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The enlargement of the European Union (EU) towards the Western Balkans contains challenges. Although the EU's goal is its enlargement, some EU countries present skepticism. The Western Balkans have not yet reached the appropriate stage of economic development. The rule of law has been among the main barriers that have hindered their EU integration advancement. This paper is based on the work of Osmani et al. (2022a), Leka et al. (2022), and Qorraj and Jusufi (2018). The aim and objective of this paper are to analyze the enlargement policy of the EU towards the countries of the Western Balkans, focusing on Kosovo. Historical research methods were used to collect facts and chronological data. The main finding of this paper is that the rule of law is the main factor that positively affects the integration of the countries of the Western Balkans into the EU, as well as the increase in the level of economic development. Therefore, as a conclusion, it can be affirmed that integration in the EU is essential for the existence of this region. The relevance of this paper lies in the fact that it deals with an important topic from the field of European integration for small countries like Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The survey of the structure of farms is carried out by all the member states of the European Union, with agricultural holding as the statistical unit of measure. Thus, all the member states of the European Union are based on the definition of agricultural exploitation where it is mentioned that "agricultural exploitation means a single unit, both from a technical and economic point of view, with a single management, which carries out its agricultural activities on the economic territory of the EU, either as a primary activity or as a secondary activity". The purpose of the paper is to highlight the evolution and importance of studying agriculture, more specifically agricultural holdings, by performing a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the specialized literature. Thus, to achieve the proposed goal, the web of science database was accessed in order to perform a bibliometric analysis. Thus, following the application of the bibliometric analysis, it can be argued that this sector has been given considerable interest, as evidenced by the high number of articles published recently, regarding the analysis of agricultural holdings. By querying the mentioned database, 26,804 scientific articles were found after the phrase "agricultural farms". Most such papers were published by authors from the US (28.4% of the total number of papers) and China (18.7% of the total number of papers) in the Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (1.52%) and Acta horticulture (1.39%). Because this topic of agricultural holdings is vast and many countries are involved in approaching it in different ways, further studies are recommended on analyzing the evolution and importance of agricultural holdings in different countries and identifying the discrepancies between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Western Balkan economies are still on the list of EU candidates or potential candidate countries, they do have some integration with EU economies. The EU is the leading trading partner of the Western Balkans and is one of the top destinations for the flow of people. The Western Balkan economies have been trying to address their populations' ongoing emigration (the so-called "brain drain" phenomenon) by implementing targeted economic policies. Since one of the main contributors to economic growth is the ability to create innovation, it is crucial to building innovation potential. The main challenge for innovation policy is to provide a favourable environment for entrepreneurship and economic growth to create jobs. Thus, this paper aims to examine innovation potential - an innovation input - as it creates the conditions needed for innovation development. The results of analysing the data (on research and development spending, human resources, an environment friendly to innovation, and intellectual property rights) indicate that the Western Balkan countries are lagging behind the EU in many aspects of innovation potential, so they should still develop their strategies towards creating higher innovation potential. Thus, they will be able to have a higher level of innovation and, as a result, be more competitive in economic terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the cornerstones of the conceptual distinctions necessary to map out a separate category of workers, namely "economically dependent self-employed workers" (who fall between dependent subordinated employees and independent self-employed entrepreneurs) from the perspective of the EU law and the laws of selected Member States. The author considers how the economic dependency of self-employed workers should be defined, which method(s) of protection should be applied to these workers, and what scope of protection they should enjoy. The observations in this paper serve as a basis for de lege ferenda recommendations for the Polish legislator. At present, there is no separate category of "economically dependent self-employed workers" in Polish law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) stands at the forefront of the global energy transition, committed to transforming its economy by adopting sustainable energy sources. This paper explores the diverse European sub-models of energy transition, highlighting different patterns among the EU Member States within the context of their particularities. Using the hierarchical cluster methodology and the panel data model with fixed effects for the period 2010-2021, we analyze the broader implications of the energy transition for the restructuring of the EU economy, with a focus on key sectors such as power generation, manufacturing, and social aspects. The study identifies significant challenges, including the need for substantial investment and technological innovation, as well as economic competitiveness, and social consequences. Additionally, the paper illustrates the complex interplay between climate objectives and economic restructuring within the EU, offering insights into the potential of the energy transition to not only mitigate climate change but also to drive socio-economic development and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Water & Landscape (WAL) / Agua & Territorio (AYT) is the property of Editorial de la Universidad de Jaen 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.)

Economic and Regional Development is a subject of research that is not recent in the international literature. The unequal spatial distribution of income, economic opportunities and activities has attracted the interest of a large number of researchers in recent decades. The studies focused on the spatial disparities between the regions and their evolution over time using statistical analysis methods. In this paper we present a systematic review of the existing literature of economic and regional development through quantitative methods and social network analysis. Via research questions we summarize the different research approaches and offer a discussion and suggestions for future research. To what extent has regional development been studied by quantitative methods? How is research evolving in regional development of the European Union? Has Social Network Analysis been used in the context of regional development? This paper attempts to go one step further and introduce the use of techniques and methods of Social Network Analysis in Economic and Regional Development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main principle of sustainability means being able to meet the needs of today's society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development implies the interdependence of its main components: society, economy, and ecology. The prosperity of a society depends on economic progress and the development of new technologies, but in a way that the natural environment is protected and preserved. This concept is inextricably linked to the concept of ecology and, consequently, to all types of transport, given that transport is considered one of the main pollutants of the ecosystem. Due to its rapid development through history, and as the youngest and safest type of transport, air transport is particularly subjected to the environmental impact assessment. At the same time, air transport affects the global economy due to its connection with other sectors, which in turn enables faster mobility of people, services, and goods. This was especially evident with the increased need for faster medical supplies and protective equipment delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The European Union's transport policy is geared towards sustainable development by linking all environmental and social goals in a balanced way. Considering the negative long-term impact of COVID-19 on the air transportation sector, the question posed in this paper is whether this can be done in an appropriate way. As part of the European Green Deal, the "Fit for 55" package is a set of proposals to revise and update EU legislation with the purpose of introducing new initiatives regarding the climate goals agreed by the Council and the European Parliament. Regarding air transport, the emphasis is on contributing to reducing CO2 emissions and noise pollution and their impact on other sectors and competitiveness. The EU Commission White Paper: "Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area -- Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system" emphasizes that the EU aviation industry should become a frontrunner in the use of low-carbon fuels to reach the set targets, as well as that the majority of medium-distance passenger transport should go by rail by 2050. There are also initiatives that aviation taxes should subsidize high-speed rail (HSR), which potentially may cause a decrease in the air transport and benefit an increase the rail transport. The paper will also address the questions as to whether existing legislation, measures, and proposals are appropriate, considering that aviation is one of the industry sectors that is most affected by COVID-19 and could be most affected by the "Fit for 55" package, as well what impact this duopoly might have on the market for travel served by air transport. Does really "Fit for 55" fit air transport? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically investigates the relationship between economic freedom and financial development in EU countries. Using panel data covering the years 2000-2017 and employing fixed effects, random effects, and the generalised method of moments (GMM), the paper examines the effect of economic freedom on financial development. The research results demonstrate that greater economic freedom is conducive to financial development in the EU. These findings remain robust to the use of an alternative index of economic freedom. The results imply that policies which promote economic freedom are likely to raise the level of a country's financial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In view of the fact that the economic future of the region is the European Union, this research paper studies the economic progress of the Western Balkan countries towards the EU, based on the performance of macroeconomic indicators. The purpose of the research paper is to analyse the macroeconomic indicators of the Western Balkan countries, the assessment of the economic growth per capita during the period 2000-2020, the expectations for the future, and the measurement of the economic progress of such countries towards the European path. Design/Methodology/Approach: Through panel data using several econometric models, the consideration of the Maastricht criteria in achieving convergence between the Western Balkan countries and the European Union countries, is examined. Using the indicator of economic growth and the GDP per capita in purchasing power parity, the direct significance of the Maastricht criteria in the real convergence between these countries is measured. Findings: Empirical results showed that there is a relationship between real and nominal convergence, with the nominal convergence being considered a prerequisite for achieving real convergence. Practical Implications: The agenda for the idea of European expansion should become a genuine economic policy based on economic parameters measured and analyzed with research and scientific methods. As the study highlights different aspects of economic growth promoters, the quality of institutions is one of the critical indicators that mobilize macroeconomic factors to ensure economic growth in WB countries. Originality/Value: This paper provides a fine scientific and research example in analyzing the convergence process. The results can serve as a good guide for policymakers in navigating the right path to EU membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen is a clean and renewable energy source that has the potential to play a major role in decarbonizing the global economy. Green hydrogen has become a promising decarbonization strategy for several industries, including transportation and manufacturing. The widespread use of green hydrogen technology still confronts several obstacles, such as high costs, a lack of infrastructure, and regulatory restrictions. The paper commences by examining the potential of green hydrogen production in MENA countries with a specific emphasis on Egypt as best practice example. It proceeds to identify the key drivers that will shape future scenarios of green hydrogen and outlines the best and worst-case scenarios for green hydrogen in MENA region by 2050. Through scenario analysis, the paper presents potential pathways for green hydrogen deployment in Egypt and the wider MENA countries, highlighting key drivers and potential barriers. According to the findings, Egypt emerges as pivotal player in driving the deployment of green hydrogen within the MENA region. The MENA region, rich in solar and wind resources and strategically located, emerges as a potent hub for green hydrogen production. Egypt, in particular, is at the forefront of this initiative, aiming to become a key exporter in the global hydrogen economy by leveraging its renewable resources, strategic projects, and conducive investment environment. The study employs a multifaceted methodology, integrating PEST analysis and identifying key drivers like renewable targets and technological advancements to assess green hydrogen’s potential in the MENA region, focusing on Egypt. It constructs best- and worst-case scenarios by 2050, utilizing these drivers to evaluate the implications of various influencing factors. In the best-case scenario, by 2050, Egypt aspires to be a pivotal player in the global green hydrogen economy, aiming for up to 8% market share. Through strategic investments, policy enhancements, and global partnerships, Egypt plans to become a major exporter, particularly to the European Union, aligning with global decarbonization goals. Comprehensive strategies are expected to drive economic prosperity, potentially increasing Egypt's GDP by $10-18 billion by 2025. Collaborations with global entities have fostered a robust infrastructure, enabling an integrated ecosystem for green hydrogen innovation and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resilience approach has recently emerged as a new topic of EU foreign policy debates and research. This paper adopts a complexity theory perspective to analyze the operationalization of the resilience approach in the EU response to crisis in Ukraine during 2014–2021. Building upon this theory, this paper distinguishes between resilience-as-quality of a complex system and resilience-as-thinking about a complex system. The empirical analysis focuses on the complexity features of non-linearity and self-organizing localization of EU interventions undertaken in the framework of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP). It concludes that the emerging system of intervention displays some complexity qualities, yet the EU crisis response follows the linear and top-down logic embedded in the project-based practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper analyses the opportunities for the possible implementation of the latest technological innovations in the Romanian manufacturing industry. The latest trends in technology can be summed up by the term "Industry 4.0", or the "Fourth Industrial Revolution", which brings unprecedented levels of automation, thanks to recent breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), robotics and much more. However, manufacturing sectors are not created equally and some are more susceptible to implementing new technologies than others. The industrial situation in Eastern and Central Europe is highly debated and complex. During the Cold War, most of the Warsaw Pact and COMECON countries were characterized, economically speaking, by rapid industrialization, be it heavy or light industry. This is also the case in Romania, as it saw an increase in industrial output during the communist era. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the collectivist ideology, some manufacturing sectors collapsed, while new ones appeared, the case of deindustrialization in Central and Eastern Europe still being under scrutiny, as the industrial output has been more stable than we tend to believe. However, a shift did occur, especially in Romania. Following the transition to a market economy, industrial output suffered a metamorphosis, exchanging some sectors (such as the textile one) for new ones (such as the automotive one, following an increase in foreign direct investments from the West). These shifts in the manufacturing sector have an advantage in the unfolding context, as the new industries (such as auto-manufacturing) are more inclined to adopt Industry 4.0. These factors, in combination with the recent trend of reshoring, are prone to positively influence the future economic environment of Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes and probes the plausibility of a framework to explain how business associations position themselves politically as trade-related sustainability obligations get stronger. An analysis of the submissions of EU business associations during a consultation on trade and sustainability indicates that firm-level and organisational characteristics explain well trade associations' political cleavages. The paper can provide new insights to help understand a major development in the EU and beyond. The EU is passing through an unprecedented shift in its approach to trade and sustainability as it is likely to rely on legal sanctions to enforce sustainability commitments in trade agreements. Understanding the position of EU business interests in that process is relevant to project the consequences of such shift. Besides, as sustainability provisions in trade agreements get stronger, associations may play an ever-important role in promoting their members collectively or in shielding them from reputational costs. Understanding their political positioning is thus key to understanding the very politics of trade and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social Inequalities & Economic Growth / Nierownosci Spoleczne a Wzrost Gospodarczy is the property of University of Rzeszow and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As one of the priorities of the European Union, Cohesion Policy targets all EU regions in order to support job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth, sustainable development, and improve citizens' quality of life. Regional economic development is an important objective of the Government of North Macedonia and an important prerequisite for balanced and sustainable development of the country. Effective and efficient implementation of the policy for balanced regional development will significantly accelerate the integration processes into the European Union and align with its cohesion policy. Since 2007, when the first efforts were initiated, significant progress has been made towards creation of smart, sustainable and inclusive country. Special attention in this paper will be given to the legal and institutional framework and new principles of regional policy in RNM. The paper also will be focused on harmonization of the regional policy with sectoral policies in the county. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a world increasingly shaped by data, its exponential growth demands global organizations to swiftly embrace and synchronize with the prompt evolution of our lives. Innovations in storage technology, the advent of IoT (Internet of Things), and the emerging regulations of the European Union, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), all underscore how "Big Data" propels economic transformation. Amid the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence and technology, Europe's digital overhaul assumes paramount importance, as recent crises underscore the urgency for more effective alternatives that fuel the imperative shift towards sustainability. The concept of "Big Data" has been integrated as a central pillar in the EU's digital transformation strategy, set for 2030, and consequently, within the ambit of its green strategy. This sector's inherent opportunities contribute to the EU's pursuit of climate neutrality by 2050. At its core, "Big Data" involves the amalgamation of extensive and diverse information, subjected to algorithmic analysis to drive decision-making. The data's significance extends beyond economic implications, permeating diverse domains such as safety, health, agriculture, environment, law, and even individual contexts, thereby accentuating the intrinsic essence of "Big Data". This paper addresses the intricate demands posed by the rapid expansion of this type of data, which is experiencing exponential growth in terms of accessibility and automated integration within digital landscapes. Its efficacy is contingent upon not merely the escalating capabilities of technology to facilitate the accumulation and retention of substantial data quantities, but also on its proficiency to conduct thorough analysis, comprehension, and effective utilization of the data's complete worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Motivation: Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) expand the development agenda. While all major development actors support policy coherence for development (PCD), analysis has been lacking on how this can be achieved as the development agenda expands. We discuss the relationship between SDGs and PCD through a comprehensive case study from Finland. Purpose: To examine the coherence of Finland's foreign and development policy for achieving the SDGs, while leaving no one behind. Particular focus is given to policies related to the private sector's role in development, and attention is also paid to ministries other than the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Approach and methods: We carried out interviews with policy‐makers and other stakeholders, and analysed relevant documents. We reviewed governmental high‐level policy statements, sectoral alignments, and development aid documents. We also reviewed the position papers that the Finnish Government had issued on European Union (EU) processes, particularly regarding development relating to the private sector. Findings: Finland has been uniquely positioned to advance PCD in its foreign policy, thanks to co‐ordination structures across government. Nonetheless, mainstreaming of the expanded development agenda has been largely limited to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and its development policy department. The breadth of the SDG agenda has enabled individual targets to be cherry‐picked, with less attention paid to advancing the Agenda 2030 as a whole and to implementing its Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle. Despite an institutional framework seemingly ideal for policy coherence, traditional sectoral divisions between development policy as a separate field and sustainability as an environmental issue, remain. Five factors in particular hindered policy coherence: (a) Finland's position papers to the EU on taxes and migration all but ignored Agenda 2030 commitments; (b) the Finnish emphasis on the private sector in development narrowed the considerations of development to economic growth; (c) sustainability was seen as green technology, with scant regard to social sustainability; (d) private firms interpreted the SDGs to mean that environmental sustainability could address human rights‐related concerns with corporate social responsibility initiatives; and (e) cuts to staffing in the Finnish Government stymied innovative thinking and working across departmental boundaries. Policy Implications: Finland is generally seen as a front‐runner in mainstreaming development issues, which makes it an interesting case. We outline the key challenges that Finland has faced in tackling PCD, which should be relevant for other Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries as well. Many challenges related to PCD are political and organizational. As such, they are highly dependent on the particular institutional settings in each country. Our methodological approach could be replicated in other similar countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of the current political developments in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, such as Ukraine, Poland, and Romania, the question arises as to the role played by economic transformation and the resulting innovation linkages in these countries over the last 20 years. The main purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of economic and institutional dimensions on the development of CEE countries, explicitly distinguishing between European Union (EU) members and non‐members, and thus reflecting the differences in institutions and path dependency. Furthermore, the paper contrasts the performance of CEE countries with that of Western European countries. To achieve these objectives, the impact of factors such as innovation, institutions, and political practices on the economic development of 37 European countries from 2000 until 2020 is followed using fixed effects regression and Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The results of the analysis show the importance of institutional factors such as low levels of corruption, political freedoms, and intellectual property. The effect of institutional variables was particularly pronounced in the case of non‐EU countries, which indicates the particular importance of the development of stable institutions for achieving higher levels of economic development for this category of countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the literature on EU trade policy by introducing insights from the political economy literature on development to the study of how EU trade liberalisation affects development in trading partners. Drawing on a comparison of EU trade liberalisation with Moldova and Georgia, we argue that the type of coalition between public and private actors in partner countries' top export sectors determines which firms benefit from better market access to the EU, as indicated by their ability to increase their exports. We show that liberalised trade with the EU tends to contribute to achieving the EU's declared objective of inclusive development if the presence of inclusionary development coalitions ensures that a broad range of firms is enabled to increase their export capacities through a mechanism that we call 'inclusive empowerment'. Otherwise, trade liberalisation contributes to exclusive development, benefitting big, mostly foreign firms, or, at worse, consolidating rent-seeking practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Knowledge: International Journal is the property of Institute for Knowledge Management 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.)

Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is vital for Greece's growth in the aftermath of a lengthy economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Concurrently, the European Union (EU) seeks to safeguard essential bloc-wise security interests that are compromised by third country investors, especially Chinese ones, sprawling across member states - a policy concern substantiated in normative text as recently as 2019 by the enactment of Regulation 2019/452. The latter set the basic pan-European contour in terms of member states' cooperation for the screening of FDI. A year later, the Greek Parliament voted for Law 4864/2021 on Strategic Investments, with a view to incentivizing aspiring high-profile investors. In that regard, the main objective of the present policy paper is to examine how Law 4864/2021 interplays with Regulation 2019/452. The paper will conclude that the Greek liberalized framework will have to align in the future with the European trend of extended screening over FDI, notwithstanding Law 4864/2021 moving into the opposite direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the economy develops, self-financed capital investments are less frequent, being replaced by financing through banking intermediation and later through capital markets. The development of financial systems has a positive effect on the mobilization of resources, improving corporate governance and risk management, leading to economic growth. The preponderance of previous research papers shows a positive relationship between financial development and economic growth. Studies using cross-sectional methodologies discover almost unanimously a positive link between financial development and economic growth, while studies with methodologies based on time series, panel data or case studies reach different conclusions depending on the period considered, the countries' initial level of development and the structure of the financial systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of financial systems on economic growth using panel regressions based on annual data regarding measures of financial development for the member countries of the European Union, for the period 1990-2020. The findings show that the development of the financial systems, through the activity of banks and capital markets, has a positive effect on the allocation of resources, the mobilization of savings and the efficient management of risks, leading in turn to economic growth if there is a correlation between the funds invested and the output of the real sector. The paper's contribution to the field refers to the study of the long-term relations between the financial systems and the economic growth using data for all European Union countries, the findings helping to formulate public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper completes the empirical literature on the European Union (EU) climate and energy policy design and evaluation, namely the implementation part related to the development, assessment and approval of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of the Member States (MS) for the period 2021-2030. These strategic documents are foreseen by the Governance Regulation no. EU 2018/1999 as the main tools used to implement the climate and energy policies and targets by 2030. This paper is organized as follows: the abstract gives an overview of the paper and its main conclusions. Section 1 depict the introduction and background about the whole process around NECPs and the main provisions related under the Governance Regulation. Section 2 reviews literature from the perspective of the EU negotiations on 2030&2050 energy and climate targets, legal aspects of climate and energy governance and the process of NECPs development and approval. It also includes a short presentation of the data used for the analysis, including their sources. Section 3 gives an insight about the approval of Romania's NECPs by the European Commission. At the same time, this section briefly comments on proposals made by the national authorities and the recommendations using as starting point Romania's position in 2014 during the 2030 climate and energy negotiations while taking into account the dynamic of the geopolitical situation to date. Section 4 concludes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In economic terms, growth theory is an essential dimension of sustainability. The structurally sustainable performance of an economy, that is the sustainable (equilibrium) level of output is expressed in terms of potential output, and its sustainable dynamics in terms of growth potential. In the EU Member States the main structural determinant of potential growth is the dynamics of total factor productivity (TFP). In this respect the level and dynamics of performance vary greatly across the EU. Narrowing the performance gaps compared to the leading economies through major structural reforms can be a crucial factor in strengthening the growth potential. This paper reviews the fundamental correlations for Europe’s growth potential based on quantitative analyses carried out within the referred theoretical framework. Analysing the determinants of growth potential can help justify the inevitable structural reforms and macroeconomic adjustments, and can thereby contribute to the development of an economic theory of sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The debt crisis, as one of the significant causes of disruptions in economies, is no longer reserved only for underdeveloped and developing countries, but it is a global economic problem that we are currently witnessing. The concept of debt crisis stems from excessive borrowing, which, by its increase, causes negative economic consequences. The realized deficit of transition countries over the past decade has had a significant impact on the increase in public sector debt, and these countries are faced with the great challenge of consolidating public finances and trying to reduce public debt while preserving economic growth. This paper provides an analysis of the state of the public debt of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its implications for the economy, which, with its movement and inadequate structure, causes negative economic consequences, making the process of convergence in the EU more difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the links between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the transformative aspects of establishing an encompassing agri-food trade policy in the European Union (EU). Starting with a review of the Sustainable Development Goals, this article focuses on the goal of sustainable agriculture and food security. The paper then investigates the transformative aspects of building a fair agri-food trade policy, including the significance of international trade agreements and the need for effective monitoring and enforcement. Research also includes a quantitative analysis of the scientific community's interest in the EU's effectiveness in implementing its agri-food trade policy, with a focus on the policy's impact on global food security. The findings indicate that the EU is making progress toward achieving its objective of boosting global food security, but significant impediments remain to be surmounted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theme of the paper is the impact of the cosmetic industry on the economy. The reason for choosing this theme is the passion for cosmetics and personal care and belief in the importance of this aspect in people's lives. Although the subject is very broad, with many data and details that extend over the decades since the establishment of this industry, the paper tries to summarize this information. This topic is discussed from the perspective of several mini chapters such as the socio-economic contribution of the European cosmetics industry, the impact on people's lives, the past vs. the present cosmetics industry and the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. This article assesses the short- and medium-term impact of the beauty industry, based on multiple market reports, literature review and official statements by market leaders. When talking about the beauty industry, we consider the categories of makeup, perfume, personal hygiene and skin, hair, and body care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy has become one of the main sources of green energy having reached a peak of 220 GW installed wind capacity in 2020 in the European Union according to the TPA report (2021). With the expansion of wind energy installments, project management in the field also had numerous challenges in terms of estimating wind energy projects worth implementing in terms of capital and operating costs, as well as benefits. The present article presents the main method of evaluating wind energy projects, namely the net present value applied on specific costs and benefits of a wind energy installment in order to determine whether it is worth implementing or not. The paper contributes to the scientific literature by applying this method of analyzing wind energy projects before installment, a characteristic that is compulsory for project management in the field in order to adapt the project if needed in terms of costs or revenue streams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny (0035-9629) is the property of Adam Mickiewicz 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.)

In January 2023, the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) came into power, and its application from the fiscal year 2024 becomes mandatory for all large European companies with over 500 employees, as well as for medium and small companies, except for micro-enterprises, whose securities are listed for trading on a regulated market in the European Union. The directive also covers non-European trading companies that generate more than EUR 150 million in net income per year in the Union and have at least one daughter company or subsidiary that exceeds this income threshold. The directive adapts the deadlines, areas and standards of application of the new sustainability reporting rules to the capacities and resources of individual categories of companies. Businesses covered by the directive will have to submit publicly available and detailed non-financial reports on a number of aspects of sustainability in their operations, as well as on the impact of external sustainability factors on current operations, market position and development of companies. The directive represents a strengthening of the existing European rules for the creation and publication of sustainability reports introduced by the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) from 2014, which are no longer adequate for the realization of the goals of the European Green Plan and the successful transition of the EU to a sustainable economy and society. This paper analyzes the historical and legal context of the creation of the Directive, goals and the scope of the Directive’s application, the indicators of reporting by companies with regard to the economic, social and ecological dimensions of sustainability covering also limitations bonded with theoretical and empirical circular economy perspective and the expected benefits of standardized reporting on aspects of sustainability of important stakeholders of the society. Besides, the possible burdens and costs are going to be presented, ocuuring when preparing sustainability reports and during practical application of the Directive. The purpose of the paper is to point out possible contributions of the Directive to strengthening the responsibility of companies for an accelerated and easier transition to a sustainable economy and society as a key development goal of the Union, and the potential positive impacts of a broader reduction of the negative environmental and social footprint on the sustainable operations of companies and the economy as a whole. Historical, legal normative and political economic methods are most often used in the analysis of the provisions and effects of the new legislative solution regarding the quantification of the effects of business operations on the sustainability of the European environment and society and the feedback effects of progress in wider sustainability on the operations and market position of businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European integration encourages rural diversification and innovation, supporting the creation of non-agricultural jobs and strengthening local economies. This scientific paper explores the typology of rural areas in Serbia and compares them to rural areas in the European Union. Methodologically, the research leverages multivariate statistical analysis, precisely factor and cluster analysis. The primary objective is to understand these regions' diversity and commonalities comprehensively. The core focus of this study revolves around the significance of these findings within the context of Serbia's European integration process. The analysis includes 12 variables that create a model of rurality, i.e., the four dimensions of rurality: level of economic development, structural characteristics of agriculture, demographic structure, and spatial characteristics. Based on the model of rurality, a rural typology is created at the regional level, which records nine statistically significant groups of rural regions in the EU, including Serbia. Cluster 2 includes most of the analyzed territory of Serbia (about 70%), and this group is the most rural, given the negative characteristics of this type of rural area. These results are devastating, and the creators of Serbia's rural policy must consider the multidimensional nature of rural areas when defining future strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union awarded the special status of strategic partner to ten states. Its key partners are dissimilar in political philosophies and structure, power status, ethical values, economic development, unequal in size and mineral reserves. Some of them are traditional Post-Second World War partners while the others have established recent partnerships in a new multipolar world order. However, from the very beginning the EU Conception of Strategic Partnership was just an assemblage of political statements without any official definition and clear established criteria for being chosen as a strategic partner. In this regard, this paper aims to analyze the strategic partnership phenomenon in EU Foreign Policy and provide our own definition of the term with a view to underpin it subsequently by common criteria. Based upon obtained main components the Binary Logistic Model was applied, which not only did allow to make the election of EU strategic partners more science-based but also propose the potential EU partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the impact of economic crises on the development of European financial assistance. It demonstrates that crisis episodes that have taken place over the last five decades have significantly altered the design of European Union emergency support. This paper illustrates how solutions adopted in formative moments – including the 1973 oil shock, the Eurozone crisis, and the Covid‐19 pandemic – and their long‐term consequences led to the smorgasbord of instruments of the present financial assistance structure. By applying a historical institutionalist approach, combining insights from studies of critical junctures and gradual change, this contribution explains how economic shocks contributed to change in financial assistance, while also highlighting mechanisms that led to the continuation of specific elements of the assistance structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Athenaeum: Polskie Studia Politologiczne is the property of Faculty of Political Science & Security Studies Nicolaus Copernicus 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.)

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

In this paper we propose a critical assessment of the activities in the knowledge valorisation chain in Romania, exploring data from 2021 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS). Using a set of relevant indicators, we analyse the main dimensions of capturing the value creation from knowledge. Knowledge valorisation lies at the heart of the knowledge economy and is critical for the economic and social progress. Despite of the political efforts of the European Commission regarding this issue, the "European Paradox" continues to exist and the failure of most European countries to convert the investment carried out in R&D into economic results and social benefits remains a debated topic. Universities, as one of the main actors of the knowledge valorisation process acknowledge this as a component of the university mission and play multiple roles along the valorisation channels. In this context, the entrepreneurial transformation of the university is determined and determines support and intensification of knowledge transfer. The research shows the need to reduce barriers for transferring knowledge into economy and necessity for policy intervention in order to uptake of research results in society and the economy, especially for Romanian environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically evaluates the prevailing World Bank recommendation for city-regions to drive infrastructure-led development through targeted spatial plans. Introducing a novel analytical framework to conceptualize Duisburg's evolution into the primary European gateway for the EU–China transcontinental railway, the paper demonstrates how key actors and institutions operating across multiple scales enabled this previously deindustrializing German city to benefit from the new transcontinental rail connection. It argues that one-off spatial planning is insufficient for actualizing infrastructure-led development: this process involves a dynamic interaction with inherited industrial pathways that recursively stimulates the repurposing and/or the revision of infrastructure-oriented developmental plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to present the economies of EU countries in the context of transformations in the industrial sector to increase the share of branches with higher technological intensity (changes in the industrial turnover structure). The analysis was carried out at different time horizons. Research Design & Methods: Research has a quantitative character. The vector elimination method was used to analyse the industrial turnover structure from 2009 to 2020 in 17 EU countries, based on EUROSTAT data. Findings: The research identified the following national economies: 1) with intensive and long-term but not permanent changes in the structure during the study period; 2) stagnated in the industrial turnover structure due to high-tech; 3) with unambiguous transformations in their industrial turnover structures due to hightech, aimed at the development of medium-high-tech industries. The research identified countries in which industry did not undergo significant transformations or these transformations were relatively slow. The adopted research hypothesis was confirmed. Implications & Recommendations: The observed structural changes in the industries of the studied countries allowed us to identify ongoing transformations and assess their stability. Currently, transformations in the industrial sector are associated with innovation and the implementation of new technologies. The development of modern industries in the EU countries affects the economic position on the international stage. Therefore, it is reasonable to constantly monitor the changes that take place in the industrial structure of individual countries, which can provide important recommendations to their respective governments. The results of the research indicate the development directions for the industrial sector, which can significantly facilitate the introduction of regulations that support the development of modern industries. Contribution & Value Added: The novelty of the paper is that it illustrates changes in the industry turnover structure due to the advancement of technology. The rule of Industry 4.0 development was confirmed, although with uneven dynamics in respective European economies. It will be interesting to study this phenomenon in the future given the impact of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine on the studied phenomenon. The applied method proved useful for this type of analysis and was deemed useful in other areas of studies of the turnover structure in other markets, such as nutrition, which will be undertaken by the authors in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]