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Purpose: This paper uses the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explain entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) among students from different South-East (SE) European countries, considering various personal and situational variables. The authors examine how the regional cultural context affects individual perceptions and beliefs about entrepreneurship, which in turn form the basis of the cognitive antecedents of the TPB model. Design/methodology/approach: Using a sample of 850 respondents, the authors estimate a two-level model, addressing the issue of endogeneity in the relationship between attitudes and beliefs and the respondents' EI. Specifically, the authors focus on heterogeneity across nations in attitudes toward entrepreneurial behavior (ATEB), subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Findings: The results show that the perceived behavioral control and the attitude toward entrepreneurial behavior are the main determinants of Balkan students' EI. The authors find that the role of SE European culture in entrepreneurship intentions does not follow the Western pattern. In this particular regional environment dominated by collectivist culture, students' EIs are influenced more by cooperation, caring for others and other non-monetary benefits. Research limitations/implications: Like any study, this study has limitations. First, all the variables were measured using a single questionnaire. Although common method bias was shown not to be an issue, in future research different variables should be measured with different methods. For instance, using the items by Liñán and Chen (2009) which were developed in the United States of America, to measure SE European students' entrepreneurial perceived behavioral control might ignore some requisite resources or abilities typical for SE European students, such as personal relational network (similar to the notion of guanxi in China (see, e.g. Hwang et al., 2009). Second, Busenitz et al. (2000) indicate that cross-national differences in entrepreneurship are best explained by a broader set of institutions, i.e. educational and governmental support agencies. In general, the empirical evidence on the relationship between national culture and entrepreneurial behavior is mixed and this is generally agreed that an important issue that needs to be considered is the interactions between cultural values, social institutions, industry characteristics and outcomes such as entrepreneurship (Hayton et al., 2002). In the future, similar studies could include respondents with a larger dispersion of prior education, age, and human, social and financial capital. Practical implications: The existence of support received in the family environment and the lack of individualistic and competitive aspirations create a more favorable environment for a young person to become entrepreneur. This must be taken seriously into account by educators and policy makers aiming at encouraging entrepreneurship, because in the societies studied here the motivation of prospective entrepreneurs depends on totally different drivers than those usually encountered in the Western world. Furthermore, from a gender perspective, the authors' study suggests that in societies with stronger family ties and more gender discrimination, an individual's closer social environment may not create the appropriate context for women to decide to become entrepreneurs. Social implications: A strong hierarchical culture in a society goes against the intention of becoming an entrepreneur. That is, when people accept that social mobility is low and, thus, reversing people's relative positions in the society is unlikely, people are less prone to becoming entrepreneurs. In Western societies, where collectivism is low, the contrary holds. In the societies considered here, where family and social links are strong, entrepreneurship is considered to be a rather safer option, which is encouraged by non-individualistic values and is negatively associated with aggressive competitiveness. In those societies, formal institutions such as the government and the educational sector could play an important role to support prospective female entrepreneurs (Borges et al., 2021). Originality/value: The motivation of prospective entrepreneurs in SE European countries depends on totally different drivers than those usually encountered in the Western world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the question of what settings are empirically relevant for the occurrence of electoral violence in the region of Western Balkans and what theoretical paths may cover their logic. Electoral violence has been part of the electoral arenas in the region for decades and although it has evolved and in some cases disappeared, a number of countries still experience it. The paper analyses original data on electoral violence collected from the OSCE monitoring reports covering fifty‐six parliamentary elections organized between 1990 and 2015. Applying fuzzy‐set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), the paper identifies four sub‐models under which electoral violence is observed. The conjunctural logic that defines each and every of the discussed paths within the sub‐models shows that the scenarios of electoral violence in the Western Balkans are always complex and potentially relevant conditions are never sufficient for the outcome on their own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This paper presents a survey of Scutellaria orientalis subsp. pinnatifida in Bosnia and Herzegovina and includes distribution data and a map of localities in Bosnia and Herzegovina based on a revision of herbarium specimens from SARA, literature data and in-field observations. After 40 years, the occurrence of Scutellaria orientalis subsp. pinnatifida in Bosnia and Herzegovina is confirmed and its distribution is extended to a new locality. The paper presents a short morphological description and photographs of the taxon. Besides its precise distribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the paper gives information about distribution of this taxon in other Balkan countries and Romania. Given the present occurrence in the area, the taxon should be considered as Critically Endangered (CR) in the updated version of the Red List of the Federation of B&H. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving sustainable market economies in the Western Balkan countries will depend on a number of barriers being overcome. For this reason, these countries lack competitiveness in the business environment. Many problems in the business environment are persistent but common problems across of the countries of this region are getting electricity and construction permits. These problems or barriers are set out in Doing Business Reports of World Bank. The paper reviews doing business in Western Balkan countries especially in Kosovo and North Macedonia. The main goal of this paper is to analyze of the advantages of doing business in Kosovo and North Macedonia, where does Kosovo stand in terms of doing business in relation to North Macedonia and what Kosovo needs to learn from North Macedonia in order to improve the business environment. To achieve the set goal, we have used the integrative review method. The results show that North Macedonia is a leader in the Western Balkans in doing business because the great campaign done by the Macedonian institutions for attracting Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). So, Kosovo should be based on North Macedonian practices. A new investment campaign in Kosovo would certainly have a positive impact on business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research paper is to present empirical results on a tested framework of factors influencing selected frontier stock markets of the Western Balkan countries in their accession path to the European Union. These stock markets are juxtaposed with the frontier stock market of Bulgaria - a country full member of the EU in the course of 11 years now, thereby inferring important comparative conclusions. Based on the comparative analysis between the capital markets in Southern and Eastern Europe (including that of Bulgaria), the paper proposes tentative insights into the road ahead for future regional integration and financial development of the capital markets of the Western Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite high levels of societal homophobia, Western Balkan countries have recently passed laws proscribing anti-LGBT violence. The laws, however, are rarely used, as these countries report few or no recorded cases. The question is: Why do Western Balkan countries legislate against homophobia, but then fail to operationalize that legislation? Hate studies, still over-focused on the West, do not provide the answer. The aim of this paper is to offer a possible explanation based on a combination of secondary data provided by the OSCE and primary research undertaken by the author. Using the theory of Europeanization as an explanatory frame, the paper argues that hate crime laws are enacted as part of the democratization process, with the support of the OSCE and NGOs, and under EU influence. As this is done before favourable sentiments are assured, insufficient resources are put into the policing and monitoring of hate crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of TEME: Casopis za Društvene Nauke is the property of TEME: Casopis za Drustvene Nauke 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 Botanica Serbica is the property of University of Belgrade, Institute of Botany & Botanical Garden Jevremovac 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 analyse the concessionary mineral resource policies of the Ministry of Economy according to the planning regions in the North Macedonia. Concession-winning companies accomplish their development plans, contribute to the economic development of the municipality and of the region where the concession is approved. These government public policies have positive fiscal effects on the budgets of the municipalities and of the ministry of the economy. The findings of the paper argue that mineral concession policies do not contribute to the reduction of developmental disparities between regions in North Macedonia. The authors intend to contribute to the elimination of this shortcoming through the diversification of the criteria in the concession process, the stimulation of small and medium-sized companies, granting government subsidies based on planning regions. The paper has its shortcomings related to the different organization at municipal and regional level compared to the Western Balkan countries, which makes it impossible to make a relevant comparison between the situation in North Macedonia and the Western Balkan countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Colloquia Humanistica is the property of Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Slavic Studies 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 sense of optimism for the enlargement of the European Union in the near-future has been evaporating. A new strategy paper on EU enlargement which was issued by the European Commission in February 2018 seems to still be based on a 'fatigue from expansion' approach to enlargement, even though it states that Serbia and Montenegro 'could potentially be ready for membership [by] 2025'. This paper discusses the bumpy road the Western Balkan states have faced towards EU accession from the early 2000s to the present day. In addition to more challenging domestic political and economic conditions, these states have also been required to meet tougher and more variable accession conditions in comparison to the post-communist states that joined the EU in and after 2004. The inconsistency and vagueness of the EU approach to the accession of the Western Balkan states remains the most important factor behind the continued postponements of their accession dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new technologies is considered a revolution because it has interconnected micro and macro cultures, has influenced socio-economic developments, and is gradually transferring our social life to the virtual one. Today, life without information technology is unimaginable and every communication is done through new technologies. On the other hand, the privacy and misuse of personal data are directly endangering personal freedom. The Balkan countries are as well part of this technological development but are also heavily challenged by different unidentified risks. Kosovo has a young population and is considered to have the youngest population in Europe. About 96.4% of households have access to the internet. This paper aims to analyze the development of new technologies in societies in transition, especially in Kosovo, the challenges, the issue of privacy, and the future of information technology. The methodology applied within this paper is the study of literature and the development of qualitative research. The findings demonstrate that Kosovo has quickly embraced information technology, digitized its public services, and installed some of the region's most cutting-edge technologies, such as 3D printers, but it is also highly vulnerable to cyber-attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroeconomic stability is one of the important factors influencing the growth and development of national economies in today's modern global economy. Economic policy should create conditions for macroeconomic stability and economic growth based on increased investment, exports, savings, productivity, and competitiveness, while reducing macroeconomic imbalances, especially the fiscal deficit, inflation, and the current account deficit. In order to achieve macroeconomic stability, as well as sustainable economic growth, it is important to pursue a rational economic policy and carry out accelerated structural reforms. The main objective of the paper is to analyze the impact of key indicators, i.e., export and import of goods and services and FDI on economic growth of the Western Balkans countries. Such an analysis is important to show the state of the economy and predict its stability. The research focuses on the countries of the Western Balkans, while the analysis uses secondary data from the UNCTAD database for the period 2011-2020. The research results indicate that Serbia is progressing much faster than other countries of the Western Balkans. In the coming period, a growth trend can be expected in all Western Balkan countries, which will result in better economic development and increasing openness to new investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article summarizes the results of research by Czech ethnologists and sociocultural anthropologists on groups of Czech compatriots in the Balkans. The first part of the text is a short introduction to the issue, where the reader learns about the historical context, locations and circumstances of the formation of Czech compatriot groups. The following text is structured into three parts, which are defined by major historical events that have significantly influenced Czech society and Czech social sciences. The main aim of this article is to provide the reader with an overview of the key research papers that deal with the topic of compatriots in the Balkans. Furthermore, it will summarize and briefly assess the trends and methods that were a typical for the period. An important part of this text is the accompanying list of literature, which is a (selective) selection of the most important research papers of Czech ethnologists and anthropologists on compatriots in the Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Proceedings of the Faculty of Economics in East Sarajevo / Zbornik Radova Ekonomskog Fakulteta u Istočnom Sarajevu is the property of University of East Sarajevo 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.)

During the COVID-19 outbreak, when all human activities have moved from physical to virtual society, Western Balkan countries (WB6) had seen tremendous success with online learning platforms. The way forward was to promote remote learning and the use of online learning platforms, to continue supporting students to gain access to the necessary equipment for remote learning, and to provide teachers with digital learning opportunities on how to teach online, to share their resources and to give and receive feedback. The objective of this paper is to analyze alternative paths to education through the prism of online learning readiness. Student attributes required to engage in distance learning (e.g. knowledge of technology in use, time management, organization, selfmotivation, online technology interactions, etc.) vary greatly from student to student, so that large institutions are implementing efforts to address varying levels of readiness and preparedness that may influence student success. As central and local governments in developing countries continue to work on the implementation of educational policies and programs for the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education, the need to assess and evaluate the extent to which such technologies are effective is increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses and re-evaluates current explanations and interpretations of the origins, development and societal context of metallurgy in the Balkans (c. 6200–3700 BC). The early metallurgy in this region encompasses the production, distribution and consumption of copper, gold, tin bronze, lead and silver. The paper draws upon a wide range of existing archaeometallurgical and archaeological data, the diversity and depth of which make the Balkans one of the most intensively investigated of all early metallurgical heartlands across the world. We focus specifically on the ongoing debates relating to (1) the independent invention and innovation of different metals and metal production techniques; (2) the analysis and interpretation of early metallurgical production cores and peripheries, and their collapses; and (3) the relationships between metals, metallurgy and society. We argue that metal production in the Balkans throughout this period reflects changes in the organisation of communities and their patterns of cooperation, rather than being the fundamental basis for the emergence of elites in an increasingly hierarchical society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Yearbook of the Faculty of Political Sciences / Godisnjak Fakultet Politickih Nauka Beograd is the property of University of Belgrade, Faculty of Political Sciences 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.)

In the context of a tacit agreement, when "Stolipinovo" is mentioned in the public space, which in popular media discourse is considered to be the biggest urban ghetto on the Balkans, this quarter's name inevitably starts a logical chain, dominated not only by pejorative associations, but also by a pervasive and artificially imposed stigma that puts all its inhabitants under a common banner—this is a "gypsy neighbourhood". Departing from this common and widespread narrative, this paper, based on a long-term ethnographic study in the neighbourhood, will instead reconstruct it as a specific social space can be explained by taking into account its pluralistic and inhomogeneous nature and taking into account the dynamics of daily life within the neighbourhood, distinguished by its diversity and variability, but also by the distinctiveness of a particular model of "living together". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the enormous inflow of international assistance to the Western Balkans over the last 25 years, the intended state-building efforts have only had partial success and great concerns have been raised over the problems of state capture, weak governance, poor rule of law and widespread corruption at a high level throughout the region. The paper identifies the patterns of international assistance and examines the extent to which donor aid allocations have been driven by concerns for recipients' need and merit, or by donor self-interest. The analysis reveals that while donor allocations have on the whole reflected need, they have not reflected merit to the same extent, suggesting that international assistance may have facilitated domestic political elites' engagement in practices of rent-seeking and state capture. With a few exceptions, EU donors and EU Institutions have not allocated their aid to motivate adherence to EU norms in candidate and potential candidate states in the region. The paper concludes that the 'Samaritans dilemma' is alive and well in the Western Balkans, and that donors have chosen to mostly overlook poor governance behaviour among recipients in order to prioritise assistance to the neediest countries while pursuing their own foreign policy concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics 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.)

The paper deals with the names for fig tree Ficus carica in the languages and dialects of the western part of the Balkan Peninsula (mainly in Albanian and Serbo-Croatian). The most ancient names of fig tree in the region are explored: Grk. συκιά, σύκα (< σῦκον, τῦκον), Lat. fīcus, and also Dalmat./Ital. pruna, brun-, mur-/mor etc. and South Slav. smokvа. The paper gives a complete classifi cation of more than 120 Albanian and Serbo-Croatian names for fig and its varieties. It is based on different characteristics (including – fruits’: size, colour, shape, flavour, moisture, the time of ripening, the thickness of the peel etc.). These names are etymologically analyzed. The phytonyms derived from expressive words, proper names and place names as well as facts of xeno-nomination are shown. It is demonstrated that the name of fig tree was given to some other plants: prickly pear, agave and birthwort. The name of fig fruit got into somatic lexis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the activity of transnational organized crime in the Westerns Balkans region, particularly the activity of trafficking in narcotics and money laundry. This problematic phenomenon is treated on the aspect of newly created circumstances in the age of globalization, where the entire world is facing the transformation in the political and economic aspect - developments that are impacting the field of security as well. In this period, these countries faced institutional fragility, lack of proper capacities in fight against new forms of organized criminality, lack of inter-state cooperation etc. this situation was used as an opportunity by the criminal organizations with their reach in the entire region, creating the so called Balkan Road which is used for trafficking of narcotics towards Western Europe countries. In this research is expressed the amount of narcotics trafficked and illicit profits from this activity, divided by regional countries for the period 2009-2012. This paper argues how transnational organized crime by exploiting the globalization era facilities has adapted to these newly created circumstances and is increasingly exceeding the capabilities of the countries of a traditional organizations and forms of security in responding appropriately. The interstate cooperation aspect and the use of an interactive approach at technical and operational levels is increasingly being considered as a tangible opportunity to deal with this phenomenon. The paper draws conclusions on how the organized crime threats have had influence on security approaches in the Western Balkans as well as pushing the countries towards an inter-state approach in addressing these threats. Security field contemporary literature as well as reports and assessments of various security agencies have been used in drawing research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the factors for the 'big moment' of the far right, its Big Bang, i.e, when far-right parties transform from marginal 'groupuscules' into considerable political players. It is the moment when political supply and social demand interact, like two elements in a chemical reaction, and are transformed into far-right vote; the far-right redox. What are the conditions and the catalyst that allow the far-right redox to take place? Discussing the importance of the media as a resource for all political actors, and especially the far-right party family and analysing examples from three Balkan countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia), Greece and France, the working hypothesis is that a necessary and sufficient condition is the occurrence of a media-induced event that acts as a catalyst, leading to their rise from the political margins to the political mainstream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has recently been observed, that a change in the crop spectrum happened during the so-called Middle Neolithic in France at ca. 4000 BC. An agricultural system based on free-threshing cereals (naked wheat and naked barley) seems to shift to one based on glume wheats. This is a major change for traditional farmers and this paper aims to shed light on its possible causes. Here we describe the results of new investigations in a key area for the understanding of this process: the NW Mediterranean arch, where free-threshing cereals are the main cultivars since ca. 5100 BC. New data confirm that the shift towards glume wheats is also observed in some sites of the NE of the Iberian Peninsula and that among the glume wheats that spread at ca. 4000 BC we should not only consider emmer and einkorn but also Timopheevi's wheat. Stable isotope analyses indicate no major decrease in soil fertility or alterations in local precipitation regimes. The agricultural change may be the result of a combination of the spread of damaging pests for free-threshing cereals and presumably new networks being developed with the North-eastern part of Italy and the Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an economic policy, currency substitution – the use of a foreign currency in lieu of a domestic currency – is rarely associated with nationalism. This is due to a natural tendency to equate nationalism with economic mercantilism and with the political need to foster nationalist feelings among the population. This need not to be the case, though, as the case of the newly independent Montenegro demonstrates. How can we explain the apparent inconsistency between nationalist leaders fighting for independence and opting to use the currency of the European Union (EU), the quintessential supra-national entity? This paper suggests that conventional explanations need to be complemented with a contextual historical analysis of nationalism. By incorporating the fluid and multifaceted nature of nationalism which, in the hands of skilful political elites, can be reframed to include apparently contradictory positions, I suggest that euroisation has been extremely consistent with nationalist goals. As the content and directionality of nationalist discourse shifted, the euro was transformed into a symbol of national identity in this Newly Independent Country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whistleblowing, as concept covering the institutional dimension and its practical manifestations, took different forms in the Western Balkans. Using a rational choice institutionalist definition of Europeanization, the research explores the conceptual framework of whistleblowing and the protection of whistleblowers as an underlining element of rule of law in the European Union. Subsequently, the paper presents the evolution of whistleblowing as element of EU's conditionality in relation to the Western Balkan countries, describing the events, the stakeholders and the role played by EU's conditionality in adopting whistleblowing laws. Case studies covering Serbia, Albania and Kosovo, as three states in different stages of accession to the European Union, analyze the evolution of legislation that ensure the protection of whistleblowers, the timeframe ranging differently for each country due to the moment they first adopted such legislation, searching to understand the role played by European Union's institutions in shaping the development and adoption processes of such legislation. Finally, the paper uses rational choice institutionalism to explain the dynamics within the principal-agent relation and why, as confirmed in literature, certain reforms are not lasting if they do not include elements to enhance their role within the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is not any longer as it used to be before the Russian aggression in Ukraine, was the dominant political statement as the war started. war in Ukraine is the most impactful development in post-Soviet international relations and security arrangements in Europe and beyond. Based on the multifaceted impact it had, it can be considered of a global impact. It affected the post-war international order foundations, driving states' and great powers' behaviour changes to reconsider their foreign policy, geo-political and geostrategic objectives. The same can be claimed about the major powers' policies towards the Western Balkans. The Russian assertive and aggressive behaviour, the US further commitment, and the EU revival of the enlargement policy. The paper aims to look at the impact of the war in Ukraine in the Western Balkans as a region and at individual countries. It will try to explore how such developments pushed the major power present in the region, the EU, the US, and Russia to reconsider their policies towards the region, and how this impacted the foreign policies of the Western Ballkan states in turn? The paper will be based on secondary sources, policy papers, documents, reports, media news, and other relevant sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pregled is the property of University of Sarajevo 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 White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) is one of the only two taxa representatives of the Family Ciconiidae (Storks) that nest in Bulgaria. The species is protected both on the territory of the country and the EU, and is included in the subject and conservation objectives of many SPAs in the country, part of the European ecological network NATURA 2000. In this paper we present the number, etiology, condition and treatment outcome of over 2,900 specimens of the species accepted for treatment in the period 1999 - 2021. These are patients of the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Center in Stara Zagora, which is leading unit for ex-situ conservation of wildlife protected and rare bird species not only in the country but also on the Balkan Peninsula. The outcome of the treatment of all white storks is presented in 4 main categories - returned to nature, housed for aviary breeding, redirected to other ex-situ structurers, as well as lethal outcome. We evaluated the influence of different etiological factors, age and season on the treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Sekretär is the property of Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Herpetologie und Terrarienkunde eV 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.)

Studies of the upper 447 m of the DEEP site sediment succession from central Lake Ohrid, Balkan Peninsula, North Macedonia and Albania provided important insights into the regional climate history and evolutionary dynamics since permanent lacustrine conditions established at 1.36 million years ago (Ma). This paper focuses on the entire 584‐m‐long DEEP sediment succession and a comparison to a 197‐m‐long sediment succession from the Pestani site ~5 km to the east in the lake, where drilling ended close to the bedrock, to unravel the earliest history of Lake Ohrid and its basin development. 26Al/10Be dating of clasts from the base of the DEEP sediment succession implies that the sedimentation in the modern basin started at c. 2 Ma. Geophysical, sedimentological and micropalaeontological data allow for chronological information to be transposed from the DEEP to the Pestani succession. Fluvial conditions, slack water conditions, peat formation and/or complete desiccation prevailed at the DEEP and Pestani sites until 1.36 and 1.21 Ma, respectively, before a larger lake extended over both sites. Activation of karst aquifers to the east probably by tectonic activity and a potential existence of neighbouring Lake Prespa supported filling of Lake Ohrid. The lake deepened gradually, with a relatively constant vertical displacement rate of ~0.2 mm a−1 between the central and the eastern lateral basin and with greater water depth presumably during interglacial periods. Although the dynamic environment characterized by local processes and the fragmentary chronology of the basal sediment successions from both sites hamper palaeoclimatic significance prior to the existence of a larger lake, the new data provide an unprecedented and detailed picture of the geodynamic evolution of the basin and lake that is Europe's presumed oldest extant freshwater lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At its 30th anniversary, the Maastricht Treaty remains a milestone in the history and practice of the European Union. This referring to the adhesion process, since the set of conditions that a country must accomplish have been settled and derived by the treaty, but also for the fact that now, after 20 years of entering in force, the Euro, the Union currency, has performed and faced different consecutive challenges, thus becoming observable concerning it effects and role, and as a consequence, its theoretical and practical validity. But there is yet a vast area, in the center of Europe, that is still dragging on its calvary of adhesion, that of the Western Balkans. At this point, considering the processes that the countries of this area have been going through, by pursuing the adhesion path, the analysis of the dominating factors that have determined the trajectory of their EU membership, becomes essential. The paper questions and analyses the validity of the Maastricht Treaty and subsequent criteria for the adhesion of the Western Balkan countries, as well as highlights on the 'adhoc' criteria and evaluations often applied during the process and their consequences in terms of the attitudes of the Balkan populations and their determination toward the EU and the Western Balkans adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Natural History Museum in Belgrade is the property of Natural History Museum in Belgrade 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.)

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The economies of the Western Balkan countries (Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) rely heavily on diaspora remittances. The purpose of this paper is to estimate that remittances constitute an important source of income, financing aggregate demand and household. In this paper, an empirical econometric model was developed to assess the impact of remittances on nominal and real nominal growth for PB countries for the period 2010 - 2021. The empirical methodology is applied based on SPSS cointegration analysis: As a linear regression analysis (enter method), multiple regression analysis, reliability analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, factorial analysis and Kruskall Wallis model. Based on the empirical results obtained from this paper, it was found that the impact of remittances is positive in the economic growth in the Western Balkan region during the research period, while from the analysis of statistical differences, statistically significant differences were found in five countries of this region. Direct foreign investments also have a positive impact on economic growth from controlling variables. It is recommended to form a trust fund so that remittances from the diaspora can be collected and invested in capital projects such as the opening of manufacturing plants, investments in securities, and international stock markets, i.e. the relationship with the diaspora should change from a relationship of solidarity to a relationship of the market economy, where immigrants will invest their funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new events and phenomena that appeared in the 19th century marked a new era for the peoples of Balkans, that of national Renaissance. The 19th century for the Balkans is also known as the century of national movements and revolutions, because most of them formed an independent state and were freed from foreign invasions. This era of the formation of nations in the Balkans also affected the Albanians, who formed their independent state and nation. Namely, the birth of Albanian nationalization marked the historical period of the years 1830-40 until the Declaration of Independence of Albania in 1912. In this paper we will deal with the political causes such as the League of Prizren and the creation of national consciousness by the renaissance as a cultural community, linguistic and historical. The articulation of the Albanian nation as a cultural community built on the basis of language made them stand out from other nations in the Balkans. Above all, Albanian nationalists considered language as the main element, turning it into a national symbol. In conclusion, we affirm that the Albanian nation was built on language and did not allow regional and religious ideas to influence national identity. In fact, the national identity was created in difficult time conditions, but above all the most powerful arguments such as the element of language and culture made the preservation of national, cultural and ethnic unity for the creation of an ethnic Albanian state. On the argument of language and culture, we will build the argument of the creation of the Albanian national identity based on the ideas of the Albanian renaissance of that time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper gives information about 21 dolichopodid species distributed in the Balkan Mountains, Bulgaria. Four of them are newly recorded for the studied region, as for Chrysotus hubenovi described soon, it is the second locality for Bulgaria and for the Palaearctic realm in general. For Dolichopus linearis known also with one locality from Bulgaria this research provides two new ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twelfth issue of Colloquia Humanistica (2023) contains a thematic block titled Centre-Periphery Relation and the Formation of Collective and Individual Identities in the Balkans and Central Europe. The topic makes readers aware how variable centres and peripheries are and how unstable borders can be, not only in the Balkans and Central or Eastern Europe. A wider perspective on the subject is brought by the example of the settlement of Vlachs, who crossed the borders of countries and empires, and also by the context of Western European culture that we find in postimperial Georgia in the years 1918-1921 and in the cross-cultural art of Chinese artist Pan Jianfeng who lives in Finland. The reviews found in issue 12 supplement the subject matter with Siberian and Balkan illustrations. In the Materials section we publish a letter, recently discovered in the Petko and Pencho Slaveykov Museum in Sofia, from the son of Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855), Władysław (1838-1926), to Bulgarian poet Pencho Slaveykov (1866-1912). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No other discipline is determined by external issues to such a degree as is archaeology. Let it suffice to mention the fact that very important archaeological finds are usually not discovered by archaeologists, but by amateurs and farmers in fields. Further, the direction of archaeological investigations is generally not defined by scientific reason, but by cultural, political and economic interests, including tourism and construction activity. Hence, one consequence is the lack of systematic research strategy. This inevitably leads to a poorly argued scientific synthesis, which has to be corrected every few years, or completely rejected. Such problems burden archaeological practice in all parts of Europe, yet the discipline has still not developed a comprehensive strategy for the systematic resolution of these issues. Due to a combination of different circumstances, all of these problems are particularly prominent in the study of prehistory of the Balkans, and this will become apparent from the tree examples presented in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greening the economy plays a significant role in achieving sustainable development, as a paradigm with no alternatives for the survival of the planet Earth. It is the only way to create a positive impact both on the society and the environment. Hence, it is an inclusive concept, embedded in the overall development of a country, which emphasis a responsible way of planning and acting. The green economy trend is increasingly present worldwide; an increasing number of countries are developing and implementing policies and practices that support the green economy concept. The main objective of this research is to emphasize the commitment of the Western Balkan countries and of People’s Republic of China in regard to greening their economies. The methodological framework rests on the several scientific methods - analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, selection, generalization and comparison. The research focuses on policies and practices that contribute to green economy in non-EU Western Balkan countries: the Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Monte Negro, Republic of Serbia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Republic of Albania. At the same time, this Paper emphasizes the policies and successful practices implemented in the People’s Republic of China, as one of the world's leading economies that is rapidly moving on the path of greening its economy. In order to quantify the countries’ efforts towards the Green Economy, the Green Growth Index is presented and used. The results of the research point to the conclusion that in the selected Western Balkan countries and the People’s Republic of China, efforts are being made for implementation of the concept of green economy, but there is much that can be done to improve it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroeconomics is crucial to understand each country's development indicators and predict the short-term and long-term their consequences on the performance of economies. The research has been divided into key sections: economic growth, employment, productivity, investments, depts, and business dynamism. In the paper is concluded that is needed the new approach to regional cooperation and new strategy creation related to political and macroeconomic stability in the Western Balkans countries. All this must be accompanied by structural reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The western Balkans occupy a region influenced by two major active tectonic processes: the collision between the Adriatic Region and the Dinarides in the west, and the extension of the Aegean Region and its surroundings as they move towards the Hellenic Trench. An understanding of the kinematics and dynamics of the western Balkans has significance for our understanding of continental tectonics in general, and is the object of this paper. The region is rich in observational data, with many well-studied earthquakes, good geodetic coverage by GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) and abundant exposure of active faulting and its associated geomorphology, especially within the Mesozoic carbonates that cover large sectors of the extensional areas. We first use such observations to establish the regional kinematic patterns, by which we mean a clarification of how active faulting achieves the motions observed in the deforming velocity field obtained from GNSS measurements. We then use geomorphological observations on the evolution of drainage systems to establish how kinematic and faulting patterns have changed and migrated during the Late Neogene-Quaternary. The kinematics, and its evolution, can then be used to infer characteristics of the dynamics, by which we mean the origin and effect of the forces that control the overall deformation. The principal influences are: (i) the distribution and evolution of gravitational potential energy (GPE) contrasts arising from crustal thickness variations and elevation, in particular the growth of topography by shortening in the Albanides–Hellenides mountain ranges and the high elevation of mainland Greece relative to the Mediterranean seafloor and (ii) the ability of the boundaries of the region, along the Adriatic coast and in the Hellenic Trench, to support the forces arising from those GPE contrasts. The evolution in space and time indicates an interaction between the anisotropic strength fabric of the upper crust associated with faulting, and the more distributed and smoother patterns of flow that are likely to characterize the ductile deformation of the lower, aseismic part of the lithosphere—both of which influence the deformation on the scale of 100–200 km. The persistent argument about whether continental deformation is best described by a continuum or by rigid-block motions is largely a matter of scale and particular location: both are influential in establishing the patterns we see. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article revisits architect and artist Lebbeus Woods' Zagreb Free Zone project that was created in 1991 and exhibited at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Zagreb, Croatia. Topics discussed are difference between the concepts of freespace and free zone, link of cybernetics to freedom and the happy absurdity of circus performers, architectural performance demonstrated by the sketchbooks of Woods, and the paradoxical position of the Zagreb Free Zone within avant-garde paper architecture.

Higher educational institutions in Western Balkan countries strive for continuous development of their teaching and learning processes. One of the priorities is employing state-of-the-art technology to facilitate experience-based learning, and virtual and augmented reality are two of the most effective solutions to providing the opportunity to practice the acquired theoretical knowledge. This report presents (apart from the theoretical introduction to the issue) an overall picture of the knowledge of AR and VR technology in education in Western Balkan universities. It is based on a semi-structured online questionnaire whose recipients were academic staff and students from universities in Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. The questionnaire differed for each target group; the version for academics comprised 11 questions for 710 respondents, and the version for students comprised 10 questions for 2217 respondents. This paper presents and discusses the results for each question with the aim to illustrate Western Balkan countries' current state of VR and AR application in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores incentive schemes for the facilitation of e-payments in Albania. The paper is motivated by two facts: first, prior research has shown that e-payments are more cost efficient than paper-based payments; second, Albania has fallen behind in terms of e-payment use compared with other Balkan countries. In fact, Albania ranks last in the Balkans in main e-payment indicators, such as debit/credit cards in circulation and e-POS systems installed. This paper proposes a series of incentives and mechanisms that can help the country accelerate the process of transitioning to e-payments in the short and medium run. It does so by focusing only on incentives that need to be provided to consumers and merchants, since they constitute the main demand and supply sides, at least for retail payments. The paper argues that the government and financial institutions will also have an important role to play in the transition process. They will lead from behind, however, in that they will facilitate the incentive schemes, which will subsequently be absorbed by consumers and merchants. While some of the incentives proposed in the paper are specific to the Albanian financial environment, others can be generalised to other countries in the Balkans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South-east Europe and Black Sea region presents a fertile terrain for examining recent international migration trends. A wide range of types of migration can be observed in this region: large-scale emigration in many countries, recent mass immigration in the case of Greece, return migration, internal migration, internal and external forced migration, irregular migration, brain drain etc. These migratory phenomena occur within the context of EU migration policies and EU accession for some countries. Yet within this shifting migration landscape of migrant stocks and flows, the fundamental economic geography of different wealth levels and work opportunities is what drives most migration, now as in the past. This paper sets the scene for the special issue in three ways: first, by defining the three key concepts of migration, transnationalism and development; second, by setting the geographical scene, with the aid of relevant statistics on the migration, development and remittance trends in the various countries of the region; and third, by summarizing the highlights of the papers in this issue of the journal, which range in their coverage from Ukraine and Moldova in the north, to Greece and Albania in the south. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper aims to shed light on the effects of different types of financing constraints on firm sales and employment growth in Emerging Europe before and after the onset of the financial crisis. It analyzes the group of emerging NMS-10 economies (plus Turkey) and the group of economically and financially lagging Western Balkan countries. The paper demonstrates that financing constraints significantly obstruct firm growth, particularly in the Western Balkan countries, which calls for policy intervention to ensure swifter job-rich growth and catching-up with the rest of Europe. It also emphasizes that particular firm characteristics are essential for growth in Emerging Europe and demonstrates that exporting only and innovating are recipes for faster firm growth, while importing only and a high foreign ownership share seriously retard firm growth. Finally, it stresses the importance of the particular institutional environment for firms to thrive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until now, the undeclared economy has been tackled in Balkan countries by increasing the penalties and risk of detection so as to deter participation. Recently however, calls have been made for a new more indirect approach that improves tax morale in order to foster a culture of commitment to compliance. The aim of this paper is to evaluate these contrasting policy approaches. Reporting evidence from 1018 face-to-face interviews conducted in Bulgaria during 2013, logistic regression analysis reveals no association between participation in undeclared work and the perceived level of penalties and risk of detection, but a strong association between participation in undeclared work and the level of tax morale. The paper concludes by discussing the theoretical and policy implications of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]