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Success management can bring valuable contributions to improve project results and stakeholders' relationships. However, the success management process must be explicitly integrated into project management approaches, guides and methodologies (such as PMBOK, PRINCE2 or PM2), which is not currently happening. The purpose of this position paper is to discuss the need and importance for this integration and to present a first proposal on how this can be operationalized. To support the position, the methodology of the European Union PM2 was used. The result of the integration demonstrates that it is possible to advance management and raise the level of project success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 1–2% of global carbon emissions arise in paper production, but the EU plans a 60% cut by 2050. Known process improvements give a 30% cut, but demand may double by 2050: can paper be re-used without recycling by print removal? Three techniques have been developed: abrasion operating in an adhesive wear regime; longer wavelength lasers can ablate toner-print; a solvent can effectively dissolve toner. Energy analysis shows that print removal requires around 10% of the energy required for a new sheet and if this method supplies 80% of future demand, the 2050 carbon target could be achieved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ample interest for more efficient utilization of bio-based residues has emerged in the Nordic pulp and paper (P&P) industry, which uses virgin wood as feedstock. Although different bioenergy retrofit technologies for production of liquid, solid, and gaseous bioenergy products have been applied in the existing P&P mills, the number of installations remains small. The lack of profound knowledge of existing bioenergy retrofits hinders the replication and market uptake of potential technologies. This review synthesises the existing knowledge of European installations and identifies the key drivers and barriers for implementation to foster the market uptake of potential technologies. The bioenergy retrofits were reviewed in terms of technical maturity, drivers, barriers and market potential. Based on this evaluation, common drivers and barriers towards wider market uptake were outlined from political, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legal perspective. Technologies already commercially applied include anaerobic fermentation of sludge, bark gasification, tall oil diesel and bioethanol production, whereas lignin extraction, biomethanol production, hydrothermal liquefaction and hydrothermal carbonization are being demonstrated or first applications are under construction. The findings of this review show that a stable flow of residues at P&P mills creates a solid base for retrofitting. New innovative bio-based products would allow widening the companies' product portfolios and creating new businesses. Also, European Union's (EU) legislation drives towards advanced biofuels production. Wider uptake of the retrofitting technologies requires overcoming the barriers related to uncertainty of economic feasibility and unestablished markets for new products rather than technical immaturity. • Bioenergy retrofits can widen the product portfolio of the pulp and paper industry. • Bioenergy retrofits in Europe were comprehensively reviewed for the first time. • Drivers and barriers for the market uptake were assessed from different perspectives. • Retrofits support the REDII targets for advanced biofuels in transport sector. • Utilization of residues for bioenergy products improves mills' resource efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic, social and environmental sustainability are becoming more important in urban and territorial development policies in Europe and internationally. Recently, the United States and Europe have put forth the green deals proposing programmatic provisions for achieving territorial sustainability through the redevelopment of brownfield land into Sustainable Industrial Areas (SIAs). This opinion paper presents the benefits of the European Green Deal (EGD) policies as support for brownfield land redevelopment, SIA implementation and urban regeneration in light of the experiences of many countries in the European Union (EU). Moreover, this paper makes policy recommendations and discusses future research directions. • The European Green Deal provisions inspire the brownfield land redevelopment from a sustainable perspective. • The redevelopment of industrial area in Sustainable Industrial Area (SIA) provides economic, environmental-social benefits. • SIA experiences in Europe can provide decision-makers with guidelines for the conversion of brownfield land. • Urban regeneration actions for SIA by the European Green Deal can cover multi-dimensional areas, from small to large scale. • Using natural elements can foster sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of older people dying in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is increasing globally, but care quality may be variable. A framework was developed drawing on empirical research findings from the Palliative Care for Older People (PACE) study and a scoping review of literature on the implementation of palliative care interventions in LTCFs. The PACE study mapped palliative care in LTCFs in Europe, evaluated quality of end-of-life care and quality of dying in a cross-sectional study of deceased residents of LTCFs in 6 countries, and undertook a cluster-randomized control trial that evaluated the impact of the PACE Steps to Success intervention in 7 countries. Working with the European Association for Palliative Care, a white paper was written that outlined recommendations for the implementation of interventions to improve palliative and end-of-life care for all older adults with serious illness, regardless of diagnosis, living in LTCFs. The goal of the article is to present these key domains and recommendations. Transparent expert consultation. International experts in LTCFs. Eighteen (of 20 invited) international experts from 15 countries participated in a 1-day face-to-face Transparent Expert Consultation (TEC) workshop in Bern, Switzerland, and 21 (of 28 invited) completed a follow-up online survey. The TEC study used (1) a face-to-face workshop to discuss a scoping review and initial recommendations and (2) an online survey. Thirty recommendations about implementing palliative care for older people in LTCFs were refined during the TEC workshop and, of these, 20 were selected following the survey. These 20 recommendations cover domains at micro (within organizations), meso (across organizations), and macro (at national or regional) levels addressed in 3 phases: establishing conditions for action, embedding in everyday practice, and sustaining ongoing change. We developed a framework of 20 recommendations to guide implementation of improvements in palliative care in LTCFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The European fisheries policy has undergone a substantial reform. The reform process was initiated by a Green Paper published by the European Commission in 2009. It was recently finalised with an agreement on a new Basic Regulation between the European Commission, the Council and the Parliament in October 2013. The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy will be an important step towards a more sustainable fisheries policy in Europe. The most important reform steps are the introduction of maximum sustainable yield as the new management target, a landing obligation for bycatch and a governance shift towards regions. Although the mentioned reform elements are in generally very promising, their concrete design does not always meet existing expectations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Our research, which aims to present the effectiveness of the European Union's internal energy market, shows the results of a recent survey conducted among representatives of national energy regulators and exchanges from eleven EU Member States. Due to the choice of the research method based on the SOFIA concept, the results constitute a new original contribution to the existing treasury of knowledge in the field of the European energy market. In the concrete case of sociological analysis, we checked how successful the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) is in establishing and ensuring the functioning of the internal energy market in the EU. The survey examines the performance of ACER, which became operational in March 2011 and is intended to contribute to the establishment and functioning of the EU's internal energy market from the perspective of ACER, national energy regulators and energy exchanges in EU Member States. ACER's basic mission is to ensure the successful functioning of the energy market, which, as a result (of successful operation), will lead to the full integration of the internal market, and consumers will receive energy uninterruptedly from all parts of the Union. Our research also showed that ACER is crucial for the functioning of the internal market. Most representatives of national regulators and energy exchanges agree that the EU already has a functioning internal energy market and that ACER is crucial for the functioning of the internal energy market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nineteen food contact papers and boards and one non-food contact board were extracted following test protocols developed within European Union funded project BIOSAFEPAPER. The extraction media were either hot or cold water, 95% ethanol or Tenax, according to the end use of the sample. The extractable dry matter content of the samples varied from 1200 to 11,800mg/kg (0.8–35.5mg/dm2). According to GC–MS the main substances extracted into water were pulp-derived natural products such as fatty acids, resin acids, natural wood sterols and alkanols. Substances extracted into ethanol particularly, were diisopropylnaphthalenes, alkanes and phthalic acid esters. The non-food contact board showed the greatest number and highest concentrations of GC–MS detectable compounds. The extracts were subjected to a battery of in vitro toxicity tests measuring both acute and sublethal cytotoxicity and genotoxic effects. None of the water or Tenax extracts was positive in cytotoxicity or genotoxicity assays. The ethanol extract of the non-food contact board gave a positive response in the genotoxicity assays, and all four ethanol extracts gave positive response(s) in the cytotoxicity assays to some extent. These responses could not be pinpointed to any specific compound, although there appeared a correlation between the total amount of extractables and toxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In an attempt to enhance the quality of internal medicine practice and to reform the education of internists across Europe, the European Board of Internal Medicine (formed by the European Federation of Internal Medicine and the European Union of Medical Specialists Section of Internal Medicine) has launched a project aimed at defining core competencies that are common to all internists. The compilation of six core competencies presented in this paper consists of patient care; medical knowledge; communication skills; professionalism, ethical, and legal issues; organizational planning and service management skills; and academic activities. These core competencies are the foundation required for the provision of high-quality medical care everywhere, regardless of the professional traditions and organization of health care in different countries. The authors hope this paper will stimulate constructive discussion and thoughtful debate, and that it will be followed by a collaborative effort to develop and endorse a European consensus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Due to the introduction of the European Union Landfill Directive, composting has become a potentially viable disposal route for some organic wastes. As waste-derived compost is frequently added to soil to improve soil quality, it is important to quantify the environmental risk posed by potentially toxic elements contained within it. Here we used a sequential chemical extraction procedure to investigate the temporal dynamics of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb and Ni) during the co-composting of biosolids, deinking paper fibre and green waste. Overall, composting over 26weeks reduced the availability of Ni, had no effect on Pb and slightly increased the availability of Cu and Zn. We conclude that although the total Cu and Ni concentrations in the compost exceed legislative guidelines for land application, due to their recalcitrant nature within the compost, this compost posed very little threat to soil or plant quality if used in agriculture or land restoration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Contact with thermal printing paper is a relevant source of dermal exposure to unbonded bisphenol A (BPA). In order to limit this exposure route, the European Union has introduced a drastic reduction in the maximum allowed concentration of BPA in thermal paper produced after beginning of year 2020. This study investigates the suitability of direct analysis in real time (DART), combined with accurate mass spectrometry, as a faster alternative to chromatography-based methods for the quantitative determination of BPA, and three analogues species, in receipts and tickets usually printed on thermal paper. The ionization efficiency of these compounds is evaluated under different conditions, and the effect of instrumental parameters of the DART source in the observed responses is discussed. The yield of the DART desorption-ionization process was greatly improved when compounds are previously converted into their acetyl derivatives; thereafter, the temperature of electronically excited helium atoms was the most relevant of the evaluated instrumental parameters. Under optimized conditions, the reported method provided recoveries in the range from 90 to 110%, a limit of quantification of 0.004% (w:w), well below the maximum concentration established after 2020 for BPA (0.02%, w:w), and permitted to perform duplicate determinations of each sample extract with a response time around 1 min. The accuracy of BPA levels found in non-spiked samples was confirmed using GC-EI-MS as reference technique. BPA was systematically noticed in the processed samples with concentrations ranging from 0.005% to more than 6%. Image 1 • Rapid determination of bisphenol A in thermal printing paper by DART accurate MS. • Acetylation greatly enhances the yield of DART desorption-ionization. • Procedural LOQs below limits set for bisphenol A in thermal paper. • Good correlation between DART-MS and GC-EI-MS values in thermal paper samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 1993, an environmental risk assessment (ERA) for a new drug application has been stipulated by EU Directive 93/39/EEC amending Directive 65/65/EEC. In early 2001, after several unpublished draft versions for an ERA guideline, a draft guideline/discussion paper for an ERA for non-GMO-containing drugs was published by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA). The draft guideline describes a step-wise, tiered procedure for the ERA. The first tier consists of deriving a crude predicted environmental concentration (PEC) in the aquatic compartment for the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or its major metabolites, based on predicted amounts used and specific removal rates in sewage treatment or surface waters. If this crude PEC is <0.01 μg/l and no environmental concerns are apparent, no further assessment is deemed necessary. Else, in the second tier, a crude predicted no-effect level (PNEC) for the aquatic compartment is to be extrapolated by dividing the lowest 50%-effect concentration from acute ecotoxicity tests with algae, daphnia or fish (EC50, LC50) by an assessment factor (usually 1000). If the ratio PEC/PNEC is <1, no further assessment is deemed necessary. Lastly, in the third tier, further considerations on a case-by-case basis are needed. This may encompass refining the environmental fate information and thereby the PEC, considering further environmental compartments and their respective PECs (up to and including field studies), but also refining the PNEC. While the ERA addresses mainly the API, excipients of the formulated drug should be considered as well. In the case of medicinal products, the benefit for patients has relative precedence over environmental risks, meaning that even in the case of an unacceptable residual risk for new drugs after third-tier considerations, prohibition of a new API is not taken into consideration. Instead, possible mitigating or precautionary safety measures may consist of specific product labelling (i.e. package leaflets for the patients regarding returning and proper disposal of unused medicines), restricted use through in-hospital or in-surgery administration under supervision only, or the recommendation of environmental analytical monitoring up to ecological field studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper examines maritime spatial planning (MSP) from the perspective of transboundary interaction in the context of the public right of access to environmental information while considering digitisation possibilities. In addition to a theoretical approach, the paper contains an empirical part. The paper presents the background characterising the genesis of MSP in the European Union and its transboundary nature. Following a literature review, the paper offers a characterisation of the right of access to environmental information in the context of MSP transboundary interaction. The empirical part clarifies the availability of basic MSP documentation, namely maritime spatial plans, their cartographic format, and strategic environmental assessments in practice, based partly on communication with the national MSP authorities of the European Union's coastal Member States. The main finding relates to the need to look for approaches offered in the framework of the paper to ensure the digital distribution of basic official MSP information in the context of transboundary interaction in line with the right of access to environmental information in the pertinent legislation and soft law instruments at the international, regional and national levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fast separation of 18 analytes (color developers, sensitizers, dyes) in 10 min. • Quantification without references via UV chromophore concentration and Corona CAD. • Analysis of 211 thermal paper samples from the German market 2018/2019. • Determination of color developers as functional components (> 0.02 wt%). • Color developers Pergafast 201, BPA, BPS, D8, BPS-MAE, D-90, TGSA. Thermal papers (e.g. point of sale receipts, adhesive labels, tickets) significantly contribute to contamination of paper material cycles and the environment with substances of (eco-) toxicological concern. In particular, they contain color developers like endocrine disrupting bisphenols in typical concentrations of about 1–2 percent per weight (wt%). Bisphenol A (BPA) was used as the common color developer over the last decades, but it will be restricted for thermal paper application in the European Union to a limit of 0.02 wt% from 2020 onwards. Consequently, a variety of BPA substituents such as bisphenol S (BPS) and its derivatives gain importance in thermal paper application. In this study, a rapid, reliable and cost-effective method for identification and quantification of BPA, alternative color developers and related substances like sensitizers is presented based on HPLC separation coupled with diode array detection (DAD) and Corona charged aerosol detection (CAD). Quantification was performed with regard to the intended use of the substances in thermal papers. Besides traditional UV external calibration using reference standards, alternative quantification approaches, in particular UV chromophore concentration for BPS derivatives and CAD universal response technique for low-volatile color developers, were applied and compared in order to allow quantification without reference substances. A market analysis for intended used color developers and sensitizers was performed on thermal paper samples (n = 211) collected in Germany during 2018 and 2019. Pergafast 201 (in 41.7% of the samples) was the most common color developer with concentrations above 0.02 wt%, followed by BPA (36.0%), BPS (13.3%) and other BPS derivatives known as D8, D-90, BPS-MAE and TGSA, that are mainly present in adhesive labels. Sensitizers were determined in over 90% of the samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluorescence-based detection of biological complexes on solid substrates is widely used in microarrays and lateral flow tests. Here, we investigate thiol-ene micropillar scaffold sheets ("synthetic paper") as the solid substrate in such assays. Compared to state-of-the-art glass and nitrocellulose substrates, assays on synthetic paper provide a stronger fluorescence signal, similar or better reproducibility, lower limit of detection (LOD), and the possibility of working with lower immunoreagent concentrations. Using synthetic paper, we detected the antibiotic enrofloxacin in whole milk with a LOD of 1.64 nM, which is on par or better than the values obtained with other common tests, and much lower than the maximum level allowed by European Union regulations. The significance of these results lays in that they indicate that synthetically-derived microstructured substrate materials have the potential to improve the performance of diagnostic assays. • "Synthetic paper" thiol-ene micropillar scaffolds form a superior substrate for fluorescence bioassays. • Synthetic paper has lower autofluorescence and results in a lower limit of detection than glass and nitrocellulose. • Using synthetic paper-based microarrays, we detected enrofloxacin in whole milk at levels below EU safety regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently adopted regulatory standards on infant and follow-on formula for the European Union stipulate that from February 2020 onwards, all such products marketed in the European Union must contain 20–50 mg omega-3 DHA (22:6n–3) per 100 kcal, which is equivalent to about 0.5–1% of fatty acids (FAs) and thus higher than typically found in human milk and current infant formula products, without the need to also include ω-6 arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4n–6). This novel concept of infant formula composition has given rise to concern and controversy because there is no accountable evidence on its suitability and safety in healthy infants. Therefore, international experts in the field of infant nutrition were invited to review the state of scientific research on DHA and AA, and to discuss the questions arising from the new European regulatory standards. Based on the available information, we recommend that infant and follow-on formula should provide both DHA and AA. The DHA should equal at least the mean content in human milk globally (0.3% of FAs) but preferably reach 0.5% of FAs. Although optimal AA intake amounts remain to be defined, we strongly recommend that AA should be provided along with DHA. At amounts of DHA in infant formula up to ∼0.64%, AA contents should at least equal the DHA contents. Further well-designed clinical studies should evaluate the optimal intakes of DHA and AA in infants at different ages based on relevant outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data protection directive of the EU was set up to allow the freedom of movement of people between member states. This has the consequence of allowing the freedom of transfer of data between member states in research. The paper discusses three cases discussed during the project to see whether RECs can refuse research based on concern for data protection in some member states. Since the directive is not, as commonly thought, intended to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals - something which is the function of the Data Protection Acts of individual states, Member States do not have a right to prohibit research based on data laws. One must express concerns directly to Brussels. Conversely it is debated whether some research considered unlawful in one particular member state can be refused by this same state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) and EPD-like demands have been gaining importance, particularly due to the release of Product Environmental Footprint by the European Union (EU). EPDs could be demanded in international trade, potentially creating a technical trade barrier for emerging economy countries. Thus, those countries should evaluate their readiness to successfully meet this demand. In this sense, this paper aims to analyse and propose strategies for EPD promotion in Brazil. Brazil's situation regarding life cycle assessment (LCA) and EPD development was analysed considering its business, academic, public policy and consumers contexts. In addition, an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) was elaborated based on interviews with EPD stakeholders in the country. These allowed some strategies to be proposed considering the principle of connecting strengths and opportunities, compensating for weaknesses and neutralizing threats. The results showed that Brazil has a technical and institutional context that enables EPD growth due to the initial stage of LCA database, EPD programs, stakeholders' engagement, and availability of experts. However, in general, these aspects aren't in an adequate level for successful EPD promotion. There is still a large path for EPD understanding and life cycle data availability. Besides, financial and technical restriction, especially considering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), present structural barriers. Nevertheless, by promoting EPD, Brazil could have gains in terms of credibility, access to global markets and environmental awareness. The opposite could happen if the country doesn't seize these opportunities. Furthermore, to influence Product Category Rule (PCR) definitions was said to be a key opportunity to avoid rules that disregard Brazilian singularities. Strategies for EPD promotion should focus on sensitizing and engaging different stakeholders in strategic sectors (civil construction, paper and pulp, coffee, ingredients derived from soya and livestock), enhancing technical capacities and life cycle data generation, and strengthening EPD programs to boost the Brazilian internal market and PCR development. Brazilian institutions should be encouraged to follow international discussions on EPD and internalize them, fostering sustainable production and consumption in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Biobased chemistry has gained interest and has the potential to tackle some of the sustainability challenges the chemical industry must endure. Sustainability impacts need to be evaluated and monitored to highlight the advantages and pitfalls of different biobased routes over the entire product life cycle. This study aims for expert consensus concerning indicators needed and preferred for sustainability analysis of biobased chemicals in Europe. Experts are consulted by means of a Delphi method with stakeholders selected from three core groups: the private, public and academic sector. Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) is performed to gather data on the prioritization of the sustainability indicators per respondent. Afterwards, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is used to develop a consensus ranking among the experts. The results show that GHG emissions , market potential and acceptance of biobased materials are deemed the most crucial indicators for respectively environmental, economic and social sustainability. Expert consensus is positive in all three sustainability domains, with the strongest consensus measured for environmental sustainability showing a median Kendall's τ of 0.63 (τ ranging from -1 to 1) and the weakest consensus found within social sustainability showing a median Kendall's τ of 0.50. Further research can apply the ranked indicators on specific case studies to evaluate the practicability of the defined indicator set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Currently the amount of produced packaging waste, especially that of paper, cardboard, glass and plastics, is increasing year by year. Increasing packaging quantity has forced countries of the European Union to face this problem. The issue is reflected in EU legislation. The European Parliament and further amended by Directives 2004/12/WE and 2005/20/WE, belongs to binding resolutions passed by the European Union. The leading principle of the Directives was to introduce the obligation to provide adequate levels of waste packaging recovery and recycling. The obligation was defined as the percentage of waste packaging recovery and recycling which has to be achieved by EU member countries in relation to the aggregate weight of packaging introduced into the market. Aspiring to join the European Union, Poland was obliged to comply with the environmental protection requirements valid in the Community. Since 1 January 2002, the annual recycling levels of waste packaging are defined in the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers of 30 June 2001. The aim of the present work is to discuss and compare the required and achieved recycling levels of waste packaging (made of plastic, aluminium, paper and cardboard and glass) in Poland in the years 2002–2007 under the influence of EU directives. Featured data show that the required levels of recovery and waste packaging recycling were met and even exceeded in some cases. This result was influenced by the fact that Poland has been a member of the European Union since 1 May 2004. Hence, actions were enforced in Poland pertaining to waste packaging management as well as an obligation to the recycling levels dictated by European directives. An additional stimulus was constituted by a product charge for failing to comply with the recycling target levels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A Zn-MOF luminescent sensor has been successfully synthesized. • The tetracycline can be quantitatively detected by a Zn-MOF luminescent sensor at nM level. • Fluorescent test papers as well as portable fluorescent hydrogels were fabricated for TET determination. Tetracyclines (TET) are a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics that have greatly benefited the medical community and the raising of animals. However, the excessive release of TET poses a major risk to human health. The quantitative TET determination is therefore crucial for maintaining good health. Here, we show a 3D PtS topological Zn(II) metal-organic framework based fluorescence sensor for quantitative TET measurement, formulated as {[Zn(2,6-NBC)(H 2 O)]•0.5(H 2 O)} n (1) (2,6-H 2 NBC = 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxynlic acid). The photoluminescence results indicate that 1 , with a superior fluorescence quenching constant Ksv of 3.15 × 104 M−1, could be used as a potential fluorescent "turn-off" sensor for quantitative TET measurement in a water-ethanol solution. With increasing TET concentration, the fluorescence quenching activity was consistent with a noticeable shift in color from dark to light blue. In addition, a linear association between the fluorescence emissions and low TET concentrations of 0–40 μM could also be observed, and the detection limit can reach as low as 70 nM, much lower than the maximum residue limits of TC in milk defined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the value of 900 nM and the European Union (EU) with the value of 225 nM. In order to make TET determination visibly easier, fluorescent test papers and portable luminous hydrogels have also been developed. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) may account for the fluorescence quenching behavior of 1 for TET determination. The tetracycline can be quantitatively detected by a Zn-MOF luminescent sensor with trace amounts of tetracycline in water at nM level. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper 2 2 This paper was supported by the PRIN project n.2022CZKPMY entitled "Health and Wellbeing of the Elderly", funded by the MUR. we explore the impact of the 2007 European Union enlargement to Romania and Bulgaria on the mental health of documented immigrants from these countries who arrived in Italy before 2007. Using data from a unique administrative data set for the Italian Lombardy region and by employing a difference-in-differences individual fixed effect estimator, we find that this enlargement caused a significant improvement in the mental health of young male immigrants. To shed light on the mechanisms behind these results, we use data from a unique survey administered in the Lombardy region and show that the enlargement mitigates sources of health concerns and increases income and employment stability through permanent job contracts for young male immigrants. Overall, these findings suggest that enhanced labour market conditions due to enlargement may lead to a subsequent important decrease in psychological distress among immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific analysis and media coverage of rampant plastic pollution has taken a toll on the material's reputation in recent years, fueling talk of a "plastic crisis". Brand owners have made ambitious pledges to overcome this crisis—but can voluntary commitments turn the tide? In this paper, we analyze the current flow of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from production to recycling in the European Union (EU). We show that the pledged volume for recycled PET (rPET) to be used in the EU in 2025 amounts to 2.066 m tons, requiring the annual recycling growth rate to double in the next years compared to 2014–2018. Our results indicate that even widespread adoption of deposit return systems for bottles will not suffice, especially when increasing demand from other industries drives the price above the packaging producers' willingness to pay. To realize the pledges, substantial investments and a regulatory framework for the targeted and sensible use of PET recyclate are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The main aim of this study was to analyse scientific and energy production, funding, collaboration among countries and most cited papers on the renewable energies topic through bibliometric and social network study of articles included in the Web of Science database. 12,167 papers were recovered from 2007 to 2016. Wind power is the energy from which a greater number of articles have been published (n = 3,930), followed by solar energy (n = 2,570) and ocean energy (n = 1,565). The United States leads the world production of articles (n = 2,320), followed by China (n = 1,629), the United Kingdom (n = 1007), Germany (n = 730) and Spain (n = 729). China is the leading country in financed works (80%), followed by South Korea (77%), Spain (61%) and the United States (59%). An important level of international collaboration has been identified, notably popping up the triangle made by United States, China and the European Union. Highlights • Scientific study based in the analysis of the energy production, funding and collaboration among countries. • Wind power is the energy from which a greater number of articles have been published. • The United States leads the world production of articles. • China is the leading country in financed works. • The triangle made by United States, China and the European Union have the most important level of collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This special issue presents the main research results from the SANDS project in Hydralab-III, a research project of the European Union. The papers review the scaling and design of mobile bed tests, the role and limits of conventional and new instrumentation and the extrapolation to full scale. The project has focused on innovative systems of opto-acoustic instrumentation, able to recover water and sediments fluxes at an unprecedented level of accuracy and resolution. The research also included large scale experiments at different scales and a critical comparison of experimental and numerical results to improve the state of the art in Coastal Engineering. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

While the Energy Council was still reluctant to step forward, the EU Spring Council of government leaders (Brussels, 23 and 24 March) made a remarkable leap towards a really sustainable policy. The European Commission already senses strong support from the highest levels. Rolf de Vos of GreenPrices.com analyses a political change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Past experience in science has thought us the importance of ethics in research. Research is important to the advancement of medicine and therefore good clinical practice in research maintains public trust which otherwise is not only lost but may cause science to seem negative. The rights of participants in the research trial are discussed. This includes knowledge and information about the research itself, the obligations of the researchers and the rights of participants during the research. The EU Directive on Good Clinical Practice in research trials is reviewed, including the twelve principles of the directive. The function and composition of Research Ethics Committees is discussed in the context of protecting patients and participants, asserting quality and monitoring of the research, qualifications of the scientists and liability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The integration of the EU-member countries continues. An important step of this process was the introduction of the common currency, the Euro coins and bank notes in year 2002. During a time of incidents and events last year, Swedes made up their minds and declined the Euro favouring the Swedish krona in the referendum on 14 September 2003. This is a story about a small EU-member state that still needs time to integrate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Data protection (DP) protects crucial and humane fundamentals - the respect of human rights, particularly protecting aspects of privacy and confidentiality for living and identifiable persons. DP is enshrined in legislation, and this paper will outline the duties of potential data controllers (researchers) when applying for access to data, when processing said data, and what to do with it at the end of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an academic exploration of the shifting landscape of business models toward greater sustainability, considering the environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The United Nations has emphasized the need for companies to prioritize sustainability, leading to scholarly discussions on the topic. While economic sustainability remains important, decision-makers must now navigate the transformation of their business models to incorporate environmental and social sustainability, driven by emerging regulations such as the European Union's Green Deal. This transition may initially appear as an additional task accompanied by potential investment costs and reduced profits. However, it also presents opportunities for economic growth through the creation of new value propositions, entry into untapped markets, access to novel customer segments, the provision of innovative services, and the facilitation of data-driven supply chains. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review on sustainability as a pivotal future value proposition for companies and identifies potential pathways that can leverage its transformative potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Space Trafic Management (STM) has gained relevance in regional and global strategies when there is more significant congestion in space. Ongoing discussions in the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and other fora are reflecting the essence of STM in Europe, in the United States and others. In the US, the 2018 Space Policy Directive-3 on National Space Traffic Management Policy has become a focal eleemnt. More recently, STM was underlined in the European Union – European Space Agency Space Council Orientations of November 2020 as part of the European ambitions to achieve strategic autonomy. In February 2021, the European Commission launched STM as a flagship project under its' Action Plan on Synergies' between the civil, defence, and space industries, aiming to reinforce the European industry's competitiveness. In February 2022, a joint communication on a European Union approach on STM was published. In this regard, STM entails several technological, socio-economic, and regulatory dimensions with significant security implications as reflected in national and regional strategies. This paper focuses on a critical element: the cooperation between the civilian and the military and how organizations effectively address the dual-use aspect concerning STM development under the current legal and regulatory framework. Moreover, it examines how the dual-use element of STM influences space security of space technologies. Successful strategies with tangible outcomes require effective cooperation between the civilian and military actors. Hence, this paper seeks to identify potential legal and regulatory barriers and proposes solutions to accommodate divergent strategic interests and needs in STM future strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• E-waste has become a major environmental concern due to its increasing volume. • Socioeconomic and institutional factors are used to analyse the recycling of EEE. • Annual data from 2010 to 2018 were analysed in 20 EU countries by using a GMM. • GDP per capita, research & development and CO2 emissions decrease EEE recycling. • Education, environmental taxes, and waste collected drive the recycling rate of EEE. Moving from a linear to a circular economy is crucial to reduce environmental pressure. This transition is particularly relevant in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) industry, given that EEE has one of the fastest-growing waste streams. Recycling is one solution for dealing with the growing amounts of this e-waste. Therefore, this paper analyses the drivers and barriers to e-waste recycling, taking into account the role of economic, social, institutional, and behavioural factors. Yearly data from 2010 to 2018 for 20 European Union countries were analysed employing an Arellano-Bond Generalised Method of Moments. The main findings were that, while environmental taxes and education boost the rate of e-recycling, economic growth and R&D appear to reduce it, and certain age groups are less likely to recycle e-waste. Recycling policies should prioritize education, environmental taxes, and addressing reluctance among the young and elderly to recycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of counterfactual simulation methods, this paper quantifies the role of tax–benefit policies in mitigating the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic to household income in the European Union. The tax-benefit microsimulation model for the European Union EUROMOD is used to decompose changes in the income distribution into the effects of: (i) earnings losses due to COVID-19, (ii) automatic stabilizers, (iii) monetary compensation schemes introduced during the pandemic; and (iv) COVID-19-specific reforms to taxes and benefits implemented by European Union governments. The results show a great deal of heterogeneity between countries in terms of earnings losses and the effect of tax-benefit policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In most countries, the largest contribution to cushioning the economic shock of the pandemic comes from monetary compensation schemes. Automatic stabilizers also play a role, mainly through the effects of social insurance contributions, taxes, and unemployment insurance benefits. Tax-benefit systems cushioned incomes to a large extent even among those most severely affected by the shock to earnings, with an important role for monetary compensation schemes, but also a larger stabilizing effect of unemployment insurance. Among automatic stabilizers, social assistance benefits played an important role in cushioning the income shock for the poorest quintiles among the most severely affected, but only in selected countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 25 tonnes of small combustible waste were sampled in Denmark. • More than half of the small combustible waste was recyclable material fractions. • Recycling these recyclable fractions would increase national recycling rate by 12%. • These recyclable fractions would contribute to saving 27 kg CO 2 -eq/capita/year. Europe is currently adapting its waste management strategies towards the increased recycling of waste materials, motivated by ambitious recycling targets. This requires correctly sorting and recovering of all relevant waste flows. In Denmark, a considerable share of residential household waste is collected at recycling centres, 16% of which is sent to energy recovery in the form of "small combustible waste". Although essential in order to enhance the management of household waste, very little information exists on its composition. In this study, 25 tonnes of small combustible waste were sampled from eight Danish recycling centres and classified according to material fraction, application and physical properties. On this basis, the potential contribution to the overall recycling rate was evaluated together with estimation of the potential environmental savings associated with recycling of these fractions. Less than half of the sampled waste comprised combustible materials, whereas recyclable fractions accounted for 47–64%, mainly including textiles, plastics and paper waste. Assuming this composition applicable to the national level, recycling these waste materials collected as small combustibles increased national recycling rates for households by 12%, calculated as waste received at recycling processes. Moreover, the potential climate change savings associated with recycling of Danish household waste increased by 30% compared to the current level. Plastics, textiles and paper were the main contributors to this increase, suggesting that improved sorting practices for these materials should be prioritised. The study demonstrates that detailed compositional data for waste materials has paramount importance when estimating recycling potentials and quantifying the associated environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Identify gaps in state-of-the-art research to support healthcare AI trustworthiness. • Explore the explainable AI and fusion in healthcare. • Explore legitimacy, morality, and robustness standards for AI policymakers. • Assessment quality, bias risk, and data fusion for medical AI trustworthiness. • Examine eight research gaps to guide future study and assist researchers. In the last few years, the trend in health care of embracing artificial intelligence (AI) has dramatically changed the medical landscape. Medical centres have adopted AI applications to increase the accuracy of disease diagnosis and mitigate health risks. AI applications have changed rules and policies related to healthcare practice and work ethics. However, building trustworthy and explainable AI (XAI) in healthcare systems is still in its early stages. Specifically, the European Union has stated that AI must be human-centred and trustworthy, whereas in the healthcare sector, low methodological quality and high bias risk have become major concerns. This study endeavours to offer a systematic review of the trustworthiness and explainability of AI applications in healthcare, incorporating the assessment of quality, bias risk, and data fusion to supplement previous studies and provide more accurate and definitive findings. Likewise, 64 recent contributions on the trustworthiness of AI in healthcare from multiple databases (i.e., ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore) were identified using a rigorous literature search method and selection criteria. The considered papers were categorised into a coherent and systematic classification including seven categories: explainable robotics, prediction, decision support, blockchain, transparency, digital health, and review. In this paper, we have presented a systematic and comprehensive analysis of earlier studies and opened the door to potential future studies by discussing in depth the challenges, motivations, and recommendations. In this study a systematic science mapping analysis in order to reorganise and summarise the results of earlier studies to address the issues of trustworthiness and objectivity was also performed. Moreover, this work has provided decisive evidence for the trustworthiness of AI in health care by presenting eight current state-of-the-art critical analyses regarding those more relevant research gaps. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the feasibility of utilising trustworthy and XAI applications in healthcare, by incorporating data fusion techniques and connecting various important pieces of information from available healthcare datasets and AI algorithms. The analysis of the revised contributions revealed crucial implications for academics and practitioners, and then potential methodological aspects to enhance the trustworthiness of AI applications in the medical sector were reviewed. Successively, the theoretical concept and current use of 17 XAI methods in health care were addressed. Finally, several objectives and guidelines were provided to policymakers to establish electronic health-care systems focused on achieving relevant features such as legitimacy, morality, and robustness. Several types of information fusion in healthcare were focused on in this study, including data, feature, image, decision, multimodal, hybrid, and temporal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recruitment of patients must occur in accordance with approved standards. Speaking to a patient during a routine clinical consultation and offering to participate in a research, even if consented to, can only be an introduction to the recruitment process. The potential participant must then be referred to a competent person who explains the reasons for the research, why the patient is a good candidate, what the requirements from the participant will be, such as any additional visits and blood samples to be taken, how long the research will last, any compensation and what type of research is to be undertaken, such as a double blind-controlled trial and what it means. Participants must be given due time to reflect, discuss with friends or relatives, and have a contact person and number to be free to ask any questions. Their rights during the research have to be explicitly described and the extent to which the data is anonymised and protected must be explained realistically. Compensation moreover must be fair and not too enticing that it will cloud the judgement of the participant to volunteer. As the name implies the participant must remain a volunteer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Insights into the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management. • Developed a generic system dynamics model simulating the stock and flow of WEEE. • Applied the model to eleven WEEE categories in the United Kingdom. • Sensitivity and backcasting scenario analyses of landfilled WEEE targets. • Identified enhancing collection rates as the best way to reduce landfilled WEEE. Every year an estimated two million tonnes of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) are discarded by householders and companies in the United Kingdom (UK). While the UK has left the European Union (EU), its waste-related policies still mirror those of the EU, including the WEEE-related policies. Motivated by the recent introduction the so-called 'Right to Repair' policy for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) across the EU and UK, this paper aims to demonstrate that, depending on the commitment and behavioural changes by the consumers and the government, the future of the WEEE management of the UK will vary. To this end, focusing on landfilled WEEE reduction we develop a generic system dynamics model and apply it to eleven WEEE categories. They depict the flow of EEE and WEEE representing the interaction among the stakeholders (e.g., consumers and producers of EEE) and relevant government regulations of the UK. Our four scenario analyses find that longer use of EEE and better WEEE collection seem to be effective in reducing landfilled WEEE, while more reuse and more recycling and recovery have negligible impacts, despite excluding the additional generation of landfilled WEEE as a result of recycling and recovery. Comparing with the business-as-usual scenario, one year longer EEE use and 10% more of WEEE collection could at maximum reduce landfilled WEEE by 14.05% of monitoring and control instruments and 93.93% of display equipment respectively. Backcasting scenario analyses reveal that significant efforts are required to reduce the targeted amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution and freshwater scarcity are growing problems not only in Europe but all over the world. Water reuse contributes significantly to water sustainability and brings many environmental, economic, and social benefits. The European Union (EU) has recently been addressing water-related problems with great commitment. Unfortunately, the total production of wastewater in the European Union is unknown. The situation in the EU is not satisfactory, as only 2.5% of treated wastewater is reused. The first contribution of this study is the estimation of the total amount of wastewater produced annually in the EU. It is estimated that half of this amount comes from industry, namely over 25,500 million m3. Therefore, this study aims to review and analyze the current state of the industrial wastewater (IWW) issue in the EU and to put it in the context of current EU legislation, targets, and water reuse policy. Moreover, since water reuse technologies are energy intensive, the focus is given to the techno-economic impact of IWW reuse. The energy consumption and investment costs in relation to the amount of water treated have been determined for filtration only, minimum liquid discharge (MLD), and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. Reclaiming 80% of IWW would increase industrial energy consumption by only 4.1%, and investment costs would amount to only 1.5% of the EU GDP. Further, the assessment was focused on the paper & pulp industry, which is among the largest wastewater producers. Implementing efficient water reuse technology in this industry could mean up to 3,449 Mm3/year of reclaimed water. [Display omitted] • Overview of EU legislation with recommendations for future EU policy is presented. • Total amount of wastewater from industry was determined as over 25,500 million m3. • Significant water savings in the industry are possible (80%) using MLD. • Water savings in the paper and pulp industry can be up to 3449 Mm3/year. • 80% of IWW reuse would cost only 1.5% of EU GDP and increase ECI only by 4.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper analyses the evolution of renewable energy generation in the European Union through a decomposition analysis based on the Index Decomposition Analysis together with the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index within the EU27 between 2000 and 2020. A four factors decomposition approach is considered for decomposing the total RES generation and a five factors model is employed to decompose the carbon emissions. Furthermore, a focus on wind and solar photovoltaic generation is introduced through a four factors decomposition calculated in the period 2010–2020. The most influential factors affecting the RES generation trend in the period 2000–2020 are the RES share and energy efficiency wich determined an increase of 1841 TWh and a decrease of 635 TWh respectively. Variations of carbon emissions are mostly affected by the energy intensity, namely the amount of energy necessary to produce one unit of GDP, which determined a reduction of 1040 Mt. Through the decomposition analysis, the paper successfully identifies the specific drivers supporting RES development and controlling carbon emissions, thus adequate policy measures can be designed to reach planned targets. • LMDI methodology is used to study decomposition of RES generation in EU. • Technical and socio-economic factors are highlighted by using 4 or 5 factors identity. • Technical factors have the main impact on the increase in RES generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article approximates the concept of Critical Information Literacy based on the Educability project: Building the Capacity of Educators & Librarians in Information Literacy. Funded by the European Union and conducted between 2020 and 2023 by four European universities, this project aims to address contemporary socio-technological challenges through information literacy training. Methodology encompasses a literature review, analysis of target audience needs, and a Delphi study to assess the proposed curriculum design. This paper focuses on the current dimension of Critical Information Literacy, emphasizing its role in promoting equity, preventing misinformation, and fostering critical thinking in an evolving digital environment. Findings reveal a progression in defining Critical Information Literacy, emphasizing the promotion of critical thinking and engagement with information sources, urging individuals to question established practices. Through a Delphi study involving experts, key definitions were evaluated and categorized, informing the development of a training course. The study underscores the evolving role of academic librarians in facilitating critical engagement with information amidst societal changes. It also highlights the importance of addressing emerging digital challenges, such as misinformation and algorithmic bias, through innovative educational approaches. Overall, the research contributes to advancing Critical Information Literacy and digital skills training, fostering informed citizenship and social responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First Multiple Linear Regression analysis of waste management systems in EU capitals. • Door-to-door bio-waste collection linked to higher overall dry recyclables capture. • On average, dry recyclables sorting doubled in capitals with door-to-door bio-waste collection. • Linkage between door-to-door bio-waste collection and boosted sorting needs further research. • Convenience, communication campaigns and system maturity likely causal factors. • Severe lack of available data hampers evidence-based EU policymaking. The European Union Waste Framework Directive revised in 2018 sets an ambitious target of recycling 55 percent of municipal solid waste by 2025. Separate waste collection is an important prerequisite for achieving this target, but progress is uneven among Member States and has slowed down in recent years. This makes it paramount to identify effective waste management systems to enable higher recycling rates. Waste management systems vary greatly within Member States and are established by municipalities or district authorities, making the city-level the ideal level of analysis. Based on quantitative analysis of data from 28 European Union capitals (pre-Brexit), this paper speaks to debates about the effectiveness of waste management systems more broadly and the role of door-to-door bio-waste collection in particular. Drawing on encouraging findings in literature, we investigate whether door-to-door bio-waste collection contributes to boosting the collection of dry recyclables such as glass, metal, paper and plastic. Employing Multiple Linear Regression, we sequentially test for 13 control variables including six related to different waste management system and seven controls related to urban, economic and political aspects. We find evidence that door-to-door bio-waste collection is associated with greater amounts of separately collected dry recyclables. Cities with door-to-door bio-waste collection, on average, sort 60 kg per capita per year more of dry recyclables. Although the causal mechanisms behind such a relationship need further investigation, this finding indicates that European Union waste management could benefit from a stronger promotion of door-to-door bio-waste collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In September 2020, the European Union (EU) decided to include the maritime industry into the EU emissions trading system to effectively control carbon emissions from ships, namely the maritime emissions trading system (METS). Various allocation and trading schemes are adopted in practice. This paper investigates a comparison of allocation and trading schemes of the METS from the perspective of liner shipping carriers and regulators, respectively. We explore how to determine the optimal allocation and trading scheme of the METS and how the liner shipping route (LSR) choice decision (following or avoiding the METS) and carbon emissions will be affected. For liner shipping carriers, we use a mixed-integer linear programming model that aims to reduce carriers' costs to formulate our problem. For regulators, we present a bi-level programming model that aims to reduce carbon emissions. In numerical experiments, we further analyze the impact of joining the METS on the scheme choice, LSR choice and emissions by considering the European Economic Area and the Red Sea being covered by the METS. Numerical experiments are provided to show the effectiveness of our proposed models. • Investigate allocation and trading schemes of the maritime emission trading system. • Propose a liner shipping route choice problem. • Develop a mixed-integer linear programming model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effect of financial sanctions at the most disaggregated level possible, individual bank accounts. Using data from the Eurosystem's real-time gross settlement system TARGET2, we provide empirical evidence that sanctions imposed by the European Union on Russian banks following Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 have sizably reduced financial transactions with sanctioned Russian bank accounts, both along the extensive and intensive margins. Among the various sanction measures taken, exclusion from SWIFT, a global provider of secure financial messaging services, turns out to have the largest effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of implementing the Nagoya Protocol regarding access to genetic resources, diffusing updated BioTrade Principles by UNCTAD, and largely spreading reflections on global value chains (GVC), cosmetic companies involved in corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies are eager to build sustainable and responsible supply chains for their raw materials. In southern countries, the "green gold" assertion brings hope to bioresource valorizations as development opportunities, but also suspicion regarding foreign interest. Building a value chain there requires a clear understanding of local situations. This paper contributes to the field of value-chain analyses through a feedback study of the failed implementation of a plant supply chain in an overseas French territory. Located in South America, French Guiana is a European Union outermost enclave in Amazonia. It has rich biodiversity associated with a wide range of traditional knowledge. Ten years ago, a project to build a sustainable supply chain with Piper marginatum was implemented there. Based on recent interviews with the actors involved in the project, this paper retraces the project chronology, describes the obstacles it met, and analyses its limitations and its perception by those participating in it. This value-chain project was built under the principles of BioTrade, but it still failed. Lack of proper monitoring, quality control, local support and long-term commitment of all partners resulted in its rapid abandonment. This paper outlines recommendations for future value chains in general and more specifically on French Guiana biodiversity. • This feedback study illustrates difficulties for implementing UNCTAD BioTrade Principles. • This supply chain failed experiment highlights constraints for building Global Value Chains (GVC). • Bioresource valorization projects in French overseas territories need a clear understanding of local situations. • Benefit sharing and Nagoya Protocol still seldom benefit to local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act focuses on establishing harmonized rules across EU Member States so that AI systems are safe, transparent, and respectful of existing laws and fundamental rights. It introduces a risk-based regulatory approach, classifying AI applications by risk levels and imposing stringent compliance requirements on high-risk applications. The paper critically examines the Act's provisions, including its prohibitions on certain AI practices, requirements for high-risk AI systems, and mandates for transparency and human oversight. The paper examines the implications of the Act for international trade and technological regulation, particularly in the context of the World Trade Organization's Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement. It addresses the Act's potential impact on developing countries, highlighting concerns that the Act's uniform standards could potentially exacerbate the digital divide and create barriers in global AI innovation and trade. The paper suggests incorporating flexibility and differential standards in the Act, enhancing technical assistance for developing countries, and advocating the EU's active participation in global standard-setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]