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Online courses have become an increasingly attractive format for delivering teacher training. However, the low retention rates are a critical and still unsolved issue. This paper presents the results of a randomized controlled trial aimed at testing the impact of a personalized support model on teachers' retention in online training courses. The support consisted of a package of nine messages triggered by teachers' characteristics and their specific (in)actions on the course platform. The study involved 3,777 lower-secondary education professional and student teachers from nine European Union Member States and Turkey, who were invited to participate in four new online courses in school year 2018/2019. The experimental estimates show that the offered support increased course completion by 10 percentage points among professional teachers in EU Member States, while it had no effects among student teachers nor in Turkey. Implications for online teacher training providers--such as the importance of reaching out to participants with poor online training experience and who do not start the courses in time--are discussed.

This paper explores linguistic landscapes and the enactment of public visibility and presence of non-majority linguistic groups in EU member states. Non-majority linguistic groups gain power, visibility and presence through the introduction of bilingual or multilingual signposts on roads, streets, squares, and public buildings in towns and cities where a given linguistic group represents a significant population share. The article offers a comparative analysis of language policies of EU member states regarding enactment of official bilingual or multilingual signs in public space. Twenty EU member states have signed the "European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages," while 17 members have ratified it. In addition, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, an integral party of the Lisbon Treaty, stipulates that language diversity is one of the fundamental values respected by the EU. Hence, this comparative research assesses various practices employed by member states in relation to the proclaimed values of multilingualism. Consequently, the paper depicts and compares different language policies that produce linguistic landscapes in EU member states. Finally, it tries to determine whether there is a convergence towards a common EU policy on bilingual and multilingual signs in public space.

This paper considers the impact of geopolitical factors, and in particular the collapse of Communism and EU accession, on language education policy and practice in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). CEE is understood here as referring to the former soviet-controlled, eastern bloc counties of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. A particular focus is placed in this paper on the teaching of English and Russian as foreign languages in Hungary and the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The paper begins by reviewing current thinking in the field of language education policy and practice. It then provides an overview of developments in language education policy and practice in CEE more generally before focussing on two case-studies of language education policy and practice in Hungary and the former GDR. Implications both for language education policy and practice in CEE and for the nature of research in this field are discussed.

The concept of learning outcomes is at the heart of many research programmes and policy responses. International surveys (from the International Adult Literacy Survey, back in the mid-nineties, to the forthcoming Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes two OECD surveys), National Qualifications Frameworks or the European Qualifications Framework engineered by the European Commission and the most recent laws and policies on recognition of non-formal and informal learning outcomes (RNFILO), all rely on the concept of learning outcomes. This paper claims that it is no coincidence that the concept of learning outcomes is at the core of these seemingly unrelated policies, programmes and research projects. Learning outcomes provide a base for equitable assessment in the world of education and lifelong learning. Learning outcomes also are relevant to the labour market and the expectations of end-users such as employers. It also claims that, beyond the hype and some misunderstanding, approaches relying on learning outcomes bring more equity to the world of education and training and to the world of work. This paper aims at focusing on RNFILO as a policy tool, and insists on possible applications and policy implementation. It proposes a definition of the key terms, a possible rationale for organising recognition programmes, and a list of pros and cons for doing so. (Contains 5 notes.)

The paper aimed to analyze cereals production and price at farm gate, also farm inputs prices (seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, fuel and herbicides) in the EU in the period 2016-2021 and also partially in 2022 in order to identify the trends in the main cereals producing countries France, Germany, Poland, Romania, Italy, Spain and Hungary and to propose a few alternatives to farmers how to adapt to climate change for sustaining production. Eurostat data regarding cereals production and price at farm gate and also prices for farm inputs were used, graphically illustrated including trend regression equation and coefficient of determination. The results pointed out that EU cereals output accounted for 272.6 million tonnes in 2022, being by -8.2% lower than the peak of 2019. Wheat and maize production is 128.19 million tonnes and, respectively, 55.1 million tonnes, meaning lower levels than before. Cereals output declined in the main producing countries: France, Germany, Romania, Spain, Italy, Hungary, but increased in Poland. High temperatures, heat waves, severe and long droughts, low precipitations were the main causes related to climate change. Cereals price at the farm gate increased, and also production costs went up due to the raise in farm input prices which started since 2021 and exploded in 2022. High price for diesel, seeds, fertilizers, plant protection products, herbicides, were recorded compared to their levels in 2015. The highest increase of producer's price ranged between +60.7% in Hungary and +31.8% in Spain. In Romania it was +40%. Compared to 2015, in 2021, the growth rate of farm inputs price was: +15.8% for diesel, +10.8% for seeds, +9.8% for fertilizers, +5,13% for herbicides and +3% for plant protection products. In the future, farmers have to increase production rethinking cereals structure, using more high potential varieties and hybrids, resistant to drought, diseases and pests; to extend biodiversity and use crop rotation to preserve soil nutrients; to implement technologies with fewer inputs and conservative agriculture for assuring the sustainable development of cereals production, protecting environment and preserving biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Transforming the linear economy into a circular one in the construction sector is not an easy task. Such a radical change entails a major transformation of the current production and consumption patterns, which in turn will have a significant impact on the economy, the environment, and society. The European Commission sees great potential in the recycling and reuse of construction and demolition waste (CDW) and has also emphasised the importance of this waste stream in its directives on the circular economy. This paper first presents the concept of CDW and its regulatory characteristics. It then introduces the types and sources of CDW. Third, based on an analysis of the literature, the paper identifies the possible links between the CDW and the circular economy and current trends and practices of recovery, reuse, and recovery. Finally, through the examples presented, it gives an overview of the current situation and trends in Hungary and makes recommendations for future development opportunities for the practitioners to help them adapt to recent changes. The options for doing this are important, but the problems that may hinder this process also need to be examined. In this article, the author seeks to find answers to this question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the long-term trajectory and the recent acceleration of the conflict over the rule of law in the EU. It focusses on the motivation of the two governments in Hungary and Poland to challenge European core values increasingly aggressively even directly at EU level despite the threat of significant material costs to both countries. Putting forward a Gramscian understanding, we argue that this radicalization is the result of a counter-hegemonic strategy that aims at replacing the liberal order with a new, nationalist, ultraconservative, Christian order on domestic and European levels. The paper traces core elements of this strategy which are either disputed or underestimated in existing literature, most importantly the pursuit of a core ideology and the massive and long-term investment into winning moral and cultural leadership through the penetration of civil society which precedes and complements electoral strategies and autocratic institution building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of External Economic Bulletin / Külgazdaság is the property of KOPINT Konjunktura Kutatasi Alapitvany 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.)

Background: To curb human-made carbon-dioxide emissions, the European Union will introduce carbon pricing for buildings and transport in 2027. Central and East European (CEE) countries are pressured to embark on ambitious decarbonization pathways leading to carbon-neutral economies by 2050. This paper is the first to investigate the public acceptance of and the willingness to pay (WTP) for a carbon tax in a CEE country, Hungary. It analyzes the support-increasing effects of five revenue-recycling mechanisms (tax cuts, green spending, support for poor households, funding for health care and education, and debt reduction), a wider range than covered in previous studies. A national face-to-face survey of 3013 adults on public attitudes to climate change, conducted in summer 2022, is the main method of data collection. This is combined with secondary analysis of related statistics and documentary analysis of relevant materials. Results: The results show low public acceptance, with only a modest increase from 20.3% to 27.3% due to revenue recycling. This is accompanied by low WTP values and WTP increases. All these are lower than those found in Western surveys. A novel empirical result is the relative popularity of public health care and education in revenue recycling, though differences in revenue-recycling preferences are apparent between those who accept a carbon tax even without a redistribution mechanism and those who are willing to pay only if redistribution is included. Green spending also performed relatively well, while supporting the poor fared less well, albeit with relatively high WTP values. Reducing taxes and public debt were the least likely to instigate carbon-tax acceptance. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of carefully assessing the distributional impact of implementing carbon pricing mechanisms and thoroughly integrating social considerations into climate policy. Based on this, as well as the analysis of the social conditions and political economy of climate policy development in Hungary, policies—such as a gradually increasing carbon tax, social cushioning, legal earmarking of carbon-tax revenues, and policy bundling—are proposed to make carbon pricing socially tolerable and politically acceptable. The findings and conclusions might also be relevant for other parts of the CEE region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to explore the short-term dynamics of price and income import demand elasticities in the case of Hungary. Research data encompass the time period from 1996Q1 to 2018Q3. Using a relatively novel approach of T.V.P. (time-varying parameters) this paper gives further insight into the short-term dynamics of Hungarian imports. Income import demand elasticity was found to be significant and mostly positive while price effect was time-dependent and bidirectional rendering itself non-significant in the final state. Furthermore, Hungary's accession to European Union was not significantly influencing import demand patterns with other European Union members. These findings add new information to the body of knowledge regarding import trade elasticities of transition countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper empirically analyzes the efficiency of European Union (EU) subsidies for farms in the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary between 2014 and 2021. The aim of this analysis was to explore whether the subsidies increased the resilience of farms, enhancing their profitability, liquidity and solvency, and economic efficiency, measured by the usual financial indicators of farm performance. The analysis also evaluated the ability of farm businesses to create and retain jobs, i.e., to increase employment in the rural environment, focusing on differences between the subsidized and non-subsidized farms. The research analyzed all agricultural companies of the selected region. The methodology was a non-parametric statistical analysis (Kruskal–Wallis test, Dunnett's T3 test) for identifying significant differences between subsidized and non-subsidized farms in the 8-year period. Results show that subsidies significantly improved the financial stability, resilience and efficiency of subsidized farms only in the micro size category, and the employment indicators deteriorated more in subsidized farms than in non-subsidized ones. Thus, the intended purpose of the subsidies was not entirely realized, and positive impacts were noticeable only in the micro enterprises. This might imply that subsidies contributed to the survival of non-viable enterprises instead of enhancing their competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the European Union's duty to respect the national identities of its Member States, understood in its capacity as a justification that Member States can invoke to derogate from certain EU lawmandated obligations. Since it was originally inserted in the Maastricht Treaty, the 'national identity' clause has undergone several modifications, the existing version having potentially far-reaching and unforeseeable implications. The analysis focuses on how the 'national identity' clause has been employed by the Member States in practice, spotlighting the current developments in Poland and Hungary as a fitting illustration. Namely, the Polish and the Hungarian government have been known to play the 'national identity' card in order to justify and legitimize the rule-of-law backsliding processes taking hold of their countries. In addition, in October 2021, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal delivered a judgment which openly challenges the principle of primacy of EU law over national law as a core principle of the EU legal order. Lastly, the paper assesses the limits of the Member States' discretion to use the 'national identity' justification as a means of evading the authority of EU law, addressing the 'thin red line' that exists between using and abusing this justification, as well as the considerable anti-integration potential that the justification's misuse carries with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hungary joined the European Union in 2004 but started to participate in EU crisis management operations well before. Since the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) was a new policy area at that time, it was an extraordinary experience for Hungary to be integrated into a policy still under development. After briefly detailing the foreign and security policy options Hungary faced right after the transition from communism, this paper analyses Hungary's contribution to the CSDP. The CSDP is based on two pillars -- one operational and the other related to capability-building. The paper first analyses Hungary's participation in the civilian and military operations launched in the framework of the CSDP. Specifically, it explores the operations Hungary has joined, the kind of capacities it has contributed and the deficiencies and problems that have emerged in this sphere. Second, the paper addresses Hungary's perspectives and aspirations regarding capability development. Specifically, it looks at how Hungary views the future of the CSDP, especially in light of the country's participation in permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the central element in the EU's joint defence capability development. Methodologically, the paper employs qualitative content and discourse analysis, drawing on relevant secondary literature and analyses of official EU and Hungarian (legislative and non-legislative) documents. Surveying Hungary's participation in EU crisis management operations since the beginning of the CSDP, the paper finds it has joined 42 per cent of civilian and 70 per cent of military operations. These have been in the immediate neighbourhood but also distant locations (Africa, Central Asia, and the Near East). At the same time, distinct challenges have hampered Hungary's contribution to certain operations, such as a dearth of foreign language skills and a lack of strategic airlift and mobile logistics capabilities. The paper also finds that regional defence cooperation was not the central driver of cooperation within PESCO projects. Overall, Hungary is somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of the number of PESCO projects it participates in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of post-accession conditionality within the EU has been of pivotal importance for the EU in past years. The European Union has plenty of tools for monitoring the compliance of EU Member States; however, when it comes to enforcement mechanisms, EU institutions perform poorly. Respect for the rule of law is especially crucial in this regard, as certain Member States (i.e. Poland and Hungary) have committed violations in this area. Hungary has been subject to several infringement procedures due to failure to comply with EU law, and the Article 7 procedure has even been activated against it. In 2020, the EU decided to connect rule-of-law violations to the EU budget disbursement by introducing the rule-of-law conditionality mechanism, which was launched against Hungary in 2022. This paper evaluates this conditionality mechanism through the example of Hungary and assesses whether it is more effective than the previous tools used to address rogue Member State behaviour and prevent continuous rule-of-law violations on a national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether a country's innovative capacity increases when the business sector invests more in research and development. The empirical investigation covers Serbia and its three neighboring countries in the European Union - Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria - for the period from 2011 to 2021. The results indicate that an increase in investment by the business sector at the current level of GDP influences the increase in innovation in the case of Serbia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-government and electronic communication have been part of the Hungarian legal system for more than two decades. This paper describes the process by which these legal institutions have been shaped and developed through domestic legislation, in the context of the European Union's Information and Communications Technology and eGovernment policies. Since the Bangemann report in 1994, the European Union has given high priority to the development of e-public services and e-government, and this has placed a heavy burden on all Member States to implement the rules. In Hungary, the directed wayfinding started in the early 2000s, which, with some slowdowns, continues to this day. Two decades may not be a long time if we look at individual legal institutions, but in this case, it is a dynamic period full of paradigm shifts that justifiably deserves academic interest. In our study, we have broken down domestic regulation into six distinct periods, in parallel with EU regulation. If the application of domestic rules are taken into account and the results we have achieved in the use of e-services, it can be seen that we are still very far from even the EU average. We already have what appears to be a stable and coherent set of rules on which the environment of the e-services can be built, but we fear that this is still a very long way off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The conceptualization of the EU as a normative power has become a central theoretical framework in the field of European studies. This concept highlights the EU’s role in the promotion of normative principles, particularly those concerning its core values as laid out in article 2 of the Lisbon Treaty: human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. While the majority of academic works on NPE have mostly focused on the EU’s external action, there is a growing trend to apply this concept to the study of member States that challenge the core values of the EU. This paper takes a step further in that endeavor through the analysis of Spanish media discourses on the EU, and their role in the discursive construction of the EU as a normative power, both internally and externally. Specifically, our research focuses on how the EU’s commitment to human rights norms and the rule of law are reflected in dominant media discourses on the EU in Spanish media. To conduct our study, six national Spanish media outlets were selected based on the following criteria: Ownership; ideology; consumption; and impact. A final sample of 540 news items published between July 2021 and March 2022 were selected for analysis. Using a qualitative methodological approach that includes content analysis and critical discourse analysis, we analyzed the major discourses identified in relation to the EU, focusing on those in which the construction (or deconstruction) of the EU as a normative power is more prevalent. We also attempted to unfold how this construction is projected internally and externally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses first on the concept of "rule of law" and its requirements. The legislative framework of the European Union on the conditionality mechanism on the rule of law is analyzed in detail. The last part of the exposition concerns the effective application of the legislation ensuring the protection of the European budget in case of violation of the principles of the rule of law by a Member State. In this regard, some judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union are commented on, given by it in a few cases involving Hungary and Poland, on the one hand, and the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, on the other part. The purpose of this article is to highlight the complexity and the very special importance of the concept of the rule of law, essential value expressis verb is consecrated, to analyze the specific legislation in the field existing at the level of the European Union. Finally, the shortcomings of the Member States in respecting the principle examined are highlighted; in this respect, several judgments of the Court of Justice concerning systematic infringements of the rule of law by some Member States of the European Union are analyzed. The historical and the comparative methods are used in this presentation. The article is of particular importance to the European Union, to the experts in the field, but especially to the Member States of the European Union, which have undertaken to take over and give priority to its specific legislation by joining this regional organization. Although Poland and Hungary have been convicted for the systematic violations of the rule of law, they have not remedied their situation, despite the sanctions applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skid resistance of a road pavement surface is the force developed when a tyre is prevented from rotating and slides along the pavement surface. This property comes from the combination of the macro- and micro-texture of pavement. The skid resistance of an asphalt pavement is an important parameter influencing driving safety on a road since there is a proven relationship between skid resistance and accident parameters. This paper deals with the measurement principle of pavement skid resistance (surface friction) including longitudinal and transverse friction. A high number of measuring devices of skid resistance are also introduced, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Moreover, the measurement policies in the European Union and in Hungary are outlined. Pavement surface texture is investigated, dealing with the levels of surface texture, the most common measuring techniques, the macro-texture features of asphalt types, as well as the Hungarian regulation in the field. As a related topic, the aggregate properties and their implication in the relevant Hungarian specification are introduced briefly as well. Some outcomes of the EU's COST Action 354 on the development of unified European macro-roughness and skid resistance performance indicators and indices are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the programming period of 2021–2027, the European Union (EU) encourages and supports cities and towns across the community to take action to enlarge their green infrastructure and develop and improve urban green spaces. As the provision of equal opportunities is a horizontal principle of the EU, the needs of vulnerable and disabled people are crucial to consider in developments. Using survey data from 102 respondents in Hungary, this paper explores and assesses blind and visually impaired people’s perceptions of urban green spaces and factors that support or hinder them from accessing and using the parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This paper discusses the legal basis of those anti-migratory individual actions of certain states of the European Union, specifically Italy and Hungary, which have recently created a challenge to the enforcement of International and European Union legal rules on asylum. On the one side, legal rules are stemming from International Law, the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights, EU Law (i.e. Dublin Regulation) which impose specific duties on those countries where migrants and asylum-seekers first come. On the other side, there are countries (i.e. Italy, Hungary) that are or have been particularly exposed to the inflow of refugees and asylum-seekers. These countries, in these last years, have taken individual initiatives against what their Governments have perceived as a massive inflow of migrants. These initiatives have spurred a debate and have also contributed to EU initiatives and plans related to the reallocation of migrants. This paper, after introducing the International and EU legal rules on the treatment of migrants and asylum-seekers, studies the legal basis for certain individual states' initiatives against massive migration, and the possible consequences of a conflict between the EU/International authorities and those states following restrictive policies against migration. Finally, the paper suggests that the existing international and EU rules on asylum should be reviewed. This would also take into account the constraints that a massive inflow of migrants can create to individual states and would prevent conflicts between anti-migration national Governments and EU/International authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: This paper contains laboratory measurements of four different micro-fiber thermal insulation materials to reveal their applicability limits under various environmental conditions. On the samples, scanning electron microscope investigations were executed to disclose the structure of the fibers. The study also investigated the most important thermal parameters of the samples, namely, the thermal conductivity and the calorific value with the specific heat capacity. Humidity measurements and hydrophobic tests were also conducted and the sorption isotherm of the samples was registered. To reveal the thermal stability as well as the applicability limits, differential scanning calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy measurements have also been performed. As a result of these comprehensive measurements, one can predict the behavior of the samples in various external circumstances. The results can generate further studies and are very useful for both designers, planners, and researchers. In the European Union, almost 40% of all energy consumption comes from buildings, while another 20–25% comes from transport. In the European Union, including Hungary, only buildings with almost-zero energy demand could be built after 2020, and the use of renewable energies must be strengthened. The Renewable Directive stipulated that by 2020, the share of renewable energy in buildings must be 25%, and in transport it must be 10%; the use of electric vehicles is vital. There are about four million dwellings in Hungary, of which approximately three million need to be renovated, and only some of these (a few hundred) meet the cost-optimized level of the 2020 directive. The use of insulation materials is very important in the transport sector, too. Insulation materials are also used by aircraft and electric vehicles. To reduce the energy loss from buildings, different insulation materials can be used; investigations of insulation materials are very important. This paper presents a comprehensive research report on insulation materials which could be used for building elements, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning appliances) equipment, and vehicles. In this paper, laboratory investigations will be presented along with calculations to better understand the properties and behavior of these materials. For this, firstly structural analysis with scanning electron microscope will be presented. Moreover, the paper will present thermal conductivity and combustion heat measurement results. The sorption and hydrophobic behavior of the materials will be also revealed. Finally, the article will also display differential scanning calorimetry measurements and Raman spectroscopy results of the samples. The research was conducted on four different types of colorized microfiber lightweight wool insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Folia Toruniensia is the property of Nicolus Copernicus Public Provincial Library in Torun 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.)

There is now a wealth of literature discussing how regional development and spatial planning practices in Central Eastern Europe have been shaped through the alignment with EU policy frameworks. However, scholars have tended to study governance dynamics in terms of adaptation and learning, paying thus little attention to how spatial policy change is inherently interlinked with the political contestation of nation-state spaces. This paper proposes to address this lack by combining insights from political economic work on state spatial restructuring and discourse theory. From this perspective, the institutionalization of spatial policies is examined as a political process in which particular understandings of space become seen legitimate and stabilized depending on how well they fit existing discourses. The paper demonstrates the added value of this approach through a case study of spatial policy change in post-1990 Hungary, and argues that the approach is more generally applicable to examine shifts in spatial policies and to address concerns with the increase in uneven development at different scales. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines developments in Poland following the 2015 elections and in Hungary since 2010, which included the gradual destruction of democratic institutions, challenges to the rule of law, as well as to the system of checks and balances. The authors consider the Ziblatt-Levitsky model (2018) as a meaningful framework for the analysis of the way in which the power structure was reshaped and have based their research on the classification set out in this model. Our objective is to present the political changes that took place in the two Central-Eastern-European countries during the last decade that resulted in the process under Article 7 being used for the first time in the history of the EU. The paper conclusion is that the path of de-democratization of Hungary and Poland is seen from the perspective of the EU and Council of Europe, as similar one. In actions taken toward both countries, the EU concerns mostly the principle of the rule of law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its focus on high tech sectors and the role played by FDI, the literature dealing with developmental opportunities in Central and Eastern European (CEE) economies underestimates the room for domestic developmental agency. In this paper, we contrast diverging strategies of positioning the Polish and Hungarian dairy sector in European markets. In Hungary, 'outsourcing' the integration of fragmented producers to multinational corporations (MNCs) led to competitive downgrading, providing a fertile terrain for economic nationalism in the wake of the financial crisis. In Poland, a developmental alliance between state and farmers upgraded the competitiveness of domestic cooperatives under the constraint of EU accession. Contrary to narratives that describe passive competition states in CEE, we show that the domestic politics of developmental alliances determined whether EU integration resulted in the neoliberal outsourcing of development to MNCs or gave rise to a sector-level developmental state. Using the notion of dynamic institutional complementarity, we explore why lesser-developed countries with similar initial conditions diverge in developmental strategies and outcomes within the same transnational integration regime that imposes the same rules and provides the same opportunities to member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of Industry 4.0 revolution is a highly discussed topic in response the industrial production is one of the most important economic sectors in the European Union. Industrial transformation and digitalization seem to be necessary evolution steps due to the lack of skilled laborers in the EU. Current demographic trends and projections of the future workforce composition are projecting warning signals. Aims: This paper reviews documented efficiency of the Industry 4.0 and adds empirical evidence on the Industry 4.0 readiness from Hungary. The main goal of this article is to calculate the innovative I4.0 Readiness Index in Hungary by using industry level indicators, and to compare results within EU-27 countries. Outcomes will be used to identify clusters of macroeconomic similarity. Data and methods: Literature review was conducted. I4.0 Readiness Index was enumerated based on data from Eurostat. Cluster analysis was used to determine the different country classes (groups) in transition towards Industry 4.0. Results: Denmark has the highest score value of I4.0 Readiness Index among the EU-27 member states, Bulgaria has the lowest performance. Hungary is on the 23rd place in the ranking. Conclusion: EU-27 region may be divided into five clusters. This paper confirmed macroeconomic disparities among countries. Cluster analysis is in accordance with results of the I4.0 Readiness Index. Findings in this paper may be considered in a future research by analysing further I4.0 indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During and the following years of economic crisis that started in 2008, the European Union did not find reliable answers to some negative effects of downturn. This was highly true in East Central Europe, in the ex-socialist countries. Regional differences increased at the expanse of rural areas. The inefficient efforts to revitalize rural countryside echoed new. The main aim of the paper is to investigate on the necessary elements and mechanisms of employment growth in Hungarian rural areas. Based on the original applied research series conducted in 2012–2013 and 2015–2016, and the publication of the first results in line with the relevant literature, the authors built a general model inspired by geographical spheres for practical use of stakeholders and policymakers. The parts of the model, the interrelations, mechanisms and functions between them were the subject matter of this paper. The authors expect debate on further generalization of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd 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.)

Meat consumption has always played a prominent role in human nutrition. The pork and poultry industries are the two most important sectors in terms of meat consumption and production in the European Union and Hungary. Pork production has long been well ahead of poultry production but according to the latest research and forecasts it seems that the poultry industry will soon take the lead. The main objective of the paper is a detailed sector-level analysis. Currently the research comprises a small number of analyses of the two sectors. The research reviewed the international and domestic situation of the poultry and pork sectors as well as their development of production and consumption values. The paper focuses on the economic analysis, its theoretical background, role and tasks. It utilises the database provided by the Agricultural Economics Research Institute and uses various types of index numbers and the Du-Pont system for causal relationships among indexes. The database contains various balance sheets and profit and loss accounts for the period 2005-2015. The data for 2015 were available in three categories based on the Standard Production Value. In particular, the paper looks into the development of the asset and capital structure and the analysis of short-term solvency and profitability. The findings show that the development of the two sectors is in tune with international production and consumption trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper examines the European Union (EU)'s actions regarding the rule of law (RoL) crisis in Hungary and Poland. As alignment among three EU institutions – European Parliament, European Commission and European Council – is required for the enforcement of the punitive measures under Article 7 of the Treaty on EU, existing studies, to a great extent, rely on the conflict between the intergovernmental and supranational levels to account for the EU's failure to sanction the RoL offenders. This article argues that EU's failure to implement Article 7 cannot be explained by only one dimension of the internal power struggle in the EU. By exploring the complex politics underlying the RoL crisis, this article reveals four competing – Thin, Thick, Parochial and Global – visions of Europe supported by various EU institutions, member states, and extra-EU actors. Based on the EU's official documents and media reports from the member states (more notable from Hungary since 2010 and Poland after 2015), the article suggests that cooperation and conflict between Thin, Thick, Parochial and Global Europe can better explain the 'EU's actions without sanctions' approach towards the RoL crisis which has paradoxically provoked further public support for the RoL offenders instead of weakening them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identity has long been a contested concept in the social sciences. In contrast, legal scholars have come late to the analytical discussion about the concept. It was only in the late 2000s that the concepts of national and constitutional identity became part of the European legal discourse. Today, national identity is a legal concept in EU law. Article 4(2) of the Treaty on European Union obliges the EU to respect the national identities of Member States. A literal understanding of this provision suggests that any domestic interpretation would be consistent with EU law. This paper challenges this view. It differentiates between national and constitutional identity. The former refers to identity that can be connected either to a community's ethnocultural characteristics or to its political institutions and foundational constitutional values. The latter is often called constitutional identity. Yet, this article defines the term constitutional identity differently by concentrating on identity attached to a democratic constitution. Thereby, it offers a novel, constitutionalist approach. The article argues that the concept of national identity in EU law is a constitutionalist one and demonstrates, using the example of Hungary, how an ethnocultural national identity runs counter to this constitutionalist concept and how a new constitutional identity may be developed. The implication of having a constitutional identity that respects universal constitutional principles is that such a constitutional identity would be more compatible with values at the European level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the collapse of the communist system, regional inequalities have increased in Central European Countries. This paper describes an assessment of the impacts of regional development programmes on the development of Hungarian regions at a highly disaggregated level between 2002 and 2008. We construct a multi-dimensional composite indicator to estimate the overall development of rural regions and capture social, economic and environmental dimensions. The impacts of rural development programmes were investigated through counterfactual analysis in combination with Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in- Differences approaches. There has been considerable variation with increasing concentration in the level of subsidies distributed during the analysed period. From a policy perspective, the results are disappointing. Irrespective of the subsidy measures or methodology employed, the impact of the former is very close to zero or non-significant. Our findings cast serious doubt on the effectiveness of development policy and the long-run convergence of European regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on a case study conducted in the frame of the European Union (EU) Framework 7 project IMPRESA which aimed to evaluate the impact of EU research on agriculture. Offi cial data sets were used to show trends in agricultural research expenditure in Hungary from 2008 onwards, focusing on public and private research eff orts, research strategy and priority areas, research staff and evaluation of research, and dissemination of research results. The factors behind these trends were explored through semi-structured, faceto- face interviews with key experts. Total R&D expenditure (not adjusted for infl ation) in the field of science ‘agricultural sciences’ increased from HUF 19.7 billion in 2008 to HUF 22.1 billion in 2016. There was a marked decline in expenditure at public-sector R&D institutes and (until 2015) broadly constant R&D activity at universities, while that of the business sector increased. Public-sector R&D institutes have been reorganised in an attempt to improve their effi ciency and eff ectiveness, but several further actions are needed. These include the development of a national agricultural research strategy, the recruitment of younger, innovative staff coupled with the provision of motivating conditions of work, and a greater emphasis on applied research together with more eff ective evaluation of research impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart cities have spawned a global discourse, which is, however, dominated by notions and theories originating from major metropolis regions in the Global North/West, as well as by quantitative approaches. Drawing on case studies from Hungary, this paper aims to reveal how place-specific factors influence smart-city development and to discover the characteristics of this development in the Hungarian context. For this purpose, qualitative research methods, namely a content analysis of policy documents and semi-structured expert interviews, were used. Based on the results, we distinguished four development paths: representative, stalled, organizational model, and focused smart city. Findings broaden the general understanding of smart-city development, providing policy recommendations for the future adaptation of the concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]