Southeastern European Countries Research Articles

Assessment of cost efficiency in the banking sector of selected countries in Southeastern Europe

This study examines the assessment of cost efficiency in the banking sector of selected countries in Southeastern Europe. In Southeastern Europe (SEE), where over 100 commercial banks operate, these institutions form the backbone of the financial sector, supporting between 80% and 90% of the financial system in five Balkan Peninsula nations. Kosovo stands out for having a lower participation rate (65%), with 80% to 90% of its banks under foreign government control. A study conducted from 2010 to 2021 employed Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a non-parametric technique, to scrutinize the cost-effectiveness and profitability of SEE's banking industry. DEA evaluated SEE's commercial banks in terms of cost efficiency, considering total costs as the dependent variable and inputs including deposits, workforce, and fixed assets. Interest expenses, personnel expenses, and capital-related expenses were compared concerning total deposits and assets, while securities and loans served as outputs. The findings unveiled commendable cost efficiency within SEE's banks. Subsequently, a panel regression analysis utilizing fixed and random effects was performed. Factors like Cost Efficiency, Asset Quality, Market Participation, Debt Ratio, Bank Size, Inflation, Ownership, and Gross Domestic Product were assessed against Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Assets (ROA). The results underscored robust cost control measures within SEE's banks and highlighted significant factors—Cost Efficiency, Asset Quality, Market Participation, Debt Ratio, Bank Size, Inflation, and Ownership—exerting substantial influence on ROA and ROE. These insights offer valuable information for strategic decision-making, aiding stakeholders in developing targeted actions to enhance the financial sustainability and stability of Southeastern Europe's banking sector.

Invasive meningococcal disease in South-Eastern European countries: Do we need to revise vaccination strategies?

ABSTRACT Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is an acute life-threatening infection caused by the gram-negative bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis. Globally, there are approximately half a million cases of IMD each year, with incidence varying across geographical regions. Vaccination has proven to be successful against IMD, as part of controlling outbreaks, and when incorporated into national immunization programs. The South-Eastern Europe Meningococcal Advocacy Group (including representatives from Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine) was formed in order to discuss the potential challenges of IMD faced in the region. The incidence of IMD across Europe has been relatively low over the past decade; of the countries that came together for the South-Eastern Meningococcal Advocacy Group, the notification rates were lower than the European average for some country. The age distribution of IMD cases was highest in infants and children, and most countries also had a further peak in adolescents and young adults. Across the nine included countries between 2010 and 2020, the largest contributors to IMD were serogroups B and C; however, each individual country had distinct patterns for serogroup distribution. Along with the variations in epidemiology of IMD between the included countries, vaccination policies also differ.

Traditional risk factors and premature acute coronary syndromes in South Eastern Europe: a multinational cohort study

The age-standardized death rates under 65 years from ischemic heart disease in South Eastern Europe are approximately twice as high than the Western Europe average, but the reasons are not completely recognized. The aim of the present study was to address this issue by collecting and analyzing data from a large, multinational cohort. We enrolled 70,953 Caucasian patients with first acute coronary syndrome, from 36 urban hospital in 7 South Eastern European countries and assessed their life expectancy free of acute coronary syndrome and mortality within 30 days after hospital admission from acute coronary syndrome as estimated in relation to dichotomous categories of traditional risk factors (current smoking, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia) stratified according to sex. Compared with patients without any baseline traditional risk factors, the presence of all four risk factors was associated with a 5-year shorter life expectancy free of acute coronary syndrome (women: from 67.1±12.0 to 61.9±10.3 years; r=-0.089; p<0.001 and men: from 62.8±12.2 to 58.9±9.9 years; r=-0.096; p<0.001). Premature acute coronary syndrome (women <67 years and men <63 years) was remarkably related to current smoking and hypercholesterolemia among women (RRs: 3.96; 95% CI: 3.72-4.20 and 1.31; 95% CI: 1.25-1.38, respectively) and men (RRs: 2.82; 95% CI: 2.71-2.93 and 1.39; 95% CI: 1.34-1.45, respectively). Diabetes was most strongly associated with death from premature acute coronary syndrome either in women (RR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.29-1.79) or men (RR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.41-1.89). Public health policies in South Eastern Europe should place significant emphasis on the four traditional risk factors and the associated lifestyle behaviors to reduce the epidemic of premature ischemic heart disease. None.

Ekonomska politika i energetska bezbednost zemalja Jugoistočne Evrope

Energy security is essential for the sustainable economic development and stability of the country. In recent years, it has been actively studied. The energy security challenges of European countries have changed significantly in the past 20 years. From one point of view, the current war between Russia and Ukraine raises doubts about the energy security of the countries of Southeast Europe. On the other hand, deep changes in energy security at the world level, activated by innovative progress and major geopolitical changes, encourage the European Union to reevaluate its security system. Economic, social and demographic changes in the world require new solutions that would include innovative ways to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted flow of energy to sustain the daily life of citizens. The inability to access energy resources causes severe economic disruptions and political instability. In the conditions of the global economy, disruptions are easily transmitted and therefore it is essential to permanently secure energy resources and make an effort to reduce the so-called energy poverty, which mostly affects countries in transition (Southeastern European countries) and Third World countries. The obtained research results show that renewable energy sources could become a sustainable solution to the above-mentioned problems. A well-balanced and well-positioned use of renewable energy sources could alleviate the shortcomings of traditional energy systems and prevent major shocks to energy security in the world and in the countries of the European Union.

The impact of selected socio-economic factors on defense expenditures in Southeastern European countries

The impact of selected socio-economic factors on defense expenditures in Southeastern European countries

Anticipated sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants

Southeastern Europe (SEE), which includes Serbia, along with Germany and Poland, is one of the largest producers of solid fuels in Europe. Despite growing environmental concerns, coal, especially lignite, persists and remains the dominant fuel for electricity generation in this region. Concurrently, these power plants emerge as the predominant emitters of pollutants in all the observed states. To conduct a comprehensive analysis, data on major emitters within the European Union were gathered, allowing for a detailed comparison with SEE countries. A specific focus was placed on the thermal power plant Kostolac in Serbia, where the calculation of SO2 emissions for two thermoblocks was undertaken. Comparisons were drawn with emitters in EU countries, with a particular emphasis on SEE nations. The analysis involved data from wells that have undergone excavation over specific periods, facilitating an exploration of the correlation between calculated values, those from exploited wells, and projections of future SO2 emissions from new wells in areas earmarked for surface mining exploitation.

Foreign direct investment, domestic investment, and the role of institutions in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern Europe

The paper examines the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and domestic investment in Central, Eastern, and South-Eastern European (CESEE) countries from 1995 to 2021. The primary hypothesis posits that FDI exerts a positive influence on domestic investment, with variations observed across diverse institutional contexts. The research utilises fixed effects and a one-step difference generalised method of moments (GMM) to determine whether FDI leads to an increase or decrease in domestic investment in CESEE countries. The findings indicate that FDI has a favourable and statistically significant influence on domestic investment. However, the coefficients for FDI are less than one, indicating that while FDI stimulates overall investment, it does not create a crowding-in effect where the rise in total investment surpasses the FDI inflows. When the data is split on the basis of institutional quality, it is evident that FDI continues to positively impact domestic investment in high and low-institutional- quality settings. The coefficients for FDI in both subgroups are less than one, implying that institutional quality does not substantially change the correlation between FDI and domestic investment. These results indicate the positive and significant impact of FDI on domestic investment, without crowding-in effects for the entire sample of CESEE economies and both subgroups that differ in institutional quality.

Food security challenges: Evidence from the southeast Europe countries

Description of the subject. In the past half-century, the world has become increasingly aware of the challenges and threats to food security. The challenges of maintaining food security have been further increased under the influence of crises (COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war). Many factors affect food security, and the effects of crises have additional negative consequences on food systems, with direct and indirect implications on the lives of everyone, especially the developing countries, such as countries of Southeast Europe. Objectives. Therefore, the aim of the research is analyzing the effects of socio-economic factors and policy factors on the level of food security of Southeast Europe countries. Method. This research covered countries of Southeast Europe: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, and North Macedonia. The research data were taken from the FAOSTAT database and World Bank for the countries of Southeast Europe during 15 years (2006-2020), and in this paper panel data analysis was used. Results. The results of the research showed that there is a statistically significant influence of socio-economic factors and policy factors on the level of food security of the Southeastern Europe countries. Conclusions. The results of the research showed that food production variability, food supply variability, food imports, inflation, GDP per capita and political stability have a significant impact on the level of food security in the countries of Southeast Europe.

EE630 The Economic Burden of Obesity in 4 Selected South-Eastern European Countries: Healthcare Resource Use and Costs Associated with Obesity-Related Comorbidities

EE630 The Economic Burden of Obesity in 4 Selected South-Eastern European Countries: Healthcare Resource Use and Costs Associated with Obesity-Related Comorbidities

Analyzing the Economic Viability and Energy Requirements of Soilless Greenhouse Tomato Cultivation in the Context of Climate Change in the Mediterranean Basin

Controlling environmental conditions in agricultural production has a direct influence on the yield. In vegetative production, the most common and effective implementation of environmentally controlled production is in greenhouses. In the event that the daily average temperature drops below 12oC, greenhouses should be heated. Heating in greenhouses has a significant share in production costs. While overall production costs in high technology greenhouses depend on the size of the greenhouse and the length of the production period, the heating costs vary depending on the greenhouse equipment and external climatic conditions.&#x0D; In this study, the costs of inputs used in the production of truss tomatoes in the great majority of high technology greenhouses in the Mediterranean climate zone were determined, their share in the total cost was calculated and a comparison with the costs of truss tomato production in Southeastern European countries was made.&#x0D; The calculations show that among the production costs under Mediterranean climate conditions, cost of labor is the highest with a ratio of 37% while energy (heat + electricity) cost is the second highest. While the unit cost of truss tomatoes in Southeastern Europe is 0.51 €.kg-1, the production cost under Mediterranean climate conditions is 0.59€.kg-1.

Difficult Heritage in Southeastern Europe: Local and Transnational Entanglements in Memorializing Political Prisons after Socialism

Throughout Central and Eastern Europe, various governments supported the creation of memorial museums of political violence during state socialism. While much scholarly attention has been given to Hungary’s House of Terror and the Baltic museums of occupations, this article examines the contrasting situation in Southeastern Europe, where state actors were generally absent and which witnessed relatively belated and overwhelmingly bottom-up processes. The article analyses the particularity of political prisons as ‘difficult heritage’. It scrutinizes the commonalities and entanglements between the memorialization of political prisons in three Southeastern European countries marked by distinctive trajectories both during and after communism: Albania (Spaç), Romania (Sighet and Piteşti), and Croatia (Goli Otok). The article shows how in the absence of state-level policies to address transitional justice, activism surrounding difficult heritage memorialization has aimed to fill the gap. It also argues that the relationship between site memorialization in Southeastern Europe and the wider European models is doubly constitutive: first, the memorialization of Sighet in 1990s Romania borrowed approaches from Western European Holocaust memorialization, then shaped a European wide set of best practices; second, a wave of new memorial initiatives after 2010 in Southeastern Europe was connected to the Europeanization of memory and transnational engagements.

Infestation intensity by the invasive oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say) in mixed and pure oak stands

AbstractThere has been accumulating evidence for effects of tree species composition on herbivory with many examples of lower damage by specialist feeders in tree species rich forests. In a joint study in five Central and Southeastern European countries, we studied the effect of tree species richness on infestation intensity of the oak lace bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say) (Heteroptera, Tingidae), an invasive pest on oak trees that has spread rapidly across the Balkan Peninsula and Central Europe. Intensity of infestation by C. arcuata on oaks was assessed on three or four study plots with high (pure stands) and three or four plots with low percentage of oak (mixed stands) in each country. Ordinal regression analysis showed that intensity of infestation of trees by C. arcuata differed between countries; no significant effect of stand type (mixed or pure) on infestation levels was detected. When analysing the percentage of trees in the highest infestation class, stand type had a significant effect with more intensive infestation in pure stands. We conclude that mixed stands will not prevent severe infestation but may help mitigating the impact of established C. arcuata populations.

Ebsteins anomaly management in Central and South Eastern European (CESEE) countries: current status and improvement needed

Abstract Background Ebstein anomaly (EA) of the tricuspid valve (TV) as a rare congenital heart disease (CHD) is characterized by variable morphology, hemodynamics and clinical course, associated heart defects as well. Moreover, whether and when to intervene on TV remains a big challenge. Patients with EA should therefore be managed in expert centres equipped with all diagnostic and treatment tools according to ESC guidelines (ESC-GL), including cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) as the gold standard. Aim of the study The aim of the study was to characterize EA patient population from selected countries within Central-Southern-Eastern Europe (CESEE), evaluate the management in relation to ESC-GL and determine optimal parameters for long-term follow-up (FU) feasible in CESEE. Material and methods In retrospective cross-sectional study from 9 CESEE countries, 203 adult patients with EA were included: median age 39y, 58% women. Determined were age at diagnosis, EA complications (associated CHD, arrythmias), cardiosurgery. ECHO and CMR right ventricular (RV) characteristics, NTproBNP, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) were analysed as follows: ECHO parameters: long-axis RV end-diastolic dimension (RVEDD,mm), long-axis end-diastolic right to left ventricle diameter ratio (RV/LV), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE,mm), RV fractional area change (FAC,%), RV tissue Doppler myocardial velocity (m/s). CMR-derived analysed parameters were: ejection fraction (EF,%), indexed end-diastolic volume (EDVi,ml/m²). Results Patients were diagnosed at age &amp;lt;1y/1-18y/&amp;gt;18y in: 29,6%/31.1%/39.3%. NYHA I/II/III/IV was as follows: 41.6%/37%/22.5%/0%, median NTproBNP: 160ng/l, 6MWD: 473m. CMR-characteristics were: median RVEF: 43.2%, EDVi: 118ml/m². CMR was absent in 60% cases. Associated CHD/arrhythmias were present at 46,7%/64,4. TV surgery were indicated / underwent 30,7% patients at mean age 32y. Performed was daSilva cone-repair/other valvuloplasty/valve replacement in 36,4%/25,5%/38,2%. CMR-derived EDV correlates significantly (P&amp;lt;0.001) with ECHO-based RVEDD and RV/LV ratio. No correlations between CMR-derived EF and ECHO functional parameters were found. Conclusion Although patients with EA in CESSE region are diagnosed late, the characteristics correspond to data published so far. Despite large heterogeneity including various associated complications, patient´s care in the CESEE region does not fully meet the requirements of ESC-GL. Mainly, CMR as a golden standard for EA evaluation is not widely accessible and so not performed. Therefore, an inconsistency in management and differences in therapeutic approach is a consequence. In these conditions in view of our previously proven experience, that the RV/LV ratio correlates significantly with CMR volume parameters, ECHO could serve as a reliable and decisive imaging method in FU, however insufficient in relation to ESC-GL.

Mortality burden due to COVID-19 in 14 countries or regions in Southeastern Europe and Central Asia

Abstract Background Between 2021 and 2023, an international collaboration to estimate the burden of disease due to COVID-19 in 14 countries and regions in Southeastern Europe, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health, under its Global Health Protection Programme. As part of the project, the indicators Years of Life Lost (YLL) and Excess Mortality (EM) were estimated in order to compare the mortality burden of COVID-19 across countries and regions. Methods Data on COVID-19 deaths, all-cause mortality and population numbers were collected by all partner institutions for the period March 2020 to December 2021. YLL were calculated using standard burden of disease methodology, disaggregated by sex, age and month. EM was calculated in Excel using exponential smoothing, taking trend and seasonality into account. The EM estimates generated were compared to existing estimates published by the WHO, in order to explore similarities or differences. Results In nearly all countries, YLL rates per 100,000 were higher among men than women, and among those aged 60 and older compared to younger age-groups. YLL rates per 100,000 were also higher in most countries in Southeastern Europe and in the Southern Caucasus as compared to Central Asia. In general, the YLL burden was considerably greater in 2021 compared to 2020. In most countries, the highest YLL rates were seen in the autumn and winter months. However in some countries, peaks were also seen in spring or summer. WHO estimated EM rates were largely in line with our own, except in Ukraine, Türkiye and Azerbaijan, where WHO estimates were substantially higher. Conclusions A significant mortality burden due to COVID-19 was observed, particularly in 2021, and among men and older individuals. The disaggregation of data over time facilitates the use of burden of disease metrics in pandemic monitoring, providing an additional tool in response efforts. Key messages • The mortality burden due to COVID-19 was significant in the regions investigated, particularly in 2021. • Data disaggregations over time facilitate the use of burden of disease indicators in pandemic monitoring and response.

Evaluation of Physical Literacy in 9- to 11-Year-Old Children: Reliability and Validity of Two Measurement Tools in Three Southeastern European Countries.

The awareness of the importance of physical literacy (PL) is globally increasing; however, knowledge of the applicability of PL measurement tools in southeastern Europe is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of translated versions of the CAPL-2 and PLAYself questionnaires in 9- to 11-year-old elementary school children from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. The participants were 303 children (141 girls; all 9 to 11 years of age) from Croatia (n = 71), Bosnia and Herzegovina (n = 162), and Montenegro (n = 70), enrolled in regular elementary school. The participants were tested throughout a test-retest procedure using two PL evaluation tools, i.e., the Canadian Assessment of Physical Literacy (shorter version, CAPL-2) and the Physical Literacy Assessment of Youth (PLAYself) questionnaires. With an intraclass correlation (ICC) of 0.70-0.80 for specific questionnaire subscales and 0.84 for the total score, PLAYself was found to be reliable. With Kappa values of 0.11-0.23 and a percentage of absolute agreement of less than 62%, CAPL-2 appeared to be less reliable. Factors related to sport participation were significantly positively associated with the PLAYself score, indicating its proper validity. In conclusion, we suggest the usage of the PLAYself questionnaire in further studies examining PL in children of a similar age in the region. Future studies in other age groups and languages are also warranted.

Local autonomy around the world: the updated and extended Local Autonomy Index (LAI 2.0)

ABSTRACT This paper presents an extension and update of the Local Autonomy Index (LAI) under the name LAI 2.0. It applies the comprehensive methodology of the LAI 1.0 to 57 countries over 30 years (1990–2020), including almost all EU, CoE and OECD member states. Looking at the overall results, over thirty years, the LAI has increased around 7–8%, albeit less important in the most recent period of 2015–2020. The biggest increase is to be found in the Central and Eastern European countries. Conversely, some countries (e.g. Hungary and Belarus) have seen a decrease in local autonomy. The highest ranking countries include the Nordic countries and Switzerland, whereas South-Eastern European countries generally score the lowest. We view the LAI as a springboard to academics and policymakers for a more comprehensive and empirically based understanding of local autonomy over time.

Eating out intensity, ultra-processed foods and BMI among Albanian youth.

Ultra-processed foods (UPF) and eating out of home (OH) are changing nutrition, particularly among youth in constrained settings. We aimed to assess the role of eating OH intensity on the associations of UPF and unprocessed or minimally processed foods (UMPF) with BMI among Albanian youth. Cross-sectional. Albania, a south-eastern European country. 281 youth, predominantly females. UPF and UMPF were defined based on NOVA, while eating OH intensity based on energy percentage from OH foods. Multivariable models tested associations of UPF and UMPF with BMI stratified by eating OH intensity, controlled for relevant covariates including diet quality, portion size and costs. The respondents age ranged between 18 and 23 years with a female predominance (87·5 %). Mean energy from UPF and UMPF was 846 (sd: 573·0) and 802·9 (422·5) kcals, respectively. Among substantial at home eaters UPF intake was not associated (β = −0·07, 95 % CI (−0·13, 0·267)) with BMI; however, UMPF negatively associated with BMI (β = −0·24, 95 % CI (−0·43, −0·06)). Among those defined as substantial OH eaters, UPF (β = 0·24, 95 % CI (0·08, 0·40)) and UMPF (β = 0·18, 95 % CI (0·04, 0·33)) were positively associated with BMI. Our findings provide evidence for the hypothesis that eating OH plays an important role in the association of UPF and UMPF with BMI in youth. While causality cannot be established due to cross-sectional design, to the best of our knowledge, we provide the first assessment of UPF and UMPF intake in a south-eastern European setting, while highlighting the need for establishing and integrating youth nutrition into national nutritional surveillance systems for key dietary risk factors in Albania.

Tourism persistence in the Southeastern European countries: The impact of covid-19

Tourism persistence in the Southeastern European countries: The impact of covid-19

Quality of Government as an Attracting Factor of FDI - Evidence from Chosen Southeastern Europe Countries

This paper aims to examine the indicators of the quality of government of selected countries in South-Eastern Europe, which significantly influence the attractiveness of foreign direct investment. With the aim of quantifying the influence of certain factors on FDI, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania and Northern Macedonia are included as the selected countries of the region, with the period of analysis limited to the period from 2007 to 2021. The results of the empirical analysis of the influence of the factors have shown that the factors referred to as the Rule of Law Index, Government Efficiency Index, Public Administration Efficiency Index and Political Stability Index have a significant and positive influence on the attractiveness of the country for foreign investors, while some other factors such as the cost of starting a new business have a negative influence on the country's attractiveness.

Body Weight Loss Efficiency in Overweight and Obese Adults in the Ketogenic Reduction Diet Program—Case Study

Obesity stands out as an ongoing pandemic today, and it is crucial to recognize the basic factors that influence it in the observed group and to intervene through lifestyle changes. Therefore, in this work, the k ketogenic diet (E = 6280 ± 210 kJ) was used in a weight loss program for two regionally different groups (including 200 participants) from southeastern European countries (Republic of North Macedonia (n = 100) and Kosovo (n = 100)). The applied data analysis revealed similarities and differences in (ii) the consumption of certain food groups (e.g., 0.5–1 kg Nuts/week; in region 1 is consumed by 11.3% of participants while in region 2 by 37.8%, respectively) and (ii) anthropometric indicators of excess body mass (body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio). Nutritional intervention with a ketogenic diet also reduces the intake of sweet and salty snacks that are rich in carbohydrates. The average expected time to reach the target body mass was 112 days, and the results of the progress of all participants were presented after 120 days. The results show regional differences, especially in women; in group 1, 73.91% achieved a body mass index in the healthy range (&lt;25 kg/m2), while in group 2, the success rate was 81.69%. Understanding the different eating habits in the mentioned regions is key here, and it was shown that in region 2, over 40% of the participants consume 500–1000 g of seeds per week. The above indicates that the results of this study and regional differences can be considered when designing strategies and intervention programs in the lifestyle of overweight and obese people in similar environments. The study also shows that the ketogenic diet is one of the useful dietary intervention approaches used to change eating habits that will show results relatively quickly.