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The subject of the author’s interest in this paper is the consideration of the impact of autonomous sports rules on competition in the relevant sports market. The results of the research are primarily based on the principled opinions or attitudes of the European Court of Justice and the General Court, brought forth in the socalled leading cases, in which the scope of the application of the basic provisions on the competition law of the European Union to sports rules is specified. The basic rules of the Community competition law are found in Articles 101 through 109 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Although it is not a formal source of the European Union law, the practice of the European Court of Justice and the General Court is extremely important for the interpretation and application of the aforementioned rules. It acts like a kind of signpost on the way to the application of norms governing the protection of competition on the common market. On the basis of the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the Republic of Serbia undertook the legal obligation to implement community law (acquis communautaire) in the domestic legal system. The legal basis for harmonising the competition law in the Republic of Serbia with the law of the European Union is represented by Articles 72 and 73 of the Law on Confirmation of the Stabilization and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In previous years, significant attempts have been made to enhance computer-aided diagnosis and prediction applications. This paper presents the results obtained using different machine learning (ML) algorithms and a special type of a neural network map to uncover previously unknown comorbidities associated with chronic diseases, allowing for fast, accurate, and precise predictions. Furthermore, we are presenting a comparative study on different artificial intelligence (AI) tools like the Kohonen self-organizing map (SOM) neural network, random forest, and decision tree for predicting 17 different chronic non-communicable diseases such as asthma, chronic lung diseases, myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, arthrosis, lower back diseases, cervical spine diseases, diabetes mellitus, allergies, liver cirrhosis, urinary tract diseases, kidney diseases, depression, high cholesterol, and cancer. The research was developed as an observational cross-sectional study through the support of the European Union project, with the data collected from the largest Institute of Public Health "Dr. Milan Jovanovic Batut" in Serbia. The study found that hypertension is the most prevalent disease in Sumadija and western Serbia region, affecting 9.8% of the population, and it is particularly prominent in the age group of 65 to 74 years, with a prevalence rate of 33.2%. The use of Random Forest algorithms can also aid in identifying comorbidities associated with hypertension, with the highest number of comorbidities established as 11. These findings highlight the potential for ML algorithms to provide accurate and personalized diagnoses, identify risk factors and interventions, and ultimately improve patient outcomes while reducing healthcare costs. Moreover, they will be utilized to develop targeted public health interventions and policies for future healthcare frameworks to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the interpretation of digital entrepreneurship, the context in which the entrepreneurial process takes place plays an important role. The context emphasizes that to analyze the entrepreneurial process, it is no longer sufficient to analyze only the entrepreneurial actions, but also the environment in which the entrepreneurial process takes place. The aim of this paper is to analyze the part of the context in which the entrepreneurial process takes place in the Republic of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary. Following the methodology of The European Index of Digital Entrepreneurship Systems (EIDES), the paper analyzes the system framework conditions, in the scale-up phase of the enterprise life cycle, in the digital dimension. The aim of this paper is a comparative analysis of three countries in transition with one country belonging to the European Union. After identifying the most developed factors, as well as the most underdeveloped factors, the paper discusses the conditions that influenced the results achieved in the four previously listed countries and why their improvement is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of current global tendencies and a concern for the issue of environmental protection, this paper aims to provide an analysis of most important issues in this field, within the EU Law. Elements of the right to a healthy environment are systematically regulated in the communitarian law. First, there is a long-standing normative activity of these issues, which in the last two years resulted in the adoption of new strategic documents. Second, jurisprudence of the ECJ has also followed development of the legislation, as well as circumstances in which those documents have been applied. Therefore, special attention is drawn to the newly-adopted general acts, created with long-term aims, and based on normative and factual experience over past decades. Its purpose is to achieve sustainable development goals in a multidimensional manner. Furthermore, an analysis of selected judgments of the ECJ shows the efficiency in application of relevant regulations and directives. Moreover, the interpretation of the EU law is of special importance, where the ECJ has a significant role. With regard to the universal character of this topic, the paper provides a short overview of the relevant legal framework in the USA, Norway and Serbia. Negotiations on the joining the EU imply the harmonization of domestic law with the standards of the communitarian law. By observing the Serbian environmental legal framework, it could be said that there is determination and concrete measures in the process of harmonization. On the basis of previously mentioned issues, authors structured the paper and aspects of the rese arch contained therein, followed by the conclusions provided in the final chapter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In past several years many states have started a reform of their bilateral investment treaties (BITs). The idea behind this effort is to terminate altogether or to replace the existing BITs, often perceived as unbalanced instruments, focused solely on the protection of investors and containing broad and open language, with new treaties. Serbia is, at the moment, not engaged in such process. The paper offers an overview of the BITs currently in force in Serbia. It also discusses different options for inevitable reform of Serbian BITs, bearing in mind legal, economic and political implications of three alternatives: denunciation (unilateral termination) of the existing BITs, termination by consent and their replacement with new treaties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bodily integrity is one of the main areas of interest for organ transplantation. The transfer of one human organ from one body to another is a matter of the bodily integrity of the human. The focus of the work is on the treatment of the human body in situations when it is necessary to make decisions on organ donation, in one’s own and others’ best interests. In this context, the possibility of an equal right to bodily integrity is considered, as well as the possibility of ownership of the body. The paper will consider legislation and court cases of the European Union member states concerning the situation in the Republic of Serbia. The final part of the paper concludes about the roles that individual participants in the process of organ donation should play in modern circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thinking about the legal regulation of the taxi services market in countries and cities around the world never stops. The emergence and use of internet platforms in the organization of passenger transport in large cities has led to the fact that anyone can find themselves in the role of a person who performs transport. Thus, taxi transport gained direct competitors, because it is clear that these two transport markets are largely substitutes. However, the existing, strict regulation of the taxi market does not recognize internet platforms and as such, prevents their functioning. The introduction of internet platforms in the transport system and their functioning in full capacity, as their creators imagined, means the previous abolition of numerous market restrictions on the taxi market, ie. liberalization. On the other hand, the existing market restrictions on the taxi market conflict with the liberal economic concept, present primarily in the European Union, but also in the Balkan countries. This is another reason why deregulation of this market can be expected. The paper presents the characteristics of this market and identifies the most important issues of the current legislation of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina that could be disputable in the process of possible deregulation. The direction in which changes in national legislation will go can be seen to some extent by analyzing the current legal framework of the European Union and the case law of the Court of Justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to review the publications on mycotoxins’ presence in cereals and foodstuffs originated from the Serbian market covering the period from 2005 to 2022. The review covers all the important steps in mycotoxins analysis including sampling, sample preparation, instrumental analysis, and concentration ranges in which the mycotoxins were found. Also, the results were interpreted from the European Union regulation point of view. The review emphasizes the importance of multi-mycotoxins analysis for determining the simultaneous presence of mycotoxins that can negatively affect the Serbian human population. The most frequently used instrumental technique in the mycotoxin analysis of Serbian products was the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay followed by the Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Most of the studies undertaken in Serbia until now investigated a few groups of matrices such as wheat, maize, milk, and dairy products. Only a few studies involved specific matrices such as nuts, dried fruits, biscuits, cookies, and spices. The review showed that contamination of milk and dairy products with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), occurred at the very beginning of 2013, was the major health issue related to the population health. The contamination of milk and dairy products with the AFM1 was a consequence of maize contamination with aflatoxins which occurred in the year 2012, characterized by drought conditions. The studies dealing with the analysis of masked and emerging mycotoxins are rare and more attention should be paid to monitoring the presence of these types of mycotoxins in foodstuffs from Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the creation of the European Union (EU), the signing of the Maastricht Agreement, the introduction of the single market and freedom of movement of labor and the introduction of the euro as a common currency, the problem of cross-border road transport of cash and valuables between eurozone members arose. This is because almost all EU member states had more or less different solutions and practices for this type of transport. The EU tried to solve the problem by adopting Regulation No. 1214/2011 on professional cross-border road transport of cash between euro-area Member States. The mentioned Regulation successfully solved many problems related to this issue, such as; issuance of appropriate permits (licences), maximum duration of delivery, rights and obligations of teams, necessary knowledge and skills of security staff, carrying weapons in the host country, type and equipment of vehicles, mutual information, etc. Although the intention was to establish a unified system of cross-border money transport, in addition to significant progress in the functioning of private security, it can be said that because some countries have retained their specifics. a unified system with the same rules has not been fully established. The paper presents and deals with the advantages and disadvantages of a single system (securing) of cross-border transport of cash under the said Regulation. The Republic of Serbia, as a country on the path to EU membership, has a special interest in getting to know and preparing in time for the harmonization of its legal solutions and practices which regulate the mentioned area (activity) of private security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The area of the European Union (EU) is characterized by general liberalization, ie. „Free flow of people, goods, services, and capital”, which is why the organized crime with international elements seriously affects the security of entire regions. Given that no country, regardless of its resources, can confront the threats of the global environment on its own, the need to create a single legislative framework aimed at strengthening the internal security system of the EU and its member states have become necessary. The mentioned unified legislation leads to the centralization of the security area at the supranational level, ie. delegation of competencies of the Member States to the institutions of the Union. In the global fight against organized crime, with the entry into force of the Law on Ratification of Stabilization and Association Agreements between the European Communities and their Member States, on the one hand, and The Republic of Serbia, on the other1 Serbia has committed itself to gradually harmonizing its national legal framework with acquis communautaire, as well as to apply them consistently. Given that, in this paper will be considered the harmonization of certain provisions of the Law on Organization and Competences of State Bodies in the Suppression of Organized Crime, Terrorism and Corruption,2 ie. international cooperation in criminal matters systematized in Chapter 24 – Justice, Freedom, and Security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The political changes that affected the European area in the second half of the 20th century conditioned the development of European countries on the principle of Euroregions, as interesting creations of neighboring countries. Formed along the political borders of neighboring countries, Euroregions today play a significant role in the enlargement process of the European Union. At the end of the 20th century, the formation of Euroregions covered the area of the Western Balkans as well. In Podrinje, the border area of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the formed Euroregions have the goal of reviving and revitalizing rural areas. Tourism, as the most important economic activity, is integrated into the basis of the rural development of these areas. The subject of the research is related to the analysis of the development degree of border rural areas, under the influence of tourism. The research problem is focused on the rural areas of "Serbian" Podrinje. Accordingly, the aim of this paper is to determine the change and burden of rural border area due to the development of tourism, using the indicator of tourist operation (I.T.O.) and the tourist function indices to measure the degree of the development of a destination. The results of the research indicate that three types of tourist destinations have been developed in the studied area: destinations with almost non-existent tourist activity (< 4), with small-scale tourist activity (4-10), and developed and eminently tourist destinations (40-100). The obtained results indicate that 83.3% of the destinations in "Serbian" Podrinje are destinations with almost non-existent tourist activity. These are the destinations where the development of tourism does not affect the transformation of space, but the original and preserved environment is promoted as a tourist attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of integration into the European Union (EU) requires from new member states significant efforts; not only harmonizing legislation but also respecting all posed standards. Among numerous issues, wastewater purification represents a significant request. To achieve the goal of discharging good-quality water into natural water bodies as recipients, various methods have been used. The method of constructed wetland (CW) is based on wastewater purification by using wetland plants. The method of CWs shows the best results for small settlements for up to 5,000 inhabitants and can be nicely integrated within the landscape of a plain where waterbodies' banks are overgrown by wetland plants. Such facilities have been used for decades in the territory of the EU, and only a few have been built in the Republic of Serbia. Since the Republic of Serbia is a candidate country for the EU, there is a strong intention to take action focused upon solving wastewater purification from various sources. Therefore, this paper aims to examine favourable locations for CW installations within the rural area of the South Bačka District. Geographic information system was applied for examination of the basic spatial criteria (distance from the settlement, distance from water bodies, elevation, and land use). These were presented in separate maps and finally in one joint map of favourability for establishing CWs in the vicinity of 35 villages within the District. The obtained results have fulfilled the basic spatial preconditions, but further analyses should be conducted to precisely position the location of each CW concerning land ownership criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) is among the conservation priorities in the European Union. Consequently, it is included in Annexes II and IV of the EU Habitats Directive, Annex II of the Bern Convention, and Annex II of the CITES Convention. Hermann's tortoise conservation programs compile insights on the threats affecting population viability, along with factors shaping the species' distribution. Serbian populations of the eastern subspecies (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) seem numerous and therefore prosperous, but recent population viability analyses revealed that they are susceptible to rapid demographic changes and/or habitat destruction. This implies the need for effective population monitoring and protection, as well as mapping and preservation of suitable habitats. In this paper we summarized current knowledge about the geographic distribution of Hermann's tortoise in Serbia and modeled its ecological niche. Our results corroborate and uphold the known species' distribution in Serbia. Most suitable habitats are situated in the lowland areas of eastern, central and southern Serbia, under semi-open habitats, such as pastures and shrubs, broadleaf forests, and all successional stages in between. The results provided in this paper should be considered in the selection and shaping of NATURA 2000 sites in Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the procedure for the revision of the Brussels IIa Regulation is currently pending in the European Union, this paper focuses on the two issues which are correlated through the so-called “overriding rule” mechanism. The first problem concerns the proceeding on the return of the wrongfully removed or retained child involving two EU Member States - the State of refuge and the State where the child was habitually resident immediately before the abduction. The second one tackles the proceeding, currently regulated in the Brussels IIa, on the rights of custody (parental responsibility) when the return of the child was refused in the EU State on the grounds of Art. 13 of the Hague Child Abduction Convention. The proposals for the revision of the Brussels IIa Regulation heavily involve these issues. In that respect, the author indicates certain shortcomings and inconsistencies of the amendments proposed by the European Commission in the Proposal to Revise the Brussels IIa Regulation (2016) and the latest compromise solutions suggested by the Presidency to the Council in the General Approach to the Recast of Brussels IIa (2018). At the same time, the paper suggests two possible ways in which the balance between the principle of mutual trust between the EU Member States and the principle of the child's best interest could be better balanced. From the perspective of Private International Law of the Republic of Serbia, the revision of the Brussels IIa Regulation is important in view of Serbia‟s candidate status for EU membership and the need to keep an eye on changes to the secondary EU legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors analyze the implementation of the concept of flexible use of airspace in the Republic of Serbia, which deals with problems related to airspace capacity. The problem of airspace capacity and air traffic that takes place in it was not seriously considered in Europe before the Second World War, due to the simple fact that the number of flights in that period was relatively small. Achieving this goal and solving the problem is being sought in a better organization of the airspace of Europe, which directly influences the organization and strategy of the development of the airspace of all countries in Europe and the Republic of Serbia (as a signatory and a member of international organizations dealing with traffic management and airspace organization ). The concept of flexible use of airspace should provide a solution to this problem. The implementation of the concept requires some legal and organizational solutions, so a wider national concept is needed for a consistent implementation of the concept. The problems encountered by the creators of the concept in Europe and Serbia and the solutions that have been made are the subject of this paper. The content of the paper is presented through several questions to give an overview of the problem of airspace capacity and an increase expected in the upcoming period. The paper also deals with the division of airspace in the world and in our country; planning, registering and announcing flights; the concept of flexible use of airspace; and the problems of applying the concept in Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circular economy is extremely important for achieving sustainable development, to which the international community has agreed and committed itself. In EU countries and other developed countries, the struggle for the reuse of resources is taking a long time since the need to change the concept of a global economy has become a necessity. This paper aims to analyze and briefly describe the functioning and organization of recycling centers in some EU countries that represent examples of good practice in the field of waste recycling, with the aim to illustrate the positive practices of the countries of the European Union that are one of the leaders in this field, the basis for the development of a more efficient and sustainable recycling system in the Republic of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bolbelasmus (Bolbelasmus) unicornis (Schrank, 1789) (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) is a rare and threatened beetle distributed mostly in Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe. As a species of special conservation significance it is included in Annexes II and IV of the Habitat Directive of the European Union. Several new records of this species documented using light traps and soil sampling were recently reported in Serbia (the central part of the Balkan Peninsula). In this paper we present and discuss the current distribution of this species in the region studied based on GIS occurrence data. The distribution is mapped and values of environmental variables within this beetle's range are quantified using GIS technology. In addition, we predict its potential range in Serbia using a model based on the current distribution of this beetle, environmental variables and distribution of its food source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A secure environment plays a crucial role in the overall stability of the economy, having an impact and contributing to its competitiveness. Although an absence of security risks cannot certainly drive the country's economic development and competitiveness, its existence would definitely have far-reaching consequences for the economy. The paper aims to analyze the national security of the European (EU) countries and Serbia, reflected in the following security indicators: business costs of terrorism, business costs of crime and violence, organized crime, and the reliability of policy services. In this context, the study provides a comparative analysis of the mentioned indicators in order to assess their trend, as well as the correlation between national security and national competitiveness with the aim to determine how national security affects national competitiveness. The empirical analysis of the study includes 28 EU member countries and Serbia as a candidate country, covering the period from 2011 to 2017, with data available in the Global Competitiveness Reports. The findings of this study allow for a better understanding of the overall national security and its impact on the national competitiveness in the context of the EU and Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serbia wants to become a member of the European union. To become a full member of the Union, Serbia must significantly improve the poor state of its economy. The paper deals with some flaw that were made in Serbia in the last decade, and that seriously slowing its ability for essential integration into the Union. The analysis is focused on four issues. First, analysis indicates that the Law on Privatization is poorly structured and even poorer implemented. The result is that the privatization process is not yet finished, and in the meantime, more than a third of privatization was canceled. In the second part is concentrated on to the bad consequences of the implementation of the Law on Privatization when it comes to the ownership of land. The wrong privatization in Serbia created respective individual possessions with 15-20000 of acres, This is completely contrary to the situation in the European Union with the domination of developed cooperative movement and family farms. The third part of the paper points out the problem of illicit capital outflow from Serbia. In relation to the national income, unfortunately, Serbia is in these field one of the leaders. Therefore are necessary emergency measures to prevent illicit outflow. When it comes to legislative activity it is noted that is more important the quality than the number of enacted laws. Future legislative activity should take into account the specificities of Serbia. Also, in order to achieve better economic results advantage should be given to the development policy, which is oriented toward the needs of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses fiduciary agreements, which, as a form of contract, that is the means of securing obligation and legal claims, are regulated by provisions of specific laws and codifications in some of the European Union countries. Even the Montenegrin legislator enacted a special law governing these legal matters, however in the Serbian law fiduciary agreements fall into the category of innominate contracts. Fiducia originates in the Roman Law and constitutes the first common form of the pledge law. The Latin term fiducia means „trust“, since these legal matters were, first of all, based on the trust between contractual parties. This paper addresses the institution of „trust“ as it is the Anglo-Saxon counterpart of the fiduciary agreement. Etymologically, „trust“ has the same meaning as the term fiducia - trust. Due to their advantages, fiduciary agreements are not even uncommon in the domestic legal practice, while there are certain, as we have already announced, theoretical, but also practical concerns arguing admissibility of this legal matter. These arguments mainly come down to the thesis (mentioned above) that entering into the fiduciary agreement results in violation of the ban on performance of contract lex commissoria in the pledge law. Nevertheless, I provided explanation that differences between contracts of pledge and fiduciary agreements clearly point to the conclusion that fiduciary agreements may not be treated as a pledge, hence they are admissible, that is, they are concluded on the principle of contractual freedom as an imperative norm of the Law on Obligations. Fiduciary agreements (in relation to the realistic means of security) offer to the creditor a higher level of security, reduce the period of payment of his claims, also providing practical benefits for the debtor himself. The paper presents the reasons supporting the view that it would be advantageous for the Serbian legislator, in the process of harmonisation of the legislation in the field of Civil Law with the European Union law, to regulate the institute of fiduciary agreements under the special law, integrate it into the Law on Obligations or make it a part of the future Civil Code of the Republic of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers taxes related to passenger cars and possibilities of their use in order to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this paper considers ecological potential of non-recurrent taxes in connection with the purchase and registration of passenger cars, periodically charged taxes on the use of passenger car and excises in the European union. At the end, the author presents legislation related to motor vehicles taxes in Serbia and analyzes their ecological functions, and points out the shortcomings of the existing legislative solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovations, as a determinant of competitiveness, are one of the fundamental presuppositions for the economic prosperity of every country and the well-being of the population. The creators of the development policies need adequate information relating to all vital determinants of competitiveness, including innovations, in order to formulate effective policies and strategies. Therefore, the World Economic Forum (WEF) annually prepares and presents the Global Competitiveness Report. Thus, based on the information from the WEF reports, the paper explores changes in the level of competitiveness of Serbia (measured by the Global Competitiveness Index - GCI) for the period from 2009 to 2014, in comparison with other Western Balkan countries. Also, an in-depth analysis of the competitiveness of Serbia is carried out in the subindex “Innovation and sophistication factors” as a component of the GCI, considering that in 2014 this subindex for Serbia recorded the lowest value compared with other two subindexes within the GCI (“Basic Requirements” and “Efficiency Enhancers”), and also with other Western Balkan countries. Therefore, there is a need for urgent and significant improvements in the field of innovations as a relevant factor of the GCI in order to improve Serbia's position in the world's rankings of competitiveness, but also Serbia's position in relation to the more successful countries in the Western Balkans. The goal of the analysis in this paper is to identify the position of Serbia in comparison with other Western Balkan countries in terms of overall competitiveness, and especially in the field of innovation and business sophistication factors as the determinants of the achieved level of national competitiveness. The methods used in this research are the following: descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and benchmarking. The research results show that Serbia has in the aforementioned period achieved an unenviable level of competitiveness. This research can be useful for the creators of development policy for future guidance of the economic and social development of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament announced the objectives of the "sustainable policy in the water area" in 1996. Following those objectives and recommendations, control of surface water quality from the aspect of sustainable development of the region has been actively executed in Serbia. Water quality monitoring is primarily applied on large water basins, with a focus on small ones as well, especially due to the fact that small basins have a significant role in environmental protection and water supply. This paper presents the significance of regular water control of the River Ralja in Central Serbia. Monitoring was executed in different seasons, and this paper presents results for the period 2011-2012. The aim of this paper is to present the situation of the water basin and point to the significance of surface courses for water supply of the population. Another objective is to point to issues emerging in the phase of using and disposing of used waters, as well as the option of using the River Ralja water for irrigating arable land, in the aim of obtaining healthy and high-quality agricultural produce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the role of the European Union in the human rights protection, implementation and promotion in Serbia. It is clear that the EU demands on democratization in the region of Western Balkans are crucial to achieve the respect for human rights. The human rights standards as part of the conditionality criteria of the EU is a clear message towards the countries aspiring membership. However, Serbia progress in the field has been difficult due to several internal constraints. This paper aims to uncover the democratisation process of Serbia on its path towards the EU, and its progress (or not) regarding human rights protection and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tries to present the historical path that some European countries have crossed in the area of same-sex partners, but also to present the way in which the attitude of the European Court of Human Rights has moved on this issue, as a possible models which may be placed before the Serbia as requirements in the future. Also, it is given the review of the legislation of certain countries of the European Union and posed a question whether the proposed solutions are acceptable and whether it can lead to harmful consequences about which proponents of same-sex marriages are not thinking now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environment today is an increasingly important area of interest, and regulation in the world, and also in Republic of Serbia. Looking at the Acquis (Acquis Communituire) states that must be adopted and put into national legislation, all activities, environmental protection is one of the most extensive, most complex and demanding investment. The environmental significance of a growing number and variety of preventive measures and actions of different entities, which is natural because, as a rule, the damage to the environment or its individual segments in most cases, irreparable or only partially recoverable, which raises serious the possibility of sustainable development. In this paper, attention is paid to principles of law of environment: principles of prevention, precaution, environmental expertise and polluter pays principle as well as damages. Special attention is paid to the principle of prevention as one of the basic principles of environmental law and its practical implications in assessing environmental impacts of projects, plans and platforms in the Republic of Serbia and responsibility for not taking the necessary preventive measures and the detrimental consequences in the environment at national level, and also at EU level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contractual liability is an important topic of the ongoing reform of the effective Serbian Law on Obligations (2007-2009), which aims to harmonize the national legislation in this field with the laws of the European Union. In this paper the author analyzes the evolution of the traditional European civil codes (the German BGB, French Code civil, the Austrian ABGB the Swiss OR and the Hungarian Civil Code), with due attention to the doctrine and jurisprudence, taking into account the proposed reforms of the effective Serbian Law on Obligations concerning issues of contractual liability, such as the legal consequences of nonperformance, misperformance, default, etc. The author is of the opinion that the notion of the breach of contract doesn't cover all the cases in which contractual liability arises, although it embraces nonperformance, misperformance and default. The notion of contractual liability, namely, covers not only the cases of breach of contract, but the infringement of public policy, good morals and mandatory rules, which all lead to the nullity of the contract. In cases of voidable contracts (that is in case of defects of contractual will, such as mistake, deceit and duress) it is questionable whether the scope of contractual liability should be extended to mistake, which is a case of nonconscious discrepancy between contractual will and its expression. It is undisputable that contractual liability arises in case of deceit and duress, to the burden of the party acting in bad faith. The rescission of contract entails a separate complex of legal issues, since it may be justified by the other party's breach of the contract. It can also be one-sided, two-sided or by a mutual agreement. Furthermore, specific rules apply to rescission of contract due to changed circumstances. In case of termination of a contract by mutual agreement, the parties usually agree on the extent of liability, that is on the extent of indemnification. Contractual liability is also specific that, according to the principle of parties' autonomy, the parties always may in advance agree on the extent of damages for the case of breach of contract, in a form of a clause on liquidated damages, forfeit money, suretyship for indemnification, the limitation of the sum insured in insurance contracts, clauses in the general conditions of business, etc. The author calls attention to the fact that these clauses in certain extent limit the scope of the indemnification for breach of a contract, according to which this liability differs from the liability for torts, where the principle of full indemnification applies as a rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entrepreneurial ecosystems are the main driver of the widespread trend of digitalization, and they open opportunities for the advancement of the digital economy. The digital economy makes its progress through innovative enterprises that can ensure global progress. In order to effectively use the opportunities that open up the process of digitalization, information is needed on how much the Republic of Serbia is able to support the process of discovering entrepreneurship, which is stimulated by digitalization, which is the subject of this paper. The aim of this paper is to analyze the digital entrepreneurial system of the Republic of Serbia, as well as to identify indicators that hinder the development of this system, using appropriate instruments and methods that will be presented in detail in the paper. The results have demonstrated that the starting point for improvement of the digital entrepreneurial system is in the field of finance, with a particular focus on companies in the startup and stand-up phases. Furthermore, a comparative analysis will showcase the digital entrepreneurial system of the Republic of Serbia and the member states of the European Union, where it will be seen that the digital entrepreneurial system of the Republic of Serbia is lagging behind the member states of the European Union in its growth and development. The results will serve as the starting point for policymakers to improve the process of digitalization and the digital entrepreneurial system as a whole. The results show the starting point for the improvement of entrepreneurship in the Republic of Serbia, that is, how small, and medium-sized enterprises can be encouraged on the path to their successful management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several contracting parties to the treaty establishing the Energy Community of the South East Europe, currently in energy transition, have electricity production dominantly based on lignite which contrasts their new reality. Planning approach to designing a new feasible energy policy is presented in this paper. This novel approach in using EnergyPLAN tool stems from analysis of market operation of lignite thermal power plants on hourly basis, and quantification of the feasibility of the energy policy and its alignment with EU vision, and is presented in few scenarios. It was found out that the Serbian energy system is highly sensitive to the electricity market and CO2 tax increase, because the marginal costs for lignite generation will increase to more than 50 €/MWh. Shifting in the merit order will be observed even at lower CO2 tax levels, because of the intensity of the emission of the electricity sector (calculated to be higher than 700 gCO2/kWhe, according to current energy policy). Based on the increased use of renewable energy sources and more efficient energy conversion technologies, socio-economic and energy policy feasibility would be increased, while long-term marginal costs would be improved by 2 €/MWh and emission intensity by 258 gCO2/kWhe, compared to the current energy policy. These contributions, shown in the Serbian case, are of general importance for other lignite dominated contracting parties to Treaty establishing the Energy Community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eco-labels are informational cues that transform credence into quasi-search attributes but their influence on consumer decision making is often disappointing. This paper identifies antecedents of trust in, and use of, eco-labels, validating a theoretical model with data for four publicly managed organic labels (the EU green leaf and three national labels from France, Germany and Serbia). Drawing on a large dataset of European consumers, the analysis reveals that the effect of institutional trust on use of an eco-label is mediated by trust in that eco-label. Trust in an eco-label positively affects use of that eco-label. Knowledge of third-party certification positively affects trust in, and use of, an eco-label. The results suggest that for eco-label managers wishing to increase consumer uptake of their labels, communicating third-party verification as is a critically important informational cue for enhancing consumer trust. • Identifies antecedents of trust in, and use of, publicly managed eco-labels. • Covers 4 organic labels: EU green leaf plus labels in France, Germany and Serbia. • Effect of institutional trust on use of an eco-label fully mediated by eco-label trust. • Trust in an eco-label positively affects eco-label use. • Knowledge of 3rd-party certification positively affects trust and use of eco-labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy farming and dairy processing industry have rapidly changed in recent decades in "old" European Union members, "new" members, as well as in other East European transitional countries. In East European transitional countries, a specific pattern of changes could be noticed. Those changes have usually begun with foreign direct investments, whereupon acquisitions, concentration and consolidation are followed. The process finished with capital investments to meet competition challenges. Thus, the main aim of our paper is to investigate the impact of capital investments on different quantitative and qualitative features of dairy processing companies in Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. Capital investments per employee significantly increase productivity measured by EBITDA and personnel costs. Also, statistically significant association of capital investments and foreign ownership is identified. On the other hand, capital investments per employee do not significantly affect the profitability of those companies, if they are not accompanied by changes in owners' structure and know-how that foreign owners bring; regardless the country in which company operates. Amount of capital investment per employee are found statistically significant for country in which company operates of Slovenia and Croatia, but not Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Every year, more than 400 people are killed in over 1.200 accidents at road-rail level crossings in the European Union (European Railway Agency, 2011). Together with tunnels and specific road black spots, level crossings have been identified as being a particular weak point in road infrastructure, seriously jeopardizing road safety. In the case of railway transport, level crossings can represent as much as 29% of all fatalities caused by railway operations. In Serbia there are approximately 2.350 public railway level crossings (RLC) across the country, protected either passively (64%) or by active systems (25%). Passive crossings provide only a stationary sign warning of the possibility of trains crossing. Active systems, by contrast, activate automatic warning devices (i.e., flashing lights, bells, barriers, etc.) as a train approaches. Securing a level crossing (whether it has an active or passive system of protection) is a material expenditure, and having in mind that Serbian Railways is a public company directly financed from the budget of the Republic of Serbia, it cannot be expected that all unsecured level crossings be part of a programme of securing them. The most common choice of which level crossings to secure is based on media and society pressure, and on the possible consequences of a rise in the number of traffic accidents at the level crossings. The process of selecting a level crossing where safety equipment will be installed is accompanied by a greater or lesser degree of uncertainty of the essential criteria for making a relevant decision. In order to exploit these uncertainties and ambiguities, fuzzy logic is used in this paper. Here also, modeling of the Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is presented, which supports the process of selecting which level crossings should receive an investment of safety equipment. The ANFIS model is a trained set of data which is obtained using a method of fuzzy multi-criteria decision making and fuzzy clustering techniques. 20 experts in road and rail traffic safety at railway level crossings took part in the study. The ANFIS model was trained with the experiential knowledge of these experts and tested on a selection of rail crossings in the Belgrade area regarding an investment of safety equipment. The ANFIS model was tested on 88 level crossings and a comparison was made between the data set it produced and the data set obtained on the basis of predictions made by experts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper the relevant legislation for the geothermal energy in the European countries and Serbia is reviewed. There is a variety of the incentives for the geothermal production which are well known throughout the European Union. The governmental policies for the support of the geothermal development have so far focused on the power generation only. It is necessary to make serious efforts in order to harmonize the legislation and to simplify the procedures of establishing and implementing the policies for boosting the direct use of the geothermal energy. The Law on Energy of the Republic of Serbia which was adopted by the Parliament and the Energy Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia until 2015 have defined the privileged power producers, but only by passing the Regulation on the incentive measures for the production of electricity using the renewable energy sources combined with the production of electricity and the thermal energy, which came into force on January 1st 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A building energy performance gap can be illustrated as the difference between the theoretical (methodologically defined) and the actual energy consumption. In EU countries, Energy Performance Certificates are issued when buildings are constructed, sold, or leased. This information is the first step in order to evaluate the energy performance of the building stock. In Serbia, when issuing an energy certificate, the adopted national methodology recognizes only energy consumption for heating. The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate the energy gap and estimate the relevance of an Energy Performance Certificate to meet the national energy efficiency or carbon target. An Energy Performance Certificate determines the theoretical residential and commercial building energy efficiency or its "design intent". This research stresses the necessity of measuring and achieving reductions in actual energy consumption through system regulation and consumers' self-awareness in buildings. The research compares the performance of the building stock (135) that is connected to the District Heating System (DHS), with its own integrated heat meter, to Individual Gas Boiler (IGB) systems (18), in the city of Novi Sad, Serbia, built after 2014. For the purpose of comparing energy consumption, 16 buildings were selected that are very similar in terms of design, operation, and location. The data used are derived from metered consumption data, official evidence of city service companies, and Energy Performance Certificates of the considered buildings. We have determined that IGB systems have a much wider specific annual performance gap (11.19–101 kWh/m2a) than the buildings in the DHS (3.16–18.58 kWh/m2a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By transition process, which is presented in the Republic of Serbia for many years, rural areas are also covered in great extent. Changes in national agricultural policy, in terms of orientation towards rural development and multifunctional agriculture, have led to situation that process of development must involve all stakeholders, from governmental institutions, via local community, to population of rural areas. Such approach to rural development could initiate easier integration into international institutions and European Union, as well as to strengthening of cross-border cooperation within the mentioned area of economy. The most part of the Carpathians in the Republic of Serbia is taken by the national park „Ðerdap'' and its protected zone. Within the mentioned protected area, sustainable use of agricultural land is based on traditional system of mountain agriculture that provides a high degree of ecological rationality and represents a very good foundation for development of integral and organic production. Opening toward the international community and peculiarly clear commitment of Serbia to European integrations, requires a new definition of role and importance of agricultural sector. Therefore, it is estimated that now is the perfect time for establishment of concrete conceptual framework and Strategy that will answer to key questions within the agro-food sector. In this context, authors' intention (they are also the members of the research team of IAE Belgrade which is the holder of the project III 46006 - Sustainable agriculture and rural development in function of Republic of Serbia strategic goals achievement within the Danube region) is to evaluate a social sustainability of agriculture in the area of the Carpathians in Serbia. Because of that, research is focused to administrative area of next municipalities: Golubac, Kucevo, Majdanpek, Kladovo and Negotin. Considering microeconomic character of research, it was used the original methodology , which could be useful for each area within the Danube region, providing the significant benefit to public administration and management during decisions-making process. At a given moment, by the authors' methodology, which covers the next criteria: density of agricultural population, density of active agricultural population and density of employees in agriculture. Based on this, it could be established the accurate diagnosis for chosen area, joining the estimation for each set of criteria that fits to the goals of sustainable agriculture in the Danube region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author analyzes the different models of harmonization, and states that modern ideas of the owners have the final time different from the advertised nobility. Family law, because the spiritual specifics, a special issue of harmonization. Author harmonization of the different family law (need harmonization with the Constitution of Serbia, the harmonization of the term, harmonization of the Family Act of Serbia ...) and the harmonization of family law with EU law (the author talks about harmonization useful, but the EU law as inaccurate and unnecessary model). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the last century the process of harmonization and unification of the law on food safety for the protection of consumers in the European Union (EU) is ongoing. According to these rules, participants in the production and distribution of food have to respect the rules in all phases of production: 'From Farm to Fork'. Honoring of the rules is based on self-control and the responsibility of producers and distributors, and is subject to public control with appropriate sanctions by competent authorities of a Member State as well as the EU. In the Republic of Serbia, after singing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, the statutory law has been approximated with the laws of the EU. That however, is not sufficient. It is necessary to develop the self-control of producers as well as to organize an efficient public control, not only because this is a necessary condition for export of food products to the single market of the EU, or for the membership in the EU, but also for ensuring safe food in the internal market of Serbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence against women is the most common form of domestic violence. This problem has long been ignored, because it is considered that family relations, e.g. relations between married and unmarried partners are a private matter and the state's obligation was to refrain from any interference. However, since the problem of domestic violence against women has become increasingly common, the attitude of the international community began to change, and it was increasingly emphasizes the need to create adequate legal mechanisms to provide protection to the victim. In this sense, in the United Nations, and the European Union a number of laws were enacted. In Serbia, there is also both, criminal and civil law regulation that seeks to prevent domestic violence and to punish perpetrators and protect victims. In addition to adequate legal mechanisms, which can always be improved, it is necessary to take certain initiatives by states that can lead to improved awareness among the people about the presence of violence, and the ways in which they can help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulation (EC) No 450/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 laying down the Community Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code), Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 of 12 October 1992 establishing the Community Customs Code, The Customs Law of Serbia of 26 March 2010 in a very detailed and extensive way regulate customs base. These legal documents envisage the methods of determination of customs value: the primary ones, which are based on the transaction value, but also the secondary ones, which are based on other methods for determination of customs value of goods. The customs services of the EU Member States have on their disposal six methods for determination of customs value of goods. Those methods in the mentioned acts of the EU and Serbia are transposed from the Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. The fact that mentioned acts of the EU and Serbia request that the customs value of goods must be clearly and precisely determined, that means to be determined in the same way, is understandable because the customs base is one of the most significant elements of customs. There are many reasons for that: in a certain way, the customs base is in relation with all other elements of customs structure; from the procedure in which the customs base is determined, that means from its universality depends the amount of income which will the EU and Serbia, on that ground, collect to finance public expenditure predicted in the budget; and most of the customs on the imported goods in the EU is determined ad valorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By enacting new regulation on labour relations, Serbia has undertaken important preliminary steps in harmonization of its law with the law of the EU. But, this process has not been so successful in the area of workers' participation. Main reasons for this are: resistance to the participation because of the resignation of workers and managers confined to former "self-management" from the period of socialism, authoritarian work organization and the absence of adequate social environment for social dialogue. Serbian Government and social partners' organizations should act on improvement of participation and social dialogue at all levels (enterprise, branch, local, province and state level), because participation can be very useful. Among the positive aspects of the participation in the labour relations the following are most obvious: participation raises motivation of the employees, improves level of innovation, productivity and social cohesion; it relaxes social tensions; it can be helpful in finding new solutions for restructuring of the economy and overcoming the economic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recasting of the Brussels I regulation has been announced by the European Commission in December 2010. The author argues that its impact will be felt in third countries, too. If the Commission proposal is adopted, defendants domiciled in non-EU countries will be amenable to suit in the courts of the Union in civil and commercial matters under the heads of special jurisdiction defined in the EU Regulation. National rules of jurisdiction will no more be applicable. Two new heads of general jurisdiction applicable in case there is no jurisdiction under the Regulation (i.e. when the defendant is domiciled outside the EU and there is no ground of special jurisdiction for EU courts) will be the forum of property and the forum necessitates. A court within the EU will have discretion to stay the proceedings in case of lis pendens before the court of a third country. Judgments from third countries will continue to be recognized pursuant to national rules, including the national rules on indirect jurisdiction. Finally, forum selection clauses in favor of third country courts will most likely be unenforceable in the EU unless the court within the EU would anyway lack jurisdiction (even without the forum selection clause). These rules are only a proposal and they may still be changed. The Commission could make a significant improvement by small interventions in the proposed text, e.g. by giving the rules on exclusive jurisdiction reflexive effect and introducing a specific provision affording effect to prorogation clauses in favor of third country courts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]