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Adequate monitoring of the EU transition toward sustainable food systems can promote policy coherence and provide better evidence for informed policy making. This paper presents an initial concept and methodology for an EU food system monitoring framework, integrating a systems' perspective and key sustainability elements relevant to the EU context. Grounded in scientific evidence and extensive dialogues among scientific experts with interdisciplinary backgrounds, we define an EU food system sustainability model that provides a conceptual framework for monitoring. This model encompasses 12 thematic areas and 37 indicator domains, synthetized through a rigorous review of existing frameworks and the assessment of nearly 250 relevant indicators via a transparent workflow and an integrated collaborative digital tool. We identify data gaps that signal challenges ahead in effective monitoring, but also opportunities for research and cooperation. To advance with an EU food system monitoring framework, it is essential to engage in participatory processes with stakeholders, ensuring an inclusive and transparent approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the issue of the existing mechanism of the European Union in combating drugs as a component of ensuring public health. Attention is focused on the EU legislation aimed at criminalizing illegal acts related to combating drug trafficking, in particular directives, strategic acts, etc. Attention is focused on EU measures to protect the health of people addicted to drugs, with noncriminalized measures, including: prevention, treatment and provision of care services; combating drug-related harm; psychoactive drug use disorders and mental health problems. Attention is paid to specialized agencies, bodies, structures of the EU related to the fight against drugs and the protection of the right to health. It is emphasized that EU measures correspond to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in particular: SDG 3 – Targets 3.4, 3.5, 3.8, 3.9 (3.b), 3.9 (3.d), SDG 15 – Targets 5.1, 5.2, SDG 16 – Target 16 .b, SDG 17 - Targets 17.9, 17.16. It is noted that the EU and its member states are adopting legal, strategic and operational measures to reduce the supply and demand for drugs in Europe, and to address security and health problems related to drug trafficking and use. It was noted that the policy of the EU, as well as the policy of the international community regarding drugs, was until recently based on drug control, primarily regarding the use and possession of drugs, the criminalization of drug trafficking, etc. At the current stage of the Union’s functioning, this vector is considered from the point of view of the impact on human health and the realization of the right to the highest attainable level of health guaranteed by international standards. It was concluded that despite the titanic efforts of all involved entities, the drug problem in the EU is not solved, there is a number of issues that require titanic efforts, which is also confirmed by the European Drug Report 2024. The existing problems encourage the unification of international efforts in combating drugs in order to preserve the health of the population of the Planet and future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate monitoring of the EU transition toward sustainable food systems can promote policy coherence and provide better evidence for informed policy making. This paper presents an initial concept and methodology for an EU food system monitoring framework, integrating a systems’ perspective and key sustainability elements relevant to the EU context. Grounded in scientific evidence and extensive dialogues among scientific experts with interdisciplinary backgrounds, we define an EU food system sustainability model that provides a conceptual framework for monitoring. This model encompasses 12 thematic areas and 37 indicator domains, synthetized through a rigorous review of existing frameworks and the assessment of nearly 250 relevant indicators via a transparent workflow and an integrated collaborative digital tool. We identify data gaps that signal challenges ahead in effective monitoring, but also opportunities for research and cooperation. To advance with an EU food system monitoring framework, it is essential to engage in participatory processes with stakeholders, ensuring an inclusive and transparent approach.

Current food production and consumption patterns in the European Union are exerting significant pressure on the environment and limited natural resources. The ongoing triple planetary crisis is jeopardizing future sustainability and requires appropriate actions to halt its progress. Public food procurement is often indicated by scholars and policymakers as a potentially transformative policy to shift demand towards sustainable consumption, as well as creating a demand for more sustainably produced food. However, quantitative evidence of the environmental performance of food procurement is lacking. This paper critically reviews existing literature quantifying and evaluating the impacts related to food procurement, specifically focusing on the use of Life Cycle Thinking approaches and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The results collected show heterogeneous methodological approaches when it comes to LCA, but a consistent narrative in recommending a well-planned dietary shift, decreasing the consumption of animal products. Combining environmental impact indicators with nutritional assessments emerges as key in supporting food procurement. The results of this review can support the reflection on future food procurement policy including criteria to be employed by public authorities.

The transition to a circular economy is an imperative that addresses the growing environmental challenges and irrational use of resources confronting modern society. The proposed article highlights the importance of this transition, elucidating its multifaceted impact with a close connection to the economic, social and environmental domains. Highlighting the need for sustainable and circular supply chains, the research outlines key features of the circular economy, including the use of innovative technologies such as AI and blockchain, redesigning products to be recyclable and promoting collaborative partnerships between sectors. Drawing on information from the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan, the article highlights the critical need for global adoption to mitigate biodiversity loss and the crucial impact on climate change. The research describes both notable progress in the European Union and the United States, as well as some gaps in awareness, fragmented regulation and inadequate incentives. Solutions discussed in the paper include comprehensive policy frameworks, targeted investments, consumer education and stakeholder collaboration. By aligning efforts with the principles of the circular economy, developed and developing countries around the world can unlock economic growth, create new jobs and ensure environmental sustainability. Ultimately, the key elements of the circular economy offer a transformational path to a sustainable, equitable and resilient future for all stakeholders.

The Local Media for Democracy (LM4D) project is the first project that explores news deserts in Europe comprehensively. Its final report highlighted challenges and opportunities for local and community media and identified the level of risk of news deserts in the 27 European Union (EU) Member States. As a pilot project, however, its results are still preliminary and open to evaluation, and, thus, they require further discussion and corroboration. Drawing from these results, and applying a multidisciplinary approach, we extrapolated research directions for the study of news deserts in the EU. By cross-analyzing data from the LM4D dataset with other datasets, we provide a preliminary analysis of three promising lines of research: (1) the relationship between public service media quality and news deserts, (2) news deserts and the spread of disinformation, and (3) social media usage and news desertification. We conclude by pointing out the limitations of this preliminary analysis and opportunities for further research on news deserts in the EU.

The Local Media for Democracy (LM4D) project is the first project that explores news deserts in Europe comprehensively. Its final report highlighted challenges and opportunities for local and community media and identified the level of risk of news deserts in the 27 European Union (EU) Member States. As a pilot project, however, its results are still preliminary and open to evaluation, and, thus, they require further discussion and corroboration. Drawing from these results, and applying a multidisciplinary approach, we extrapolated research directions for the study of news deserts in the EU. By cross-analyzing data from the LM4D dataset with other datasets, we provide a preliminary analysis of three promising lines of research: (1) the relationship between public service media quality and news deserts, (2) news deserts and the spread of disinformation, and (3) social media usage and news desertification. We conclude by pointing out the limitations of this preliminary analysis and opportunities for further research on news deserts in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of approaches to the formation of circular economy indicators and the identification of the relationship between circular economy indicators and sustainable development in the EU-27. It assesses the effectiveness and interdependence of EU policies in promoting resource efficiency, waste management and sustainable practices. A correlation matrix was built on the basis of data for the period from 2008 to 2022, including indicators such as material footprint, waste generation, recycling rates, trade flows of recyclables and environmental impact. Based on the analysis of the correlation matrix, the relationships between the selected indicators and the key factors influencing the development of the circular economy were identified. The need for further integration and improvement of the EU's circular economy development policy is identified.

This study computes a flexicurity index for the EU28 countries for 2001-2019 following the European Commission’s four components of flexicurity model. The index allows the ex-post assessment of flexicurity efforts and efficiency. Following the computation of the index, we compare its values against the theoretical flexicurity typologies and against other empirical flexicurity groupings to assess their (dis)similarities. Even though Northern and Western countries generally have higher flexicurity scores than Southern and Eastern states, the study shows some countries deviate from their theoretical performance. Thus, some of the Continental and Mediterranean countries have flexicurity values like those of the Nordic group. Moreover, the flexicurity regimes are not static as the theoretical typology suggests: while Denmark and France are always in the top performers’ group, other countries change their performance throughout the 2001-2019 period. The flexicurity index correlates highly with empirical country groupings in the literature. The highest correlation is with country groupings using the European Commission’s four components of flexicurity model, followed by the Golden Danish Triangle, and lastly, the Wilthagen and Tros’ flexicurity matrix. In the end, we compare EU countries’ performance in the flexicurity index scores with their performance in selected employment and unemployment rates, labor productivity, and poverty rates. Results suggest that higher flexicurity performance correlates generally with better labor market and social outcomes, the highest correlations being in the case of labor productivity rates.

It is puzzling how the optimal maintenance of infrastructure gets so little attention in the public policy debate and in national strategic infrastructure investment plans. In the case of Italy, an information deficit, inadequate strategic planning and governance, and unpreparedness for macro changes affecting infrastructure emerge as critical root causes of neglect. Despite the increasing attention to sustainability (at national, EU and international level), it is not consistently implemented along the life cycle of infrastructure assets, which would entail adequate funding to operate and maintain existing assets. Public administration plays a critical coordination role and must tackle the excessive normative complexity and consequent lengthiness of the authorization processes. Despite some unmet challenges, several ongoing interventions show Italy's commitment to address some of the issues. Notably, the creation of an integrated repository tracking all the country's infrastructure projects, or the national guidelines recently issued to rank and prioritize bridge safety interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failed states are a threat to international security. This issue has been recognized and presented in all the security strategies of the European Union (EU). Since 2003, through the adoption of the European Security Strategy and continuing with the Report on the Implementation of the European Security Strategy of 2008, the Global Strategy of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy of 2016, and the Strategic Compass of March 2022, failed states have been identified as threats to the EU. The policy of the EU towards failed states is being realized through a series of missions aimed at supporting the governments of states belonging this category. This support is given to various government institutions that need to be strengthened in order to provide security and prosperity to their citizens. Among the missions conducted by the EU in failed states and their near neighborhood, this article analyses those concerning Libya (EUBAM Libya and EUNAVFOR MED IRINI) and Somalia (EU NAVFOR ATALANTA, EUCAP Somalia, and EUTM Somalia). For the EU, helping these failed states has become a priority, because the EU is a global actor that aims to get more involved in the problems that could have a negative impact on it. These problems include the disruption of international maritime traffic, illegal migration, and organized crime. The purpose of the present article is to highlight how the EU is actively involved in these failed states. Starting from the hypothesis that the involvement of the EU in strengthening the governments of these states is necessary, we will analyse the specifics of the missions sent to these countries.

The main purpose of this study is to assess the farm-level economic consequences of the planned introduction of a ban on farrowing crates for sows in the EU pig sector, being a response by the European Commission to the 'End the Cage Age' Initiative. The impact assessment was carried out in three stages: farm-level analyses based on 225 farm surveys carried out in EU member states and expert consultations, assessments for five alternative scenarios, and the aggregation (scaling-up) of the scenario analysis to the EU-27 sectoral impact. Our findings indicate that the ban on farrowing crates is expected to cause a decrease in the sow population by 21–23%, depending on the scenario, and piglet output in the EU owing to increased sow space requirements, a reduction in production efficiency, and a significant demand for investments. The transition to alternative farrowing systems will lead to increased variable costs related to the farrowing period, namely, veterinary expenses, labour costs, and sow feed costs, as well as expenses associated with higher piglet mortality and increased sow replacement rates. The lower density, resulting from the larger space allowance per sow in free-farrowing systems (approximately 5.5 m2 in free farrowing with temporary confinement and 7 m2 in systems without confinement) will also cause fixed costs per unit (per sow or piglet) to rise in proportion to the decline in the sow herd. Expressed as a percentage of the total production costs per piglet, we can expect a 6–10% increase in the total production costs. The implementation of free-farrowing systems on pig farms will necessitate investments in the modernisation of the existing buildings and new pens for sows. Depending on the scenario, the value of investments ranged from 3.8 to 6.7 billion EUR, at 2021 prices. It should be recognised that beyond the actual improvement in the welfare of sows, there are lingering concerns, including increased production costs, higher piglet mortality rates, and heightened risks to employees. It is essential to consider providing financial assistance to support farms in making a smooth transition to the new systems, as well as an extended transition period to ensure a painless shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural forest expansion (NFE), that is, the establishment of secondary forest on non-forested land through natural succession, has substantially contributed to the widespread expansion of forests in Europe over the last few decades. So far, EU policies have largely neglected the potential of NFE for meeting policy objectives on restoration. Synthesising recent interdisciplinary research, this paper assesses the challenges and opportunities of NFE in view of contributing to European forest and ecosystem restoration. Specifically, we discuss the potential for supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and forestry and economic use, summarize the current knowledge about societal perceptions and the policymaking on NFE, and make policy recommendations to better use the potential of NFE. We conclude that NFE has the potential to contribute to the European restoration policy agenda if local contexts and possible trade-offs are properly considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study computes a flexicurity index for the EU28 countries for 2001-2019 following the European Commission's four components of flexicurity model. The index allows the ex-post assessment of flexicurity efforts and efficiency. Following the computation of the index, we compare its values against the theoretical flexicurity typologies and against other empirical flexicurity groupings to assess their (dis)similarities. Even though Northern and Western countries generally have higher flexicurity scores than Southern and Eastern states, the study shows some countries deviate from their theoretical performance. Thus, some of the Continental and Mediterranean countries have flexicurity values like those of the Nordic group. Moreover, the flexicurity regimes are not static as the theoretical typology suggests: while Denmark and France are always in the top performers' group, other countries change their performance throughout the 2001-2019 period. The flexicurity index correlates highly with empirical country groupings in the literature. The highest correlation is with country groupings using the European Commission's four components of flexicurity model, followed by the Golden Danish Triangle, and lastly, the Wilthagen and Tros' flexicurity matrix. In the end, we compare EU countries' performance in the flexicurity index scores with their performance in selected employment and unemployment rates, labor productivity, and poverty rates. Results suggest that higher flexicurity performance correlates generally with better labor market and social outcomes, the highest correlations being in the case of labor productivity rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to a circular economy is an imperative that addresses the growing environmental challenges and irrational use of resources confronting modern society. The proposed article highlights the importance of this transition, elucidating its multifaceted impact with a close connection to the economic, social and environmental domains. Highlighting the need for sustainable and circular supply chains, the research outlines key features of the circular economy, including the use of innovative technologies such as AI and blockchain, redesigning products to be recyclable and promoting collaborative partnerships between sectors. Drawing on information from the European Union's Circular Economy Action Plan, the article highlights the critical need for global adoption to mitigate biodiversity loss and the crucial impact on climate change. The research describes both notable progress in the European Union and the United States, as well as some gaps in awareness, fragmented regulation and inadequate incentives. Solutions discussed in the paper include comprehensive policy frameworks, targeted investments, consumer education and stakeholder collaboration. By aligning efforts with the principles of the circular economy, developed and developing countries around the world can unlock economic growth, create new jobs and ensure environmental sustainability. Ultimately, the key elements of the circular economy offer a transformational path to a sustainable, equitable and resilient future for all stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Law / Teise is the property of Vilnius University 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.)

Leaving office after 16 years as German chancellor, Angela Merkel has multifold and complex legacies. While Merkel's leadership style has frequently been described as cautious in domestic politics, her role in international relations is often characterized as that of an active defender of liberal international norms and values. Yet she was also responsible for some of the most controversial decisions regarding Europe, often raising questions about Germany's commitments and goals. This article explores her foreign policy and her role in the European Union through a gender-sensitive lens. It examines the scope and significance of her leadership based on three case studies to allow for a differentiated analysis: the Eurozone crisis, the migrant crisis, and the COVID-19 crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-legislators of the EU adopted in July 2023 a revised version of the Energy Efficiency Directive, implying that the ‘energy efficiency first’ (EE1) principle is made legally binding for member states, to apply in policy, planning and investment decisions exceeding euro 100 million each and euro 175 million for transport infrastructure projects. The EE1 principle complements two other guiding principles of EU energy and climate policy: cost-effectiveness and consumer protection. This article analyses the policy process and politics leading to the adoption of the EE1 principle as a legal institute in EU energy and climate policy. Policy core and secondary beliefs of four different advocacy coalitions are identified, and explained what are the paths to policy change. Lines of dispute among the coalitions related to (i) the purpose and meaning of energy efficiency policy, (ii) the size of projects covered (all projects or only very large projects) and (iii) which sectors to be covered (the public sector or both the public and private sectors). The adoption of the EE1 principle as a binding provision follows an ‘external shock’ to the political subsystem of energy efficiency, namely the Paris Agreement and the subsequent adoption of an EU climate law strengthening the EU climate targets for 2030 and 2050. In addition, it is a ‘negotiated agreement’ between the Council and the Parliament, undertaken as a deliberative problem-solving exercise rather than bargaining. The deliberative nature of the negotiations opened for ‘policy-oriented learning’ across belief systems in the subsystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) applications is rapidly expanding, generating increased interest in the incorporation of blockchain technology within the IoT ecosystem. IoT applications enhance the efficiency of our daily lives, and when blockchain is integrated into the IoT ecosystem (commonly referred to as a blockchain-IoT system), it introduces crucial elements, like security, transparency, trust, and privacy, into IoT applications. Notably, potential domains where blockchain can empower IoT applications include smart logistics, smart health, and smart cities. However, a significant obstacle hindering the widespread adoption of blockchain-IoT systems in mainstream applications is the absence of a dedicated governance framework. In the absence of proper regulations and due to the inherently cryptic nature of blockchain technology, it can be exploited for nefarious purposes, such as ransomware, money laundering, fraud, and more. Furthermore, both blockchain and the IoT are relatively new technologies, and the absence of well-defined governance structures can erode confidence in their use. Consequently, to fully harness the potential of integrating blockchain-IoT systems and ensure responsible utilization, governance plays a pivotal role. The implementation of appropriate regulations and standardization is imperative to leverage the innovative features of blockchain-IoT systems and prevent misuse for malicious activities. This research focuses on elucidating the significance of blockchain within governance mechanisms, explores governance tailored to blockchain, and proposes a robust governance framework for the blockchain-enabled IoT ecosystem. Additionally, the practical application of our governance framework is showcased through a case study in the realm of smart logistics. We anticipate that our proposed governance framework will not only facilitate but also promote the integration of blockchain and the IoT in various application domains, fostering a more secure and trustworthy IoT landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores a major conflict area, namely, national and the EU's immigration policy and investigates how the influx of migrants (mostly from the Middle East and North Africa - MENA region) into the EU has been used as a policy conflict ground. The article assesses the policy responses to (im)migration in Germany and Italy between 2015- 2019 as the changes made redirected the policy for future migration crisis. The aim of the article is to underline that the migration crisis of the EU spiraled into Members States' migration and populism crisis and into the challenges of the implementation of common EU migration policies and national policies. This is achieved by the analyses of administrative measures adopted in the most argued areas like asylum procedure, return policy and integration The paper argues that these crisis management measures were mostly restrictive, and not only aimed to handle the crisis but exposed a phenomenon: they not only intended to thwart the continuous growth of migration and populism but were in parts even favored by populists in the sense that they had the intention to curb immigration, too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) has recently introduced the Deforestation Regulation to close regulatory gaps in the sustainability and legality of global forest and agricultural commodity supply chains. We analyze this regulatory policy change by drawing on accountability scholarship and institutionalist theories of regulation. Our results show that the Regulation aims to enhance corporate accountability mechanisms through mostly state‐based hard regulation of commodity supply chains, reducing the role of market incentives and private regulation. This policy change is found to be the result of strategic policy‐oriented learning from perceived accountability failures of existing soft market‐based instruments, voluntary trade agreements, and experience with market‐correcting EU timber legality trade rules in a politically favorable context. The institutionalization of new forest‐risk commodity supply chain accountability norms in new EU trade rules would, by design, harden foreign corporate accountability for negative socio‐environmental externalities. However, the de‐facto hardening will depend on the final regulatory design, acceptance, compliance, implementation, enforcement improvements, and avoidance of leakage effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Law / Teise is the property of Vilnius University 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 article presents empirically substantiated answers on the salience of differentiated integration (DI) from the perspective of Croatian governments between 2004 and 2020. Considering DI's relevance for the future of EU integration as well as the fact that DI was de facto adopted by the Croatian governments in order to maintain a healthy relationship with the EU, the main assumption is that DI – as a broad and multifaceted integration phenomenon – appears prominently in the domestic political discourse. By employing text mining and sentiment analysis on a corpus of 376 various governmental documents we answer, do governments talk about DI and specific DI mechanisms at a conceptual level? Which differentiated policy fields do they talk about most often? Our results show that DI has been – and remains – a low salience issue for Croatian governments over the last 15 years, which is surprising considering that over this period, Croatia consolidated its position in the EU in the shadow of the 'polycrisis', also thanks to DI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a short yet comprehensive historical review of 'flexicurity,' an equally acclaimed and debated public policy of the first two decades of the 20th century. Early understandings of 'flexibility' and 'security' in labor economics placed the two terms in antithetic positions, generally defining 'flexibility' as the lack of 'security' or considering 'security' as the cause for the lack of 'flexibility.' The change in social standards in the early 1990s generated the emergence of 'transitional labor markets,' a concept that further facilitated the appearance of a new labor market policy -- 'flexicurity.' The article presents each of these stages in the development of flexicurity. It describes the stories of the three most influential flexicurity cases - the Dutch, the Danish, and the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last two decades, co-creation and social innovation have become important concepts in academic research and public policy. The two concepts are conceptually linked, but this relationship has hardly been problematized in academic literature. In addition, social innovation and especially co-creation are not defined in EU policies, but merely included because they support policy aims. The lack of problematization and definition not only hampers progress in the academic field, but is also constringing co-creation into an exercise of merely including stakeholders therefore neglecting the full potential of co-creation. The key question addressed in this article is therefore: how can we evaluate the application of co-creation in EU-funded social innovation projects? A literature review revealed that co-creation and social innovation have become connected only very recently in academic literature. In this publication, we analyse the meta narratives of this emerging body of literature and conclude that we can distinguish three distinct segments with their own characteristics. We used these insights to develop an adaptive evaluation framework. This framework can be used to assess the application of co-creation within social innovation in, for example, EU-funded projects. This could push the emerging academic field forward and open up new research themes and designs. We also suggest that the framework could specifically support policymakers in their efforts to evaluate processes of co-creation instead of focusing on the dominant impact evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article combines, in a complementary way, the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF) with argumentative discourse analysis to analyze the politics of the "energy efficiency first" (EE1) principle as a new legal institute in European Union energy and climate policy. Two different discourses and storylines were identified. The first is where the meaning of energy efficiency policy is to fulfill multiple benefits. It is associated with a strong regulation of EE1. The second is where the purpose of energy efficiency policy is primarily to contribute to mitigating climate change. It is associated with weak regulation of EE1. Four advocacy coalitions with different secondary beliefs regarding the EE1 principle were identified. Analyzing the inter‐discursive communication between different coalitions provides insights to the policy‐oriented learning taking place. It is concluded that studies using the ACF could merit from focusing more on narratives and communication between belief systems. Related Articles: Kanol, Direnç. 2022. "Narrative Strategies for Emerging Disruptive Technologies: A Case Study of Blockchain for Europe." Politics & Policy 50(5): 952–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12492. Nowlin, Matthew C., Maren Trochmann, and Thomas M. Rabovsky. 2022. "Advocacy Coalitions and Political Control." Politics & Policy 50(2): 201–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12458. O'Donovan, Kristin T. 2018. "Does the Narrative Policy Framework Apply to Local Policy Issues?" Politics & Policy 46(4): 532–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12265. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of SWS - Rundschau is the property of Verein fur interdisziplinare sozialwissenschaftliche Studien und Analysen 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 main purpose of this study is to assess the farm-level economic consequences of the planned introduction of a ban on farrowing crates for sows in the EU pig sector, being a response by the European Commission to the ‘End the Cage Age’ Initiative. The impact assessment was carried out in three stages: farm-level analyses based on 225 farm surveys carried out in EU member states and expert consultations, assessments for five alternative scenarios, and the aggregation (scaling-up) of the scenario analysis to the EU-27 sectoral impact. Our findings indicate that the ban on farrowing crates is expected to cause a decrease in the sow population by 21–23%, depending on the scenario, and piglet output in the EU owing to increased sow space requirements, a reduction in production efficiency, and a significant demand for investments. The transition to alternative farrowing systems will lead to increased variable costs related to the farrowing period, namely, veterinary expenses, labour costs, and sow feed costs, as well as expenses associated with higher piglet mortality and increased sow replacement rates. The lower density, resulting from the larger space allowance per sow in free-farrowing systems (approximately 5.5 m2 in free farrowing with temporary confinement and 7 m2 in systems without confinement) will also cause fixed costs per unit (per sow or piglet) to rise in proportion to the decline in the sow herd. Expressed as a percentage of the total production costs per piglet, we can expect a 6–10% increase in the total production costs. The implementation of free-farrowing systems on pig farms will necessitate investments in the modernisation of the existing buildings and new pens for sows. Depending on the scenario, the value of investments ranged from 3.8 to 6.7 billion EUR, at 2021 prices. It should be recognised that beyond the actual improvement in the welfare of sows, there are lingering concerns, including increased production costs, higher piglet mortality rates, and heightened risks to employees. It is essential to consider providing financial assistance to support farms in making a smooth transition to the new systems, as well as an extended transition period to ensure a painless shift.

Copyright of Annals of the 'Ovidius' University of Constanta. Political Science Series / Analele Universitatii Ovidius din Constanta, Seria Stiinte Politice is the property of Editura Ovidius University Press 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 Social Inequalities & Economic Growth / Nierownosci Spoleczne a Wzrost Gospodarczy is the property of University of Rzeszow 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.)

Energy communities are a promising strategy for a global energy transition. European Union (EU) regulatory frameworks are already established and clearly explained, aiming to develop as many projects as possible in the different European countries. Accordingly, it is necessary to present two different types of countries: the laggards and the pioneers, two categories that highlight the discrepancies in policy, bureaucracy, culture, and usage of alternative sources and technologies, such as renewable energy, towards the implementation of energy communities. This work compares two representative case studies to qualitatively understand the differences between laggard and pioneer countries: Italy and the Netherlands, respectively. The regulatory framework and the solid points/shortcomings of each country are explained first. Thereafter, an accurate description of the two selected case study communities and their different peculiarities is provided. Finally, the main similarities and differences are stressed to discuss the lessons to be learned in laggard and pioneer countries. Five pillars for the development and uptake of energy communities are identified related to regulations, economic benefits, technical limitations, sustainability, and social awareness. These outcomes suggest the importance of policy management, and stress the limitations of governance in helping policymakers and experts to support the energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article sheds light on the fast-evolving and ever more complex EU cybersecurity policy. It shows that horizontal and sector-specific regulation are being developed simultaneously. It identifies the gaps and investigates to what extent the new Cyber Resilience Act and other policy instruments might address them. It first reviews the stock of existing EU legislation before examining the relevant industry standards for cybersecurity and the Internet of Things. It also reviews stakeholders' expectations for the Cyber Resilience Act and identifies the need for horizontal legislation, setting flexible but binding rules. We argue for horizontal standards (process-based) that are complemented by sector-specific (vertical) standards. Finally, we propose a governance and enforcement model to make the cybersecurity framework better coordinated and more adequate for tackling the ever-evolving cybersecurity threat landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]