Suchergebnisse

Although the mortality of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) has been steadily declined in the European Union (EU), CVD remains among the major causes of death in EU. As risk factors such asobesity and diabetes mellitus are increasing, the trends of European CVD mortality remains unknown. To understand the variation in CVD mortality of different EU countries, we studied the trends in CVD mortality in EU countries over the last three decades between males and females. Age- and sex-specific mortality rates between 1980 and 2011 were calculated by data from the WHO mortality database. Joinpoint software was used to calculate annual percentage changes and to characterize trends in mortality rates over time. Our study showed that between 1980 and 2011, CVD mortality significantly decreased in both men and women across all age groups. The specific mortality trends varied largely between EU countries. The plateau trend was observed in little regions at different age groups, however, the EU as a whole displayed declined trend CVD mortality. During the last three decades, CVD mortality decreased substantially in the entire population of EU. However, despite this overall decline in CVD mortality, several areas were identified as having no change in their CVD mortality rates at different period. The whole EU needs to establish strict prevention measures toreduce the incidence of CVD risk factors.

The sustainability of biofuels has been the subject of heated debates in Europe. The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive (RED) introduced criteria meant to define whether biofuels are sustainable. These criteria, relating to the level of greenhouse gas emissions and the types of land used to produce biofuels, are expected to be implemented through certification schemes associating private companies and public bodies (whether national or European). Using recent works in the sociology of markets, I consider these sustainability schemes as agencements, a lens for the study of the construction of a market in sustainable biofuels and for the analysis of European integration. I focus on the mass balance system, which, meant to track the circulation of biofuels qualified as sustainable, is a compromise, implemented at the price of pervasive uncertainties and difficulties. The European political and economic organisation is at stake in discussions related to the extent of the control exercised through the sustainability schemes by virtue of the mass balance system, and a politics of subsidiarity and a politics of harmonisation are at the heart of the making of a European market for sustainable biofuels. The description of the agencements organising European markets in sustainable biofuels points to the importance of coexistence as an economic and political operation. Adapted from the source document.

Since the reform of the Structural Funds in 1989, the EU has made the principle of cohesion one of its key policies. Much of the language of European cohesion policy eschews the idea of trade-offs between efficiency and equity, suggesting it is possible to maximize overall growth while also achieving continuous convergence in outcomes and productivity across Europe's regions. Yet, given the rise in inter-regional disparities, it is unclear that cohesion policy has altered the pathway of development from what would have occurred in the absence of intervention. This article draws on geographical economics, institutionalist social science and endogenous growth theory, with the aim of providing a fresh look at cohesion policy. By highlighting a complex set of potential trade-offs and interrelations – overall growth and efficiency; inter-territorial equity; territorial democracy and governance capacities; and social equity within places – it revisits the rationale of cohesion policy, with particular attention to the geographical dynamics of economic development.

The effects of a free market system on European citizenship are investigated. Arguing that globalization has diminished nation-states' authority to control public policy agendas, individual governments have responded by establishing more flexible postwelfare state national economies; consequently, social rights are constrained while social exclusion advances. Three explanations for the reduction in citizens' social protection are presented: increased competition between European Union member states; notions of social rights; the absence of a European Union state with the authority to define social rights; & member states' superior power over supranational institutions, thus preventing the promotion of social rights. Consequently, supranational institutions must be granted increased authority to ensure the maintenance of fundamental social rights in the international free market. 11 References. Adapted from the source document.

Preface by Altiero Spinelli. Published in cooperation with the European Policy Unit, European University Institute, Florence. ; The Draft Treaty establishing the European Union is the most ambitious effort so far to achieve sweeping institutional reform in the European Communities, and the clearest proof of the new independence of the directly elected European Parliament. Apart from its immediate political significance, it has re-opened the debate on institutional and substantive reform of the European Communities at both the governmental and the public levels. This book offers a comprehensive political, economic and legal analysis of the Draft Treaty, and a realistic assessment of the political and constitutional hurdles it faces in the Member States. The usefulness of this book, however, is not limited to its analysis of the Draft Treaty itself. The papers collected in this volume incisively examine the state of the current Communities in many of their aspects, and the observations and recommendations made by the authors bear careful reflection by all those engaged in the ongoing discussion of the fate of the European Communities. The first part of this book includes studies of Community reform on the institutional, judicial, economic and foreign relations dimensions seen through the perspective of the Draft Treaty. The second part deals with the constitutional and political problems of trying to amend or replace the Treaty of Rome. This issue includes the legal status of the procedure established for ratification and the position of the Draft Treaty in the Member States.

This article examines the main market barriers that hamper the introduction of geothermal energy at local, national, and European levels as well as the necessary steps that need to be taken to eradicate them, thus contributing to the general use of this renewable source of energy. The novelty of this study lies in the detailed description of four different scenarios: the European Union (EU), Spain, the Canary Islands, and the agricultural sector for the three types of geothermal energies and their uses: Low-enthalpy or thermal uses, high-enthalpy or electrical uses and renewable energy mix. The results are expected to differ in terms of level of introduction, barriers, and measures to be taken. We have selected Spain within the European context due to its meagre 0.1% geothermal market share in primary demand for renewable energy, and the Canary Islands in particular, given its insular nature. We have likewise picked the agricultural sector due to its underdevelopment as far as renewable energies are concerned, including geothermal energy.

The main aim of this paper is an analysis of the region in general form and to look at innova- tion and knowledge in the European Union's economic growth and social security strategy. The research objectives here encompass the presentation of the innovation system and knowledge in promoting entrepreneurship, the theoretical concept of the innovation system and process at the level of the region, the knowledge-based economy, constructed advantage, the constructed advantage provided by the Triple Helix model, Europe 2020 strategy, Innovation Union and Horizon 2020 as the financial instruments implemented by the Innovation Union. An important result of the research is the conclusion that in the innovation process the connections between science (universities), market (industry) and government are very important. There is a positive dependence between innovation activities and the effectiveness of the innovation process. More interaction and cooperation can be observed on the regional than on the state level. The new programmes of scientific and innovation research, Europe 2020 and the Innovation Union, are very important factors in the strategy of the European Union's economic growth and social security.

The European Union has been traditionally perceived as a values-based power that has exerted a certain appeal to the world and a transformative influence on its neighbours. The power of its attraction derives from the fact that it is a unique model in history, constructed on common values, mutual interests, solidarity and joint policies for economic development and convergence, with the aim to preserve peace, stability and welfare for all European peoples. Despite occasional ups and downs, this has been a successful endeavour, as demonstrated by its successive development and unprecedented enlargements. The effectiveness of the EU in disseminating its values varies, depending on different factors. Overall, the EU's most powerful tool is its paradigm. In response to current challenges threatening the credibility of its model, the EU needs to remain committed to its values and principles, speak with one voice and keep inspiring its peoples first, so that it can inspire the world.