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This research investigates how international educational collaboration (IEC) as a social activity adapts to global crises: COVID-19 and the Russian's invasion in Ukraine. We focus on Finnish higher education institutions (HEIs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that actively provide IEC activities, such as student exchange, education export and educational capacity building abroad. Drawing from the sociology of conventions (SC) and the concept of social practices, we formulate a multidimensional framework that connects regimes of justification, and social practices that emerge in crises. Considering crises as a critical test, we analyse how IEC cope with unexpected situations that require establishing new justifications of public accountability and morality, and practices that fit the crises situation. Our empirical data collected through a two-stage open-ended questionnaire in 2021 and 2022 enables us to consider the recent trends and potential future(s) of IEC. Empirically, we conclude that coping with global crises requires IEC actors to make changes in IEC practices. Analytically, we theorise that regimes of justification and social practices that emerge during crises (crisis practices) are interconnected. Thus, this study contributes to practice-oriented frame by considering accountability of practices in the unexpected circumstances, enhancing the understanding of how different organisations adapt to turbulent times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine are extraordinary events causing excessive turbulence in financial markets. Considering the leptokurtic and heteroscedastic properties of returns on financial assets, we examine the suitability of several alternatives for modeling returns to choose the most suitable option to compute the VaR and CVaR for returns of three stock market indices as well as euro exchange rates in Czechia, Poland, and Hungary. Using an appropriate test, we evaluate how the two metrics of VaR and CVaR changed during the pandemic and the war in Ukraine up to June 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The COVID-19 pandemic that started in early 2020 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused multidimensional shocks to the housing market. Understanding their micro-level impact is crucial to optimizing future responses to similar shocks, designing sustainable urban and socioeconomic policies, and investing. Based on the hedonic Spatial Error Model for the local housing rental market in Poland, during the pandemic, the valuation of the leisure-related apartment characteristics (the availability of a balcony and a private garden) increased. As tenants spent more time at home or in their neighbourhood, the proximity of housing to green areas became increasingly important, and the relevance of proximity to university buildings decreased. Then, amidst the war, a reluctance to use gas heating has been noticed. Combined with the observed price premium for the location of apartments in revitalised tenement houses, this means that the modernisation of the historic housing stock is not only ecologically desired, but also is capitalised in the achieved rents. The rent change throughout the pandemic has been estimated at -6.7%, while during the war-related crisis, at +29.7%. Finally, low sensitivity of hedonic rent indices to the detected changes in rent-setting factors has been found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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IntroductionIn recent years, Poland has faced two major emergencies: the COVID-19 pandemic, a global-scale public health emergency in 2020, and the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine, which forced over 9 million Ukrainians–mostly women and children–to flee from their country through the Polish–Ukrainian border in 2022.MethodsIn 2020 and 2022, we conducted two online questionnaires with human milk bank personnel to assess the impact of these emergencies on the human milk banking sector and its preparedness to face them. All 16 human milk bank entities operating in Poland were contacted and invited to participate in the study. For the first questionnaire, which was distributed in 2020, we obtained a 100% response rate. For the second questionnaire, the response rate was 88%, i.e., 14 out of 16 human milk banks completed the questionnaire. We compared these two emergencies in terms of the extent to which the potential of the Polish human milk bank network was exploited to support vulnerable infants who were not breastfed.Results and discussionOur findings indicate that recommendations to provide donor human milk to infants separated from their mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic were never fully implemented. Meanwhile, during the refugee crisis, national legislation allowing equal access to public healthcare for Ukrainian citizens were rapidly implemented, enabling a more effective response by human milk banks to support vulnerable infants. However, no specific measures were introduced to support refugees outside the standard criteria for donor human milk provision. Our results highlight the limited response from the sector during emergencies and the underutilization of the potential of a nationwide network of professional human milk banks. Drawing on Polish experiences, we emphasize the importance of having procedures and legal regulations regarding human milk banking in place even in non-crisis settings, which would facilitate a rapid emergency response. We also emphasize the need to include the implementation of emergency procedures in building a strong and resilient human milk banking system.

Recent years have brought a serious economic crisis, first caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and later worsened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The global economy was greatly affected by these events, so it can be expected to see them affect the post-merger financial performance of companies.

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to identify the volatility of the rates of return, as well as the profitability of investments in precious metals in relation to traditional investments during the unstable epidemic and geopolitical situation, including the identification of the impact of the method of calculating the simple rate of return on investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach: The article uses literature analysis and a statistical research method as research methods. A review of the world literature on the changes taking place on investment markets in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine was carried out. The empirical part of the article presents the results of the analysis of the level of return on metals, compared to traditional investments, in the period 20.03.2018-21.03.2023. Findings: The level of annual rates of return differed from the level of average annual rates of return. Therefore, the conclusions about the profitability of individual investments depend on the chosen method of calculating simple rates of return. Research limitations/implications: This article does not exhaust the examined issue. In subsequent studies, it is worth reviewing the literature not only of the most recent publications, but also of older ones. It is also worth analyzing other types of alternative investments. In future analyses, it is also worth considering the use of statistical tests. Practical implications: Identifying changes in ores markets compared to traditional investment markets and indicating the impact of the simple rate of return calculation method on its value may be useful in making and evaluating investment decisions, as well as in better understanding of the changes taking place in these markets. Originality/value: The paper compares two methods of calculating the rate of return during an uncertain economic situation. The choice of the method of calculating the rate of return affects the results obtained, which translates into investment recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Logos: A Journal, of Religion, Philosophy Comparative Cultural Studies & Art (08687692) is the property of Logos 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 state of the environment is getting worse worsening, despite the efforts of international community and individual states aimed at its improvement and achieving environmental sustainability. Moreover, the current crises – the COVID-19 pandemic and the armed conflict in Ukraine – have many negative effects on these efforts. The main aim of this paper is to analyse the most significant impacts of these crises on achieving environmental sustainability. We assume that they have strongly negatively affected the progress towards this goal, which we see as very dangerous given the urgency of the environmental crisis and the severity of its consequences. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first part, we outline the importance of environmental sustainability, focusing on the profiling of environmental pillar of sustainable development. The second part focuses on the analysis and mapping of the most significant environmental impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and the armed conflict in Ukraine on the very achievement of environmental sustainability. In this part, we demonstrate that both crises have strongly negatively influenced it and set the global community back in these efforts. In the third part, the findings as well as several possible future strategies are discussed.

In the wake of the war in Ukraine and the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have either suspended or closed their operations. The introduction of martial law requires rapid adaptation of tax legislation to new realities. To do this, the State must, in particular, distribute its burden to promote the survival of businesses in the wartime conditions. One of such plans is to carry out the tax reform «10-10-10», which provides for amendments to tax legislation, revision of preferential taxation of certain business segments and reduction of basic tax rates. Making adjustments to these tax rates will lead to serious changes in the State budget itself. The main taxes that will be changed during the reform are VAT, personal income tax and business income tax. Analysts argue that reducing them to 10% and strengthening tax control over entrepreneurs and enterprises will lead to the withdrawal of a significant part of business from the «shadow». The important point is that, in contrast to reducing the rates on basic taxes, the authors of the reform propose to strengthen control over the activities of not only registered entrepreneurs, but also the population that receives income without registering as a business entity. This will entail an increase in fines for violating tax legislation. Among the important shortcomings of the reform are the potential increase in the budget deficit resulting from a significant reduction in taxes, as well as the conditions of the European Directive 112, which Ukraine has to adhere to within the framework of European integration and according to which the VAT rate cannot be less than 15%. In turn, the advantages are strengthening tax control, de-shadowing the economy and reducing the tax burden on the wage fund, improving the standard of living of the population, supporting business and attracting foreign investment. Thus, after a detailed consideration of the reform, familiarization with the opinions of leading experts and a brief analysis, it can be argued that in such a difficult situation in which Ukraine finds itself now, it is appropriate to make fundamental changes to the tax system in order to improve the financial condition of the population, enterprises and the economy in general.

The war in Ukraine represented a major geopolitical shock for the EU. In the face of an illegal Russian aggression, EU institutions and member states rallied to support Ukraine. Nevertheless, the war in Ukraine also exposed the limited fiscal capacity of the EU. As a result, EU institutions and member states had to come up with creative ways to financially back Ukraine's military and civilian efforts. This article examines the two key tools deployed by the EU so far to fund Ukraine in its war against Russia, namely the European Peace Facility and the Macro-Financial Assistance Instrument. The article details the legal features of these tools, evaluates their intergovernmental vs. supranational nature, and reflects on their significance for the consolidation of an EU fiscal capacity. As the article argues, the war in Ukraine quickly prompted the EU to replicate some of the novelties it used to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, namely the use of common borrowing and spending. Nevertheless, structural fiscal and governance weaknesses still limit the ability of the EU to mobilize resources and leverage power on the international stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experience of dealing with the socio-economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine confirms the thesis that decisions on financial assistance must be taken without delay and that the government must have a certain degree of freedom and flexibility to act. However, do emergencies entitle governments to bypass the principles of responsible and transparent fiscal policy-making? Do the challenges countries face in dealing with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine also legitimise governments' furthering of the debudgetisation of public finances? This article aims to answer these questions. The background of the considerations will be an analysis of Polish legal solutions and systemic practice. First, it is worth noting that anti-crisis measures in Poland have been taken primarily through extra-budgetary financial instruments, which are not included in the monitored scope of public finance. Surprising budgetary solutions appear, such as transferring Treasury securities instead of subsidies or pushing certain expenditures outside the state budget, to circumvent regulations and legally binding restrictions. In the context of parliamentary scrutiny, this means that a significant proportion of public debt is outside parliamentary control, and the scale of circumvention of the constitutional limit on public debt has been increasing for several years, reaching a considerable percentage of the GDP in 2021. This phenomenon is also accompanied by a record increase in public debt, fuelled by borrowing to finance tasks related to countering the Covid-19 pandemic and the socio-economic consequences of the war in Ukraine. It is, therefore, worth taking a closer look at the Polish government's budgetary solutions, which undoubtedly do not contribute to fostering transparency in budgetary policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this article is to evaluate the repercussions of the crises resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine on changes to the European Union's reliance on energy raw material imports, particularly from Russia. Furthermore, several specific objectives are outlined: to ascertain the EU's energy balance and any alterations therein, to identify changes in the concentration of energy raw material imports among EU countries during the crises, to determine the level and fluctuations in energy raw material import dependence within the EU and individual member states throughout the crises, and lastly, to assess changes in the concentration of energy raw material imports from Russia in EU countries during the crises. The research encompassed all 27 EU member states as of 31 December 2022, and the examination period spanned 2010 to 2022. The information sources include relevant literature on the subject and data sourced from Eurostat. In conducting the analysis and presenting the data, several methodologies are employed, including descriptive, tabular, and graphical techniques. Additionally, quantitative measures such as the Gini structure concentration coefficient and concentration analysis via the Lorenz curve are utilized. In the initial phase, an analysis of changes to the energy balance of the entire EU in the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine was carried out. Changes to the concentration of energy imports in EU countries during crises are also shown. Secondly, dependence on imports of individual energy resources for the entire EU was identified. Various changes in this relationship during crises are shown. If the dependence of the entire EU on the import of individual groups of energy resources from Russia were identified, changes in individual EU countries in this respect are indicated. Finally, the changes in the concentration of energy imports from Russia in the EU countries during the crises are shown. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU experienced a slight reduction in dependence on energy raw material imports. However, this reduction was short-lived and mainly attributed to the decrease in energy demand caused by the pandemic. Conversely, the war in Ukraine had a substantial impact, leading to a notable surge in energy raw material imports as a result of stockpiling efforts and the need to safeguard against further disruptions in the energy market. Notably, the EU's reliance on energy imports from Russia was already considerable. Following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, imports of oil, petroleum products, and solid fossil fuels experienced significant decline due to imposed sanctions. Nonetheless, restrictions on natural gas imports were comparatively less severe. In 2023, imports of crude oil instead of petroleum products practically ceased, while restrictions in the case of natural gas were not so drastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze areas of concern and support of the Austrian general population two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. A representative sample (N = 1031) of the Austrian general population was surveyed online between 19 April 2022 and 26 April 2022. A qualitative study design was used to explore the factors of most considerable current concern (Question 1) and the most important sources of support (Question 2). The responses to the two open-ended questions were evaluated using a conventional content analysis, and categories were formed according to the frequency of the answers. The analysis revealed that inflation and finances (30% of participants) and the war in Ukraine (22%) were the greatest sources of concern, followed by mental health (11%), and physical health (11%). Factors such as social contacts within and outside the family were mentioned most frequently as sources of support (36% of participants), followed by recreational activities (23%) and attitudes and abilities (22%). Compared to data collected at the end of the first year of the pandemic (between 23 December 2020 and 4 January 2021), concern about one's financial situation was now mentioned more frequently (30% vs. 8,5%). On the other hand, different types of pandemic-related concerns were mentioned less often. Social contacts and recreation were mentioned as the most important sources of support at both time points (46% and 36% of the participants). The results suggest that the economic concerns are lagging behind the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. In addition, the impending war in Ukraine seems to have a relevant impact on mental health in Austria. Further nuanced qualitative research, particularly involving vulnerable groups such as low-income individuals and the unemployed, is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polish-Russian border, closed since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, transformed into an iron curtain without any chance for its disappearance in a long-term perspective. The ongoing conflict between Russia and the EU started an experiment in the Polish zone bordering with Russia with respect to the planning of economic growth in the new reality – in a fully isolated area – where the border is a limitation and not an opportunity. According to the author's research, the crisis caused by the permanent closing of the Polish-Russian border and suspension of contacts with the Kaliningrad Oblast, which initially was a hard blow for the border communes, with a particularly difficult economic situation, may – in the long-term perspective – turn out to be an important driving force for changes. The primary purpose of this paper is to identify the main actions taken by the Polish local authorities at the border with Russia, the aim of which is revitalisation of the local economy after the Polish-Russian border was closed. The article is based on a number of in-depth expert interviews carried out in the Polish border area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the experience of the COVID-19 global pandemic has significantly affected the mental condition of entire societies by increasing anxiety and stress resulting from its sudden and completely unexpected nature. In Poland, apart from the pandemic, there is an ongoing threat of an armed conflict just across the border, which can constitute direct and indirect threats to physical and mental health. Each of these situations is unusual and difficult. It is also in sharp contrast to the developmental needs of children and adolescents. It especially violates the principal need of this developmental period, which is to grow up in a predictable as well as physically and emotionally safe environment. The purpose of the conducted research was to assess the psychological condition of Polish adolescents, whose social situation is difficult, in order to take appropriate preventive measures based on this assessment. The study was conducted using the “Who are You?” Scale of Transparency Anxiety and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), as well as a researcher-made survey containing questions about well-being in relation to the pandemic, distance learning and the ongoing war in a neighbouring country. Approval was obtained from the Bioethics Committee to conduct the projected research. The study included 945 adolescents aged 11 to 15 (M = 13.10; SD = 1.11) making a representative sample of adolescents from 14 regions in Poland. The results of the research and analyses show that the adolescents under study have a medium level of intensity of neuroticism, with the highest levels occurring in adolescents aged 14. Moreover, the adolescents manifest relatively lower symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as concern about the pandemic and the war in Ukraine than expected.

The article analyzes the scientific activity of university faculty members over the past five years in the context of three periods: before COVID-19, during COVID-19, and during the war in Ukraine. The study was conducted among 26 university faculty members of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, which is temporarily relocated due to the occupation of the city of Berdyansk. The results show that the most effective period of scientific activity over the past five years was the period of 2021, specifically the second year of COVID-19. The factors that hindered this process during peacetime were analyzed, including excessive workload with organizational and methodological work, and during wartime, emotional exhaustion due to war. The results demonstrate that young university faculty members with less than 10 years of experience are the most active in the field of scientific activity, which did not change and even tended to increase, despite the objective circumstances that affected more experienced colleagues. The alarming dynamics of factors that hinder the scientific activity of university faculty members both in peacetime and in wartime indicate the need to review strategies for university faculty members at the national and university levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The war in Ukraine is the third asymmetric shock that the European Union has experienced in the last two decades, after the 2008 financial and economic crisis, the following Eurozone crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Russia's and Ukraine's shares in the global trade and production are relatively small, they are important suppliers of basic products, specifically food and energy. Therefore, the trade consequences of the war for the European Union, Ukraine's important trading partner, deserve special attention. The war also disrupts trade relations between the EU and Russia. The EU's direct trade sanctions are limited to specific sectors, such as oil, coal, arms, dual-use goods, as well as the aviation and space industry. However, financial sanctions, particularly the SWIFT ban imposed on seven Russian banks, increase the costs of commercial transactions considerably. This paper aims to present the trade effects of the war in Ukraine from the European Union's, Member States' and, in particular, Poland's perspective. This refers not only to the trade creation and diversion effect, but also to changes in the structure of the EU's trade regarding the main groups of goods. These effects will vary depending on direct trade links, dependence on Russian energy and susceptibility to rising energy prices. Given an extensive range of parties involved and issues covered by the research, this paper focuses only on the main aspects of the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeszyty Naukowe SGGW: Ekonomika i Organizacja Logistyki is the property of Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Faculty of Economic 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.)

Aim: The aim of this paper was to reflect on global ethical challenges for nurses in light of the COVID‐19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and to discuss 'Nurses and Global Health', a new element in the revised ICN Code of Ethics for Nurses, 2021, and its implications for nurses. Background: The authors participated in the latest revision of the Code. When we were revising the ICN Code of Ethics, there was neither an ongoing pandemic nor a war in Europe. Sources of evidence: Relevant scientific articles and other academic literature, documents from international organisations, and authors' views. Discussion: The discussion emanated from our reflections on how to actually apply the ICN Code of Ethics, i.e., moving the words from the document itself into everyday practice, in light of the COVID‐19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. In the Code, the nurse's responsibility is highlighted, but there is little or no instruction on how to undertake it. Conclusion and implications for nurses: The ICN Code of Ethics needs to be operationalised through ethical reflection and discussion in all contexts where nurses work, from policy level to the care environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of the war in Ukraine and the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have either suspended or closed their operations. The introduction of martial law requires rapid adaptation of tax legislation to new realities. To do this, the State must, in particular, distribute its burden to promote the survival of businesses in the wartime conditions. One of such plans is to carry out the tax reform «10-10-10», which provides for amendments to tax legislation, revision of preferential taxation of certain business segments and reduction of basic tax rates. Making adjustments to these tax rates will lead to serious changes in the State budget itself. The main taxes that will be changed during the reform are VAT, personal income tax and business income tax. Analysts argue that reducing them to 10% and strengthening tax control over entrepreneurs and enterprises will lead to the withdrawal of a significant part of business from the «shadow». The important point is that, in contrast to reducing the rates on basic taxes, the authors of the reform propose to strengthen control over the activities of not only registered entrepreneurs, but also the population that receives income without registering as a business entity. This will entail an increase in fines for violating tax legislation. Among the important shortcomings of the reform are the potential increase in the budget deficit resulting from a significant reduction in taxes, as well as the conditions of the European Directive 112, which Ukraine has to adhere to within the framework of European integration and according to which the VAT rate cannot be less than 15%. In turn, the advantages are strengthening tax control, de-shadowing the economy and reducing the tax burden on the wage fund, improving the standard of living of the population, supporting business and attracting foreign investment. Thus, after a detailed consideration of the reform, familiarization with the opinions of leading experts and a brief analysis, it can be argued that in such a difficult situation in which Ukraine finds itself now, it is appropriate to make fundamental changes to the tax system in order to improve the financial condition of the population, enterprises and the economy in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The war in Ukraine is a major poly-traumatic event, which leads to massive population displacements. The question of the evaluation and psychological care of psychotraumatised people is an urgent matter. As many countries hosting refugees are well endowed with a good number of psychologists, some of these interested professionals should mobilise themselves and make themselves known to carry out these clinical acts. Priority should be given to trained and experienced psychologists to support victims. The language barrier will have to be overcome. Initially, it would be desirable to make contact or get closer to local and national refugee centres to facilitate these operations. Face-to-face or remote consultations, as developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, are possible. Reinforcements of the number of available and dedicated psychologists, including remotely, from the countries hosting the most refugees, are also desirable. The issue of detection, assessment and care of psychologically traumatised people who remained on the Ukrainian territory is probably even more massive. Whether non-combatants or combatants, part of the international psychological community should mobilise, in addition to local colleagues, to provide them with this psychological help. These humanitarian actions would be feasible depending on the evolution of the conflict. Whether it is psychological support for refugees or people still on the Ukrainian soil, models for organising and coordinating these actions must be carefully considered and implemented in an evolving way to optimise their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2015, a series of high-impact global crises has sent shockwaves across Europe. From the so-called migrant crisis of 2015, through the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, national minorities have, like their majority counterparts, seen considerable changes to their lives and lifestyles as a result of measures taken by the national executives in their host countries. It is possible that significant changes to border control and the increased importance of nation-state action in times of crisis have affected the ways in which national minorities understand themselves visà-vis their host and kin-states. By reviewing recent media comments and academic research, this article hypothesises that these international crises have pushed national minorities away from local identities and towards more national and European discourses. As a commentary, this article encourages future exploration of this hypothesis in other minority communities across Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The years 2021 and 2022 saw a warning from communication and disinformation experts about the emergence of an ad hoc alliance with long term effects between supporters of conspiracy theories related to the pandemic and climate change deniers. The war in Ukraine has made things only worse. In August 2021 the first section of the 6th IPCC report ("Code Red for Humanity") had a relatively good visibility. However, the launch of the full report, in April 2022, has gone largely unnoticed. In addition to shifts in attention, the war in Ukraine has generated two opposite communication directions: an ambitious one, calling for the urgent reduction of overall dependence on fossil fuels (not just from Russia), and a conservative one, justifying postponement of decarbonisation plans. The latter has already been used in Romania to adopt laws with a significant environmental impact. Last but not least, there is a convergence both nationally and globally (at the levels of human and financial resources, communications channels, messages) of conservative (justifying the attack of Russia in Ukraine through the prism of the defence of traditional values), conspiratorial (related to the pandemic and the promoters of the progressive discourse) and denialist discourses (in relation to climate change). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, many disruptions have occurred in the environment of companies, mainly caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also, for example, by the war in Ukraine and by the sharp increase in fuel prices. The aim of the article was to present the competitive strategies of chosen companies from the garment industry and the impact of environmental instability on the competitiveness of enterprises using the example of the clothing industry in Poland. The author has been conducting comprehensive research in Polish clothing companies since mid-2017, using, first of all, the method of interviews with company management. This article presents partial results of these studies concerning the competitiveness of companies, especially in terms of the instability of the environment. On the basis of the conducted research, it can be concluded that the instability in the environment has a significant impact on the competitiveness of clothing enterprises. In the initial period, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the level of logistic customer service. Because of this, availability of clothing in some stores and quality of deliveries to online customers deteriorated. The war in Ukraine also caused a temporary deterioration of the availability of clothing in the case of companies that outsourced production to Ukraine. Instability in the environment resulted in an increase in logistics and production costs, which in many cases resulted in an increase in the price of clothing for the end customer. The COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in fuel prices have reduced the efficiency of outsourcing clothing production in low-cost countries, but in the surveyed companies, this had not caused a shift of production from global to local. The problems resulting from the instability of the environment were more quickly overcome by those companies that were more flexible and that earlier on had diversified their sales channels (i.e., sold both in the stores and via e-commerce customers) and the sources of supply (production not only in low-cost countries but also in the local sewing factories). The research confirmed the significant impact of instability in the environment on the ability to compete with the level of logistic customer service and price. The instability in the environment did not affect the ability to compete with the quality of clothing in the surveyed companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this article is to evaluate the repercussions of the crises resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine on changes to the European Union’s reliance on energy raw material imports, particularly from Russia. Furthermore, several specific objectives are outlined: to ascertain the EU’s energy balance and any alterations therein, to identify changes in the concentration of energy raw material imports among EU countries during the crises, to determine the level and fluctuations in energy raw material import dependence within the EU and individual member states throughout the crises, and lastly, to assess changes in the concentration of energy raw material imports from Russia in EU countries during the crises. The research encompassed all 27 EU member states as of 31 December 2022, and the examination period spanned 2010 to 2022. The information sources include relevant literature on the subject and data sourced from Eurostat. In conducting the analysis and presenting the data, several methodologies are employed, including descriptive, tabular, and graphical techniques. Additionally, quantitative measures such as the Gini structure concentration coefficient and concentration analysis via the Lorenz curve are utilized. In the initial phase, an analysis of changes to the energy balance of the entire EU in the period before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine was carried out. Changes to the concentration of energy imports in EU countries during crises are also shown. Secondly, dependence on imports of individual energy resources for the entire EU was identified. Various changes in this relationship during crises are shown. If the dependence of the entire EU on the import of individual groups of energy resources from Russia were identified, changes in individual EU countries in this respect are indicated. Finally, the changes in the concentration of energy imports from Russia in the EU countries during the crises are shown. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU experienced a slight reduction in dependence on energy raw material imports. However, this reduction was short-lived and mainly attributed to the decrease in energy demand caused by the pandemic. Conversely, the war in Ukraine had a substantial impact, leading to a notable surge in energy raw material imports as a result of stockpiling efforts and the need to safeguard against further disruptions in the energy market. Notably, the EU’s reliance on energy imports from Russia was already considerable. Following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, imports of oil, petroleum products, and solid fossil fuels experienced significant decline due to imposed sanctions. Nonetheless, restrictions on natural gas imports were comparatively less severe. In 2023, imports of crude oil instead of petroleum products practically ceased, while restrictions in the case of natural gas were not so drastic.

The ongoing pandemic disaster of coronavirus erupted with the first confirmed cases in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) novel coronavirus, the disease referred to as coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the outbreak and determined it a global pandemic. The current pandemic has infected nearly 300 million people and killed over 3 million. The current COVID-19 pandemic is smashing every public health barrier, guardrail, and safety measure in underdeveloped and the most developed countries alike, with peaks and troughs across time. Greatly impacted are those regions experiencing conflict and war. Morbidity and mortality increase logarithmically for those communities at risk and that lack the ability to promote basic preventative measures. States around the globe struggle to unify responses, make gains on preparedness levels, identify and symptomatically treat positive cases, and labs across the globe frantically rollout various vaccines and effective surveillance and therapeutic mechanisms. The incidence and prevalence of COVID-19 may continue to increase globally as no unified disaster response is manifested and disinformation spreads. During this failure in response, virus variants are erupting at a dizzying pace. Ungoverned spaces where nonstate actors predominate and active war zones may become the next epicenter for COVID-19 fatality rates. As the incidence rates continue to rise, hospitals in North America and Europe exceed surge capacity, and immunity post infection struggles to be adequately described. The global threat in previously high-quality, robust infrastructure health-care systems in the most developed economies are failing the challenge posed by COVID-19; how will less-developed economies and those health-care infrastructures that are destroyed by war and conflict fare until adequate vaccine penetrance in these communities or adequate treatment are established? Ukraine and other states in the Black Sea Region are under threat and are exposed to armed Russian aggression against territorial sovereignty daily. Ukraine, where Russia has been waging war since 2014, faces this specific dual threat: disaster response to violence and a deadly infectious disease. To best serve biosurveillance, aid in pandemic disaster response, and bolster health security in Europe, across the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) and Black Sea regions, increased NATO integration, across Ukraine's disaster response structures within the Ministries of Health, Defense, and Interior must be reinforced and expanded to mitigate the COVID-19 disaster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the article is to analyse key strategic projects to strengthen the European Union's capabilities and role in global affairs. The EU has lost the dynamics of its impact on world affairs due to the configuration of crises that have affected it at both an internal and external level. The sequence of events has undoubtedly weakened the EU's perception as a creator of the international order, which has been a priority since its inception in the 1960s. The power and attractiveness projected by the European Union in a variety of ways have been weakened both as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recent dramatic events causing threats to security and peace in Europe, the best example of which is the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, but also due to undermining its internal cohesion. At the same time, the question arises whether there is a chance to regain a good image for the EU by undertaking necessary reforms and revitalising the European project? The other research questions one then needs to answer are: What challenges will the European Union have to respond to in the nearest future? Are there any real premises for waking the European Union from its marasmus and strengthening its position in Europe? How could the European Union and its members overcome these difficulties? In order to find the answer to these questions, the analysis will cover at least three strategic projects that, in the author's opinion, may reverse the wave of estrangement from the European Union: firstly, actions that are to lead to becoming an organised strategic entity as well as the creation of integrated capabilities in the field of foreign and security policy and military crisis management, secondly, a new approach to neighbourhood policy and future EU enlargement, and finally, undermining anti-European narrative in EU and third countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper analysis the new and old challenges of the migration phenomenon in the Member States and their socio-economic impact. The authors are focused on the implications of the waves of Ukrainian refugees caused by the war in Ukraine and on EU member states' response to the crisis. A special attention is dedicated to Romania as a destination country for Ukrainian refugees. It is analysed the process of integration of refugees from Ukraine in Romania. From the quantitative analysis of the statistical data and the qualitative research of the migration policies from EU and Romania, a series of vulnerabilities are highlighted, but also possible opportunities for the Romanian labor market, which are summarized based on the SWOT analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected international surrogacy • The lack of legal parenthood for intended parents affects the feeling of parenthood • There have been calls for a legal policy on surrogacy in Denmark that addresses issues of legal parenthood How did Danish permanently infertile couples experience surrogacy when going abroad and what impact did the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have on this? A qualitative study was performed between May and September 2022. The in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 permanently infertile couples across Denmark who were in different stages of using surrogacy. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using systematic text condensation. All except one couple went abroad, mainly to Ukraine, to have an enforceable transparent contract, professionals to advise them and the possibility of using the eggs of the intended mother. They did not feel that this was a 'choice' but rather the only option they had to have the longed-for child. According to current Danish legislation, the intended mother could not obtain legal motherhood over the child, not even through stepchild adoption, and this increased the feeling of not being a 'worthy mother'. This study expanded on the term 'reproductive exile' by identifying four different forms of exile: the exiled Danish couple, the gestational carrier in exile, exile at home and, finally, the reproductive body in exile. Understanding infertile couples' experiences when crossing borders is important for several reasons. It may, among others, assist politicians and authorities in developing a sound Danish legal policy on surrogacy to address the current issues of legal parenthood and avoid missing reproductive opportunities for permanently infertile couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]