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We evaluate the impact of a variety of energy efficiency policies on residential energy demand in six major EU economies (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and Sweden) from 1990 to 2015. We find that both financing policies, such as loan facilities and subsidies, and building codes, as approximated by U-Values, have been effective at reducing energy demand for space heating. We additionally find the short term price and income effects to be inelastic, with elasticity coefficients of-0.2 and 0.2 respectively.

The author has analyzed the European Union's policy towards Ukraine and put forward a thesis that, in view of Russia's opposition and the lack of progress in internal reforms, Ukraine has no immediate prospects of EU membership. Although Ukraine has been granted political and financial support in the aftermath of the Russian aggression (annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas), the extent of bilateral cooperation is limited to the signing of an Association Agreement and the abolition of the visa requirement for Ukrainian citizens. Economic sanctions against Russia symbolize the unity of EU member states, but remain the only instrument that can stop the neo-imperial intentions of the Russian Federation. This study employs the methods of systemic, institutional and legal analysis and the decision method. ; Autor analizuje politykę UE wobec Ukrainy i stawia tezę, że wskutek oporu Rosji, niechęci wielu państw członkowskich oraz braku efektów w reformach wewnętrznych, Ukraina nie ma perspektywy na członkostwo w UE w najbliższej perspektywie. Chociaż udzielono jej wsparcia politycznego i finansowego, zakres współpracy dwustronnej jest ograniczony do podpisania układu o stowarzyszeniu i zniesienia obowiązku wizowego dla obywateli Ukrainy. Sankcje gospodarcze przeciwko Rosji symbolizują jedność państw członkowskich UE, ale pozostają jedynym instrumentem, który może powstrzymać neoimperialne zamiary Federacji Rosyjskiej. W badaniu wykorzystano metody analizy systemowej, instytucjonalnej i prawnej oraz metodę decyzyjną.

The author has analyzed the European Union's policy towards Ukraine and put forward a thesis that, in view of Russia's opposition and the lack of progress in internal reforms, Ukraine has no immediate prospects of EU membership. Although Ukraine has been granted political and financial support in the aftermath of the Russian aggression (annexation of Crimea and war in Donbas), the extent of bilateral cooperation is limited to the signing of an Association Agreement and the abolition of the visa requirement for Ukrainian citizens. Economic sanctions against Russia symbolize the unity of EU member states, but remain the only instrument that can stop the neo-imperial intentions of the Russian Federation. This study employs the methods of systemic, institutional and legal analysis and the decision method. ; Autor analizuje politykę UE wobec Ukrainy i stawia tezę, że wskutek oporu Rosji, niechęci wielu państw członkowskich oraz braku efektów w reformach wewnętrznych, Ukraina nie ma perspektywy na członkostwo w UE w najbliższej perspektywie. Chociaż udzielono jej wsparcia politycznego i finansowego, zakres współpracy dwustronnej jest ograniczony do podpisania układu o stowarzyszeniu i zniesienia obowiązku wizowego dla obywateli Ukrainy. Sankcje gospodarcze przeciwko Rosji symbolizują jedność państw członkowskich UE, ale pozostają jedynym instrumentem, który może powstrzymać neoimperialne zamiary Federacji Rosyjskiej. W badaniu wykorzystano metody analizy systemowej, instytucjonalnej i prawnej oraz metodę decyzyjną.

This timely analysis of security in Europe identifies the factors that enable and hinder the creation of networks of defence cooperation across the continent. Going beyond regional arrangements established by NATO and the European Union, this book considers the subregional level by focusing on bilateral and minilateral defence collaborations. It provides a new conceptual framework to assess the rationales, leadership and the complex dynamics within these alliances, and highlights how they shape and interact with NATO and EU initiatives

This study investigates whether differences in candidate selection methods and/or the changes in the Israeli political system affect cooperation between parliament members and whether such cooperation explains legislative effectiveness. To examine these issues, we discuss different types of cooperative strategies using a scale we devised that defines three options for cooperation: 1) uncooperative, 2) cooperation within the party and 3) cooperation between parties. Then, we categorize the various methods that Israeli political parties have used to select their candidates since the establishment of the state, creating four categories of a variable we call the effect of the primaries. Additionally, we consider differences in four periods of changes in the Israeli party system. Finally, we assess the results of cooperation in light of our dependent variable, legislative effectiveness, using data from 1949 to 2015. Our findings indicate that the majority of bills passed without cooperation, but when cooperative strategies were used, they usually involved inter-party rather than intra-party support. Furthermore, the adoption of primaries reduced the probability of passing bills. In addition, when one party was dominant, 68% of the representatives initiated legislation alone, while during the multi-polar fragmented period 41.9% cooperated with legislators from other parties.

This article thoroughly analyses the Eurostat database on Digital Economy and Society to explore the evolution of the digital skills gaps by gender in the European Union between years 2007 and 2014. It finds that differences between women and men are slight in the most basic and widespread skills, but they are very significant in the more complex and less generalized tasks. The disparities in this regard have generally decreased but very few points, so they are rather stable over the period. Additionally, those gender gaps are even more marked in the high-educated groups and also relevant among younger cohorts. Contrary to the statements made by the European Commission in its reports, these findings indicate that digital skills gaps by gender are still significant and likely to persist at many levels of society, while 'ICT specialist' profiles are becoming more important for future employment opportunities.

Abstract
The European Union (EU) has become an important global actor in numerous areas. It is an economic giant, a key actor in global trade and trade negotiations. It leads talks on environment and it is the biggest provider of assistance to the developing world. It is the largest contributor to the United Nations budget and its peacekeeping missions are present in all major conflicts.
With such prominent global presence, it would seem that when the EU speaks, the world listens. This paper assesses whether new public communicative spaces are emerging between the European Union and the rest of the world, including Australia. It first argues that supranational developments in the EU have encouraged an important shift in which international political communication is no longer equated with the boundaries of the nation state. It goes on to illustrate how the emergent Euro-polity is developing an important strategy for communication not only with its own Member States and their citizens but also with the world. To test how the new communication environment is received outside the EU, encounters of the Australian media with the European Union are analysed. The results tend to confirm the European Union's existing fears of being largely unheard.

Objective: The European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) was established in 2006. During its final project phase (joint action 3 [JA3]), it undertook an activity to define the scientific and technical principles of a model of health technology assessment (HTA) cooperation in Europe. This policy article presents the key learnings from JA3 partners about developing a model of HTA cooperation. Methods: There were two phases to the activity: (i) A descriptive phase to describe the elements of HTA cooperation that were already in place in EUnetHTA JA3 and to identify which elements could be improved or were missing. (ii) An analytic phase synthesizing the data collected to identify learnings from the JA3 and to define the scientific and technical principles for a future model of HTA cooperation. Results: Learnings for developing HTA cooperation were identified in regard to the framework used to support the cooperation, the HTA activities undertaken, the involvement of internal and external actors, managing decision making and the required human resources and support services needed to undertake HTA activities and to coordinate collaboration. Conclusions: These learnings coming from the experiences of the EUnetHTA JA3 are useful to inform discussions on a European Union regulation for HTA cooperation as well as subsequent work to set up the structures that will be defined in the regulation. The findings also have broader applicability and are relevant to individuals, groups, and organizations setting up HTA programs or establishing their own international collaborations. ; The contents of this paper arise from the project "724130 / EUnetHTA JA3," which has received funding from the EU, in the framework of the Health Programme (2014–2020). Sole responsibility for its contents lies with the author(s), and neither the EUnetHTA Coordinator, the European Commission nor any other body of the European Union is responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. ; Sí