Union Institutions Research Articles

Unresolvation of the Palestine problem — the main threat to regional security

The article analyzes the situation in the Middle East in connection with a new largescale armed confl ict between Israel and radical Islamist groups. The author reminds readers of the origins and causes of the Palestinian-Israeli confl ict and gives a detailed picture of the dynamics of events in the former British mandate territory of Palestine after 1948. The main reason for the ongoing tension in Israel's relations with the Arab and Muslim world is the disregard by the Israeli authorities and the leaders of a number of Arab countries of the relevant resolutions of the UN General Assembly on the creation of the State of Palestine. The ongoing occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights and Lebanese Shebaa farms by the Israeli armed forces does not help to strengthen confi dence in Tel Aviv on the part of neighboring Arab countries. The author believes that the main goals of the attack on Israel by Hamas militants and Islamic Jihad (banned in the Russian Federation) on October 7, 2023 were, fi rstly, to attract the attention of regional and global players to the Palestinian problem, and secondly, to demonstrate the increased military capabilities of Hamas and the vulnerability of Israel, and thirdly, a slowdown or complete disruption of the process of further normalization of Israel’s relations with Arab countries. In addition, Palestinian radicals believed that a successful military operation against Israel could lead to an increase in fi nancial, economic, political and military assistance to Hamas from its supporters and sponsors. The author notes the growing involvement of a number of regional and extra-regional players in the armed confl ict in the Gaza Strip (Lebanese Hezbollah, Yemeni Houthis, Iran, Qatar, Turkey, USA, EU countries). The article also notes the limited capabilities of UN institutions and other international organizations at this stage for a comprehensive and fair Middle East settlement.

Organizational forms of cross-border cooperation of healthcare institutions

The article examines the organizational forms of cross-border cooperation of healthcare institutions. It has been established that currently, it is essential not only to restore the destroyed infrastructure of the health care system but also to restore the health of war victims, as well as the development of an appropriate health care system in connection with the integration of Ukraine into the European Union. It was determined that in such unclear and risky conditions, it is necessary to strengthen the ability to develop cross-border cooperation of healthcare institutions in Ukraine with the relevant healthcare institutions of neighboring states, member states of the European Union, namely: Slovakia, Poland, Hungary and Romania through various available organizational forms. It was established that there are various organizational forms through which health care institutions can implement cross-border cooperation. It was determined that the use of such a form for cooperation as a European grouping of territorial cooperation on the external border of the European Union will be useful both for the exchange of experience of neighboring health care institutions of the member states of the European Union and health care institutions of Ukraine, as well as for their possible effective participation in programs and implementation of cross-border cooperation projects, which would be aimed at the development of the health care sector in order to provide the population with affordable medical care. It was noted that because of the events taking place due to the full-scale invasion of the russian federation into Ukraine, namely the devastating consequences for the health of thousands of people, then it would be expedient to create such a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation on the external border of the European Union with Ukraine. It was established when comparing the legislation of neighboring states, the member states of the European Union, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, and Romania, and analyzing the provisions of European Union regulatory acts regarding the activities of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, it appears that the list of participants of such a grouping may be somewhat wider.

How evaluation is understood and practised in the European Parliament

Over the past 10 years, the European Parliament has stepped up its use of evaluation to inform its law-making activities. This work has been guided in large part by the Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Law-Making signed in 2016 by the European Parliament, the European Commission (which is the EU executive organ) and the Council of the European Union (representing the EU Member States). This article describes how evaluation is carried out in practice in the European Parliament and how it is shaped by the institutional setting. It argues that evaluation activities are inextricably linked with the law-making process, and that timing is a critical factor in evaluation uptake. Outstanding inter-institutional issues are identified and ways in which future trends and shocks can be integrated into European Parliament evaluation are described. There remain opportunities to better anticipate demands for evaluation, which could increase the time and resources available for such analysis, and for more transparency across the European Union institutions in the underlying data and evidence used to support evaluation findings.

Coalitions in international litigation: a network perspective.

We apply network science principles to analyse the coalitions formed by European Union nations and institutions during litigation proceedings at the European Court of Justice. By constructing Friends and Foes networks, we explore their characteristics and dynamics through the application of cluster detection, motif analysis and duplex analysis. Our findings demonstrate that the Friends and Foes networks exhibit disassortative behaviour, highlighting the inclination of nodes to connect with dissimilar nodes. Furthermore, there is a correlation among centrality measures, indicating that member states and institutions with a larger number of connections play a prominent role in bridging the network. An examination of the modularity of the networks reveals that coalitions tend to align along regional and institutional lines, rather than national government divisions. Additionally, an analysis of triadic binary motifs uncovers a greater level of reciprocity within the Foes network compared to the Friends network. This article is part of the theme issue 'A complexity science approach to law and governance'.

French and language ideologies in a multilingual European Union institution: Re-constructing the meaning of language choice at work

This qualitative study investigates stances in reflective interviews to identify cultural patterns that shape the meaning of language choice within an international unit of an EU institution in Luxembourg. We employ the analytical concept of “language cringe” and propose a complementary concept, “language push,” to showcase the effects and reproduction of language ideologies in day-to-day talk about languages at work. Our analysis reveals that, within a workplace culture that encourages flexible and convivial use of multiple languages, French speakers have to deal with the effects of the “logic of honour,” which is culturally associated with the use of French in France. Based on our findings, we suggest that language choice should be considered a cross cultural dimension in multilingual environments, and that language-sensitive management scholarship should broaden its considerations beyond the traditional issues of language proficiency, namely by inspecting relational and affective factors that shape language use in multilingual workplaces.

Waqf for accelerating socioeconomic development: a proposed model with focus on Pakistan

PurposeThe unique institution of waqf that was ignored during the colonization of the Muslim areas has to be revived to play its role in shared growth, social inclusion and cohesion in society. This research paper aims to explore the role of waqf as an instrument for a sustainable growth system and to suggest a model for socioeconomic development in an economy like that of Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative research is based on analytical methods to arrive at the frameworks and a model that could facilitate the revival of waqf for community development/social inclusion in economies like that of Pakistan.FindingsAs most of the OIC member states like Pakistan are facing serious financial problems due to debt servicing obligations, promoting Waqf for various socioeconomic and cultural functions is a vital requirement for such economies. The inability of the state institutions in providing necessary civic, health and education facilities to the public is causing serious harm to the balance of the society. It requires promoting a formal system of charity and using FinTech for waqf-based donations and financing the micro businesses. The perpetuity complimented by the profitability of the waqf properties makes the waqf institutions sustainable and effective when compared to individual charities.Research limitations/implicationsThis is conceptual research discussing the potential of waqf in light of its historical role. Researchers may undertake empirical studies on awqaf operations in various jurisdictions and their role in the empowerment of the poor.Practical implicationsThe research will provide the researchers with insight into the potential of waqf as a tool for community development. Besides, it will enable policymakers and implementation authorities to socialize charity for sustained benefits and welfare.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first major research that discusses the role of waqf in economies facing budgetary and trade deficits in the eradication of poverty and the promotion of social and economic entrepreneurship in realizing the community development targets for the economies like that of Pakistan.

Shadowing and gendered fieldwork roles in the Brussels Bubble

This article contributes to wider methodological discussions about gender and undertaking fieldwork in and around European Union institutions, by focusing on shadowing as a particular ethnographic practice and the performance of gendered roles in fieldwork. The article is based on two ethnographic research projects and 16 shadowing placements, which were conducted in and around European Union institutions (2018–2020). As co-authors, we reflect on what our respective shadowing experiences reveal about gendered roles in fieldwork and how these are performed in the ‘Brussels Bubble’. We show how the fieldwork roles emerged at different stages of shadowing, how we performed them dynamically and what they reveal about gendered micropolitics in the ‘Brussels Bubble’. We call on researchers to be intentionally reflexive when doing shadowing as part of their fieldwork, to avoid uncritically performing the types of gendered roles that typically emerge within institutional settings and interpersonal relations.

EU Competences In An Age Of Complexity And Crisis: Challenges And Tensions In The System Of Attributed Powers

This article argues that the Union’s experience of tackling increasingly complex socio-economic and geopolitical problems has revealed certain limitations in our well-established legal understanding of the principle of conferral. Our current legal approach to verifying the existence of Union competence focuses almost entirely on the relationship between each and every discrete and individual Union measure, on the one hand, and its purported legal basis or bases under the Treaties, on the other hand. That approach offers only limited recognition to the particular demands imposed on Union policymaking by challenges of formidable scale, complexity and often urgency – demanding solutions based on multi-faceted, multi-component, and highly integrated regulatory packages. Such legal diffidence can generate a range of tensions: further complicating an already difficult negotiating process; interfering in or even altogether unpicking delicate political compromises; forcing the Union institutions towards suboptimal policy responses or exposing them to allegations of “competence creep”; and raising difficult questions about the estranged legitimacy claims of robust constitutional law versus effective public governance. That analysis invites us to reflect critically on the performance, merits and limits of the current Treaty frameworkgoverning attributed Union powers, not least by suggesting some potential adaptations and reforms that might help ameliorate such tensions.

A RESEARCH ON INVESTIGATING CUSTOMER CONTENTMENT AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS INTERNET BANKING FACILITIES IN SALEM DISTRICT

In our fast-paced lives, we are constantly being tested on our skills and endurance. Everyone must strive to find ways to save time. One of the innovative advancements that allows customers to carry out their financial transactions from a physical or online bank, credit union, or other financial institution on a secure platform is online banking. Online banking, also known as electronic banking, is the digital delivery of traditional banking services and products to customers directly through electronic, interactive communication channels. It offers customers numerous benefits and conveniences over traditional banking. Online banking is a fast and convenient way to access your bank account using your mobile phone. Online banking uses the internet to facilitate financial transactions. When it comes to everyday tasks, bank transfers are a thing of the past thanks to online banking services. One of the most popular services offered by banks is online banking, making it a highly reliable platform. Banks often use encryption systems to safeguard the security of all customer data and prevent data breaches. Ultimately, it protects against online fraud and account manipulation. The speed of internet access, the new online banking features, and the frequency of online banking usage all impact how quickly online banking develops in each country. When the operations of banks and financial institutions are combined with information technology, online banking is created in the banking sector. Therefore, this study aims to provide an analytical view of customer satisfaction and preference for online banking services in Salem district.

The paradox of silencing the guns and increasing conflicts: A critical appraisal of the role of the African Union institutions

The paradox of silencing the guns and increasing conflicts: A critical appraisal of the role of the African Union institutions

Development of tourism policy in the European Union

The development of the European Union's tourism policy is studied. The types of the Union's competence (exclusive, joint and auxiliary) are considered. It is noted that the Union's competence in the field of tourism is an innovation of the Lisbon Treaty, which states that the EU has been empowered to support, coordinate and complement the actions of Member States in the tourism sector, i.e. the Union will not take independent action in this area. It is established that, due to the lack of competence in the tourism sector, the European Union does not have any official body that would directly deal with the development of tourism in the Member States, but some issues related to tourism are within the competence of the European Parliament and the European Commission. It is noted that recent years have confirmed the interest of the Union institutions in tourism policy. The main messages and programs of the European Commission, which set policy guidelines for the development of the tourism sector, are considered. Two documents from 2022, which form the basis of the EU tourism policy, are analyzed: Council conclusions on European Agenda for Tourism 2030 and the Tourism transition pathway – Co-creation and co-implementation process. It is noted that tourism accounts for almost 10% of the Union's GDP and employs about 23 million people, but despite being one of the most important sectors of the European economy, tourism is not seriously considered. At present, the European Union has only auxiliary powers, i.e., the ability to supplement, support and coordinate the actions of the Member States, without the possibility of harmonizing the legislation of the Member States in the field of tourism. It is proposed that in order to achieve more effectively the Union's objectives in the field of tourism, which are to create a favorable environment for the development of tourism business and to promote cooperation between Member States, in particular in the exchange of goods and practices, a common tourism policy should be introduced and a body responsible for the tourism sector should be established. It has been proven that a thriving tourism industry will increase the overall competitiveness of the European Union on the world stage.

When European Instances apply National Rules transposing Directives: the Direct Effect in an Atypical Situation

The process of European convergence involves Union institutions and bodies occasionally applying national rules that transpose directives. This updating of the role of the EU framework has raised certain problems of articulation, which, in particular, concern the possible direct effect of the provisions contained in the transposed directives. Despite significant shortcomings, adopting a functional and goal-oriented interpretation would extend the doctrine of the direct effect of directives to the institutions and bodies of the Union, in order to prevent asymmetries and perverse incentives. However, it would be desirable for the EU legislator to explicitly clarify how to approach the most contentious issues, strengthening legal certainty and reducing reliance on interpretations that may stem from disputes before the Court of Justice.

“IPCC-envy”? Shaping global soil and land governance through science-policy activism

AbstractUnderstanding the relationship between science and policy, including the role of actors engaged in facilitating science-policy interplay, is crucial in the study of global environmental governance. In spite of this, theorization of agency in science-policy relations has been limited in the IR field. Concomitantly, limited knowledge exists about the role played in this respect by international bureaucracies. This paper addresses these issues by introducing the concept of science-policy activism. The paper is based on the study of two UN institutions, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which operate in the issue—area of soil and land degradation. Informed by a combination of elite interviews and participant observation, the study investigates the ways in which the UNCCD and GSP secretariats steer the interplay between scientific advice and policymaking. The qualitative analysis reveals that, although both secretariats engage in normative narratives of cooperation, they actively and competitively pursue self-interested agendas. Unearthing the key role of secretariats in comparison with other relevant actors, such as member states and epistemic communities, the study shows that science-policy activism is conducive to “regime conflict,” limiting opportunities for interplay management and ultimately benefiting the interests of international bureaucracies themselves.

Activities of the United Nations in combating gender-based crimes

The article is dedicated to the issue of the United Nations activities in preventing and eradicating gender-based crimes. It is indicated that gender-based violence and gender-motivated killings can be classified as hate crimes motivated by intolerance towards certain groups of the population. It is noted that an important contribution to combating gender-based crimes was made by the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, and other bodies, institutions and structures of the Organization. In particular, the UN General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions in this area, including Resolution 68/191, which set out recommendations to Member States and UN bodies, agencies and institutions on measures against gender-related killing of women and girls. In pursuance of this recommendation, an open-ended intergovernmental expert group meeting was convened to review promising practices and formulate a number of practical recommendations on ways and measures to improve the effectiveness of efforts to prevent and investigate gender-related killings. It is indicated that since 2019, UNODC has been implementing the Global Programme on Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Responses to Violence against Women, providing specific solutions that complement existing UN joint programmes and country projects. It is noted that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has played an important role in combating gender-based crimes. In particular, in its concluding observations on the periodic reports of States parties and in the context of relevant follow-up procedures, the Committee consistently condemns gender-based violence. In addition, the Committee provides clarification of the standards related to the elimination of such violence and the related obligations of States parties. The article also focuses on the work of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences in this area.

A framework for leveraging network course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) faculty to develop, validate, and administer an assessment instrument.

Over the last several years, nationally disseminated course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have emerged as an alternative to developing a novel CURE from scratch, but objective assessment of these multi-institution (network) CUREs across institutions is challenging due to differences in student populations, instructors, and fidelity of implementation. The time, money, and skills required to develop and validate a CURE-specific assessment instrument can be prohibitive. Here, we describe a co-design process for assessing a network CURE [the Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (PARE)] that did not require support through external funding, was a relatively low time commitment for participating instructors, and resulted in a validated instrument that is usable across diverse PARE network institution types and implementation styles. Data collection efforts have involved over two dozen unique institutions, 42 course offerings, and over 1,300 pre-/post-matched assessment record data points. We demonstrated significant student learning gains but with small effect size in both content and science process skills after participation in the two laboratory sessions associated with the core PARE module. These results show promise for the efficacy of short-duration CUREs, an educational research area ripe for further investigation, and may support efforts to lower barriers for instructor adoption by leveraging a CURE network for developing and validating assessment tools.

In the Shadow of the State

The National Union of Road Transport workers (NURTW) is the main transport organization in Nigeria and has replaced local governments in most garages of the country. The NURTW exercises its authority in Lagos garages through its own set of rules, qualified here as garage laws. They aim at providing revenues for the union, for state institutions, for police bodies and at ordering motor parks and disciplining drivers. Based on observations and 80 interviews with unionists, the article looks at the ways these laws are implemented by unionists and agberos or local touts turned into union workers. Some rules depend on the authority of union chairmen but most of them are routinized and powerful mainly because they are co-produced by the union and state institutions. Understanding garage laws helps to move beyond visions reducing transport unions as mafia organizations and states in Africa as weak institutions unable to implement state laws.

КОНЦЕПТУАЛЬНЫЕ ОСНОВЫ СОВРЕМЕННОЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЙ ЭТНОПОЛИТИКИ

The article comprehensively analyzes the state ethnopolitics of Kazakhstan, highlighting its ideological foundations, legal framework, strategic directions and practical measures. Particular attention is paid to the role of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan (APK) as a unique institution playing a key role in the formation and implementation of ethnopolitics. The achievements of Kazakhstan in the field of implementation of ethnopolitics are analyzed, promising directions for its development are determined, Kazakhstan’s experience in the field of interethnic harmony and peacemaking is emphasized. The article is intended for a wide range of readers interested in issues of ethnopolitics, interethnic relations, protection of human rights, preservation of cultural diversity and strengthening of unity in a multi-ethnic society.

The institutional fate of Uexküll’s umwelt theory at the University of Hamburg

Due to Jakob von Uexküll’s umwelt theory, the Institute for Umwelt Research at the University of Hamburg, that was founded in 1928, was a unique institution worldwide for holistic research into animal behaviour and perception. However, Uexküll’s vitalistic-teleological approach and his uncompromising anti- Darwinian stance increasingly isolated him. When the closure of his institute was imminent as part of his statutory retirement in 1935, Uexküll ingratiated himself with the National Socialists in a letter to the Reich Minister for Science, Education, and Culture, which serves as a starting point for the article’s detailed discussion of his relationship to National Socialism.
 Since umwelt theory could be used for the training of guide dogs and other animals useful for military purposes, the institute survived. Still, finding a suitable successor to Uexküll proved difficult because hardly anyone among the German zoologists believed Friedrich Brock, Uexküll’s preferred candidate, would live up to Uexküll’s originality. The most important opponent to Brock’s appointment was Berthold Klatt, professor of zoology at the University of Hamburg, who did not expect any significant progress in zoology from Uexküll’s umwelt theory. After Brock’s death in 1958, the sworn circle of supporters of Uexküll’s umwelt theory tried in vain to push through a successor from their ranks. At the instigation of Curt Kosswig, Klatt’s successor in the Chair of Zoology, Franz Sauer succeeded Brock in 1959. However, a polemical article written by Gösta von Uexküll provoked a scandal, in the wake of which Sauer resigned. In 1960 the Institute for Umwelt Research became a department of the Zoological Institute, existing in the lecture timetables until 1966.
 Thus, the fate of Uexküll’s research institution depended mainly on external and personal factors or, to speak in Uexküllian terms, on the umwelten of the protagonists and antagonists.

A survey of non-sedate practices when acquiring pediatric magnetic resonance imaging examinations.

Improving access to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in childhood can be facilitated by making it faster and cheaper and reducing need for sedation or general anesthesia (GA) to mitigate motion. Some children achieve diagnostic quality MRI without GA through the use of non- practices fostering their cooperation and/or alleviating anxiety. Employed before and during MRI, these variably educate, distract, and/or desensitize patients to this environment. To assess current utilization of non-sedate practices in pediatric MRI, including variations in practice and outcomes. A survey-based study was conducted with 1372 surveys emailed to the Society for Pediatric Radiology members in February 2021, inviting one response per institution. Responses from 50 unique institutions in nine countries revealed 49/50 (98%) sites used ≥ 1 non-sedate practice, 48/50 (96%) sites in infants < 6months, and 11/50 (22%) for children aged 6months to 3years. Non-sedate practices per site averaged 4.5 (range 0-10), feed and swaddle used at 47/49 (96%) sites, and child life specialists at 35/49 (71%). Average success rates were moderate (> 50-75%) across all sites and high (> 75-100%) for 20% of sites, varying with specific techniques. Commonest barriers to use were scheduling conflicts and limited knowledge. Non-sedate practice utilization in pediatric MRI was near-universal but widely variable across sites, ages, and locales, with room for broader adoption. Although on average non-sedate practice success rates were similar, the range in use and outcomes suggest a need for standardized implementation guidelines, including patient selection and outcome metrics, to optimize utilization and inform educational initiatives.

An International Survey Investigating the Incidence and Management of Brown Fat Uptake on 18F-FDG PET/CT at Children's Hospitals and Interventions for Mitigation.

Brown fat can present challenges in patients with cancer who undergo 18F-FDG PET scans. Uptake of 18F-FDG by brown fat can obscure or appear similar to active oncologic lesions, causing clinical challenges in PET interpretation. Small, retrospective studies have reported environmental and pharmacologic interventions for suppressing brown fat uptake on PET; however, there is no clear consensus on best practices. We sought to characterize practice patterns for strategies to mitigate brown fat uptake of 18F-FDG during PET scanning. Methods: A survey was developed and distributed via e-mail LISTSERV to members of the Children's Oncology Group diagnostic imaging committee, the Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging pediatric imaging council, and the Society of Chiefs of Radiology at Children's Hospitals between April 2022 and February 2023. Responses were stored anonymously in REDCap, aggregated, and summarized using descriptive statistics. Results: Fifty-five complete responses were submitted: 51 (93%) faculty and fellow-level physicians, 2 (4%) technologists, and 2 (4%) respondents not reporting their rank. There were 43 unique institutions represented, including 5 (12%) outside the United States. Thirty-eight of 41 (93%) institutions that responded on environmental interventions reported using warm blankets in the infusion and scanning rooms. Less than a third (n = 13, 30%) of institutions reported use of a pharmacologic intervention, with propranolol (n = 5, 38%) being most common, followed by fentanyl (n = 4, 31%), diazepam (n = 2, 15%), and diazepam plus propranolol (n = 2, 15%). Selection criteria for pharmacologic intervention varied, with the most common criterion being brown fat uptake on a prior scan (n = 6, 45%). Conclusion: Clinical practices to mitigate brown fat uptake on pediatric 18F-FDG PET vary widely. Simple environmental interventions including warm blankets or increasing the temperature of the injection and scanning rooms were not universally reported. Less than a third of institutions use pharmacologic agents for brown fat mitigation.