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The European Social Dialogue (ESD) has served as the platform for European social partners to negotiate parental leave policies at the European Union (EU) level since 1995. The partners' efforts to revise the regulations in 2015, in response to the European Commission's broader approach toward European work–life balance policies, failed, however, and the reasons for and implications of this failure remain insufficiently explored. Drawing on existing ESD literature and leveraging the regulator-intermediary-target (RIT) model, the authors develop a typology of policymaking outcomes based on the analysis of three parental leave directives from 1996 to 2019. The findings demonstrate that divergent preferences among European social partners, particularly when juxtaposed against the Commission's policy objectives and interests, reduced the probability of a successful ESD through which European social partners could generate a framework agreement. Instead of being rule-makers, these conditions relegated European social partners to the role of rule-takers. If this trend continues, it poses a significant challenge to the role and influence of European social partners in EU policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking advantage of the implementation of the 2003 European Commission (EC) directive on financial reporting, we explore the impact of mandatory financial disclosure on mergers and acquisitions (M&A). We find robust evidence that the number (and volume) of private firms becoming an M&A target increases with mandatory disclosure. Analyses of cross-industry differences, deal-level data, and post-deal performance indicate that financial disclosure increases M&A activity by reducing information frictions in the market for corporate control. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix , which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 was presented more than a decade ago as the fourth industrial revolution, aiming to significantly raise the level of sophistication of interconnected technologies and thus increase manufacturing industries' profits. However, because the technology-driven narrow focus of Industry 4.0 on performance and profit fails to explain how to increase prosperity for all the stakeholders involved, the European Commission has introduced the concept of Industry 5.0. This vision overcomes the weaknesses of Industry 4.0 by paying explicit attention to outcomes for humans in the system and establishing an environment to create human-centric, resilient, and sustainable systems. Considering these developments, this position paper and editorial introducing the special issue of the International Journal of Production Research elaborates on the transition from Industry 4.0 to 5.0 through 10 papers focusing on the human-centric pillar of Industry 5.0 and its impacts on production and logistics system design and management. This work presents guidance for a more systemic approach needed in future research: to include empirically grounded works and data-driven multimethod approaches that consider diversity in system operators and human factors demands holistically in order to incorporate ethical implications missing from Industry 4.0 – in the pursuit of Industry 5.0 systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing need for innovative research driven by rapid global changes gives doctoral supervisors of early-stage researchers a significant role in facilitating the ethical conduct of qualitative research. In the context of European Commission funding, the demands of research ethics and integrity place a tremendous responsibility on the supervisors of early-stage researchers involved in cross-national projects. This document study seeks to illuminate the role of the supervisors in facilitating research ethics in these projects. Specifically, we describe and discuss the supervisor role associated with five approaches to doctoral supervision of qualitative research, namely those described as 'Functional', 'Enculturation', 'Critical thinking', 'Emancipation' and 'Developing a quality relationship'. The main challenges for supervisors of cross-national research projects are the cultural and linguistic mobilisation of ethical principles in qualitative research processes and the management of the future use of open data. The results from this study have implications for planning and conducting cross-national studies within research involving human participants. These results can guide supervisors in the codification and mobilisation of ethical qualitative research in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migration-development nexus (MDN) denotes interdependencies between international migration and development. The article identifies six different causal relations between migration and development in the scientific literature and applies them to understand EU policy on the nexus. At EU level, the nexus often serves the central policy objective of limiting irregular migration to Europe, the so-called root causes approach. Yet, contrary to prior research, this article finds that an opposing nexus conceptualization that calls for enabling migration is actually the dominant causality promoted by the European Commission. Unlike studies that explain the dominance of the root causes approach as a lowest-common-denominator choice, this article argues that the Commission's DGs also use the nexus strategically. They promote contradictory approaches, which however all call for an increased Commission mandate and financial resources, selectively omitting those nexus frames that would decrease their role. The migration literature often relegates the MDN to a sub-theme of migration policy. This study shows that MDN is central to the entire EU migration policy area and transpires much of its migration discourse. The nexus and its conceptualizations are thus instrumental for broader migration policy debates beyond the EU as they touch upon demographics, social security, and welfare questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy integration has become an important principle guiding public policy development. Despite its prominence, we lack comprehensive knowledge of the exact degree of policy integration and its variation across policy sectors and time, mainly due to the lack of systematic measurement approaches. We address this shortcoming by (1) developing a novel measure that evaluates the intersectorality of legal acts and (2) assessing its development in the European Union over four decades (1977–2019) for 16 policy sectors. Our mapping reveals that, on average, intersectoral policy-making has increased since the 1990s with the most substantial rise during the Barroso I and II Commissions and a trend reversal after Juncker took office in 2014. Furthermore, we identify substantial variation in intersectoral policy-making between different policy areas reflecting varying levels of political attention and public salience. We deem our measurement concept and findings to have important implications for the study of policy integration in general and the study of EU policies in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DSHEA is 30 years old and its place in providing legitimate protections for public health through relevant agency oversight has created a patchwork of legal and scientific requirements. In contrast, the European Union has rules on supplements and permitted ingredients. Given the context of a global supply chain for food ingredients any conflict between the legality of ingredients between the U.S/EU can inhibit the economic viability of international trade. The purpose of this review is to contrast these different systems of legislative oversight. The analysis of both markets demonstrates a fragmentation in what are considered legal food ingredients between country wide harmonization and state rules and related interpretation. There are many commonalities in this regard between the U.S/EU, from borderline medicinal classifications to their resultant preclusion from food use. However, the codified legal system existing within the EU and excessive guidance can be viewed as time consuming and inflexible, especially for placing new ingredients on the market. The US in contrast is in a holding pattern for legislative interpretation regarding NDIs, GRAS and possible drug preclusion laws. As we hit the anniversary of the DSHEA recent commentary from U.S./EU central authorities point to increased international co-operation in ingredient safety assessments but whether this results in friction-free access between markets is to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The China National Medical Product Administration (NMPA), European Commission, and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) follow similar principles to establish regulatory requirements for medical device clinical evaluations throughout the total product lifecycle (TPLC). However, critical differences in these requirements may have led to different regulatory clinical evaluation strategies in the three jurisdictions. A thorough understanding of these differences is crucial for developing effective global regulatory strategies. Areas covered: PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant articles published over the past 20 years. The common ground and unique regulatory requirements for TPLC clinical evaluation of the NMPA, European Commission, and FDA were analyzed, with a particular focus on three premarket clinical evaluation strategies: clinical data or evaluation exemption, using existing clinical data, and generating new clinical data by conducting a clinical trial. Expert opinion: Because of critical differences in regulatory requirements, the same clinical strategy may not be suitable for all three regulatory jurisdictions. When using the same premarket regulatory clinical evaluation approach, the time and cost investments for new product registration in the three regulatory jurisdictions could differ. A TPLC clinical evaluation strategy is critical for the time and cost assessment of a global regulatory strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb is the property of Fachmedien Otto Schmidt KG 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.)

Telecommunication systems can only function properly with standards that ensure interoperability. Consequently, these standards shape the systems. However, the European Commission (EC) is concerned that foreign (e.g. Chinese) companies are influencing and shaping European telecommunications through their participation in committees of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). The EC wants ETSI to ban non-European firms from co-deciding about critical standards. This paper discusses the EC’s concerns by examining ETSI’s practices from a historical perspective and discussing the concept of legitimacy. Our findings demonstrate that this ban is unsuitable for reaching the EC’s objectives. We develop an alternative by separating decisions about standards to be used in Europe from ETSI’s standard development process. This way, ETSI can continue to involve companies from China and other countries outside Europe, but there will be an additional step for acceptance of telecommunications standards: Europeans will decide which standards to adopt, using value-based criteria. This approach would address the EC’s concerns much better than the solutions they originally envisioned, while still allowing ETSI to maintain its global relevance. This approach is novel in the literature on standardization. Moreover, this study shows that combining the different forms of legitimacy provides a more comprehensive framework for analyzing standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines effective remedies for abuse of dominance in digital markets by analyzing tools including Regulation 1/2003 and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) 2022. It evaluates both radical remedies proposed by commentators and DMA obligations, applying them to seven digital market abuse cases. While primarily focusing on Article 102 TFEU as the main remedy mechanism, the paper also considers DMA's role in addressing these infringements.The study covers both pricing and non-pricing infringements from past Article 102 TFEU cases. Drawing from existing literature, it assesses potential remedies, their benefits, and implementation costs. The paper specifically examines Articles 5 and 6 of the DMA to determine the most effective remedies for the seven identified infringements.A key finding is that digital market cases require individualized assessment for implementing effective remedies, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution of active atoms under operating potential will lead to a decline in their oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance, thus preventing the current highly active catalysts from being practically applicable in industrial water electrolysis. Here, we propose a sequential leaching strategy to utilize the dynamic restructuring and enhance the chemical bond strength for highly active and stable OER. Modeling on nickel-iron sulfides (NiFe-S), we introduced and utilized foreign Mo dopant preleaching as the sacrificial agent to alleviate the oxidation corrosion of partial M-S bonds. Operando spectroscopic reveal that foreign Mo dopant leach from the matrix and then adsorb on the surface of NiFe O(S)OH as molybdate at lower OER potential. The crystal occupation hamiltonian population analysis uncovers that the charge transfer from molybdate into NiFe O(S)OH will enhance bond energy of M-S, thus preventing further S and Fe/Ni leaching. By manipulating ion leaching, the resulting active phase achieves an ultralow overpotential of 250 mV at 400 mA cm-2 and high stability of more than 3,700 h at 100 mA cm-2. An industrial water electrolysis equipment using our catalysts delivered ultralow energy consumption of 4.30 kWh m-3H2 and record stability over 250 h (2,300 h lifetime by epitaxial method with 10% attenuation) under a high working current of 8,000 mA. The hydrogen production cost of US$2.46/kgH2 aligns with the green hydrogen cost target set by the European Commission for the coming decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The institutional mechanism of the European Union remains an important object of research in connection with the constant evolution of integration processes and political challenges faced by the EU. In the conditions of globalization, economic crises and geopolitical instability, there is a need for a flexible and effective management system. However, despite significant achievements in the development of its institutions, the EU continues to face challenges related to the transparency of decision-making, the accountability of institutions and the proper representation of the interests of Union citizens. This is especially relevant against the background of the current debates on reforming the EU and improving its internal architecture. The article focuses on analyzing the institutional mechanism of the European Union, its evolution, and the current challenges in ensuring the effective functioning of this supranational organization. The aim of the study is to examine the functioning of the EU's institutional mechanism in terms of its ability to ensure coherence and efficiency in decision-making processes and the implementation of common policies. The research employed general scientific methods of cognition, such as analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and comparison. The study's findings show that the institutional mechanism of the European Union is a complex, multi-level system that ensures the interaction of key institutions for the Union's effective operation. The European Council performs a strategic role by determining the overall political directions of EU development. The European Commission carries out executive responsibilities and initiates legislative proposals, while the European Parliament and the Council of the EU jointly exercise legislative functions, emphasizing the equality of these institutions in decision-making. The Court of Justice of the European Union ensures compliance with legislation, providing legal oversight over the implementation of EU treaties and decisions, thereby guaranteeing the legal consistency of all institutions' activities. The European Central Bank plays a key role in financial control, being responsible for monetary policy, while the Court of Auditors oversees the spending of the EU budget. The EU's institutional system also includes numerous auxiliary bodies and agencies, such as the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), which plays a critical role in policy coordination between member states. These institutions provide multi-level cooperation between national governments and EU bodies, highlighting the Union's supranational character and its integration processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delegation of powers to the European Commission, facilitating the adoption of non-legislative acts to implement centrally provisions of European legislation, has long been an essential part of administrative governance in the European Union. However, the established practice of delegating legslative and implementing powers to the European Commission has increased over the last decade, at the same time in the context of the various crises that the EU has had to confront during this period. The crisis context has generally demonstrated that executive institutions often emergency politics, and the amplified use of delegated powers in such circumstances raises questions about the capacity of legislative institutions to carry out their usual control and scrutiny functions. The concern here is whether – at times when the established mechanisms of control need to be carried out in times of crisis, under greater time pressure – there is the risk of legislative institutions (that had originally delegated powers to the Commission) are being sidelined, with the detrimental effects that this may have on the democratic accountability of the whole process. Against this background of normative question-marks, this article examines empirically to what extent the scrutiny of the Commission's adoption of delegated powers has fundamentally changed during times of emergency. In particular, it provides an analysis of the use of delegated powers by the European Commission in the context of the EU's response to the Covid-19 pandemic in order to establish whether the Council and the European Parliament managed to enable the usual control mechanisms effectively. By way of conclusion, the article discusses the implications of the findings for the wider discussion and the future use of emergency governance in the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the area of electricity market regulation, a practice has emerged in which the chain of delegation has gone beyond the European Commission, resulting in double delegation. During 2015–2017, the European Commission adopted implementing regulations requiring detailed European terms, conditions and methodologies (TCMs) for electricity markets and system operation to be jointly adopted by national energy regulators. Should the latter fail to agree within a predefined time limit, rule-making would move to the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. This rule-making procedure entails that, depending on the dynamic within the procedure, different actors would adopt the TCMs. This article examines how double-delegated rule-making unfolds in a novel and emerging practice, evolving beneath implementing acts. By analysing the factors behind whether TCMs are adopted jointly by national agencies or not, the study investigates whether this form of delegated rule-making in a network setting delivers decisions or whether rule-making by a European Union agency is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) is at the forefront of advancing a science-for-policy paradigm, developing resources and infrastructures where "evidence" in various forms can be produced, collected, and applied into policy. This article investigates the production of "useful" knowledge in the policy area of migrant integration, in a system of research–policy configurations mediated by EU institutions. The article asks: What kind of structures are set in place to support migrant integration governance with "evidence," what counts as "evidence," whose expertise is sought out, and what are the implications for wider debates on mobility and diversity? First, I map and classify the key channels for research–policy collaboration at inter- and supranational levels, where researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interact to produce, exchange, and disseminate various forms of knowledge on migrants and their integration. I then explore the nature of said knowledge, analyzing the various data, statistics, and indicators that are the result on such research–policy collaboration. This article finds that the EU-level ecosystem of evidence production both makes social scientific knowledge indispensable for migrant integration governance and produces 'integration' simultaneously as a measurable and manageable (objective) social issue, and a common European problem. I discuss possible implications of this "policy-relevant" knowledge production and propose a research agenda for an in-depth exploration of its effects on the governance of migranticized and racialized populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with Article 31 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, EFSA received a mandate from the European Commission to issue a scientific statement concerning the confirmatory data following the review of the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) under Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 for triclopyr. Although the required application in support to the confirmatory data following the MRL review was not submitted within deadline, some information identified as unavailable in the MRL review has been made available to EFSA in the context of other applications submitted under different regulatory processes. Based on the assessment of the available data, EFSA concluded that the tentative MRL for apples, pears and peaches is confirmed. The tentative MRLs for grapefruits, oranges, lemons, mandarins, apricots and rice are not fully supported by data. Risk manager may consider the alternative MRL of 0.07 mg/kg for oranges, lemons, mandarins and the lowering to the specific limit of quantification (LOQ) for grapefruits, apricots and rice. An update of the consumer risk assessment for triclopyr was performed and it did not indicate any potential consumer health risks. The statement was circulated to Member States for consultation via a written procedure before finalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the assessment of the application for renewal of the authorisation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 40027 as a technological additive (functional group: silage additives) for use in fresh material for all animal species. The applicant has provided evidence that the additive currently on the market complies with the existing terms of the authorisation. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the additive remains safe for all animal species, consumers, and the environment. Regarding user safety, the FEEDAP Panel reiterates its previous conclusion that the additive is not irritant to skin or eyes. However, it should be considered as a skin and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure through the skin and respiratory tract is considered a risk. There is no need for assessing the efficacy of the additive in the context of the renewal of the authorisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 30148 as a technological additive to improve ensiling of fresh plant material. The additive is intended for use in all fresh material for all animal species at a proposed minimum concentration of 1 × 109 colony forming units (CFU)/kg fresh plant material. The bacterial species L. plantarum is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment. The identity of the strain was established, and no antimicrobial resistance genes of concern were detected. Therefore, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of the strain as a silage additive is considered safe for all the animal species, for consumers of products from animals fed with the treated silage and for the environment. Regarding user safety, the additive should be considered as a potential skin and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure through skin and respiratory tract is considered a risk. The additive is not a skin irritant, but the Panel cannot conclude on the eye irritation potential of the additive. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the addition of L. plantarum NCIMB 30148 at a minimum level of 1 × 109 CFU/kg fresh plant material has the potential to improve the production of silage from fresh material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 41028 as a technological additive to improve ensiling of fresh plant material. The additive is intended for use in all fresh material for all animal species at a proposed minimum concentration of 1 × 109 colony forming units (CFU)/kg fresh plant material. The bacterial species L. plantarum is considered by EFSA to be suitable for the qualified presumption of safety approach to safety assessment. The identity of the strain was established, and no antimicrobial resistance genes of concern were detected. Therefore, the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of the strain as a silage additive is considered safe for all the animal species, for consumers of products from animals fed with the treated silage and for the environment. Regarding user safety, the additive should be considered as a potential skin and respiratory sensitiser, and any exposure through skin and respiratory tract is considered a risk. The additive is not a skin irritant, but the Panel cannot conclude on the eye irritation potential of the additive. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the addition of L. plantarum NCIMB 41028 at a minimum level of 1 × 109 CFU/kg fresh plant material has the potential to improve the production of silage from fresh material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil from the leaves of Salvia officinalis L. (sage oil) when used as a sensory additive in feed and in water for drinking for all animal species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that sage oil is considered safe up to the maximum proposed use levels in complete feed of 20 mg/kg for ornamental fish. For the other species, the calculated safe concentrations in complete feed were 3 mg/kg for chickens for fattening and turkeys for fattening, 4 mg/kg for laying hens and rabbits, 5 mg/kg for piglets, 6 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 7 mg/kg for sows and dairy cows, 11 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacers) and salmonids, 10 mg/kg for cattle for fattening, sheep/goats and horses, 12 mg/kg for dogs and 2 mg/kg for cats. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species. For any other species, the additive is safe at 2 mg/kg complete feed. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use of sage oil in water for drinking is safe provided that the total daily intake of the additive does not exceed the daily amount that is considered safe when consumed via feed. The use of sage oil in animal feed under the proposed conditions of use is safe for the consumer and the environment. Regarding user safety, sage oil should be considered as an irritant to skin and eyes and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. Since the oil of the leaves of S. officinalis is recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a product consisting of four bacteriophages infecting Salmonella enterica ser. Gallinarum B/00111, intended for be as a zootechnical additive (functional group: other zootechnical additives) for all poultry species. Bafasal® is proposed for use in water for drinking and liquid complementary feed to guarantee a minimum daily dose of 2 × 106 PFU/bird, to reduce the Salmonella spp. contamination of poultry carcasses and load in the environment, and to improve the zootechnical performance of the treated animals. In previous opinions, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that Bafasal® is safe for the target species, consumers and the environment and is not a skin or eye irritant but should be considered a respiratory sensitiser. No conclusion could be drawn on its dermal sensitisation potential. The additive showed the potential to decrease the counts of two Salmonella Enteritidis strains in boots swabs and caecal digesta of chickens for fattening. However, the Panel was not in the position to conclude on the capacity of Bafasal® to improve the zootechnical performance of poultry, to reduce the contamination of other Salmonella enterica strains, serovars or other Salmonella spp. in chickens, or to reduce the Salmonella spp. contamination of poultry other than chickens. In the current application, the claim on zootechnical performance has been withdrawn. Bafasal® is not a skin or eye irritant but should be considered a potential skin and respiratory sensitiser and inhalation and dermal exposure is considered a risk. Based on the new data provided, the Panel concluded that Bafasal® has the potential to reduce the environmental contamination with S. Enteritidis when used in feed and water for all poultry species. No conclusions could be drawn on the effects of the additive on other Salmonella serotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission asked EFSA for a risk assessment on complex organoarsenic species in food. They are typically found in marine foods and comprise mainly arsenobetaine (AsB), arsenosugars and arsenolipids. For AsB, no reference point (RP) could be derived because of insufficient toxicity data. AsB did not show adverse effects in the two available repeat dose toxicity tests in rodents. It has not shown genotoxicity in in vitro assays. There is no indication of an association with adverse outcomes in human studies. The highest 95th percentile exposure for AsB was observed in 'Toddlers' with an estimate of 12.5 μg As/kg bw per day (AsB expressed as elemental arsenic). There is sufficient evidence to conclude that AsB at current dietary exposure levels does not raise a health concern. For glycerol arsenosugar (AsSugOH) a RP of 0.85 mg As/kg bw per day was derived based on the BMDL10 values for cognitive and motor function in mice. A margin of exposure (MOE) of ≥ 1000 would not raise a health concern. The highest 95th percentile estimate of exposure for AsSugOH (for adult consumers of red seaweed Nori/Laver) was 0.71 μg As/kg bw per day (AsSugOH expressed as elemental arsenic), which results in an MOE > 1000, not raising a health concern. Based on qualitative consideration of all identified uncertainties, it is regarded likely that the dietary exposures to AsB and AsSugOH do not raise a health concern. No conclusions could be drawn regarding other arsenosugars. No risk characterisation could be conducted for arsenolipids, due to the lack of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) was asked to deliver an opinion on the safety of frozen, dried and powder forms of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) as a novel food (NF) pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. The NF is proposed in three forms: (i) frozen, (ii) dried, (iii) powder. The main components of the NF are protein, fat and dietary fibre (chitin). The Panel notes that the concentration of contaminants in the NF depends on the occurrence levels of these substances in the insect feed. The NF has a protein content that ranges between 19.7 and 20.9 g/100 g in the frozen form and 61.7–68.6 g/100 g in the dried and powder forms. The Panel acknowledges that the true protein content is overestimated when using the nitrogen‐to‐protein conversion factor of 6.25 due to the presence of non‐protein nitrogen from chitin. The applicant proposed to use the NF as food ingredient in a number of food products. The target population proposed by the applicant is the general population. Considering the composition of the NF and the proposed conditions of use, the consumption of the NF is not nutritionally disadvantageous. The Panel notes that no safety concerns arise from the toxicological information on A. domesticus. The Panel considers that the consumption of the NF might trigger primary sensitisation to A. domesticus proteins and may cause allergic reactions in subjects allergic to crustaceans, mites and molluscs. Additionally, allergens from the feed may end up in the NF. The Panel concludes that the NF is safe under the proposed uses and use levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the narrative framework in European Union (EU) research and innovation projects, focusing on symbolic practices and terminology. The analysis includes over five years of ethnographic research, and 20 European projects funded by Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, and Erasmus+ programs. It explores different ways project actors internalize and reproduce the EU's symbolic power through its policies, particularly the ambiguous concept of "innovation." Using Bourdieu's theory of practice, the research highlights the way social structures within the "project field" influence dynamics and outcomes, often resulting in a gap between rhetoric and reality. The study also uncovers broader political and social implications of these practices, calling for critical reflection of their impact. In its conclusion, the authors discuss the challenges of maintaining genuine innovation amidst bureaucratic requirements and the EU's symbolic power, advocating for more nuanced and context‐aware project practices. Related Articles: Kanol, Direnç. 2022. "Narrative Strategies for Emerging Disruptive Technologies: A Case Study of Blockchain for Europe." Politics & Policy 50(5): 952–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12492. Nowlin, Matthew C., Maren Trochmann, and Thomas M. Rabovsky. 2022. "Advocacy Coalitions and Political Control." Politics & Policy 50(2): 201–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12458. Von Malmborg, Fredrik. 2023. "Combining the Advocacy Coalition Framework and Argumentative Discourse Analysis: The Case of the 'Energy Efficiency First' Principle in EU Energy and Climate Policy." Politics & Policy 51(2):222–41. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12525. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EU state aid rules are part of the EU's competition policy, a form of soft law developed to nudge states away from public investments in many areas. Rules were used to impose that market competition holds a privileged position, and that enacting social, political, or economic benefits that might stifle competition requires a complicated legal and political negotiation process between the European Commission, Member States, and private companies. Nonetheless, many strategic projects or situations in recent years led to significant state aid. The Commission utilised a variety of means to encourage both private and public investments in EU based digital infrastructure that is critical for public media services and for unified European data space. Despite EU's balancing act between the private and public interests, business interests are dangerously capturing the development in the media data space. To grasp the social and economic contribution of publicly financed productive activities, we approach public broadcasting systems as producers of public wealth of a peculiar kind whose activities and goals are defined by their public purpose, rather than the imperatives of capital and profitmaking. Unifying data spaces with too many design decisions conceded to capitalist production runs the risk of further neglecting social foundations of member states. We argue that the desired digital transformation would be more successful if it moved towards affirmative approaches to public services and public infrastructures, recognising the historical and contemporary contribution of the production of public wealth and public media in member states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU's Digital Markets Act will require certain large tech firms' ecosystems to become more open. The Act contains few exceptions – but law-makers did include special protections for undertakings providing operating systems, like Apple and Google, to protect security. This paper explores how the Commission should assess these measures. It argues that security is not a "trump card" to undermine the Act's objectives – instead, Apple and Google must balance security benefits of their measures against any limitations on contestability. Furthermore, the Act should continue to allow both firms to differentiate their products' approach to security. However, Apple's (and to a lesser extent Google's) security measures are likely to be heavily disputed. The Act does not give the Commission effective powers to efficiently resolve such disputes nor to force gatekeepers to change their approaches to security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mini publics have become cornerstones of the European Union's Future of Europe (FoE) initiative. However, weaknesses in their designs bring their political influence into question. Often-unsystematic in design, they fail to strengthen participants' understandings of the issues under evaluation and induce silo-thinking and the formation of pseudo-preferences. These come at a cost to informed and deliberatively deduced recommendations which speak to underlying functional/operational technicalities which fundamentally determine the form and delivery of policy interests. Guided by the adage that form follows function, this paper argues that mini publics pertaining to the FoE must primarily encourage participants to think about the ways policies are made in the EU before they formulate policy recommendations. To do this, they must consider the EU's overall form (or prospective forms). Utilising data from focus group analysis, the paper demonstrates that scenario (vignette) models are conducive to strengthening participants' understandings of both existing and alternative EU forms, and their functional consequences for EU policies, thus enabling them to formulate concrete and potentially deliverable policy recommendations. Subsequently, the paper encourages organisers of relevant mini-publics to employ the European Commission's 'Five Scenarios for the FoE' as entry-points to strengthen the deliberative quality and democratic outputs of such exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Copyright of Opole Studies in Administration & Law (OSAO) / Opolskie Studia Administracyjno-Prawne (OSAP) is the property of University of Opole / Uniwersytet Opolski 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.)

Moving away from the effects-based approach in EU competition law, the Digital Markets Act introduces renewed requisite legal standards that differ from probabilistic standards of proof. Ideally, this concept should also shape the European Commission's initial enforcement actions and its judicial review in the EU courts. The paper critically examines the legal standards that the European Commission established in its first set of designation decisions issued in September 2023. It spotlights two significant actions by the Commission: the delineation of core platform services and the consideration of the undertakings' rebuttals of the presumption of a gatekeeper position deriving from the application of the quantitative thresholds. The paper reveals a disjointed approach by the Commission building upon the idea of the regulation's plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The harmonisation of the internal market is a fundamental aspect of the EU acquis , and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is no exception. It aims to harmonise digital markets across the Union on the basis of the concepts of contestability and fairness. The DMA is enforced through a quasi - centralised enforcement system, with the European Commission as its sole enforcer and national competition authorities (NCAs) playing a secondary and supporting role in monitoring. The EC's centralisation of enforcement powers is key to ensuring harmonisation. This paper highlights the potential risks at the national level due to NCA involvement in the enforcement and monitoring of the DMA. While the Regulation does not need to be transposed into national law to be effective, some Member States have introduced legislation specifying which authorities are responsible for enforcement and how they should apply their powers in line with the DMA. The paper examines these legislative developments, revealing potential deviations that undermine the effective enforcement of the DMA and disrupting its current centralised enforcement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission’s Mission to “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030” (Mission Ocean & Waters) is, at the most superficial level, an overarching policy framework with the primary aim of improving the health of European ocean, sea, and freshwater ecosystems. However, its use of the Mission framing and emphasis on fostering social, political, and economic transformations through its activities makes it a much more holistic and ambitious undertaking. This article explores challenges and opportunities that arise with the emphasis placed on increasing citizen participation in Mission Ocean & Waters, in the context of “Post-Normal Science” (Funtowicz & Ravetz Funtowicz and Ravetz, Krimsky and Golding (eds), Social Theories of Risk, Greenwood Press, Westport, 1992). We begin with a description of Mission Ocean & Waters, discussing its citizen engagement ambitions through the lens of Post-Normal Science, before describing the research methods used by the Horizon Europe project Preparing the Research and Innovation Core for Mission Oceans, Seas, & Waters (PREP4BLUE). We then present our results, highlighting four citizen engagement-based challenges that the Mission faces, and how PREP4BLUE has engaged with them. Finally, we discuss the future activities or structural changes that will be required if the Mission’s citizen engagement targets are to be achieved and for citizens to become core actors in protecting European aquatic ecosystems and developing a sustainable blue economy. These insights should prove useful to those developing and delivering Mission projects and those researching citizen participation in ocean and freshwater related challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb is the property of Fachmedien Otto Schmidt KG 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 new Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) is intended to channel investments into economic sectors that are considered strategically important and thus strengthen European competitiveness. To this end, STEP will make it possible for the first time to support large companies on a broad scale with EU structural funds. The European Commission regards STEP as a precursor to an instrument for a comprehensive EU industrial policy. Against this background, the emerging paradigm shift towards a more dirigiste European economic policy is examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of the media is key in mediating civil society and its political representatives in EU institutions. In this context, this paper aims to describe the representation of the European Commission, one of the EU's most important institutions, and its leaders by two leading Spanish newspapers. In order to address this objective, an automated content analysis was carried out on 13,340 news items published between 6 June 1976 and 15 February 2024 in El País (social democratic media) and ABC (conservative, monarchist media). The sample was subjected to a sentiment analysis as well as topic modeling. The latter method made it possible to identify five predominant issues on the agenda: Economy, Foreign Affairs, Internal Politics, Spanish Politics, and the Future of the EU. The average sentiment, which is close to neutral, has tended slightly toward the negative over the years, although the current president, Ursula von der Leyen, has the highest rating of all the leaders studied. Both El País and ABC provide more negative coverage of the EU when leaders of their ideological opposition govern, a phenomenon that can weaken the European model and encourage political drifts with consequences that are difficult to predict in the medium term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Commission's 2015 aging report forecasts a substantial increase in public spending on Long-Term Care (LTC) for OECD countries by 2060, posing significant fiscal challenges. This study aims to assess the efficiency and productivity of the LTC sector from 2010 to 2019 and explore whether efficiency gains can alleviate these fiscal pressures. Using a non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, combined with Tobit regression, we estimate the efficiency of OECD countries and examine the role of decentralization in shaping performance outcomes. The findings reveal that, on average, countries operate at 94% efficiency, with modest productivity growth. However, technical inefficiencies persist, especially in unitary countries, while federal countries, though initially less efficient, show greater improvements over time. Despite these gains, the current efficiency levels are insufficient to counterbalance the projected increase in LTC demand. Policymakers should prioritize reforms that enhance efficiency through decentralization, promoting accountability and competition as mechanisms to sustain the LTC system in the face of demographic shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Computer und Recht is the property of De Gruyter 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 term "sustainable development" is an omnipresent expression reaching the dimension of a command in the EU under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen. However, this is an ephemeral term with ambiguous and contradictory meanings which is employed in a particular manner by current EU policies. The purpose of this study is to reconcile various approaches and consolidate the understanding of sustainable development as advanced by current EU policies. A historical and conceptual review creates a foundation to prepare comparative review tables to be filled with information about current EU policies and their quotes regarding "sustainable development", as extracted from the EU Commission Websites and EurLex. This allows for a holistic, thematic and critical analysis about the teleological meaning as well as glossing and Socratic questioning. The juxtaposition of these findings suggests that the term "sustainable development" is a semantic puzzle which is perceived by current EU policies as a call for multispectral and inherently conflicting changes to be imposed by all stakeholders in the utilitarian context. Six pioneering propositions with controversial features emerge and are to be verified by further multidisciplinary longitudinal studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annotation on the Judgment of the General Court (First Chamber, Extended Composition) of 18 September 2024 in Case T-671/19 Qualcomm v European Commission [2024] EU:C:2024:800. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annotation on the Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 10 September 2024 in Case C-48/22 P Google LLC and Alphabet v European Commission (Google Shopping) [2024] EU:C:2024:800. On 10 September 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) dismissed Alphabet/Google's appeal against the General Court's judgment, largely upholding the European Commission's 2017 Decision finding that Google had abused its dominant position in the market for online general search services.1 This landmark ruling affirms the Commission's theory of harm based on self-preferencing by a dominant digital platform. The case raises important substantive issues about the application of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) to non-price conduct by dominant firms in digital markets. The key issues are: what constitutes an abuse under Article 102 TFEU regarding the effects that must be demonstrated, how to properly apply the as-efficient competitor test in these cases, and which characteristics qualify as legitimate competition on the merits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of the revised Horizontal Guidelines, containing a new chapter dedicated to sustainability agreements alone, marks an important step for the green transition, illustrating how stakeholders can collaborate by engaging in sustainability agreements. However, given the novelty of the Horizontal Guidelines, there has been no established interpretation of the relevant concepts and no guidance regarding the nature of enforcement of National Competition Authorities and whether a collaborative or coercive approach should be anticipated from National Competition Authorities and the Commission (together, the enforcers). Guidance on collaboration between enforcers and stakeholders is just as necessary as the guidance provided in the Horizontal Guidelines for competitors. Ultimately, this collaborative effort ensures that sustainability becomes an integral part of competition law compliance, fostering a harmonised approach to achieving economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability. By striking this balance and integrating sustainability considerations into business practices, collaboration becomes more feasible, thereby making competition and its enforcement greener. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial discusses Commissioner Ribera's focus on sustainability and industrial competitiveness in the new European Commission. Ribera's mission includes revising merger control guidelines, addressing "killer acquisitions," and offering more guidance on collaborative initiatives. The text also highlights the need for faster antitrust investigations and effective enforcement of regulatory instruments like the Digital Markets Act and Foreign Subsidies Regulation. The editorial anticipates a transformative year ahead for EU competition policy. [Extracted from the article]

Economic and Monetary Union was one of the most important projects in the history of European integration. Yet, its history usually focuses on monetary rather than economic aspects, on a few very famous players, on central banks or, in economics, on major macro-economic mechanisms. This article proposes to investigate its historical evolution through the study of the European Commission, and, more particularly, of its most important Directorate-General for economic and monetary issues, namely the ‘DG II’ in charge of economic and financial affairs. Furthermore, the article adopts an original and deliberately actor-centred approach. Through a network and prosopographical analysis, it examines their links with key bodies in European monetary discussions and explores their professional trajectories. In addition to making visible actors otherwise largely overlooked, the article shows the existence of a network of people involved in European economic and monetary issues linking national, European, and global levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In scholarship on bureaucratic socialisation, length of service is frequently identified as the key variable in explaining alignment of the beliefs and values of staff members with those of the administration. This article challenges this view. Presenting analysis based on data from the European Commission and the General Secretariat of the Council – two parts of the EU administration, which draw staff from the same talent pool and are governed by the same staff regulation – and using organisational values to measure socialisation, it finds that length of service is not the only or the most important variable in explaining alignment of staff views with the organisation. It also shows not only that both staff beliefs and organisational values differ between the two bodies, but that as socialising environments the Commission and the Council Secretariat have differing impacts on their staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]