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Nowadays, environmental problems have gradually become the focus of world attention. In recent years, heat waves in many parts of Europe have increased ozone concentrations, fuelling ozone pollution. Therefore, this paper investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of tropospheric column ozone concentrations in South-western Europe, future trend changes, influencing factors, and potential source regions based on remotely sensed monitoring data from the OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) from 2011 to 2021. The results show that the areas of high tropospheric column ozone concentrations are mainly concentrated in the northwest, Poland, and southeast coastal areas. At the same time, the monthly variation curve of column ozone concentration is bimodal. Trend change analyses indicate an upward trend in future column ozone concentrations in the southeastern part of the study area. The potential for increases also exists in parts of Germany, France, and Poland, which will need to be monitored. Random forest model projections found a slight decrease in column ozone concentrations in 2022 and 2023 of about 1–4 DU compared to tropospheric column ozone concentrations in 2021. The health risk assessment found that the number of all-cause premature deaths due to exposure to ozone was the highest in Germany. During the summer, when ozone pollution is high, the potential source area in the southeastern part of the study area is located at the border of the three countries, and synergistic management is recommended. In exploring the correlation between the influencing factors and ozone, it was found that there is a significant difference between the long-time and short-time series. In addition, the pathway analysis shows that the population size, distribution density, and forested area in southwestern Europe may be more sensitive to the production of tropospheric ozone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to analyse the involvement of the local and regional authorities within the Conference on the Future of Europe. The former, being closer to the citizens, could play important role in reaching "every corner of the European Union" and helping the citizens to articulate their ideas about the European integration. Therefore, the activity of the subnational level could contribute to the final success of the Conference (or failure - in case of lack of any actions). The analysis is based on the author's own empirical study conducted among the Polish territorial self-government units after the closure of the Conference. The local and regional authorities were asked if they informed the citizens about the Conference, organised events regarding this enterprise or took part in the events organised by other entities. The results show very low level of the activity, even among the territorial self-government units that are present at the European level. The conclusions regard both to the Polish circumstances as well as to the general performance of the Conference. In the first case, they unveil the unwritten practice among the Polish territorial self-government units on their involvement in the European affairs. Regarding the second point, the results indicate that the Conference did not manage to exceed the "European bubble". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Europe-wide dynamic ammonia (NH3) emissions model has been applied for one of the large agricultural countries in Europe, and its sensitivity on the distribution of emissions among different agricultural functions was analysed by comparing with observed ammonia concentrations and by implementing all scenarios in a chemical transport model (CTM). The results suggest that the dynamic emission model is most sensitive to emission from animal manure, in particular how animal manure and its application on fields is connected to national regulations. In contrast, the model is most robust with respect to emission from buildings and storage. To incorporate the national regulations, we obtained activity information on agricultural operations at the sub-national level for Poland, information about infrastructure on storages, and current regulations on manure practice from Polish authorities. The information was implemented in the existing emission model and was connected directly with the NWP calculations from the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF-ARW). The model was used to calculate four emission scenarios with high spatial (5 km x 5 km) and temporal resolution (3 h) for the entire year 2010. In the four scenarios, we have compared the Europe-wide default model settings against (1) a scenario that focuses on emission from agricultural buildings, (2) the existing emission method used in WRF-Chem in Poland, and (3) a scenario that takes into account Polish infrastructure and agricultural regulations. The ammonia emission was implemented into the CTM FRAME and modelled ammonia concentrations was compared with measurements. The results suggest that the default setting in the dynamic model is an improvement compared to a non-dynamical emission profile. The results also show that further improvements can be obtained on the national scale by replacing the default information on manure practice with information that is connected with local practice and national regulations. Implementing a dynamical approach for simulation of ammonia emission is a viable objective for all CTM models that continue to use fixed emission profiles. Such models should handle ammonia emissions in a similar way to other climate-dependent emissions (e.g. biogenic volatile organic compounds). Our results, compared with previous results from the DEHM and the GEOS-CHEM models, suggest that implementing dynamical approaches improves simulations in general, even in areas with limited information about the location of the agricultural fields, livestock and agricultural production methods such as Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic brought many changes to social behaviours in Europe. One of its major consequences was the temporary closure of borders, which was introduced as a measure to prevent the uncontrolled pandemic spreading and involved internal Schengen borders. This has had a major impact in the way in which cross-border cooperation has been conducted in Europe, including the Czech-Polish borderland, as it dramatically restrained all flows across borders. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of the pandemic on five roles of cross-border cooperation: 1) as a multi-level governance form; 2) as a regional development tool; 3) as a para-diplomacy form; 4) as a post-conflict reconciliation tool; and 5) as Europe-building. We argue that the impacts of the pandemic complicated regional development and the Europe-building role of cross-border cooperation in the Czech-Polish borderland. The article envisages re-bordering processes also in the Czech-Polish borderland, but with important exceptions in the regions with a high level of cross-border integration, mainly in the Euroregion Těšínské Slezsko/Śląsk Cieszyński. The paper also calls for the elaboration of the guidelines for possible repeated (Schengen) border closures and proposes modifications of the INTERREG microprojects schemes, to keep them attractive also in times of expected cuts in public finances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae is the property of Uniwerystet Kardynala Stefana Wyznskiege w Warzawie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Soil Science Annual is the property of Polish Society of Soil Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the paper is to present issues related to the approach to the integration of immigrants in Poland in the last three decades. The article is seeking an answer to the question of how the approach to immigrant integration has evolved? Does the evolving approach reflect the rising tide of change taking place in Europe? First, the article discusses the issues of migration to Poland. It is essential to consider cultural conditions related to the national identity and migration history of a given country in an attempt to explain the evolution of the integration policy. The subsequent parts analyze the Polish integration policy until 2015 and the integration policy after 2015. The results of the research show that in Poland, the approach to the integration of immigrants has evolved in a short time: from the "strategy of abandonment" to "integration" understood as a two-way process of adaptation to the concept of assimilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every type of agricultural production is a burden for the natural environment. The paper's objective is to assess the energy use efficiency, GHG emissions, and provide an economic analysis of buckwheat production for Central Europe (Poland). The analysis and comparison involved two production systems: low-input and high-input ones. The experiment involved three varieties of buckwheat, Panda, Volma, and Mancan. The yields for analysis were obtained from the field experiment which was set up in 3k-p fractional design was applied in two replications in which at the same time five factors were tested (A—variety, B—mineral fertilisation, C—sowing rate, D—weed control, E—growth regulator). A quartile was used as a statistical tool to select production systems. A high-input buckwheat production regime required, on average, 74.00% more energy than a low-input system. The total mean energy input for three varieties ranged from 7532.7 to 13,106.9 MJ ha−1 for low- and high-input systems, respectively. The results show that the energy use efficiency, specific energy, and net energy gain for the low-input system were on average 1.51, 9.6 MJ kg−1, and 3878.8 MJ ha−1, respectively, for the investigated varieties. For the high-input system, it was 1.35, 10.9 MJ kg−1, 4529.9 MJ ha−1, respectively. The total CO2 equivalent emissions during buckwheat production were higher for the high-input system than for the low-input system by more than 40%. The economic analysis demonstrated that the high-input system had better economic efficiency (without EU payment), 1.01 on average, than the low-input system, 1.07 on average. The international literature does not offer research on energy analysis for the production of common buckwheat and GHG emissions. The findings of this study demonstrate how the production systems affect energy and economic efficiency as well as GHG emissions. The authors suggest further research in Europe and globally, particularly on the energy use efficiency and GHG emissions in the production of common buckwheat, to verify the present results and improve production technologies (reduce inputs and costs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Research Papers of the Wroclaw University of Economics / Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego we Wroclawiu is the property of Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wroclawiu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper is a summary of the results of research on the accumulation conditions of the Upper Younger Loess (LMg) in Poland and Bug loess (bg) in Ukraine from the maximum stage (MIS 2) of the Vistulian (Weichselian) Glaciation in central and eastern Europe. These studies included an analysis of the morphological (topographic) situation of the loess cover, its grain size and heavy mineral composition, the preserved structures of loess sedimentation as well as mollusc and pollen analyses of this loess. They revealed that the accumulation of Upper Younger Loess (UYL) might have been more dependent on the prevailing moisture conditions than previously thought. These conditions could have been caused by cold air masses from an ice sheet and warm air masses from the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic coming together in the Carpathians and the Holy Cross Mountains and favouring the formation of dust storms and precipitation. In this process, a loading of loess dust (formed from local rocks weathering in periglacial conditions) by atmospheric moisture particles was especially significant. The moist substrate not only favoured the periodic development of vegetation and molluscs but also enabled the interception of dust and the accumulation of an increasingly thick loess cover. Westerly and south-westerly winds predominated in the UYL as indicated by the topographic position of loess patches and the mineral composition of the studied loess. Periodically an increased air circulation from the east and northeast occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of long-lasting severe heat stress, such as in July–August 2003, July 2010, or in April–May 2018 has been one of the biggest meteorological threats in Europe in recent years. The paper focuses on the biometeorological and mortality effects of the hot June that was observed in Central Europe in 2019. The basis of the study was hourly and daily Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) values at meteorological stations in Poland for June 2019. The average monthly air temperature and UTCI values from 1951 to 2018 were analysed as background. Grosswetterlagen calendar of atmospheric circulation was used to assess synoptic conditions of heat wave. Several heat strain measures were applied : net heat storage (S), modelled heart rate (HR), sultriness (HSI), and UTCI index. Actual total mortality (TM) and modelled strong heat-related mortality (SHRM) were taken as indicators of biometeorological consequences of the hot June in 2019. The results indicate that prolonged persistence of unusually warm weather in June 2019 was determined by the synoptic conditions occurring over the European region and causing advection of tropical air. They led to the emergence of heat waves causing 10% increase in TM and 5 times bigger SHRM then in preceding 10 years. Such increase in SHRM was an effect of overheating and overload of circulatory system of human organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the geobotanical division of Poland, Pomerania was treated as a separate subdivision, divided into "coastal plains" and the "Pomeranian uplands" or, in the newest regionalization, the "Pomeranian division". The goal of this paper is to determine how well the distinctiveness of Pomerania is floristically justified. A total of 1,467 native species occur within the area of Pomerania, representing 57.5% of the native flora of Poland. Fifty-seven species distinguishing Pomerania were selected and their phytogeographic features were discussed and compared to the Polish vascular flora. The distribution of 32 species (56.1%) is characterized as (sub)Atlantic/oceanic. Of the taxa that characterize Pomerania, 47.45% represent the northern element of the Polish flora and 7.01% the western element; species of the eastern element do not exist in Pomerania. The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) method was used for collective distribution analysis of the 57 selected taxa. The analyzes were performed using 41 environmental variables. All the species analyzed are strictly linked to the western and the North Atlantic part of Europe. Statistical evaluation of the MaxEnt model yielded an AUC value of 0.75 for both training and test. The most important environmental variables are minimum high (min_h), temperature annual range (bio07), and mean temperature of driest quarter (bio09). The results of the MaxEnt analysis allowed us also to verify the boundaries of the region and suggest new criteria for them. The southern limit of Pomerania should run along the northern boundary of the terminal moraine belt. Also, the area east of the Vistula does not contain abundant representatives of the flora characteristic for Pomerania. The results of the present study may be used for a broader discussion on the revision of the geobotanical division of Poland, at least in its northern part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Argumenta Oeconomica Cracoviensia is the property of Cracow University of Economics and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper addresses the intriguing situation in which there is an identified paradox inside the Polish society, namely strong Euro-enthusiasm combined with clear EURO-scepticism. The author of this article differentiates between EURO-scepticism and Euro-scepticism. Euro-scepticism is a recognised and extensively researched phenomenon across Europe, most generally conceptualised as a negative attitude towards the European integration process (in particular in the form of the European Union). EURO-scepticism, by contrast, is a much narrower category which can be characterised as a negative attitude towards the monetary integration on a supranational level, its deepening, participation in it, etc. Poland serves as an example of this in this paper. In Poland, we can observe the interesting paradox of substantially pro-EU attitudes in society combined with strong anti-EURO feelings. They translate into a stable position of Poland in the outer core of the EU. Based on the available public opinion reports (from the national and supranational level), this paper aims to answer the question why there is so much EURO-scepticism in such a Euro-optimistic society and why it matters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides general information about forests and forestry in Poland against a background of other EU Member States. Based on the data published in various international sources of statistical data it presents the information of forest resources, forest health condition, protection of forests, occurrence of forest fires, employment in forestry and related sectors, as well as selected aspects of production and trade of wood and wood products and also generation and use of renewable energy. The paper concludes that Poland is characterized by vast forest and timber resources, however in view of a large area of the country and large population share of forest lands in the total area of the country and the average forest area per inhabitant are low. The high share of protected areas makes Poland one of the leaders in forest protection, however Polish forests are very vulnerable to fires. Poland is a significant producer of wood-based panels, sawnwood and pulpwood, as well as paper and cardboard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The main objective of this study is to examine the relationship between health and an early exit from paid employment in the Finnish, Polish, and Spanish populations. The authors have addressed the following 3 issues: who chooses not to work according to gender patterns, whether the health status is a determinant of being non-employed, and what diseases are associated with being non-employed.Material and Methods: The studied material consists of data from the Collaborative Research on Ageing in Europe (COURAGE in Europe) project. The analysis was based on a sample of 5868 individuals, including 1214 from Finland, 2152 from Poland and 2532 from Spain. In the paper, these data were complemented with the results of the PArticipation To Healthy Workplaces And inclusive Strategies in the Work Sector (PATHWAYS) project.Results: The results of the study revealed that self-rated health was a strong predictor of being non-employed for different reasons. Chronic diseases, such as arthritis, angina, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression and hypertension, were typically associated with an increased risk of being non-employed due to health problems and early retirement. Women more frequently reported arthritis and depression, while a higher proportion of men suffered from angina and diabetes.Conclusions: The results obtained by the authors highlight the importance of evaluating gender patterns in work cessation and, at the same time, the importance of gender-focused actions in terms of preventing withdrawal from the labor market. In principle, all chronic diseases have some impact on participation in the labor market. It is worth noting, however, that each of them affects workforce participation in a different manner, depending on the specific disease, country and gender. For this reason, tailored support to every individual's needs is highly recommended. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(3):365-84. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present and discuss the results of a survey of fishers exploiting dam reservoirs to determine the conditions of conducting fisheries associated primarily with climate change. Overall, questionnaires were obtained from 18 enterprises (of which 16 were chapters of the Polish Anglers Association) regarding a total of 30 reservoirs with a combined surface area of 29,666 ha, which is 49% of the total surface are of this type of basin in Poland, the largest country in East-Central Europe. This sample is highly representative of all the fisheries conducted in this basin category in Poland and in other East-Central European regions. The following questions referring to the impact of climate change were defined and analyzed based on the answers obtained from the questionnaires: survival of hatchlings, fry, and adult fish; the spawning success of selected fish species; selected hydrological and biological reservoir parameters, the possibility of using and the effectiveness of fishing gears; the length of the recreational fishing season; the size of recreational and commercial fisheries catches of different fish species. Information regarding the impact of reservoirs on fish migrations was also obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Current demographic trends, such as society aging, the spreading of chronic diseases, as well as early retirement choices, lead to the dwindling labor market population. Taking into consideration the foregoing tendencies and their consequences, the issue of the shrinking labor force resources seems to be the most important challenge for the labor market. In response to it, this paper identifies individual and institutional causes of withdrawal from the labor market, and explores the views of Polish stakeholders on existing strategies for the occupational re-integration of persons with chronic diseases (PwCDs).Material and Methods: Polish results of 2 European projects: "Participation to Healthy Workplaces and Inclusive Strategies in the Work Sector" (the PATHWAYS project) and "The Collaborative Research on Aging in Europe" (COURAGE in Europe) complemented each other. The cross-sectional population data and data from stakeholders' interviews were used.Results: The authors identified several causes which could encourage people to withdraw from the labor market before attaining the official retirement age at 3 different levels: individual, occupational, and institutional. Although research has shown that the macro-level situation is crucial to staying occupationally active, in Poland stakeholders have reported the lack of effective coordination in the implementation of policies for the occupational re-integration of PwCDs.Conclusions: A decision to cease work prematurely reflects a combination of many different factors, such as individual determinates, work characteristics, personal convictions, and systemic solutions. The study demonstrated that, despite the awareness of the dwindling resources of labor force, the employment-related challenges faced by PwCDs as well as people who are close to the retirement age remain unaddressed. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(5):695-721. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the analysis of the Western Sudetes' snow cover temporal and spatial changes, as well as it demonstrates the research on the long-term trends in the changes of snow cover durability. In order to conduct the study, the coefficient of snow cover durability (V) was used, which was defined as the quotient of the actual and the potential time of snow cover duration and expressed in percentage (1–100%). Moreover, the frequency of total disappearance of snow cover was established for the optimal winter season (December–March). Measurement data were obtained from 17 stations in the 1961–2015 period. The snow cover on the Western Sudetes' slopes with southern (S) macro-exposure lasts longer (has greater durability) than on the slopes in analogous altitude zones with northern (N) macro-exposure. At the altitudinal level of 600–700 m a.s.l., where the differences are the biggest, the average V values range from 60% at stations N to 75% in stations S. In the analysed area, excluding the upper ranges, slight negative trends in V changes have been noted. Snow cover persists for a shorter and shorter time. For the substantial majority of the stations, the trends in these changes are not statistically significant at the 0.05 level of statistical significance. They refer to the tendencies in other mountainous regions in Poland and Europe. Analogously, the stations with S macro-exposure, located at similar altitudes as stations with N macro-exposure, are characterised by two to three times lesser frequency of total disappearance of snow cover. Coefficient V is negatively correlated with the total disappearance of snow cover. At the stations with S macro-exposure in the Western Sudetes, these correlations are usually strong or very strong, whereas at the stations with N macro-exposure, at similar altitudes, they are usually moderate or very weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to early synanthropization and ecological and behavioural features, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia became the most cherished of European birds. Rooted in human culture, the species has been well studied; nevertheless, knowledge of people's attitudes and stork-related folk beliefs remain descriptive. Here, we attempt to quantify these issues in the world's largest stronghold of the species, Poland, in the 1950s. Methods: The study is based on recently discovered, original nationwide survey data from the 1958 International White Stork Census. These materials were gathered to assess the population size, but they also included issues belonging to the humanities. We have worked them up in a quantitative manner, which has resulted in an original approach rarely found in ethnological studies. We aim to propose an original typology of stork-related beliefs, their spread and regional diversity in Poland and the relationship with stork abundance. Results: A sample of 2343 questionnaires revealed that affection towards storks was widespread (91.4% positive responses), more so in eastern Poland. The most frequent beliefs relate to respect for the stork (65%) and prophesies (24%), thereafter parental beliefs (7%) and stork biology (3%). Positive attitudes and the dissemination of beliefs increased with stork densities but were unrelated to the respondents' sex. Utilitarian beliefs outweighed those prioritized in ethnographic studies (e.g. the stork's human origins) or popular today (baby-bringing), and expressed the real concerns of country folk. Conclusions: The discovery of long-lost data bordering on ethnology and nature conservation and their novel work-up highlights a realistic dimension of the human–nature relationship and provides a benchmark for further interdisciplinary research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to show directions for promoting alternative modes of transport in Europe and Poland in order to limit the dynamic growth of road transport. The recommendations of the European Commission in relation to the development of intermodal transport are discussed. The structure and size of intermodal transport in Europe are presented. An attempt is made to determine the forecast of intermodal transport in Poland. The basic undertakings determining the development of intermodal transport in Poland are indicated. On the basis of the experience of selected Western European countries, general conclusions regarding the development of intermodal transport in our country are formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to changes in Polish society resulting from a significant inflow of immigrants to Poland, the need to develop the cultural competences of various professional groups who have contact with immigrants in their work has increased. These groups should include healthcare professionals, especially because of the significant increase in the number of culturally diverse patients. Therefore, medical education in Poland has had to rapidly adapt to this novel situation. For instance, the teaching process should be now more focused on the development and evaluation of the cultural competences of prospective health care workers. However, there is still a lack of standardized, valid and reliable instruments to assess cross-cultural competences among healthcare professionals. The purpose of the present paper was to describe, for the first time, the translation, adaptation, and psychometric evaluation of the Polish version of the Cross-Cultural Competence Inventory. Methods: Across two studies, we examined psychometric properties of the Cross-Cultural Competence Inventory (CCCI) such as reliability (i.e. internal consistency, test-retest reliability, factor structure) and validity (i.e. theoretical, criteria, convergent). In the first study, 408 participants (75% were healthcare professionals) completed the Polish version of the CCCI and the Positive/Negative Attitude Towards Culturally Divergent People Questionnaire. In the second study, 317 participants (97% were healthcare professionals) completed the CCCI twice, with an interval of at least 22 days. In addition, across two study sessions, participants completed questionnaires constructed to measure (a) cultural intelligence, (b) need for cognitive closure, (c) emphatic sensitiveness, (d) emotional intelligence, (e) self-esteem, (f) social desirability, and (g) personality. Finally, to additionally examine the theoretical validity, 36 professional cross-cultural competence trainers completed the CCCI during a one-session study. Results: Our findings confirm the reliability and validity of the CCCI. More precisely, in study 1 we proved the theoretical validity and reliability (i.e. internal consistency) of the CCCI. While the assumed structure did not fit the data well, all items were significantly related to the general factor, thus providing strong support for the usage of the total score of the CCCI. In study 2, we additionally estimated the test-retest reliability and theoretical, criterion and convergent validity. Across two studies we were able to successfully confirm these psychometric properties. The reliability was satisfactory and ranged from .83 to .86. We also observed a high and significant positive correlation between CCCI and the Cultural Intelligence Scale, which measures a concept similar to the one measured by CCCI. In addition, a significant relationship between intercultural competences (CCCI) and other variables such as personality, empathic sensitivity, emotional intelligence, self-esteem (positive correlations) and the need for cognitive closure (mainly negative correlation) were demonstrated. Conclusions: The obtained results support the usage of the CCCI questionnaire in scientific research, such as, for example, among healthcare professionals (nurses, doctors) and students of medical fields (nursing, medicine). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents evaluation of vibroacoustical requirements in the context of impact and airborne sound insulation in hotel building. This building represents traditional wooden architecture present in southern Poland. Similar structures can be found all around Europe in mountainous areas. Due to fact that there are little information about acoustic conditions of such buildings, this paper gives measured values of sound insulation of typical solutions used in this architecture. In order to define if requirements of current polish standard PN-B-02151-03:2015 for hotel buildings are met, impact sound level and airborne sound insulation of representative partitions were measured. Measurement conducted in presented building shows issues connected with non-sufficient airborne sound insulation of internal partitions – timber log walls. Due to its low mass and, in simplification, homogenous structure, its sound insulation is far from meeting requirements. Considering timber structural ceiling and reinforced concrete floor present in hotel building requirements of impact sound level and airborne sound insulation are met. The solution of weak acoustic conditions of walls is proposed as plasterboard pre-wall with mineral wool inside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to calculate the subjective equivalence scale and poverty rates for Poland and compare them to equivalence scales in Eastern and Western Europe.Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions data for 2005-2012. In particular, the authors capture the minimum needs income question and, knowing the minimum needs income of each individual’s observation, apply OLS regression controlling for income and household structure to estimate the poverty threshold, equivalence scales and poverty.Findings The subjective equivalence scales for the Euro Zone are constant for the period 2004-2012 and less stable for the CEE countries. The child cost in relation to the cost brought by an additional adult is higher in the CEE countries than in the Euro Zone countries. The subjective poverty rates are lower than the OECD rates. The only exceptions are Latvia, Estonia and Bulgaria.Originality/value The authors extend the analysis made by Bishop et al. (2014) by adding data for the years after 2007 and countries outside the Euro Zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In October 2020, the Polish Constitutional Court held unconstitutional an exception in the Family Planning Act of 1993 that provided for legal abortion in cases of fetal abnormalities. This retrogressive step has led to an almost total ban on abortion in Poland. Drawing on existing Strasbourg case law and other relevant legal material, this paper attempts to anticipate a possible outcome of applications recently filed before the European Court of Human Rights by more than 1,000 Polish women who were denied abortions or who postponed their reproductive decisions out of fear. I focus on two factors that play a determining role in the adjudication of cases related to reproductive rights. The first one is a public interest in restricting abortion--namely, the "protection of morals." The second is the margin of appreciation doctrine, which determines the degree of freedom that states enjoy in regulating certain issues, such as abortion, and which is highly dependent on the concept of a European consensus. I argue that this consensus--revealed through the domestic laws and practice of 47 Council of Europe member states--shows considerable unity and should thus restrict individual states' discretion in limiting human rights and freedoms. The European Court of Human Rights, by acknowledging the relevance of a European consensus in abortion regulation, as well as evolving universal standards concerning reproductive rights, would avoid two pitfalls: one connected with analyzing the doubtful public interest in protecting morals, and another with a potential criticism of judicial activism and the court's imposition of its own moral evaluation of an abortion ban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cercariae of Plagiorchis spp. are frequently reported in European freshwater snails, but their true diversity is difficult to estimate due to subtle differences in morphology. We molecularly characterized 67 isolates of Plagiorchis cercariae collected from four lymnaeid snail hosts, Ampullaceana balthica, Ampullaceana lagotis, Radix auricularia and Lymnaea stagnalis in freshwater ecosystems in the Czech Republic and Poland. Based on mitochondrial cox1 and nuclear 28S sequences, ten species or species-level lineages were identified, including the first molecular evidence of P. vespertilionis from snail hosts and two species-level lineages reported for the first time. Previously undescribed species and species-level lineages are characterized morphometrically. We confirm the overlapping spatial distribution of Plagiorchis spp. in their snail hosts from Central Europe with those from Western and sub-Arctic Europe. Our results increase the known diversity of Plagiorchis spp. in Europe to 25 species/lineages in snails, but further research is needed to establish links between life cycle stages and to assess the host specificity of these parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wound‐QoL assesses the impact of chronic wounds on patients' health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). A 17‐item and a shortened 14‐item version are available. The Wound‐QoL‐17 has been validated for multiple languages. For the Wound‐QoL‐14, psychometric properties beyond internal consistency were lacking. We aimed to validate both Wound‐QoL versions for international samples representing a broad range of European countries, including countries for which validation data had yet been pending. Patients with chronic wounds of any aetiology or location were recruited in Austria, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. Psychometric properties were determined for both Wound‐QoL versions for the overall sample and, if feasible, country‐wise. We included 305 patients (age 68.5 years; 52.8% males). Internal consistency was high in both Wound‐QoL‐17 (Cronbach's α: 0.820–0.933) and Wound‐QoL‐14 (0.779–0.925). Test–retest reliability was moderate to good (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.618–0.808). For Wound‐QoL‐17 and Wound‐QoL‐14, convergent validity analyses showed highest correlations with global HRQoL rating (r = 0.765; r = 0.751) and DLQI total score (r = 0.684; r = 0.681). Regarding clinical data, correlations were largest with odour (r = −0.371; r = −0.388) and wound size (r = 0.381; r = 0.383). Country‐wise results were similar. Both Wound‐QoL versions are valid to assess HRQoL of patients with chronic wounds. Due to its psychometric properties and brevity, the Wound‐QoL‐14 might be preferrable in clinical practice where time is rare. The availability of various language versions allows for the use of this questionnaire in international studies and in clinical practice when foreign language patients are being treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To predict the quantity and quality of food available to pollinators in various landscapes over time, it is necessary to collect detailed data on the pollen, nectar, and sugar production per unit area and the flowering phenology of plants. Similar data are needed to estimate the contribution of plants to the functioning of food webs via the flow of energy and nutrients through the soil–plant‐nectar/pollen‐consumer pathway. Current knowledge on this topic is fragmented. This database represents the first compilation of data on the various food resources produced by 1612 plant species belonging to 755 genera and 133 families, including crop plants and wild plants, annuals and perennials, animal‐ and wind‐pollinated plants, and weeds and trees growing in different ecosystems under various environmental conditions. The data set consists of 103 parameters related to the traits of plant species and geographical and environmental factors, allowing for precise calculations of the amounts of nectar, pollen, and energy provided by plants and available to consumers in the considered flora or ecosystem on a daily basis throughout the year. These parameters, gathered by us and extracted from the available literature, describe pollen, nectar, and sugar production (where applicable, in mass, volume, and concentration units), honey yield, the timing and duration of flowering, flower longevity, number of plants and flowers per unit area, weather conditions (temperature and precipitation), geographical location, landscape, and syntaxonomy. The data were obtained from various, mostly European, pedoclimatic zones, and the majority of the data were available for plant species and communities present in Central Europe, especially in Poland, where research on floral resources has a long tradition. These data are representative of the whole continent and may be used as a reference for plant communities occurring on continents other than Europe since the database allows for the consideration of differences in the production of resources by a single plant species growing in different communities. This data set provides a unique opportunity to test hypotheses related to the functioning of food webs, nutrient cycling, plant ecology, and pollinator ecology and conservation. The data are released under a CC‐BY‐NC‐SA license, and this paper must be properly cited when using the database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural water reservoirs are very valuable floristic sites, with springs particularly important for the preservation of floral biodiversity. This paper presents, as a case study, a community of water plants that is new to limnocrene karst springs in Europe: Potametum alpini (Potametea), found in Poland. The paper provides the floristic composition and ecological requirements of this plant association, which is rare and endangered in Europe. According to our knowledge, the habitat data presented here are unique as they are published for the first time for this plant community, and thus it is currently not possible to compare them with data from other authors. Our study confirms the importance of rare microhabitats for global biodiversity. Research on as yet unknown physical and chemical factors limiting the range and development of patches of different plant associations should be conducted intensively, because plant communities, including rare, endangered and protected examples, are an important element of biodiversity at both continental and local scales. All the issues discussed in the paper (rare microhabitats, endangered aquatic plant communities, global biodiversity) are important because they are related to the conservation and management of inland waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a prevalent orthopaedic disorder in children, and screening methods vary across regions due to local health policies. The purpose of this review is to systematise the different ultrasound screening strategies for detecting DDH in newborns in Europe. Methods: Eligible studies from the PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases, published between 1 January 2018 and 18 March 2023, were included. The inclusion criteria specified a European origin, a focus on newborn human patients, and information on ultrasound for DDH detection. Results: In total, 45 studies were included, covering 18 countries. Among them, six nations (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, and Germany) perform universal ultrasound screening. The timing of the first ultrasound varies, with Austria and the Czech Republic within the 1st week, Bosnia and Herzegovina on the day of birth, Poland between 1 and 12 weeks, and Germany before the 6th week. The Graf method is the most popular ultrasound technique used. Conclusions: There is no consensus on the optimal DDH detection approach in Europe. Varied screening methods stem from epidemiological, cultural, and economic differences among countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Truffles represent one of the most expensive edible fungi. About two-thirds of all known truffle records originate from Europe. Historically, the Mediterranean region in Southern Europe is associated with truffle cultivation and it is widely regarded as a center of truffle distribution in Europe. On the contrary, little is known about truffles in the central and northern regions of Europe. Here, native truffle species in Poland, their symbiotic ectomycorrhizal (ECM) tree partners, and their continental-scale distribution were studied. Altogether, 16 truffle species were identified based on the sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA, a barcode region for fungi. Truffle species were associated with deciduous tree species of Fagales (Fagaceae, Betulaceae, Juglandaceae), Malvales (Malvaceae), Malpighiales (Salicaceae), and coniferous trees of Pinales (Pinaceae). Fagales trees constituted 70% of ECM associations formed by truffle species. Three genera of the order Fagales, Quercus, Fagus, and Corylus formed 50% of all ECM associations. Coniferous trees of Pinales formed 16% of associations. Two other orders of deciduous trees, Malvales and Malpighiales, together formed 14% of ECM associations. All but three identified truffle species exhibited low specificity to their ECM tree partners. Two-thirds of truffle species formed ECM symbiosis with both coniferous and deciduous tree species, but the share of coniferous tree partners was considerably lower than that of deciduous trees, reaching up to 30% for T. anniae, T. puberulum, and T. borchii (clade/puberulum). All the identified truffles were noted in both Central Europe and the Mediterranean region. Among them, about 80% of truffle species were widely distributed across the continent and represented by similar or higher numbers of records in Northern Europe, i.e., above the 48th parallel north, than in Southern Europe. This study showed higher taxa richness of native truffle species in Poland, but low specificity to their ECM tree partners. However, further studies on the regional-scale distribution of truffles in Poland are needed to improve the knowledge of the patterns of truffle distribution in forest ecosystems and the potential productivity of edible truffle species with high economic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses several papers related to economic history of Italy, published in the several journals. In a short paper "La Polonia medievale tra occidente ed oriente europeo," by A. Giesztor, the author examines economic conditions of central Europe, particularly of Poland about A.D. 1000, with particular reference to agriculture. The author decides that Polish agriculture was well adapted for a variety of crops. The paper "La structure economique et sociale de I'etat de I'ordre teutonique en Prusse," sets out to analyse the role that the Teutonic Order had in the life of Prussia. With an indubitable political function the Order showed also its efficiency in the economic sector, revitalizing internal and external commerce to a degree, which the author describes as exceptional. In 1454 the insurrection put an end to its regime in most of the country. B. Geremek deals with the problem of the origins of pauperism in an essay "La popolazione marginale tra ii medioevo e I'eta moderna'." As is evident from the title, the author believes that the problem of pauperism was born in the period of the transformation of society that occurred at the beginning of the modern era.

Objectives: Health Impact Assessments (HIA) approach can be executed by calculating the attributable burden of disease. The most common indicators used in the HIA methodology are: premature mortality, morbidity, life-expectancy, and Disability Adjusted Life-Year (DALY). The term Disability Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) indicates months/years lost due to a premature death or disability. The aim of the study was to present health benefits, expressed in terms of lower total mortality and cardio-respiratory hospitalization rates, due to a decreased particulate matter (PM) concentration in ambient air, in Silesian voivodeship.Material and Methods: In this paper, results obtained from the APHEKOM (Improving Knowledge and Communication for Decision Making on Air Pollution and Health in Europe) project, which provided specialized HIA tools, useful for assessing health benefits resulting from reducing air pollution, were used. Both short-term and long-term exposure HIA tools were applied with regard to the appropriate data for Silesian voivodeship. Exposure data were obtained from the Regional Environmental Inspectorate in Katowice, while population and health data were obtained from the Central Statistical Office of Poland or from the Silesian Voivodeship Office, respectively.Results: Health benefits that are related to an improvement of ambient air quality in Silesia region are similar to previous estimates obtained for Kraków city. The reduction of short-term exposure to PM10 by 5 μg/m3 results in a lower number of yearly non-external deaths (2.6-2.75 per 100 000 inhabitants). This effect was also shown to be similar in the city of Zabrze, as well as in the whole Silesia region.Conclusions: The Health Impact Assessments tools developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) can help public health experts make decisions in order to improve the health of populations living in particular regions of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death is one of those universal parameters of life, yet very little attention is given to it in neither the work of planning practitioners nor that of landscape research. During the 19th and 20th century's many Western societies turned to cremation as a more sanitary, less costly and space saving way of human disposal. This paper highlights the cemeteries and crematoria as two types of facilities associated with cremation practices in Poland and in selected European countries. On the basis of analyses of contemporary funerary landscapes for cremation practices from Europe (31 objects from 9 countries) a catalogue (,pattern book') of design solutions was developed. Countries were selected on the basis of similarity to Poland in the aspect of the dominant religion (Austria, France, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia), convergent provisions of cemetery and funeral law (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Slovenia, Sweden), and index of average population served by 1 crematorium (Belgium). Moreover, assessment of Polish contemporary places for cremation (39 objects) was developed. To strengthen the multifaceted meaning of funerary landscape and to link it more with the landscape, design considerations and potential outcomes for improved cemetery design accommodating cremation practices and burial was developed. The funerary landscape is defined as a specific type of landscape that focuses on the phenomenological relation between death, disposal of the body in the environment and the social memory of the group participating in the remembrance of the burial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subject matter of this paper deals with issues of the environmental impact of infrasound noise associated with operation of low-power wind turbines. It is now the current and relevant problem for both the cognitive and utilitarian standpoint. There is now a considerable growth in the number of such installations in Poland, Europe and in the world, due to the possibility of locating them on existing building roofs in heavily urbanized areas, and without having to build additional supporting structures. As part of the study, measurements of low frequency acoustic signals generated during operation of micro turbine equipped with a rotor of vertical axis of rotation relative to the wind direction have been performed. Analyses were carried out in order to determine the impact of wind speed and selected meteorological parameters on the level of infrasound signals emitted by the test turbine. In addition, frequency analysis of the recorded signals was performed. Then, the obtained results were subjected to comparative analysis. In summary, the achieved results were referred to the limits of sound pressure intensity level of infrasound signals as specified for the working environment in accordance with the Polish Standard PN-Z-01338. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In European post-socialistic countries or more commonly known as Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries, regardless of their differences and specifics, the common communist and post-communist legacies in the field of educational sciences are still recognisable. The aim of this article is to explore research activity in the educational sciences in 15 CEE countries: 11 EU member states and 4 from the former Yugoslav Republic in the period from 1996 to 2013. The purpose of this research is to recognise the specificity and dynamics of subject and content issues, and development of methodological approaches in the educational science research. The sample consists of abstracts of 2,395 papers by CEE authors published in 265 journals indexed in Scopus between 1996 and 2013. Content analysis was applied, where the abstracts were grouped into specifically created categories describing the content and methods of the paper and analysed on the basis of two criterion variables -- CEE and non-CEE or international journals. The ?[superscript 2] test showed that the field of educational sciences in 15 European post-socialist countries changed over time in terms of quantity, content and methods, becoming more expansive and diverse, which is recognisable in papers published both in international and in CEE journals.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to define the impact of the investment in training in education by the European Social Fund (ESF) in four Eastern countries, namely, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Hungary. Those countries have some political, cultural, social and economic similarities and share some common ground in the human resource development (HRD) sectors. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use the human capital theory with some extensions to analyze the context, operations and impacts of the ESF in the Visegrad four (V4) countries between 2007 and 2013. The authors use three levels of methodology to access each one of those problems. Findings: The authors conclude that the ESF helped building the vocational training system in those countries, and to help them get near the equilibrium of high skills of the V4 Western European neighbors, and therefore, this one was a success story. However, quality issues remain to be addressed that may hinder the continuation of the success in the future. Research limitations/implications: The research could be enlarged in time and space and deepened in terms of methodology. This is one a first clarifying step. Theoretical work should become aware of the dichotomy between absorption and scientific logic. Practical implications: Detailed and precise evaluation practices must be implemented to guide and assess the policy. Social implications: Precisely because funds are scarce this paper enlights the dilemma and the tension between quantity and quality in the European HRD policy, this is an important social problem. Originality/value: The study is original because even if the HRD in those countries had already been studied (Sheehan and Buchelt, 2016), no study analyzing specifically the ESF in those countries has been carried out so far. The authors use an innovative methodology and address questions on context, operations and impact, which are also innovative and very relevant.

This paper discusses the influence of light pollution of the night sky on the conditions of visibility of astronomical objects such as planets, stars and comets. This phenomenon has a huge impact on the observability of astronomical objects, especially in cities, where the brightness of the sky makes it difficult or even impossible to conduct astronomical observations. The main purpose of this article is to measure and analyse the surface brightness of the night sky in Rzeszów and its surroundings. A device called the Sky Quality Meter was used to measure the brightness of the night sky. This paper presents measurement results for the years 2015 and 2018, from which it is clear that the quality of the night sky has been deteriorated in terms of the observability of celestial bodies. As an example, the numerical value of the measurement for the centre of Rzeszów has been taken. In 2015, this value was 18.70 ± 1.87 mag/arcsec 2 , while in 2018, it was equal to 16.73 ± 1.67 mag/arcsec 2 . The results obtained were used to analyse the visibility of celestial bodies. Here, particular attention was paid to the analysis of the visibility of comets (also during the outburst), in the context of increasing light pollution of the night sky. Observers in neighboring villages have also experienced a change in the sky quality from Bortle Class V to Class VII, requiring objects to be approximately one magnitude brighter in order to be visible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Marine spatial planning (MSP) is a process of managing human activities in the marine and coastal environment in order to achieve sustainable development goals. Amendments regarding marine spatial planning within the Polish marine areas introduced to Polish law in 2015 constitute grounds for drawing up maritime spatial plans for marine areas. This paper presents a few general comments on the marine spatial planning in Poland in the context of implementation of the Directive establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning (MSP Directive) in Europe. The MSP Directive plays an important role in the development of marine spatial planning by promoting MSP instruments. Marine spatial plans are the basic instruments of marine spatial planning. The MSP Directive requires all coastal Member States of the European Union to prepare cross-sectoral maritime spatial plans by 2021. Development of the first maritime spatial plan for Polish marine areas was started in 2013. The MSP legal basis are included in the Marine Areas of the Republic of Poland and Maritime Administration Act of 1991 amended in 2015, which defines the legal situation of the marine areas of the Republic of Poland, the coastal area, the sea ports and harbours, and the rules for the use of these areas, as well as the maritime administration authorities and their competences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Surveillance of tobacco consumption in public places is an important measure to evaluate the impact of tobacco control interventions over time. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of smoking as seen by smokers and their smoking behaviour in public places, in six European countries. METHODS We used baseline data of the International Tobacco Control Six European countries (ITC 6E) Survey, part of the EUREST-PLUS Project, conducted in 2016 in national representative samples of about 1000 adult smokers aged 18 years and older in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Spain. For each setting (workplaces, restaurants, bars/pubs and discos) participants were asked whether they had seen someone smoking during their last visit there and whether they too had smoked there. We report the overall and by-country weighted prevalence of seeing someone smoking and the smokers' own smoking behaviour at each setting. We also assess the relationship between seeing someone smoking and smoking themselves at these settings. RESULTS The prevalence of smoking as seen by smokers was 18.8% at workplaces, with high variability among countries (from 4.7% in Hungary to 40.8% in Greece). Among smokers visiting leisure facilities in the last year, during their last visit 22.7% had seen someone smoking inside restaurants and 12.2% had smoked themselves there, while for bars/pubs the corresponding prevalences were 33.9% and 20.4%, and inside discos 44.8% and 34.8%. CONCLUSIONS Smoking is still prevalent at leisure facilities, particularly at discos in Europe, with high variability among countries. More extensive awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement are needed to increase the compliance of smokefree regulations, especially in leisure facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present results of the 3-D tomographic modelling of the crustal structure and Moho topography applied to data recorded in SE Poland during the CELEBRATION 2000 seismic experiment. The target area covers ca. 500 km × 500 km and represents a complex geological setting from old Precambrian platform (East European Craton, EEC), through the crustal blocks (terranes) that form the Trans-European Suture Zone, to the young Alpine orogen—the Carpathians. We test two different inversion strategies using two different algorithms: (i) coupled inversion of and arrivals to constrain both the crustal velocities and the Moho depths; (ii) decoupled inversion of arrivals only using previously obtained smooth 3-D crustal velocity model. The coupled inversion of and arrivals results in a much smoother crustal velocity field than the one previously obtained by inversion of first arrivals only. Also, the obtained Moho structure is much smoother than the Moho map compiled from the existing 2-D models. Decoupled inversion of the reflections provides Moho structure comparable in resolution to the compiled map. Synthetic tests indicate that with our data set we are able to resolve larger than 100-km-size Moho structures. The modelled Moho is shallowest in the area of the Upper Silesian Block ( ca. 32 km), then it is deepening by ca. 10 km over 100-km-wide zone along the margin of the EEC and finally it reaches up to 48 km depth in the area of the EEC. Our favoured strategy for modelling large refraction/wide-angle reflection data set consists of derivation of a smooth crustal velocity model by a first-arrival tomography and then complementing this model by a decoupled inversion of reflections in order to constrain minimum-structure Moho topography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the current position of African American studies in Poland, with Poland serving as an exemplar of similar changes taking place in other countries of East-Central and Southeastern Europe. In doing so, the paper highlights the nature of cultural representations or appropriations of blackness outside the United States, which, removed from their roots, start living their own independent lives. The omnipresence of hip-hop, basketball, and, to a lesser extent, black movies and literature has a direct influence on many cultures in which blackness is assigned a superior status. The foundations of this elevated position are often sustained by popular culture's hunger for the new and flashy, which grants the new forms a very peculiar and simulacral character. However, the paper recognizes that the far-reaching appeal of many black voices would likely be impossible without the aid of global channels of communication. The paper also examines a number of examples of black culture translated into and appropriated by various indigenous productions. It does so not only to show the somewhat naïve and even humorous aspects of many such "trans-nations" but also to demonstrate black culture's inspiring role for various local voices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support the transition from traditional flood defence strategies to a flood risk management approach at the basin scale in Europe, the EU has adopted a new Directive (2007/60/EC) at the end of 2007. One of the major tasks which member states must carry out in order to comply with this Directive is to map flood hazards and risks in their territory, which will form the basis of future flood risk management plans. This paper gives an overview of existing flood mapping practices in 29 countries in Europe and shows what maps are already available and how such maps are used. Roughly half of the countries considered have maps covering as good as their entire territory, and another third have maps covering significant parts of their territory. Only five countries have very limited or no flood maps available yet. Of the different flood maps distinguished, it appears that flood extent maps are the most commonly produced floods maps (in 23 countries), but flood depth maps are also regularly created (in seven countries). Very few countries have developed flood risk maps that include information on the consequences of flooding. The available flood maps are mostly developed by governmental organizations and primarily used for emergency planning, spatial planning, and awareness raising. In spatial planning, flood zones delimited on flood maps mainly serve as guidelines and are not binding. Even in the few countries (e.g. France, Poland) where there is a legal basis to regulate floodplain developments using flood zones, practical problems are often faced which reduce the mitigating effect of such binding legislation. Flood maps, also mainly extent maps, are also created by the insurance industry in Europe and used to determine insurability, differentiate premiums, or to assess long-term financial solvency. Finally, flood maps are also produced by international river commissions. With respect to the EU Flood Directive, many countries al- ready have a good starting point to map their flood hazards. A flood risk based map that includes consequences, however, has yet to be developed by most countries [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]