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Copyright of Journal of Public Law / Zeitschrift für Öffentliches Recht is the property of Verlag Oesterreich GmbH 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 relevance of this study lies in the need to improve the legal mechanisms for combating gender-based violence against the background of the increasing number of military conflicts in the world, which create favourable conditions for the latter. The purpose of this study was to analyse the regulatory provisions of international legislation and the practices of certain European countries in preventing manifestations of hatred based on sex and gender and combating domestic violence through criminal law measures. It was stated that legal standards defined by the regulations of international organisations, international treaties, and conventions underlie national and regional standards for combating domestic and gender-based violence. International legal principles of gender equality are defined by the regulatory framework of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other global and European organisations. Human rights provisions recognised by the member states of these organisations through bilateral and multilateral treaties and implemented through ratification are the basis for the formation of national internal standards of the rights of women, children, and persons of all genders. The study concluded that national standards for guaranteeing and protecting human rights in the field of gender equality constitute an implementation of international standards and pan-European provisions, and their implementation in Ukrainian legislation can ensure sufficiently complete and effective implementation of legal measures to combat domestic and gender-based violence. The ideas formulated in this study are aimed at finding more effective criminal law means in lawmaking and law enforcement activities

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2024 9(1), 247-259 | European Forum Insight of 03 July 2024 | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. - II. Judgment of the Court. - III. Analysis and comment. - iii.1. The General Court’s treatment of Venezuela’s international law arguments. - iii.2. The international legal nature of the restrictive measures against Venezuela: retorsions or countermeasures? - IV. Conclusion | (Abstract) In case T-65/18 RENV Venezuela v Council the General Court was confronted with the question of the legality under international law of the EU’s restrictive measures against Venezuela. The judgment is of particular importance as it feeds into the burgeoning discussion regarding the juridical nature, and lawfulness, of EU restrictive measures against third States under international law. This Insight summarizes the judgment and analyses the Court’s line of argumentation and reasoning. It shows that the General Court here proclaimed an autonomous external sanctioning power stemming from the EU’s values and objectives governing the Union’s external action. The Insight argues that the General Court’s approach leaves much to be desired in terms of reasoning on the basis of international law. The Insight argues that the restrictive measures against Venezuela could be considered lawful on the basis of the international legal regime governing countermeasures in response to violations of erga omnes obligations. By eschewing engagement with the broader international legal framework, the General Court here missed an opportunity to make a substantive contribution to the (evolving) law of collective countermeasures.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is a significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia with high macrolide resistance rates. Various COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have impacted the prevalence of MP. Objective: To assess the changes in the pattern of MP infections among children before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 36685 enrolled patients, aged 0-18 years, diagnosed with pneumonia and admitted to Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2019 to December 2023, were retrospectively reviewed in this study. The epidemiological characteristics of pediatric MP infection were analyzed. Results: Among 36685 patients, 7610 (20.74%) tested positive for MP. The highest positive rate was observed among children aged over 6 years (55.06%). There was no gender disparity in MP infection across the three phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospital stays were longest for children during the COVID-19 pandemic (P <0.001). MP infection was most prevalent in the summer (29.64%). The lowest positive rate was observed during the pandemic, with the highest rate found after easing the measures across all age groups (P <0.001). There was a surge in the positive rate of MP in the third year after the COVID-19 pandemic. Regression analyses demonstrated a shift in the age range susceptible to MP infection, with children aged 3.8 to 13.5 years post-pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic range of 5.3 to 15.5 years old. Additionally, the average macrolide resistance rate was 79.84%. We observed a higher resistance rate during the pandemic than in the pre- and post-pandemic phases (P <0.001). Conclusion: The restrictive measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced the spread of MP to some extent and altered demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, age group, season, length of stay, and macrolide resistance. We recommend continuous surveillance of the evolving epidemiological characteristics of MP infection in the post-pandemic period when restrictions are no longer necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, the Russian aggression against Ukraine began and it escalated even greater in February 2022. The Western states, including the Member States of the European Union, reacted and introduced a wide variety of sanctions, first in 2014, then in 2022, yet until now they have not led to the termination of the Russian–Ukrainian conflict and to the withdrawal of the Russian troops from Ukraine. The aim of this article is to analyse these sanctions and their development as well as the judicial control that was effectuated in relation to these measures by the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic on serum 25(OH)D levels in children permanently residing in Ryazan. Methods: The study included 279 children aged 2 to 17, who were divided into two groups: in Group 1, serum 25(OH)D level was tested before the COVID-19 pandemic, while in Group 2, it was assessed during a pandemic. Results: The median serum 25(OH)D level in children of Group 1 was 1.4 times higher than in Group 2 (22.8 ng/ml vs. 16.6 ng/ml, p=0.004). The share of children with vitamin D (VD) deficiency during the pandemic home stay increased 1.4 times, while the percentage of children with optimal VD status decreased by three times. A statistically significant decrease in the median serum 25(OH)D during the pandemic was observed in children aged 2-3 years and 4-6 years (p

The restrictive measures framework implemented by the European Union following the Russian invasion of Ukraine includes a number of reporting obligations. Economic operators are obliged to provide certain information regarding restrictive measures to the competent authorities. The reporting obligations are heterogeneous in terms of their subjective and material scope. Failure to comply with the reporting obligations is an infringement that is subject to the administrative sanctioning procedure in Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The civilised society, which is constantly developing on the principles of democracy and equality, has no place for domestic violence, but this problem is present and quite common. The work aims to determine criminal law sources and their core provisions on the regulatory framework for preventing and countering offences related to domestic violence, as well as to detect ways to optimise their regulatory framework. The study used the legalistic method, comparative law method, logical and legal method. The study results characterised the sources of criminal law on the prevention of domestic violence in Ukraine, which certifies the presence of a wide mechanism of its prevention. Inconsistency of probation supervision, particularly within the context of its perception by society, was noted. International regulatory acts on domestic violence prevention were analysed. The advantages of using different types of restraining orders in the world practice were revealed. The study results may be useful for state actors for further legislation improvement in domestic violence prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

In the last couple of years, the EU and its Member States have increasingly been the target of a number of third-country measures, including US extra-territorial sanctions and Chinese trade embargoes. Some of these measures are 'caught' by the Blocking Statute but some have caused headaches to EU policy-makers on how to best tackle them. The Anti-Coercion Instrument, adopted in 2023, is one of the latest tools at the European Union's (EU) disposal to tackle economic coercion. The aim of this article is to show the legislative history of this new EU instrument and how it came about. The key role of preparing this legislation was played by the so-called 'geopolitical Commission' that is nowadays committed to assertively use the EU's trade competences to advance foreign and security policy objectives. Due to the foreign and security policy implications of the Anti-Coercion Instrument, the article includes some political and security policy statements to better contextualise the need to adopt such a legislation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article elucidates the meaning and indicators of restrictive measures applied to individuals who have committed domestic violence, as well as the peculiarities of their implementation during wartime conditions. Additionally, it provides a comparative legal characterization of restrictive measures in Ukraine in various jurisdictions based on the categorization of legal systems. The article provides the authors’ interpretation of the “restrictive measures” concept, outlining its characteristics and types, and evaluating its efficacy in Ukraine.

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2023 8(3), 1513-1522 | European Forum Insight of 16 February 2024 | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. - II. Who are the oligarchs in third countries? - II.1. Targeting leading businesspersons: the precedent of Syria. - II.2. Targeting Russian businesspersons: emerging trends. - III. Losing the status of Russian oligarch: any possibility to be de-listed? - IV. Conclusions. | (Abstract) This Insight examines the developments in the EU restrictive measures against Russia in the aftermath of the full-scale aggression in Ukraine, focusing on the novel "(g) criterion" designed to target Russian businesspersons (often referred to as Russian oligarchs). The analysis illustrates the recent litigation before the General Court, in which targeted individuals seek to annul their designations. It highlights that, compared to previous sanctions practice, the new criterion adopts an innovative sector-based approach, establishing a new link between businesspersons operating in certain economic sectors and vital source of revenue for the Russian government. The Insight further explores the Court's cautious stance on de-listing Russian businesspersons, emphasizing the prudent assessment of evidence and circumvention attempts. Finally, the Insight points to the broad implications of the "(g) criterion" and suggests that the Council holds considerable political discretion in exerting maximum pressure on Rus-sia's business elite, with the ultimate objective of reducing the Kremlin's ability to finance its war.

Copyright of Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Luridica is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego 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.)

We aimed to assess the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in Chinese children at different phases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, that is, before, during the pandemic and after easing of restrictive measures. We included 123 623 patients aged 0–18 years with respiratory infection symptoms who were suspected with RSV infection from January 1, 2019 to June 30, 2023 in Hangzhou Children's Hospital. Clinical information and RSV test result were extracted from the laboratory information system. We calculated the positive rate of RSV detection by age groups, gender, seasons, types of patients and phases of COVID‐19 pandemic. Nonlinear associations between age and risk of RSV infection in three phases of pandemic were assessed by restricted cubic spline regression models. Among 123 623 patients, 3875 (3.13%) were tested as positive. The highest positive rate was observed in children aged 0–28 days (i.e., 12.28%). RSV infection was most prevalent in winter (6.04%), and followed by autumn (2.52%). Although there is no statistical significance regarding the positive rate at three phases of the pandemic, we observed that the rate was lowest during the pandemic and increased after easing the measures in certain age groups (p < 0.05), which was consisted with results from the nonlinear regression analyses. In addition, regression analyses suggested that the age range of children susceptible to RSV got wider, that is, 0–3.5 years, after easing all restrictive measures compared with that before (i.e., 0–3 years) and during the pandemic (i.e., 0–1 year). Based on our findings, we called for attention from health professionals and caregivers on the new epidemiological characteristics of RSV infection in the post‐pandemic era after easing the restrictive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 triggered the need for a European response. With unprecedented speed, the Union adopted a series of restrictive measures limiting trade with the Russian Federation, freezing the assets of individuals, and restricting their activities in the Single Market. The Union also had to address the issue of the undermining of European unity and society by Russian media houses based in Member States. Restrictions on the broadcasting of Russia Today France were subsequently challenged in the European General Court. This was the first time the Court had ruled on restrictions on the activities of an entire editorial office. The days of innocence are coming to an end and days of hard choices are becoming the norm as the Union begins to assume its geopolitical responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine in 2022 and the actions of Belarus, both at the internal level and in support of Russia, have caused numerous changes in the geopolitical dimension, with consequences reaching beyond the European continent. They also resulted in the adoption of specific legal measures, both at the European Union and national levels, to counteract support for this aggression. The aim of this study is to present national legal solutions regarding restrictive measures against persons and entities that were introduced by the Act on special solutions for counteracting support for aggression against Ukraine and for the protection of national security. The article sets out their relationship to the mechanisms contained in European Union regulations and identifies the need for legal changes to adopt permanent systemic solutions for the application of national restrictive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Terroryzm: Studia, Analizy, Prewencja is the property of Jagiellonian University Press 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 realm of cyberspace presents a landscape of both promise and peril, spanning economic domains to matters of security. In response, the EU has diligently crafted a comprehensive cybersecurity framework, rooted in cyber diplomacy, to mitigate and counter cyber disruptions and threats. This work embarks on an exploration of the legal underpinnings of restrictive measures or sanctions as outlined in Council Decision 2019/797 and Council Regulation 2019/796. Through a thorough analysis of this framework, the paper scrutinizes the compatibility of unilateral cyber sanctions with the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU. It underscores the imperative of clear and unambiguous legislation in upholding due process, safeguarding the rule of law, and preserving the core values of the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the substantial changes in health and safety protocols and economic activities over the past year, socioeconomic routines have returned to a state of normalcy. Therefore, it is important to conduct a longitudinal study to determine whether these recent changes have left a lasting imprint on loneliness, specifically among those who have experienced post-pandemic loneliness in previous years. We investigated the incidence of loneliness and the risk factors associated with it during the post-pandemic period using recent data. We utilized longitudinal data spanning from 2020 to 2023 and employed mean comparison tests and weighted probit regression models in this analysis. Our study reveals that loneliness continues to be a notable issue, with persistent, post-pandemic, and recent loneliness rates of 47.6%, 4.3%, and 2.2%, respectively. We also observed a slight reduction in both persistent and post-pandemic loneliness compared to the previous year. Younger people continued to experience higher persistent loneliness rates, with no significant age or sex differences in post-pandemic or recent loneliness. Various factors, such as demographics, socioeconomic status, and psychological factors, influence loneliness differently across sexes and age groups. The policy implications include ongoing monitoring, targeted interventions, and support for specific demographic and socioeconomic groups to address post-pandemic loneliness for the sustainable management of the loneliness issue in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Article deals with selected issues of judicial protection that arise in the context of the sanctions adopted by the EU against Russia and Belarus after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. As most cases challenging the sanctions are pending, this Article draws lessons from the previous case law on EU restrictive measures. It explores what aspects of the sanctions escape judicial review, then profiles of external (or formal) legality of the sanctions, of internal (or substantive) legality, and concludes by assessing the overall role of the Court in EU foreign affairs. The discussion shows that the case law in this area of EU administrative law converges to a great extent with other areas of EU competence, but tensions remain in how the Court may impose substantial constraints to executive discretion in the field of Common Foreign and Security Policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the EU adopted a series of unprecedented 'massive and targeted sanctions' against the Russian economy. Whereas the EU has clarified that its restrictive measures are not directed against Russian society, it is has stated that it seeks to 'diminish' the Russia economy and 'cripple' its ability to finance the war. Such measures recall economic warfare, where the adversary's economy is targeted in order to weaken it and, if successful, would undoubtedly have an impact on Russian people. Moreover, the sanctions have had repercussions on third states and economic operators. Applying the proportionality principle, the article finds that the restrictive measures the EU has imposed on Russia in response to its aggressive war in Ukraine are disproportionate due to their impact on third parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital transformation in the field of agricultural extension is quite essential for agriculture in the future. The problem is that not all extension workers understand the use of cyber extension. The research objective is to explore the relationship between individual motivation (IM), social capital (SC), digital extension adoption (CEA), knowledge sharing (KS), and agricultural extension performance (EP) in Indonesia. The research method used was explanatory, with purposive location selection and a population focused on agricultural extension workers. Sampling was carried out using quota techniques. Data analysis in this study used Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). More specifically, IM and SC act as construct variables, while CEA and KS not only act as construct variables but also as mediators. Agricultural Extension (EP) performance is measured as a latent variable. The research results reveal that all construct variables, namely IM, SC, CEA, and KS, positively and significantly influence the EP. These findings demonstrate the importance of these factors in supporting digital transformation in agricultural extension in Indonesia and can provide valuable guidance for decision-makers and practitioners in efforts to increase the effectiveness of agricultural extension using digital technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: On 1 January 2020, the Care and Coercion Act came into effect in the Netherlands, subjecting involuntary care to more strict regulations and monitoring. This study tested changes in recordings of involuntary care during the transitional year of 2020 and after full implementation in 2021, which coincided with the first severe test of the new regulations, when COVID‐19 lockdown measures were taken on 16 March 2020. Methods: Data consisted of weekly counts of involuntary care from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021, taken from the care data of more than 3000 clients with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour of 's Heeren Loo, a large long‐term care organisation in the Netherlands. An interrupted time series design was used to compare the period under the former law with the period under the new law and to the period during and after implementation, taking into account the impact of the COVID‐19 lockdown measures on recordings of involuntary care. Results: Under the new act in Week 1 of 2020, a statistically significant drop occurred in involuntary care counts, after which these counts gradually decreased. The start of 2021, the year in which the act was fully implemented, showed an initial increase in counts of involuntary care, followed by a decrease (all Ps <.001). The introduction of the COVID‐19 lockdown measures did not statistically affect the weekly counts of involuntary care. Conclusions: The decrease in registered involuntary care after the Care and Coercion Act came into effect is a first indication of the efficacy of this new law that requires careful multidisciplinary consultations around the right of clients to respect their self‐determination. Follow‐up research should examine whether the impact of the new law aligns with clients' experiences of self‐determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus pandemic that started in 2019 has had wide-ranging impacts on many aspects of people's daily lives. At the peak of the outbreak, lockdown measures and social distancing changed the ways in which cities function. In particular, they had profound impacts on urban transportation systems, with public transport being shut down in many cities. Bike share systems (BSS) were widely reported as having experienced an increase in demand during the early stages of the pandemic before returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, the studies published to date focus mainly on the first year of the pandemic, when various waves saw continual relaxing and reintroductions of restrictions. Therefore, they fall short of exploring the role of BSS as we move to the post-pandemic period. To address this gap, this study uses origin-destination (O-D) flow data from London's Santander Cycle Hire Scheme from 2019–2021 to analyze the changing use of BSS throughout the first two years of the pandemic, from lockdown to recovery. A Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is used to cluster 2019 BSS trips into three distinct clusters based on their duration and distance. The clusters are used as a reference from which to measure spatial and temporal change in 2020 and 2021. In agreement with previous research, BSS usage was found to have declined by nearly 30% during the first lockdown. Usage then saw a sharp increase as restrictions were lifted, characterized by longer, less direct trips throughout the afternoon rather than typical peak commuting trips. Although the aggregate number of BSS trips appeared to return to normal by October 2020, this was against the backdrop of continuing restrictions on international travel and work from home orders. The period between July and December 2021 was the first period that all government restrictions were lifted. During this time, BSS trips reached higher levels than in 2019. Spatio-temporal analysis indicates a shift away from the traditional morning and evening peak to a more diffuse pattern of working hours. The results indicate that the pandemic may have had sustained impacts on travel behavior, leading to a "new normal" that reflects different ways of working. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the formation and development of the legal foundations of the UK sanctions policy. Based on the principles of Realpolitik, the concept of “Sanctions Policy” is studied not as an academic construction but as a real political and legal tool for the implementation of the external functions of the English state. The article proposes a brief historical and legal review of the sanctions legislation evolution, starting with the Royal Decree of 1621, the Navigation Act (1651), the Stamp Act (1765), the Townshend Acts (1767) and ending with the sanctions legislation of the EU, where the UK was a member before Brexit. The focus is on a detailed analysis of the Law on Sanctions and Combating Money Laundering of 2018, as well as statutory instruments, including the Regulations on Sanctions for Chemical Weapons (2019) and the Regulations on Sanctions for Violations of Human Rights (2020).Since the UK legal system belongs to the system of case law, the authors attempted to analyze the most important court decisions in this area, including: the case of HM Treasury v. Ahmed (2010) and Vekselberg, better known as Lamesa Investments Limited v. Cynergy Bank Limited (2019).It is concluded that the UK’s sanctions policy is primarily aimed at the achievement of its geopolitical objectives.

The COVID-19 pandemic with its restrictive measures affected the entire education system, causing anxiety and depression in medical students. This research addressed the psychological resources and coping strategies which medical students appealed to during the pandemic. The authors developed a questionnaire to classify various attitudes and coping strategies. High stress and non-constructive coping strategies were typical for students with anxiety and pessimism. The subjects with high anxiety levels that experienced the lockdown measures as severe psychological stress tended to rely on avoidance strategies. They felt high responsibility, lacked relevant information, and assessed their own resources as low. Those with prominent self-efficacy demonstrated an optimistic and more realistic type of perception: they were confident in their ability to cope with the challenges of the pandemic. The subjects with a subjective and optimistic perception believed that they were able to select relevant information on preventive measures and reduce psychological stress.

ABSTRACTThe coronavirus pandemic that started in 2019 has had wide-ranging impacts on many aspects of people’s daily lives. At the peak of the outbreak, lockdown measures and social distancing changed the ways in which cities function. In particular, they had profound impacts on urban transportation systems, with public transport being shut down in many cities. Bike share systems (BSS) were widely reported as having experienced an increase in demand during the early stages of the pandemic before returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, the studies published to date focus mainly on the first year of the pandemic, when various waves saw continual relaxing and reintroductions of restrictions. Therefore, they fall short of exploring the role of BSS as we move to the post-pandemic period. To address this gap, this study uses origin-destination (O-D) flow data from London’s Santander Cycle Hire Scheme from 2019–2021 to analyze the changing use of BSS throughout the first two years of the pandemic, from lockdown to recovery. A Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is used to cluster 2019 BSS trips into three distinct clusters based on their duration and distance. The clusters are used as a reference from which to measure spatial and temporal change in 2020 and 2021. In agreement with previous research, BSS usage was found to have declined by nearly 30% during the first lockdown. Usage then saw a sharp increase as restrictions were lifted, characterized by longer, less direct trips throughout the afternoon rather than typical peak commuting trips. Although the aggregate number of BSS trips appeared to return to normal by October 2020, this was against the backdrop of continuing restrictions on international travel and work from home orders. The period between July and December 2021 was the first period that all government restrictions were lifted. During this time, BSS trips reached higher levels than in 2019. Spatio-temporal analysis indicates a shift away from the traditional morning and evening peak to a more diffuse pattern of working hours. The results indicate that the pandemic may have had sustained impacts on travel behavior, leading to a “new normal” that reflects different ways of working.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic represented a unique stressful event that affected the physical health and psychological well-being (PWB) of individuals and communities. Monitoring PWB is essential not only to clarify the burden on mental health effects but also to define targeted psychological-supporting measures. This cross-sectional study evaluated the PWB of Italian firefighters during the pandemic. Methods: Firefighters recruited during the pandemic period filled out a self-administered questionnaire, the Psychological General Well-Being Index, during the health surveillance medical examination. This tool is usually used to assess the global PWB and explores six subdomains: anxiety, depressed mood, positive well-being, self-control, general health, and vitality. The influencing roles of age, gender, working activities, COVID-19, and pandemic restrictive measures were also explored. Results: A total of 742 firefighters completed the survey. The aggregate median PWB global score was in the “no distress” range (94.3 ± 10.3), which was higher than that observed in studies conducted using the same tool in the Italian general population during the same pandemic period. Similar findings were observed in the specific subdomains, thus suggesting that the investigated population was in good PWB condition. Interestingly, significantly better outcomes were detected in the younger firefighters. Conclusion: Our data showed a satisfactory PWB situation in firefighters that could be related to different professional factors such as work organization and mental and physical training. In particular, our results would suggest the hypothesis that in firefighters, maintaining a minimum/moderate level of physical activity (consisting of even just going to work) might have a profoundly positive impact on psychological health and well-being.

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, national governments took restrictive measures, such as a visitors ban, prohibition of group activities and quarantine, to protect nursing home residents against infections. As ‘safety’ prevailed, residents and close relatives had no choice but to accept the restrictions. Their perspectives are relevant because the policies had a major impact on them, but they were excluded from the policy decisions. In this study we looked into the moral attitudes of residents, close relatives and volunteers regarding the restrictions in retrospect, and what moral lessons they considered important. Methods We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with residents and close relatives and one focus group meeting with volunteers working in nursing homes. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively. Subsequently, three Socratic dialogue meetings with residents, close relatives and volunteers were organized in which first analysis outcomes were discussed and dialogues were fostered into moral lessons for future pandemics. Outcomes were combined with moral theory following an empirical bioethics design. Results Critical perspectives regarding the COVID-19 restrictions grew in time. Various moral values were compromised and steered moral lessons for our future. The participants recognized three moral lessons as most important. First, constructing tailored (well-balanced) solutions in practice is desirable. Second, proper recognition is needed for the caring role that close relatives fulfill in practice. Third, a responsive power distribution should be in place that includes all stakeholder perspectives who are affected by the restrictions. Discussion Comparing the results with moral theory strengthens the plea for inclusion of all stakeholder groups in decision-making processes. To further concretize the moral lessons, tailored solutions can be realized with the use of moral case deliberations. Proper recognition includes actions addressing moral repair and including counter-stories in the debate. Responsive power distribution starts with providing clear and trustworthy information and including all perspectives.

EU restrictive measures (sanctions) have long been imposed on individuals like rulers and businesspersons close to rulers who have been committing acts that are contrary to international peace and security. Considering gathered evidence on a sufficiently solid factual basis, and the duty to state reasons, such sanctioning is an accepted form of action that the EU takes, accounting for the provisions of the EU Treaties and adopted secondary law. As the EU sanctions regime has become increasingly sophisticated, the EU has begun to also impose sanctions on the family members of otherwise sanctioned persons, to ensure that EU sanctions are not easily circumvented. This article considers the lawfulness of the EU’s imposition of sanctions on family members of otherwise sanctioned persons, accounting for any potential links or associations that family members may have beyond that of being a mere relative. Whilst the EU extends the reach of its sanctions regime, it must take into account the position in society that the otherwise sanctioned person holds – whether they are members of a governing regime of a third state as a ruler, or whether they are prominent businesspersons who benefit economically from the third state – to determine the lawfulness of also imposing sanctions on their family members. Ultimately, both the Council as the decision-maker, and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) as the judicial reviewer, will have to balance the interests at stake, until an agreed upon standard can be established, with the result that the threshold for sanctions on the relatives of businesspersons and of relatives is consistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the dynamics of the European legislation in the area of asset recovery and confiscation. At the same time, it provides a critical perspective on the provisions of the Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recovery and confiscation of assets. The adoption of the legislative project will repeal the provisions of Directive 2014/42/EU, respectively four other European normative acts, including Council Decision 2007/845/JAI on asset recovery proceedings. The first part of the article presents the legislative framework in force, by referring to the evolution of the legislative process that led to the adoption of a new legal instrument whose purpose is to remedy the shortcomings that the current legislative framework encounters in the fight against organized crime. In the following section, from the point of view of the legal terminology used, the main changes and inadvertencies that the Directive Proposal generates are highlighted. The third part of the paper presents the six stages of the asset recovery and confiscation process, in comparison to Directive 2014/42/EU. Finally, the paper proposes its own ideational stance on the direction that the European legislator wishes to implement in creating a unique harmonization instrument for the European Union in the field of asset recovery and confiscation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, national governments took restrictive measures, such as a visitors ban, prohibition of group activities and quarantine, to protect nursing home residents against infections. As 'safety' prevailed, residents and close relatives had no choice but to accept the restrictions. Their perspectives are relevant because the policies had a major impact on them, but they were excluded from the policy decisions. In this study we looked into the moral attitudes of residents, close relatives and volunteers regarding the restrictions in retrospect, and what moral lessons they considered important. Methods: We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with residents and close relatives and one focus group meeting with volunteers working in nursing homes. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively. Subsequently, three Socratic dialogue meetings with residents, close relatives and volunteers were organized in which first analysis outcomes were discussed and dialogues were fostered into moral lessons for future pandemics. Outcomes were combined with moral theory following an empirical bioethics design. Results: Critical perspectives regarding the COVID-19 restrictions grew in time. Various moral values were compromised and steered moral lessons for our future. The participants recognized three moral lessons as most important. First, constructing tailored (well-balanced) solutions in practice is desirable. Second, proper recognition is needed for the caring role that close relatives fulfill in practice. Third, a responsive power distribution should be in place that includes all stakeholder perspectives who are affected by the restrictions. Discussion: Comparing the results with moral theory strengthens the plea for inclusion of all stakeholder groups in decision-making processes. To further concretize the moral lessons, tailored solutions can be realized with the use of moral case deliberations. Proper recognition includes actions addressing moral repair and including counter-stories in the debate. Responsive power distribution starts with providing clear and trustworthy information and including all perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Restrictive measures (RM) are prevalent in services for people with intellectual disabilities. This study investigates managerial awareness of RM and the nature of organisational supports required to reduce their use. Method: A survey asked front‐line managers and staff what (RM) were used, their purpose, impact and importance (10‐item Likert scales) and what organisational changes were required (free text). Responses were analysed using descriptive methods and content analysis. Results: Managers reported a lower use of RM, compared with staff. According to managers, RM were mainly used to keep service users from harm, their use having a significant impact. Opportunities to change practices were limited by a lack of resources and organisational support. Conclusion: Front‐line managers seem to lack the capacity to address the use of RM due to organisational drift; limited manager time and opportunity to allocate resources; inadequate environments; and lack of skilled staff, knowledge and relevant professional input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern European integration entails the common foreign and security policy. In February 2022, the Russian aggression against Ukraine moved the deplorable situation from 2014 to another level calling for an EU reaction via legal instruments. Based on them, ten sanctions packages have emerged with significant consequences. The aim of this paper is to analyze it, in particular the connection of these ten sanctions packages and foreign trade between the Czech Republic and the Russian Federation. This aim is achieved by addressing three sets of goals: (i) the legal analysis of EU trade policy instruments, (ii) an advanced statistical and critical analysis of the trade between Czech Republic and Russian Federation and (iii) a creation of a timeline of the application and its ramifications. This reveals interesting propositions about the impact of these sanctions packages on the Czech foreign trade and about the effectiveness of the EU's trade policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article establishes that in modern conditions, punishment for criminal offenses related to domestic violence, as a traditional measure of a criminal law nature, cannot overcome all challenges in the field of protection of «healthy» family relations which, in turn, actualizes the possibility to apply and other measures of a criminal law nature. In this regard, in 2017 the Law of Ukraine «On Amendments to the Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes of Ukraine to implement the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence» was adopted, thus in criminal law Ukraine has an institute of restrictive measures. The article provides arguments in favor of attributing restrictive measures as measures of criminal law, not administrative law, and supports the position of the legislator on the legal regulation of their application in the Criminal Code of Ukraine. An attempt was made to determine the significance of the institution of restrictive measures, which, in the author's opinion, is to help prevent the commission of new criminal offenses against the victim of domestic violence; ensuring the educational impact on the offender by providing appropriate assistance within the implementation of the program for offenders or probation program, reducing the latency of relevant criminal offenses. An attempt has been made to study the institution of restrictive measures in some foreign countries, in particular: the USA, Australia, Belgium. The positive experience of which can be implemented by making appropriate changes to the legislation of Ukraine in terms of imposing restrictive measures on persons who commit domestic violence. It is proved that law enforcement practice, it can be said that the law enforcement practice of Ukraine and foreign countries clearly demonstrates that international law is developing through the recognition of state responsibility for domestic violence. Court decisions made in Ukraine and the European Court of Human Rights demonstrate that the practice in this category of cases is developing dynamically, and positive foreign experience needs to be implemented in domestic legislation and law enforcement practice. The vector of change should be aimed at the adoption of appropriate general measures by public authorities to counteract the underlying problem and prevent future ill-treatment by offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the human casualties caused by it, and the possibility of new epidemical threats make the search for effective countermeasures actual. One of the most effective tools, as the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, is restrictive measures of various types, which are especially significant with medical countermeasures being unavailable or insufficient. At the same time, the topic of restrictive measures and their mathematical modeling, especially given its importance, is not sufficiently disclosed in the scientific literature.The aim. To determine the possibility of assessing the effectiveness of restrictive epidemic control measures using original models of cellular automaton with intercellular boundaries.Methods. To determine the impact of restrictive measures on the dynamics of the daily increase in infected people, an original cellular automaton with intercellular boundaries was developed, which makes it possible to simulate epidemic control measures of varying stringency. In the simulations carried out using the Monte Carlo method with subsequent statistical processing, we studied the impact of restrictive measures of varying stringency on the number of infected people, the duration of the epidemic, and the quality of forecasting. The final series of experiments simulated the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Germany in the first half of 2020.The results show that even a simple cellular automaton model with boundaries successfully describes the course of the epidemic and allows us to assess the effectiveness of restrictive measures. The dependence of the daily increase in infected people on the stringency of measures is presented; it is shown what characteristics of the population can influence this dependence. It was found that the measures of medium stringency (40–50 % according to the Stringency Index) have the least predictable effect; they can cause both rapid localization of the focus and the spread of the epidemic to a large part of the population. Weak and strong measures give a more predictable effect.Conclusion. Cellular automaton models with intercellular boundaries have great potential for modeling the impact of restrictive measures on the course of an epidemic, making it possible to predict the dynamics of infected people based on the population data and the restrictive measures being introduced.

The EU Treaties provide several possibilities to sanction EU Member States for failing to comply with EU law. The EU has a legal basis for so-called EU sanctions in Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, aimed at third countries (i.e. countries outside the EU) and their legal entities (e.g., in Belarus, Russia). Over recent years, sanctions against third countries have become increasingly frequent. This article delves into the legal framework for adopting EU sanctions, the potential legal protection available to sanctioned individuals, and the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the EU. In this context, the question of whether Abramovich or some other Russian citizens on the sanctions list can access funds from EU bank accounts or enter the EU will be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This work aims to quantify potential pollution level changes in an urban environment (Madrid city, Spain) located in South Europe due to the lockdown measures for preventing the SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Polluting 11 species commonly monitored in urban zones were attended. Except for O3, a prompt target pollutant levels abatement was reached, intensely when implanted stricter measures and moderately along those measures' relaxing period. In the case of TH and CH4, it is evidenced a progressive diminution over the lockdown period. While the highest decreasing average changes relapsed on NOx (NO2: − 40.0% and NO: − 33.3%) and VOCs (C7H8: − 36.3% and C6H6: − 32.8%), followed by SO2 (− 27.0%), PM10 (− 19.7%), CO (− 16.6%), CH4 (− 14.7%), TH (− 11.6%) and PM2.5 (− 10.1%), the O3 level slightly raised 0.4%. These changes were consistently dependent on the measurement station location, emphasizing urban background zones for SO2, CO, C6H6, C7H8, TH and CH4, suburban zones for PM2.5 and O3, urban traffic sites for NO and PM10, and keeping variations reasonably similar at all the stations in the case of NO2. Those pollution changes were not translated in variations on geospatial pattern, except for NO, O3 and SO2. Although the researched urban atmosphere improvement was not attributable to meteorological conditions' variations, it was in line with the decline in traffic intensity. The evidenced outcomes might offer valuable clues to air quality managers in urban environments regarding decision-making in favor of applying punctual severe measures for quickly and considerably relieving polluting high load occurred in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2022 7(3), 1121-1130 | European Forum Insight of 4 February 2023 | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction: framing the problem. - II. Simple and constructive abstentions as flexibility mechanisms under CFSP. - III. Constructive abstention and international economic sanctions: constructive abstention as limited to the CFSP act... - IV. ... and constructive abstention applying to TFEU regulations. - V. Constructive abstention and the duty of loyal cooperation: too a heavy burden in the context of sanctions? - VI. Concluding remarks. | (Abstract) Constructive abstention, provided for in art. 31(2) TEU, has been conceived of as an instrument applicable to CFSP acts. As art. 215 TFEU establishes an integrated regime in which CFSP decisions and TFEU regulations are interdependent on each other, the issue arises as to whether the scope of constructive abstention can be extended to cover not only the CFSP decision but also its implementing regulation. This Insight argues that constructive abstention should apply not only to the CFSP act, but also to the regulation. In turn, this conclusion calls for reflection on the scope and consequences of the duty of loyal cooperation in the context of restrictive measures and, more generally, on the effectiveness of constructive abstention in this field.

The COVID-19 pandemic is in its third year and it has affected all continents, causing the biggest international crisis after the Second World War. Although the global vaccination process began in the beginning of 2021, continuous mutations and the emergence of new coronavirus strains have made it impossible to put the pandemic under control, leading to a wave of massive spread of the disease across the planet and causing the death of several millions of people. The very present anti-vaccine propaganda and the expressed resistance to vaccination have made the vaccination process of the population in many countries much slower and with less coverage than expected. Authorities in many countries have resorted to radical measures in the past period, including closing borders, rigorous surveillance, long-lasting and discriminatory restrictions on freedom of movement and assembly. The circumstances of the pandemic outbreak are not much clearer today than they were in the beginning, which is in favour of the widespread conspiracy theories, being promoted through social networks and internet portals. Economic consequences of the coronavirus are primarily linked to a significant decline in global GDP, reduced investment and the range of international trade, the rise in unemployment, the rise of fiscal and public debts, especially during the first year of the pandemic. At the same time, the most powerful corporations, primarily in the pharmaceutical industry, reached the point of making extra profits. The already existing inequalities in healthcare and economic positions within national countries, as well as the differences among countries and regions, increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the general trend of increasing state aid and subsidies, the consequence of the coronavirus affected more vulnerable social groups much more severely. With general negative consequences in the medium term, the pandemic could encourage the acceleration of technological innovations, further changes on the labour market and development of artificial intelligence in the long run. The world will not be the same in any case after the coronavirus, and along with other, things will change towards creating a safer society, with a higher level of healthcare and safety cultures.

The courts ought to be active players during the pandemic crisis to prevent the abuse of power, enhance the quality of the measures taken and their communication and contribute to increasing their legitimacy. The paper focuses on the Czech Constitutional Court and the Supreme Administrative Court (together with regional administrative courts) and assesses whether they lived up to this role. We found that the Constitutional Court was a passive player, which resulted from insufficient procedural legal norms and a formalistic approach by the court itself. On the other hand, the Supreme Administrative Court was – mainly due to a special procedural framework – an active player. Its case law has a real impact and prevents the executive power from making some faults, such as an obvious lack of legal basis or clearly insufficient reasoning.

The need to develop effective strategies to overcome the social, economic, physiological and psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic requires targeted research on the impact of restrictive measures on the lifestyle of people of different ages and socio-demographic groups, including youth, as the most able and active population. The article presents the assessment results of the peculiarities of the restrictive measures impact aimed at preventing the spread of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 on the territory of Ukraine on the lifestyle of student youth. The assessment of the general attitude of the respondents to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the peculiarities of the lifestyle before and after the introduction of restrictive measures, was conducted by interviewing students using a specially designed questionnaire. The survey involved 86 people (58.1% – women, 41.9% – men) aged 17 to 35. The majority of respondents (79.1%) were urban residents and had a household size ranging from 2 to 4 people (2.7±0.15 people). The results of the survey showed that the majority of students consider COVID-19 a dangerous infection (48.8%), feel anxiety / worry about their own health (58.1%) and the health of their loved ones (83.7%), support the establishment of quarantine (53.5%) and adhere to the recommended preventive measures (97.7%). The majority of students observe the statistics of COVID-19 in Ukraine (79.1%) and the world (81.4%). The most authoritative sources of information for the majority of respondents are official international (53.5%) and official Ukrainian sources (39.5%); however, a significant proportion of respondents also trust unofficial sources of information (23.3%). Most students do not adhere to the regime of self-isolation (51.2%), every day going outside their place of residence, daily contact with an average of 2.7±0.19 people. After the introduction of restrictive measures, the distribution of time for different types of activity has changed. There was a significant increase in time spent by students watching movies and TV series and a decrease in time for walking (p

Copyright of Revista de Derecho Comunitario Europeo is the property of Centro de Estudios Politicos y Constitucionales 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 Revista de Derecho Comunitario Europeo is the property of Centro de Estudios Politicos y Constitucionales 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.)

Sanctions were the European Union's (EU) immediate response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022. These restrictive measures focus on specific individuals, entities, goods, services, and sectors. Out of a need for nuanced data, we map and analyze the entire set of EU sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014 until today. We show and argue that the sanctions' design has become increasingly comprehensive over the past months which reflects the EU's geopolitical considerations in carving out a response to the unparalleled threat imposed by Russia. Our new, author-created dataset covers the complete track record of Council decisions, regulations, and annexes of these restrictive measures, and thereby offers fine-grained information on the transformation and design of EU sanctions against Russia and the Russian-controlled areas in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]