Union Member Research Articles

Is it still permissible under EU law to issue new permits for oil and gas extraction?

AbstractThis article examines whether the discretion of European Union (EU) Member States to approve new oil and gas extraction projects is restricted by EU law. It shows that greenhouse gas emissions from such projects must be considered in environmental impact assessments under the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment Directives. This includes emissions from the combustion of extracted oil and gas by end users (scope 3 emissions). The article also shows that Member States' discretion to approve new oil and gas extraction projects is significantly limited by their climate‐related obligations under EU law, as well as by the duty of sincere cooperation in the context of the EU's international commitments under the Paris Agreement.

Stopping the Spying: US Labor Unions’ Responses to Electronic Surveillance at Work

The use of electronic surveillance by employers has become increasingly common in recent years and can take many forms, including video surveillance, keystroke logging, and GPS tracking. While employers often claim that this surveillance is necessary to protect their property and increase productivity, it can also have negative consequences for workers, including work intensification and loss of a sense of autonomy at work. This paper examines the concerns, responses, and limitations of US labor unions in limiting electronic surveillance and its harms to workers. Expert interviews conducted with seven union leaders in 2023 reveal that US unions are aware of and concerned about electronic surveillance of members. Through political advocacy and collective bargaining, unions have a vital role to play in protecting workers’ privacy rights, though limitations to union's capacity exist due to low union membership density and high workloads.

АNALYZING THE COPENHAGEN CRITERIA AND REFORMS IN THE CONTEXT OF TURKEY’S ASPIRATION FOR EU MEMBERSHIP

This study provides a scholarly overview of Turkey's political landscape , especially in the context of its aspirations for European Union (EU) membership and its commitment to the Copenhagen Criteria. The article describes the historical trajectory of Turkey's Westernization efforts, dating back to the period of Tanzimat and thereforms of Ataturk. The author emphasizes that EU membership is a strategic imperative for Turkey.The author highlights the path of Turkey's reforms since 2001, paying special attention to significant achievements in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms, which are a constant reason for rejecting Turkey's application for membership. However, the author highlig hts the continuing problems, in particular restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, exacerbated by Turkey's withdrawal from international conventions (Istanbul Convention) protecting marginalized groups, especially women affected by gender-based violenc e . Emphasizing the urgent need to address these issues, this article highlights the path of the Republic of Turkey towards concerted efforts by domestic and international stakeholders to strengthe n democratic principles and protect human rights in a changing political environment. The article presents a scientific discourse aimed at promoting a detailed understanding of the trajectory of Turkey's accession to the EU and its broader implications for democratic governance and huma n rights in the region. For a more detailed study of the issue under study, government reporting documents were used: the Report of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights andFreedom of the United States and the Report of Turkey on the fulfillment of criteria

Process security methods and measurement in the context of standard management systems

Abstract The main purpose of the paper is to identify ways to establish process security in the constantly changing risk and control environment and to introduce a new model. The research is based on a literature review of process security components. Qualitative content analysis was used to establish a linkage between the certified management systems and the level of process security. Elaborations have been conducted based on the survey data of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and served as a basis for analysis of certification types and their sectoral division in the European Union (EU) member states. A new Balanced Scorecard has been developed to cover the security pillars in the context of standard management systems and serve as a framework for process security measurement. The research paper processes the state-of-the-art issue of process security, introduces components that help to establish process security, and establishes a linkage between the level of process security and certified management systems. An analysis was based on the ISO certification information related to different management system standards. Management systems were analysed in the context of process security and corresponding process performance measures. A brief walkthrough has been prepared to demonstrate the processes behind the underlying performance measures. A new Balanced Scorecard approach has been developed that maps and covers different security aspects retrieved from and linked to different management system standards. The new Balanced Scorecard based on different security aspects of entities can be leveraged by any organisation, regardless of its size or business profile.

Профсоюзы и общественное мнение в Республике Башкортостан в конце XX – начале XXI в.

The article examines the dynamics of public opinion regarding trade union organizations in Bashkortostan in the post-Soviet period. The analysis of the scientific literature indicates that the problem is insufficiently studied. The main sources used in the article, in addition to archival documents, were the materials of the periodical press. The work notes that during the transition to market relations, trade unions restructured their work with an emphasis on strengthening the protection of the rights of employees, began to interact with all branches of government, negotiated with employers and concluded agreements and collective agreements. Non-fulfillment of agreements by enterprises and the state forced trade unions to organize collective actions: rallies, strikes, pickets. In the early 1990s, as sociological studies showed, citizens’ trust in trade unions remained high, paradoxically combined, however, with distrust of all political forces. Most likely, it is precisely distrust of trade unions that explains the attempts to create new public organizations in the 1990s, uniting ordinary workers. Many workers expressed dissatisfaction with the indecisive actions of the trade unions, urging them to pay attention to protecting the interests of workers. Special studies have found a decrease in the authority of trade unions among workers from the early 1990s to the early 2010s. At the same time, trade union leaders noted the passivity and inertia of ordinary trade union members, their non-participation in collective actions. Thus, on the one hand, the workers recognized the trade unions as the only defenders of their interests, on the other, they assessed its activities poorly, reluctantly participated in collective events.

Loan Schemes Granted for Students as a European Union Financial Instrument for Education Inclusion in Its Member States

Abstract European Union financial instruments and more specifically loan schemes are tools that have been developed and used more and more in the world we are leaving in due to their availability as well as their accessibility for the European Union member states. Due to the significant implicants in education, these loan schemes became a foundation stone in the development of education inclusion. The aim of this paper is to show the way these loan schemes have been used, the scheme of these programs, the impact they had on the beneficiaries and on the education, the challenges and possible lessons for helping in the creation of the future funding programs. In doing a better understanding and analysis, I have used a multiple case analysis representing a qualitative method that focuses on analyzing of three different case studies on three different countries that have been used loan schemes as financial instruments for giving access to higher education programs for students that were not able to and facilitate education inclusion in their state. The main findings suggests that these loan funds have a positive impact on the evolution of education inclusion, students being open to apply for them even if in some cases, the understanding of the mechanism behind it was a little bit difficult in the beginning. Overall, based on the case studies and on the number of the applicants that took advantage of these funding programs, it can be concluded that these types of financial instruments must continue to be used in the future and extended in more regions no matter of their development status.

The Impact of R&D Investments on Renewable Energy Transition. A Panel Data Approach

Abstract The transition to renewable energy is one of the main objectives at the level of the European Union to answer the problems related to global warming. In this context, the main objective of this study is to analyze the role of one of the drivers that can contribute to the achievement of this objective, namely research and development expenditure. Thus, based on a diversified research methodology, which includes in particular comparative analysis, descriptive analysis, and econometric analysis, we tested the role of research and development expenditure in stimulating final energy consumption from renewables and biofuels in the industrial sector using related statistical data from 13 European Union Member States between 2006 and 2022. The main results showed that research and development expenditure have a positive impact on the consumption of renewable energy in the industrial sector.

Evaluating Economic Efficiency through Digital Technologies

Abstract The rapid advancement of digital technologies has generated increased interest among researchers to investigate and evaluate the impact of these technologies on economic efficiency. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the influence of digital technologies on economic efficiency in the countries of Europe and the European Union (EU) over seven years (2016-2022), for which the necessary data was found. The fundamental question of the study is: which countries in the European Union and across the entire European continent exhibit a trend of increasing revenues from the ERP system market, and among these, where is an influence on GDP observed? A group of 42 countries was analyzed, consisting of 27 countries from the European Union and 15 non-member countries, and the period studied ranges from 2016 to 2022. The study reveals that, generally, in countries where revenues from the ERP market are on the rise, there is a positive trend in economic efficiency. The study's estimates suggest that the level of internet usage in a country and the workforce with an advanced level of education significantly influence GDP per capita at the level of the countries in the European Union and the entire European continent. The conclusions of our study are based on theoretical predictions and the relevant results of other studies. The research indicates that ERP systems, as part of digital technologies and other macroeconomic factors, play an important role in stimulating economic efficiency in the European Union member states and those outside the union.

Socio-Economic Modelers of Environmental Performance: Empirical Evidence from the European Union

Abstract The environment represents one of the main collective responsibilities of the current period, marked by accelerated economic development. In the context of increasingly pronounced ecological deterioration and less sustainable practices, the level of involvement of decision-makers and the population has become a great challenge. Beyond legislative mechanisms, which can help states improve their environmental performance, an important role is also played by knowing the direct and indirect factors that can act on this performance. The specialized literature approaches environmental performance from various angles, most studies being focused on analysis tools and how to measure it, and less on the factors that can shape it at the national level. In this context, our approach takes into account the synergies between the environmental performance at the level of the European Union member states (measured by the Environmental Performance Index - EPI) and the selected economic-social factors. The selected sample includes the 27 member states of the European Union, the analysis being carried out for the period 2006-2022. The research methodology is based on Bayesian network analysis through Gaussian graphical models. The obtained results show that environmental performance is closely related to economic and social factors, through positive or negative connections, the relationship being bidirectional. Our approach is thus intended to be useful in providing a series of information to support decision-makers both in the implementation of environmental policy at the European level and in the adjustment of some national regulations.

Reconsidering Digital Strategies for Recruiting and Organising Young Emerging Teachers in Chosen Teachers' Unions in South Africa

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reports that, in most of its member countries, the percentage of employed individuals who are members of trade unions has decreased significantly over the past few decades, with less than 20 percent. Some of the studies done on this subject unequivocally acknowledge that low membership turnover and dwindling trade union densities are caused by the incapacity to mobilize, organize, and serve members. In order to determine the most effective and efficient way to use these integrated digital strategies, this research investigates types of digital modes for organising, mobilising, and retaining new coming educators. Data were gathered through interviews with ten SADTU organisers and ten students from particular South. African universities, using the qualitative method. The data was analysed using a grounded (thematic) approach. The study's overall findings shows that digital technologies play a significant role in luring newer generations of trade union members. The findings of this study directly influenced the creation of more precise and efficient digital strategies for recruiting and organizing young emerging teachers, leading to an overall enhancement in the recruitment and retention of talent within the education sector.

International Legal Regulation of Pension Provision of Workers of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States

Introduction. The present article examines the conditions of the formation and functioning of the pension protection system for member states’ workers of the Eurasian Economic Union. The study of pension issues in the EAEU is based, inter alia, on the review of a number of international treaties as the legal framework of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space. In the context of this work the author has also conducted a comprehensive analysis of the provisions of the Agreement on pension provision of workers of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States dated December 20, 2019 as well as the relevant practice of the EAEU Court.Materials and methods. In the course of preparing the article, international treaties included in the legal framework of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space in the field of pension provision for migrant workers, as well as the relevant norms of the Union law and the practice of the EAEU Court, have been studied. The theoretical basis of this work consists of the research of domestic specialists in the field of international law, dedicated to the common labor market of the EAEU. The methodological basis of the study is the following general scientific methods of cognition of legal phenomena: methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, and analogy. The special scientific methods that the author has also used in his research include formal legal, comparative legal and historical legal methods of cognition.Research results. As a result of the analysis, it has been revealed that the development and signing in 2019 of the Agreement on pension provision of workers of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States is a key step in building a pension system for workers in the EAEU countries. Despite the fact that this international treaty, which entered into force on January 1, 2021, is still standing the test of time, there is no doubt that its implementation is one of the important conditions for the successful functioning of the Union’s common labor market.Discussion and conclusion. Ensuring the free movement of labor within the framework of modern regional integration organizations is inextricably linked with providing workers with equal guarantees in the field of pension provision, as well as the protection of their acquired pension rights. It is possible that the positive dynamics of labor migration in the EAEU is due, among other things, to the transition to a qualitatively new level of legal regulation of pension provision for workers in its member states. At the same time, as follows from the analysis of the practice of the EAEU Court, the interest of states in clarifying certain norms of the Union law in the relevant area remains quite high.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND LEGAL APPROACHES TO CREATING A LEGAL MECHANISM FOR INTERACTION BETWEEN THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION AND THE WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION

The research article was prepared as part of a scientific study conducted by the author on improving the theoretical and legal foundations of customs regulation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU, Union) in cooperation with the World Customs Organization (WCO). A task. To study the organizational and legal basis for the Union’s implementation of the Strategic Directions for the Development of Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025 in terms of cooperation with the WCO, as well as to develop a legal mechanism for interaction between the EAEU and the WCO. Conclusions. The article analyzes the rules and procedures of the Working Group on Interaction with the WCO, created in the EAEU, and also offers practical proposals for organizing customs cooperation of the Union with an international customs organization. Social Consequences. Conducting a study is associated with the implementation of paragraph 11.7.5. of Strategic Directions for the Development of Eurasian Economic Integration until 2025 in terms of cooperation with the WCO, as well as Memorandum of Understanding between the Eurasian Economic Commission and the World Customs Organization dated June 17, 2016. Practical value. The results of the study are of interest to the customs cooperation block of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and can be used by specialists of the customs authorities of the Member States of the Union, the EEC experts to organize strategic planning and to form the legal foundations for the modernization of the Union's law. Originality/value. The research material is based on an analysis of the practical aspects of the activities of the Commission, the Customs Services of the Union Member States, the WCO and is the result of a comprehensive study of the issue of improving international customs cooperation.

ASYMMETRIC J CURVE RELATION BETWEEN TÜRKİYE AND HER EUROPEAN TRADE PARTNERS: A NARDL METHOD

This research delves into the asymmetrical impacts, both short and long term, of the real strengthening or weakening of Türkiye’s currency against that of the 28 European Union member countries, on its bilateral trade balance. The study aims to uncover potential asymmetries in the relationship between Türkiye’s currency depreciation and its trade balance with the EU 28 countries, while also considering the possibility of a J-curve effect. By utilizing the Non-Linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (NARDL) introduced by Shin et al. (2013), which accounts for asymmetric relationships, the analysis examines whether Türkiye’s trade balance with her EU 28 partners reacts differently to currency appreciation and depreciation. The findings from the non-linear ARDL analysis conducted in this study lend support to the hypothesis of an asymmetrical relationship, both in the short and long term, between the real appreciation of foreign exchange rates and Türkiye’s bilateral trade balance with the EU 28 countries, potentially indicating the presence of a J-curve effect.

What Have we Learnt so Far About The Extended Producer Responsibility – Results of Bibliographic Review

Nowadays, the environmental impact of the manufacturing sector, particularly in terms of waste management, is receiving increased attention. In this context, extended producer responsibility (EPR) has become an essential environmental policy instrument for all European Union (EU) Member States. This policy principle has also garnered interest from other countries around the world, which recognize its importance. The EU has acknowledged the effectiveness of this instrument and seeks to enhance the sustainability and waste management practices within its manufacturing sector. The operational principles of EPR are regulated at the EU level collectively, while also allowing for individual definition by each Member State. It's important to note that these principles encompass measures primarily aimed at promoting waste prevention, reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery.The aim of this paper is to provide an in-depth insight into the operational principles of the EPR in the EU Member States, its application to different product groups and identify the existing challenges related to assessing the effectiveness of the EPR system via bibliographic review of scientific papers published in “Web of Science” indexed journals.

Unionization of retired workers in Europe

We shed light on an understudied group: retirees in unions. Using representative individual-level data of 19 European countries, we find that the share of retirees in unions and the union density of retirees increased between 2008 and 2020. Econometric analyses indicate that on average retired workers’ probability of union membership is 17 percentage points lower than that of active workers, with some variation among countries. This finding is consistent with social custom models and cost–benefit considerations, but it partly questions the inter-generational solidarity model put forward in the literature. We further find that some determinants of union membership differ between active and retired workers; for instance, the (former) status of being a full-time or blue-collar worker is only statistically significant for active but not for retired workers. Overall, standard membership models better explain the unionization of active than retired workers.

Exploring the Socioeconomic Dynamics and Technological Adaptation among Farmers: Implications for Sustainable Agricultural Development and Rural Livelihoods in Jaipur, India

The research was conducted in Jaipur district of Rajasthan. There are 23 AAO departments under the jurisdiction of Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, Jothwara (Jaipur). Among these, 4 AAO departments viz. Hingonia, Jobner, Boraj and Bichun were deliberately chosen for this study because the AAO circle is next to SKNAU, Jobner is within a radius of 20 km, researchers from the school respectively many people are making technological improvements in nearby villages and farmers are also active. A total of 120 participants were selected from these four AAO circles. Judging from the entire health history of farmers benefiting from Nongtang, the majority of farmers benefiting from Nongtang are middle-aged (35 to 51 years old) (58.33%). Primary school graduates (20.00%), farmers are union members (37.50%), their share of average annual income (77.50%) is Rs. 1,26,781 to Rs. 4,72,303 and farmers share small land. category (38.33%). Moreover, most of the beneficiary farmers (44.17%) have moderate farming experience ranging from 15 to 31 years, (23.19%) farmers use PM Kisan application, (70.00%) farmers use information technology, (68%) 34) consider agriculture as the main business. job. The relationship between income and technological change shows that there is a positive relationship between education level, social participation, annual income, insured land, agriculture, agricultural practice and knowledge. The beneficiary's social profile indicates education, community involvement, annual income, land ownership, farm practice use, and data-effective and relevant job creation and annual income. The correlation between the profile of the beneficiaries and their social variables shows a positive relationship between the level of education, social participation, and annual income. There is a significant relationship between the use of agricultural practices and the change in personal property and the education level of family members. Agricultural knowledge and information are important and positively related to changes in household members' education levels and ownership of agricultural equipment.

The Legal Situation of Operators of Essential Services and Digital Service Providers in the Provisions of the Act of 5 July 2018 on the National Cybersecurity System

Abstract The Act of 5 July 2018 on the National Cybersecurity System and its accompanying executive regulations have introduced into Polish law the provisions of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union (UE) 2016/1148. The fundamental reason for these regulations was to establish a coherent system to ensure the cyber security of the Republic of Poland with accordance to standards adopted for European Union Member States. This paper presents the legal situation of operators of essential services and digital service providers that was created by the provisions of the ANCS. The ANCS not only identifies operators of essential services, digital service providers, and their assigned obligations, but also addresses the competent authorities’ tasks of supervising, inspecting and imposing penalties within the cyber security system. The findings, assessments and conclusions presented here are based on the interpretation of the provisions of the ANCS and are supported by prominent claims of academic representatives. The analyses contained within this paper aim to show that despite the comprehensible and contemporary ratio legis – which falls within the framework of pursuing the state of digital safety – the provisions of the ANCS require adjustments that acknowledge the legal situation of operators of essential services and digital service providers.

Lifestyle and metabolic risk factors, and diabetes mellitus prevalence in European countries from three waves of the European Health Interview Survey

Population shift towards healthier lifestyles can help reduce the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), therefore understanding and monitoring the lifestyle-related risk factors are crucial for setting up effective preventive strategies and disease management. The present study aimed to explore the changes in prevalence of DM and major risk factors including smoking, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, as well as body mass index (BMI) over three waves of European Health Interview Survey, and to investigate the association between risk factors and presence of DM across 11 European Union member states. Poisson regression models were used to evaluate the association between risk factors and DM, adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic variables. The estimated age-standardized prevalence of DM increased from 7.01% in 2009 to 7.96% in 2019, with substantial increase in subgroups with higher BMI and unhealthy lifestyle including physically inactive people, or current smokers. Obesity and overweight and physical inactivity were significantly associated with DM in all survey waves. Our findings underline that obesity prevention and weight loss promotion along with physical activity promotion are the subject of lifestyle interventions to reduce the burden of DM in EU member states.

A European Feminist Foreign and Security Policy? Norm Contestation and Norm Negotiations in the European Parliament

Abstract In 2020, the European Parliament (ep) issued a resolution calling for all European Union (EU) Member States to adopt feminist foreign and security policies, and for a gender-transformative vision in the EU’s own external policy. Drawing on the literatures on negotiations and norm contestation, this article3 asks why the resolution was so progressive. It also asks how we can characterize and explain the nature of the negotiations leading to the resolution. The findings demonstrate a low level of contestation and negotiations mainly characterized by integrative strategies and solutions. The main opponents to the resolution, the populist radical right groups, were more or less absent from the negotiations but opposed by verbal contestation in plenum and through amendments to the text. We find that individual- and organizational level factors have high explanatory power: the gender equality-friendly institutional culture in the ep was further strengthened by the entrepreneurship of two committed rapporteurs.

Environmental Effects of Green Bonds and Other Forms of Financing in the European Union

Prioritising the implementation of environmental policies is a cornerstone for European Union member states. While sharing common objectives, individual countries apply their own approaches to implementing and financing the sustainable development and green transition, considering the national economic characteristics. This raises the crucial question of the extent to which various funding sources contribute to the success of environmental policies. In the past decade, many instruments for financing sustainable development have emerged, with green bonds prominently positioned as a pivotal tool for directing financial flows towards the achievement of green objectives. This paper studies the relationship between the different instruments for financing, such as the availability of issued green bonds, the extent of total debt, economic development, fiscal instruments, and on the other hand the specific indicators used to evaluate the effects of implementing the environmental policies. The study focuses on the environmental policies of European Union member states and associated member states from 2015 to 2022, with the intent to examine the effect of policies on indicators like energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic losses from extreme weather events. Through correlation analysis, the study aims to specify the direction and significance of the influence of each independent variable on the dependent indicators. The findings reveal that green bond financing serves as a catalyst for positive changes in reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, while general government debt emerges as a significant factor in financing environmental policies.