crisis has been analysed using the ‘varieties of capitalism’ concept, the growth model framework or ideational accounts. These approaches have generally been applied in isolation or in opposition to one another. There has been little cross‐fertilization, due to the different epistemological points of departure that emphasize either institutional rational efficiency, material driving forces or ideational motives for the political economies during the crisis. This article instead applies the concept of cultural political economy to today's socioeconomic tensions between northern and southern member states. Cultural political economy offers a historical evolutionary perspective showing how institutional, material and ideational motivations have co‐evolved in European member states since the 1950s, contributing to the discrepancies that we witness today between the northern and southern EU countries. The article exemplifies the cultural political economy approach against the background of the German–Italian irritations that have sparked through the crisis.

Real Convergence in EU-15: A Comparative Analysis of North versus South Europe

Purpose: The paper looks at the issue of absolute and conditional income convergence in the EU-15 States, focusing upon the growth incidence of certain fundamental economic variables, along with corruption and bureaucracy. Design/Methodology/Approach: Applying advanced panel data techniques, dating from 1995 up to 2012, we focus on two discrete European State groups. The first group consists of the Southern EU countries (i.e. Greece Belgium, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal) and, the second group of the Northern EU countries (i.e. Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, UK). Findings: The results demonstrate that investment share, human capital and country openness appear as robust growth drivers; whereas, inflation and government consumption hamper growth. However, corruption and bureaucracy seem to affect differently growth of the two groups of the European States. Practical Implications: Certain policy implications and obligations accrue to the Southern European countries vs. the Northern European ones, with respect to the effects and consequences of specific fundamental economic variables, along with corruption and bureaucracy, towards the absolute and conditional income convergence in the EU-15. Originality/Value: Macroeconomic policies that affect economic growth, directly through their effect on physical and human capital accumulation and macroeconomic stability, reflected in low and stable rates of inflation and government consumption, would indeed increase growth in EU. Taking advantage of the European integration, in terms of real convergence, institutions seem also quite essential ingredients.

Urban ecosystem conditions and ecosystem services – a comparison between large urban zones and city cores in the EU

Almost three out of four EU citizens live in urban areas. Knowledge on the city’s environmental structure and capabilities is needed as urbanization is expected to continue. In this study, eight indicators on urban ecosystems condition (ECIs) were quantified for 305 EU cities (>100.000 inhabitants). A composite indicator (CI), based on the ECIs, indicated differences between northern and southern EU countries, with Umeå having the highest CI value (1.56) and Napoli the lowest (−1.21). Positive effects of urban green infrastructure (GI) were found for NO2 removal, recreation opportunities and lowered urban heat island effect. The proportion of green and built infrastructure differs between city cores and larger urban zones, and the area outside the core hosts a considerable part of the overall GI. This zone is thus of importance for the provisioning of urban ecosystem services, to be considered when planning for urban growth and climate adaptation strategies.

Tax-in or Tax-out? Evidence from the relation of financial performance and effective taxation of Czech subsidiaries under foreign control

The paper evaluates the financial performance of Czech entities under control of companies listed in the EU and its relation to effective tax rates. Using individual corporate data, empirical evidence of 4,917 year-firm observations indicates a wide dispersion both in performance and taxation. The domicile of the parent has an impact on the subsidiary’s effective tax rate and the effective taxation of Czech subsidiaries under control of foreign listed parents is significantly lower than for other Czech companies. Despite exhibiting tax avoidance to some extent, the data reveal significant variability in relative tax rates suggesting that the majority of foreign parents from western and northern EU countries prefer to tax profits in the Czech Republic rather than elsewhere. Shifting profits to the Czech Republic results in superior reporting performance of the affected subsidiaries. In contrast, empirical evidence shows that parent companies from southern EU countries seek ways to avoid taxation. The unclear tax motives of both parent company groups hinder an appropriate assessment of the financial performance of subsidiaries from being conducted.

Systemic risk attribution in the EU

Systemic default risk is due to multiple private and/or public entities’ simultaneous default. This risk has caused great concern in the recent past and its assessment is not a trivial subject. We have provided a model for systemic risk attribution in order to disentangle its different components. We have applied it to a selection of EU countries consistent with previous research. We have extracted a common EU factor and analysed the residual components related to an individual country’s banking system, to the interaction between banking system and government, and to the country’s and banking idiosyncratic components, as well.For this purpose, we have introduced a multivariate distribution for all the countries and the relative banks, also providing an integrated analysis. We have applied the multivariate Marshall–Olkin distribution, where the marginal probability of default for any country or bank depends on its default intensity. Risk attribution has been performed using weekly market data referred to sovereign and bank CDSs over the period 2009–2015. Our results have highlighted relevant differences between Northern and Southern EU countries, as far as risk decomposition is concerned. In Southern countries, risk is mainly concentrated in a country-banking system shock at each level. In Northern countries, the prevailing components of risk are the systemic EU shock at country level, and the idiosyncratic component at banking system level and individual bank level.

Prevalence of nickel allergy in Europe following the EU Nickel Directive - a review.

Nickel contact allergy remains a problem in EU countries, despite the EU Nickel Directive. To study the prevalence of nickel allergy in EU countries following the implementation of the EU Nickel Directive, we performed a systematic search in PubMed for studies that examined the prevalence of nickel allergy in EU countries published during 2005-2016. We identified 46 studies: 10 in the general population and 36 in patch tested dermatitis patients. A significantly lower prevalence of nickel allergy after than before the implementation of the EU Nickel Directive was found in women aged 18-35 years (11.4% versus 19.8%) (p = 0.02), in female dermatitis patients aged ≤17 years (14.3% versus 29.2%) (p < 0.0001), and in dermatitis patients aged 18-30 years (women: 20.2% versus 36.6%) (p < 0.0001) (men: 4.9% versus 6.6%) (p < 0.0001). Overall, the prevalence was higher in southern than in northern EU countries, and generally remained high, affecting 8-18% of the general population. A consistent pattern of decreasing prevalence of nickel allergy in some EU countries was observed, although the prevalence among young women remains high. Steps should be taken for better prevention of nickel allergy in EU countries.

Debt-deflation, financial market stress and regime change – Evidence from Europe using MRVAR

Since the economic meltdown of 2008–2009 many euro area countries have experienced disinflation, and even deflation, in a period with large debt overhang, creating the conditions for continuing financial market stress. As disinflation and deflation push up the real interest rate, while growth and income declines, the leveraging problem becomes more severe and the economy risks shifting into a regime with high insolvency risk, high financial stress, rising credit spreads, possibly accompanied by strong adverse macroeconomic feedback loops. Investigating the consequences of those magnifying feedback loops, given the debt-deflation, we demonstrate the possibility of unstable dynamics and downward spirals in the presence of regime-dependent macro feedback loops, using a theoretical model with decentralized matching mechanisms on both labor and financial markets. To explore the amplifying linkages between deflation, output, labor and financial markets, we employ a new solution procedure called Non-linear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) to solve our models variants for out-of-steady-state dynamics. We apply a four variable Multi-Regime VAR (MRVAR) model with regime dependent (generalized) impulse-response functions (GIRFs) to study deflationary and financial risk drivers empirically for Southern and Northern EU countries. New measures for financial risk drivers are employed and GIRFs for output, inflation rates, interest rates and financial stress are explored. The econometric results of the MRVAR are roughly in line with the theoretical regime change model.

Carbon Abatement Leaders and Laggards Non Parametric Analyses of Policy Oriented Kuznets Curves

We study the eventual structural differences of climate change leading ‘actors’ such as Northern EU countries, and ‘lagging actors’ - southern EU countries and the ‘Umbrella group’ - with regard to long run (1960-2001) carbon-income relationships. Parametric and semi parametric panel models show that the groups of countries that were in the Kyoto arena less in favour of stringent climate policy, have yet to experience a turning point, though they at least show relative delinking in their monotonic carbon-income relationship. Northern EU instead robustly shows bell shapes across models, which seem to depend on time related (policy) events. Time related effects are more relevant than income effects in explaining the occurrence of robust Kuznets curves. The reaction of northern EU to exogenous policy events such as the 1992 climate change convention that gave earth to the Kyoto era, and even the second oil shock that preceded it in the 80’s are among the causes of the observed structural differences.

The Comparison of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and EU Countries of Upper Secondary Teacher Training Models within the EU Process (Turkey, England, Greece, TRNC, Republic of Cyprus)

This study aims to evaluate and make suggestions on different dimensions of teacher training models implementations in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus whilst taking into consideration the processes adopted by the EU countries and Turkey. Together with this, a comparison and evaluation has been composed between the teacher training models that undergo in the TRNC (Turkish Republic of North Cyprus) and Turkey, England, Greece and Republic of Cyprus. The study was administered through using the documentation research method. According to the results of the given data for the study, the teacher training system used in the TRNC shows similarities to the education period, conditions for the program entry and teacher training models in the countries that are members of the EU. It has resulted that the teacher training system in the TRNC is in constant observation of any necessary changes which may take place by the countries that are members of the EU. Priority objective here can be stated that the TRNC should be recognized and become a member of the EU in addition to this, it is important to point out that the TRNC should take a closer look and take into consideration of any developments that may be adopted for the teacher training models by countries that are members of the EU.

Die Afrikanische Pferdepest – eine weitere Tierseucheante portas?

Der bedeutendste Überträger der Afrikanischen Pferdepest (APP) in Afrika ist, wie im Falle der Blauzungenkrankheit, die wärmeliebende Gnitzenart Culicoides imicola. Die als Folge des Ausbruchs der Blauzungenkrankheit in Nord- und Mitteleuropa eingeleiteten entomologischen Untersuchungen haben gezeigt, dass auch unsere heimischen Gnitzen durchaus als potenzielle Vektoren für die Verbreitung der Blauzungenkrankheit anzusehen sind. Da es sich bei dem Erreger der Afrikanischen Pferdesterbe wie bei dem der Blauzungenkrankheit um ein Orbivirus handelt, kann nicht ausgeschlossen werden, dass auch das APP-Virus durch infizierte Equiden eingeschleppt und dann durch einheimische Gnitzen verbreitet und heimisch wird. Aufgrund dieser Erkenntnisse sollte daher die Bedrohung unserer Pferdebestände durch die Afrikanische Pferdepest neu bewertet werden. Die APP ist eine akute bis perakute, hoch fieberhafte schwere Erkrankung der Equiden mit einer charakteristischen Symptomatik und hoher Mortalität. Im klinischen Bild dominieren die Zeichen einer Lungen- und Herzerkrankung, verbunden mit einer möglichen starken Ödembildung, besonders in Lunge, Brustraum und Unterhautgewebe. Eine Behandlung ist nicht möglich und nicht erlaubt. Erkrankte Tiere sind zu töten, mit einer Ringimpfung soll die Weiterverbreitung des Erregers verhindert werden. Einzelheiten der Bekämpfung sind in einer Leitlinie geregelt.