Search Results (6,284)

Previous research has shown that the less people trust the media, the less they trust the European Union, but considerations about how trust in new media and trust in traditional media may differently influence trust in European political institutions have remained scarce. Using Eurobarometer data and a methodology combining factor analysis and logistic regression, we find that that trust in new media has a stronger positive association to political trust in the European Union than trust in traditional media. We also consider moderating factors and find that trust in traditional media has a positive association with trust in European institutions via the moderating effects of age, trust in national government, and positive judgments of the European economy, while trust in new media is positively associated with trust in the EU via trust in national governments and the perception of media bias. These findings illustrate the complex interplay between the national character of trust in traditional media and the social-capital-regenerating affordances of trust in new media. Future research exploring the influence of media trust on trust in the European Union should account more clearly for the two distinct types of media trust highlighted in this investigation. Full article

Heat recovery from greywater is one solution for improving the energy efficiency of buildings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Particular attention is paid to systems utilizing heat from shower water, which, due to its high temperature and regularity, represents a promising energy source. However, the interplay of parameters determining the financial and environmental effectiveness of such a solution has not yet been fully explored. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to identify key variables influencing the feasibility of using a shower heat exchanger operating under unbalanced flow conditions and to assess the consistency between financial and environmental effects. The analyzed net present values ranged from −€1381 to €52,168. Greenhouse gas emission reduction values ranged between 61 kgCO₂e and 37,207 kgCO₂e. The analysis was conducted using predictive modeling and the SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) method, which allows for the interpretation of the impact of individual variables on the forecasted net present value and potential greenhouse gas emission reduction. A global analysis was carried out to determine the relative importance of variables, as well as a local analysis for selected cases. The results showed that operational variables related to shower use, particularly shower length and mixed water flow rate, significantly influenced the prediction results of both models. In the case of emission reduction, greenhouse gas emission intensity and its change over time also had a significant impact, whilst the financial effects were determined by the energy price from the perspective of the subsequent years of the system’s operation. Full article

Smart Specialization Strategy (S3) has become a central instrument of European Union Cohesion Policy, yet its implementation has revealed recurring limitations, including formalistic Entrepreneurial Discovery Processes, weak multilevel coordination, generic priorities, and evaluation systems focused mainly on innovation outputs. This paper examines how shared purpose can be incorporated into S3 in ways that improve both developmental direction and implementation quality across levels. The study adopts a conceptual research design based on a critical synthesis of literature and a model-building procedure, complemented by an illustrative regional application. The main result is the Purpose-Driven Smart Specialization (S3+P) framework, a multilevel model linking individual, organizational, territorial, and macro-policy dimensions through five catalytic mechanisms: plasticity, temporality, identity, memory, and relational networks. The paper also proposes a six-step policy cycle and an indicator logic that broadens evaluation beyond conventional innovation metrics. The analysis suggests that purpose can strengthen directionality, coherence, and legitimacy in regional strategy while preserving the place-based and discovery-oriented rationale of S3. The framework contributes to current debates on the renewal of smart specialization for more sustainable and coordinated regional development. Full article

Methodological guidelines for real-world evidence (RWE) in European Union (EU) joint clinical assessments (JCA) are lacking. This manuscript explores RWE potential in EU health technology assessment (HTA) and offers recommendations for generating high-quality RWE. An environmental scan of peer-reviewed and gray literature was conducted to review RWE frameworks and documents in EU regulatory and HTA decision-making. Extraction elements were standardized across key RWE themes: data quality, methodological rigor, stakeholder engagement, and applications. In JCA, RWE has multiple uses, including informing PICO simulation exercises, understanding disease landscape, identifying prognostic factors and effect modifiers, and directly or indirectly informing comparative clinical assessments. Methodological guidance from the HTA Coordination Group is limited to cases in which evidence from non-randomized studies is used as direct inputs in comparative assessments. Individual HTA bodies provide more detailed guidance, missing an opportunity to leverage RWE within JCAs that can offer insight for local Member State submissions. Generating high-quality RWE that is credible, actionable, and acceptable for JCA submissions and local HTA bodies requires careful attention to methodological considerations and early planning. Broader RWE integration that reflects patient journeys is needed. Expanding the HTA Coordination Group guidance can unlock RWE’s full potential in supporting EU JCA submissions. Full article

The European Union is increasingly confronted with a convergence of sustainability, democratic, and security-related challenges that affect the conditions for long-term transformation. While sustainable development and democratic resilience are often discussed separately, their interdependence has become more visible in the context of geopolitical instability, geoeconomic competition, hybrid threats, and growing societal polarization. This article examines the relationship between sustainable development and democratic resilience in the European Union and analyses how external pressures shape both agendas. The study employs a qualitative, concept-driven research design that combines the analysis of EU strategic and policy documents, a structured review of relevant scholarly literature, and triangulation with selected sustainability and governance indicators. The findings suggest that the implementation of sustainable development goals depends not only on regulatory and economic capacity, but also on social cohesion, public trust, and the resilience of democratic institutions, which together shape the legitimacy, continuity, and political feasibility of long-term transformative policies. At the same time, energy dependence, supply-chain vulnerabilities, technological dependencies, and information threats increasingly constrain the EU’s sustainability agenda. In response, the article proposes the concept of Sustainable Democratic Security as an analytical framework linking sustainability governance, democratic resilience, and strategic-security capacity. The article contributes to the literature by conceptualising these dimensions as mutually conditioning components of a common governance framework and by outlining their implications for integrated EU policymaking under conditions of geopolitical and geoeconomic pressure. Full article

Construction and demolition activities generate over one-third of all waste produced within the European Union, with the largest fraction being mineral materials, and concrete representing up to 90% of this volume. In this context, the recycling of this type of waste is an important research topic with growing scientific and industrial relevance. While numerous studies have examined the influence of recycled concrete and other industrial waste on the technical performance of Portland cement-based composites, the antimicrobial resistance of these composites remains largely unexplored. Therefore, in this study we evaluate the effects of three different waste materials on the key properties of Portland cement mortar, as well as on its antimicrobial resistance; the investigated waste materials were fly ash (produced in thermal power plants), recycled concrete fines resulted from the mechanical processing of concrete waste generated in construction and demolition activities, as well as dried concrete slurry (a byproduct of concrete batching plants). The partial replacement of Portland cement with these concrete wastes slightly increased the mortar’s workability (up to 4.6%). However, it also led to an 11–12% reduction in compressive strength after 28 days of hardening. After 60 days of curing, the antimicrobial properties of these mortars were evaluated by assessing their effect on planktonic microbial growth and their anti-adherent capacity against the most common pathogenic strains (S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans, and C. parapsilosis). Antimicrobial assays were performed at two different concentrations of microbial suspensions, and the mortars exhibited significant antibiofilm properties against all strains, especially against E. coli. The study identified mortar formulations in which partial replacement of cement with construction, demolition, and industrial waste materials resulted in compressive strength and antimicrobial resistance comparable to those of conventional reference mortars. These findings highlight the potential to integrate recycled waste into Portland cement-based materials, supporting both structural integrity and microbial resistance and advancing sustainable construction practices. Full article

Food waste prevention and reduction are some of the important initiatives to improve the environmental sustainability of food systems. The global agenda of the United Nations provides a framework of targets and actions against food waste to which the European Union (EU), within the “Farm to Fork” strategy, aims to contribute. In this context, evaluating the impacts of food prevention measures is of great importance for supporting policies. This LCA analyzes the impact of classic lasagna from cradle to grave, through a generic food case study, prepared by food shops in Bologna (Northern Italy). Four scenarios are simulated, comparing the impacts of some end-of-life alternatives for the management of leftover lasagna (landfilling, composting, and redistribution with the digital application of the circular start-up “Squiseat”) versus the ideal scenario where no leftover lasagna is assumed. The results show that the preparation of classic lasagna generates non-negligible impacts on the analyzed LCA categories due to some of its ingredients, such as Bolognese sauce and Parmigiano Reggiano, and their associated production processes. For this reason, it is important to prevent classic lasagna leftovers from being wasted. The comparison of the four scenarios shows that redistribution is the scenario with the lowest impacts in all the investigated impact categories, including global warming (6.24 kg CO₂ eq./kg of lasagna). The impacts are also lower than the ideal scenario due to the assumption of more sustainable means of transport. Normalization of characterized results confirms that Global Warming (GW) is only one of the most relevant impact categories in the life cycle of classic lasagna. The results have practical implications for raising awareness concerning the impacts of food production throughout the whole life cycle and the need for preserving the value of food by avoiding waste. Moreover, this study also shows that a reduction in the impact is a shared outcome that could be achieved by the joint efforts of all the stakeholders involved in the life cycle of food. In this regard, urban centers are confirmed to be important hubs of circular and more sustainable innovation. Finally, the LCA enriches the current research by investigating redistribution through the relationship of the food shop–virtual intermediate–consumer. So far, the prevalent focus of the LCA research allows us to assess the redistribution of collected surplus food from retailers and its delivery to the consumers by means of physical intermediaries and related infrastructures (e.g., food hubs, food banks, and food emporiums). Full article

Food waste poses significant environmental, economic and public health challenges. The black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae (BSFL) represent a promising solution for organic waste valorisation, converting substrates into protein-rich biomass for animal feed and organic fertiliser. However, the use of food waste as an insect substrate remains prohibited in the European Union due to regulatory and safety concerns. This study evaluated the suitability of heterogeneous food waste for BSFL rearing under industrial conditions by comparing larval performance on a standard Gainesville diet (control) and a blend derived from local restaurant waste (test). The 14-day bioconversion assay assessed bioconversion rate (BCR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), survival rate, average growth rate, and nutritional composition. Compared with the control, the test group showed significantly improved (p < 0.001) BCR (18.34% vs. 11.02%), FCR (5.48 vs. 9.09 kg/kg), survival (69.29% vs. 51.30%), and growth (8.38 vs. 6.59 mg/day). Larvae reared on food waste also exhibited significantly higher protein (19.70% vs. 16.80%), fat (13.70% vs. 7.20%), ash (6.97% vs. 3.51%), carbohydrates (7.00% vs. 3.60%), and fibre (5.20% vs. 2.90%). Overall, heterogeneous food waste is a suitable substrate for BSFL, supporting agrifood sustainability; however, future research should focus on standardisation of these substrates. Full article

The sustainable management of waste is a significant problem facing humanity, especially in regions with low recycling rates and a lack of infrastructure. For example, Romania has a recycling rate of only 12%, a long way from meeting the European Union’s target of 42%. This article proposes a framework for sustainable waste management, called CETHTB-Chain, by combining the circular economy, Triple Helix Twins collaboration, and blockchain technology. To test the viability of this framework, a Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 iterations and system dynamics modelling with a 10-year simulation period was conducted. The Monte Carlo simulation revealed that CETHTB-Chain can improve recycling rates by a mean of 45.6% (95% CI, 38.6–52.6%), material recovery rates by 62.7% (95% CI, 54.4–70.0%), cost savings by 18.53 euros per ton, and CO₂ reduction by 629 kg per ton of waste. System dynamics modelling revealed that CETHTB-Chain is feasible for implementation, following S-curve growth, with recycling rates of 38.6% in 7–10 years. Sensitivity analysis revealed that blockchain technology adoption (ρ = 0.612) and citizen participation (ρ = 0.379) were key drivers of CETHTB-Chain performance. By combining Monte Carlo simulation and system dynamics modelling, this article has shown CETHTB-Chain to be a statistically significant and temporally feasible blueprint for transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy in waste management. By engaging academia, industry, and government in a collaborative relationship facilitated by blockchain technology, CETHTB-Chain has provided valuable evidence for strategic planning in waste management in the European Union. Full article

Digital literacy is a critical competency for 21st-century citizens, underpinning inclusive digital transformation and innovation and sustainable societal development. This study aims to inform the construction of a robust digital literacy framework for China via a comparative analysis of paradigmatic models from the European Union (EU), the United States (U.S.), and Singapore. An assessment of China’s current landscape reveals notable progress through top-down policies and grassroots practices, yet identifies a key gap in a unified, operational competency framework. The study concludes that a successful Chinese framework requires strategic integration of international insights with deep contextualization within China’s socio-cultural fabric and sustainability goals. Full article

The European Union’s Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) is a public investment instrument aimed at supporting territorially differentiated pathways toward climate neutrality. The study aims to analyse territorial disparities in the implementation of the European Union’s JTM and to interpret these differences through the framework of multi-level public investment management. The study examines key dimensions of implementation, including territorial disparities, differences in instrument uptake, and temporal relationships between commitments and socio-economic outcomes. Methodologically, the research employs a comparative analytical approach based on the analysis of secondary EU data and programme sources. The empirical analysis focuses on NUTS3 transition regions under Territorial Just Transition Plans. The results indicate substantial cross-country variation in the territorial coverage of the mechanism and in the mobilisation of its three financial pillars. The implementation structure remains strongly dominated by grant-based financing, while the uptake of non-grant instruments remains uneven and relatively limited. The analysis also identifies time lags between commitments, payments, and socio-economic indicators. By linking public investment management with sustainability transitions and territorial resilience perspectives, the study contributes to understanding how sustainability objectives are translated into territorially embedded investment practices within the EU. Full article

This paper examines the evolution of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) performance among European Union (EU) countries from 2000 to 2024 using a taxonomy-based approach. It aims to identify changes in sustainability performance, investigate regional disparities between Western Europe (WE) and Eastern Europe (EE), and assess progress across the social, economic, and environmental dimensions. A panel dataset comprising multiple SDG indicators was employed, with variables aggregated into the Taxonomic Measure of Sustainable Development (TM_SD). Based on this measure, countries were classified into performance categories—pioneers, challengers, below-average performers, and underperformers—allowing for the analysis of long-term structural trends. The results indicate an overall improvement in SDG performance across the EU, reflected in an increasing share of countries classified as pioneers and a declining share of underperformers. WE countries more often occupy higher performance categories, although the gap with EE has recently narrowed. Progress is found to be uneven across SDG dimensions, with more pronounced improvements in the economic and environmental areas than in the social dimension. The study contributes by providing a comprehensive and longitudinal assessment of SDG implementation in the EU over a 25-year period, identifying persistent regional disparities, and supporting systematic monitoring and policy coordination at the European level. Full article

Background: This study examines long-term trends in intra-EU trade among the Visegrad Group (V4) countries from 2004 to 2023, focusing on changes in export specialisation and comparative advantages in the context of trade resilience and sustainability. Methods: Trade performance is analysed at both the aggregate level and across SITC product groups, using Eurostat data. The analysis applies export and import dynamics, trade balance, export–import coverage ratio, trade balance index, and the symmetric revealed comparative advantage index. Results: The findings show significant heterogeneity in specialisation and competitiveness across the V4 countries. Poland reveals competitive advantages and trade stability in agri-food products. After European Union (EU) accession, comparative advantages and export specialisation emerged mainly in manufacturing and selected medium- and high-processed goods (SITC6–8), especially in Czechia and Hungary, and increasingly in Poland. Poland and Czechia shifted most clearly towards higher value-added products, Hungary followed a mixed pattern, while Slovakia remained narrowly focused on the automotive sector. Export competitiveness is closely linked to the business cycle, with upturns strengthening advantages and downturns causing only temporary weakening. Conclusions: The V4 intra-EU trade exhibits structural resilience, as key competitive positions persist and recover after economic shocks. Only Slovakia’s highly concentrated specialisation may entail risks for sustainable growth. Full article

The European Green Deal places environmental taxation at the centre of decarbonisation policies. Nevertheless, empirical evidence of its effectiveness as a stimulus for capital eco-investments remains limited, particularly at the sectoral level. The present study analyses this relationship through a country–sector panel of seven EU countries and four NACE Rev.2 sectors for the period 2014–2023. A six-step empirical strategy is employed, comprising: preliminary diagnostic tests (cross-sectional dependence, stationarity, cointegration), descriptive statistics, correlation analysis with relative indicators, fixed-effects panel regressions with control variables, a Granger causality test, and nine robustness checks. All monetary values are in real prices (base year 2015). The results reveal a clear scale effect—the correlation between the absolute values of environmental taxes and eco-investments is very high, but after normalisation by sectoral GVA it becomes practically zero and statistically insignificant. The panel regressions also find no statistically significant relationship, and the Granger test does not confirm causality in either direction. The addition of control variables (eco-expenditures, GVA growth) and sector interaction effects does not alter the result. Nine robustness checks confirm the stability of these findings. Within the sample under consideration, the analysis finds no robust direct relationship between environmental taxes and sectoral eco-investments. The results obtained suggest a need to rethink policy through a more targeted use of revenues, sectoral differentiation, and combining tax instruments with non-fiscal mechanisms for the more effective management of the financial risk of the transition. Full article

This paper examines the development process that frames the professionalization of social work in Jordan between 2019 and 2023, situated within the European Union-funded Support to Social Protection Programme: Helping Deliver Social Inclusion. Working in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), the initiative sought to strengthen the professional infrastructure through legislative development, specialist training, and the establishment of accredited university-level curricula to support a coherent, national career pathway for social workers. This paper critically analyses the transition from semi-professional to full professional status, with particular attention to the model used to facilitate ownership by four Jordanian universities and harness and strengthen the practice of social work. It further examines the academic framework underpinning the development of a national Common Core Curriculum for Social Work, drawing on established curriculum theories to guide the negotiated application of global approaches within the Jordanian context, with sensitivity to indigenous knowledge and cultural awareness. Reflections on the strengths and limitations of the development process are informed by stakeholder feedback, current outcomes, and anticipated future developments, with an emphasis on the value of interagency collaboration and networking approaches. Full article