bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
comparative evaluation of safety and efficacy of Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin, and Atorvastatin in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with dyslipidemia
Authors: Ali Mohammed Mudassir , Ashraf Syed Mustafa , Anand Anand , Fariduddin Juwairia Mohammed
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus consists of an array of dysfunctions characterized by hyperglycaemia and resulting from the combination of resistance to insulin action, inadequate insulin secretion, and excessive or inappropriate glucagon secretion. Dyslipidemia is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus. The characteristic features of diabetic dyslipidemia are a high plasma triglyceride concentration, low HDL cholesterol concentration and increased concentration of small dense LDL-cholesterol particles. To evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of Rosuvastatin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus with dyslipidemia. Material and Method: This is prospective, comparative, open label, randomized and parallel group. The subjects enrolled for this study were selected from the Out-Patient Department of Medicine collaboration with Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of month. Newly diagnosed 120 cases of patients of Type II Diabetes Mellitus well controlled on oral hypoglycemic drugs were randomly divided into 3 groups of 40 each.  Group A: Simvastatin 10 mg O.D and Group B was received Atorvastatin 10 mg O.D and Group C was received Rosuvastatin 10 mg O.D for 3 months.
COVID-19 pandemic and the African economy
Authors: Afolabi B , Adelakun J. O , Alli-Momoh O. B , Bojuwon M , Adeyanju O. D
Published: May 2022

The quick transformation of a health challenge caused by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China sometime in 2019 to a financial and economic crisis is intriguing. What is more disturbing is the speed at which lives are being lost and the spillover effects that are impacting the world economy and indeed African economies at this age and time with the advancement in technology and medical expertise? The spread of the pandemic is swift because of its crippling impact on the lives of citizens and the economies of nations. The paper adopted content analysis as a methodology in the study. And the study reveals how the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has infected over 150 countries of the world and has had serious spillover effects on the economies of many African countries and responses to the pandemic are varied by various countries on the continent to contain the virus, to save lives and safeguard their economies.
Impact of menstruation on physical and mental health of young adolescent girls
Authors: Kochhar Shinu , Ghosh Sanjay
Published: May 2022

This study was undertaken to study the Impact of Menstruation on Physical and Mental Health of young adolescent girls. Two different phases ( Pre-menstrual phase and post menstrual phase) were taken to assess the impact of the premenstrual symptoms screening tool revised for adolescents (PSST-A),   Measure of Adolescent Coping Strategies (MACS), Well-Being Index (WBI–CVSV)andAdjustment Inventory for School Students (AISS–SS) . The age of the subjects ranges from 13 to 16 years ( grade 8th to 10th). Results revealed that the subjects of pre phase of menstruation showed deterioration in premenstrual symptoms screening tool revised for adolescents (PSST-A), Measure of adolescent coping strategies, emotional well-being, psychological well-being, spiritual well-being. The subjects of post menstrual phases showed stronger psychological characteristics in measure of adolescent coping strategies and levels of adjustment. It was also confirmed by the study that the magnitude of the problem comes down during the post phase of menstruation. Physical health was proved a significant factor during menstruation from which other associated symptoms and problems may generate. So, physical and mental health are very much associated with menstruation for the females during their adolescence.
Effects of O-substitution on the photophysical properties in solution and solid-state of BODIPY Dyes
Authors: El-Ali H. A. Abdulhadi , Radi Sami w.
Published: May 2022

Crystal form emissive dyes play a key role in developing optical systems. In this work, we developed O-Bodipy fluorophores and studied their photophysical properties in solution and crystal form. We found that O-functionalization of the parent F-Bodipy could change the fluorescence efficacy in solution but it has very slight effect on the absorption and emission energies. The newly synthesized fluorescent compounds show intensive solid-state emission in the range (550-850 nm) with moderate quantum yield.  The luminescent complexes with solid-state emission were anticipated to get wider usages for developing various fluorescent dyes with excellent optical properties for solid-state Laser, especially with the advantages of simple structure and easy synthetic route.
Prediction of lung disease using machine and deep learning techniques
Authors: Devi Poonam , Sagar Shrddha , Rohil Harish
Published: May 2022

Nowadays lung diseases are becoming a significant problem. In spite of this, Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic all over the world from last two years which effected lungs of few patients also. Many people are suffering from lungs diseases like Asthma, Allergies, lung cancer etc. The patients whose lung gets affected due to COVID-19 may face some lungs diseases in near future, so it very significant to early diagnosis of lungs diseases to save human life. Machine learning (ML) with feature selection techniques play significant role in the medical field by making diseases diagnoses accurate and early. The objective of this paper is to presents a review of recent ML algorithms and feature selection techniques used to predict lung diseases. As we cover the study between 2020 – 2021, some supervised (SVM, Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Logistic model tree, Bayesian Networks) machine learning techniques on 18,253 data instances and unsupervised (KNN,CNN) machine learning techniques on 8,761 data instances were used to detect accuracy, precision, recall, sensitivity and F1-score in order to predict lung diseases.
Marc Bloch e Lucien Febvre—dois acordes historiográficos: uma análise das influências e aspectos relacionados aos fundadores dos Annales
Authors: Barros José
Published: May 2022

Este artigo visa examinar as especificidades dos modelos historiográficos dos dois principais autores pertencentes à primeira fase do movimento dos Annales: Marc Bloch e Lucien Febvre. Depois de uma discussão inicial sobre a importância do movimento habitualmente designado “Escola dos Annales” pela historiografia, discutem-se as especificidades das práticas e pensamentos historiográficos de Marc Bloch e Lucien Febvre, com uma preocupação inicial de situar as influências trazidas por estes autores. O artigo finaliza com considerações sobre a comparação entre os dois historiadores.
New Operators Using Neutrosophic δ-Open Set
Authors:   PG and Research Department of Mathematics, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Karur - 639 005, India., Vadivel A. ,   Department of Mathematics, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar - 608 002, India., Sundar C. John
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we introduce some new operators called neutrosophic δ frontier, neutrosophic δ border and neutrosophic δ exterior with the help of neutrosophic δ-open sets in neutrosophic topological space. Also, we discuss the important properties of them and the relations between them.
The Elephant in the Room: Is a Nationwide English Language Policy Needed in EFL Contexts? A Study on English Departments in Saudi Arabian Universities
Authors: Alnasser Suliman Mohammed , Almoaily Mohammad
Published: May 2022

Both English and Arabic are used in Saudi higher education institutions. Research on English language policies (ELPs) in the Saudi context is limited, highlighting the need for further examination of their implementation and nature. This study investigates the need to introduce a top-down ELP in the Saudi higher education context and the best way to apply this policy from the perspectives of instructors and administrators. A mixed-method approach to data collection was employed: official documentation was analyzed and an online survey, with an open-ended section for faculty members affiliated with Saudi higher education English departments across the country (n=210), was employed. Thereafter, semi-structured interviews were conducted with chairpersons and vice-chairs of university English departments (n=8). The findings suggest that although the majority of English departments recognize the importance of using ELPs, they have either not introduced them or have practiced them implicitly, with a high degree of flexibility that has led to these policies playing a marginal role in academia. The study concludes by encouraging policymakers to design a unified framework for ELPs with the involvement of representatives from university English departments. Other implications are also discussed.
The Ambivalent Nature of the Professor’s Character in Willa Cather’s The Professor’s House (1925)
Authors: Bani-Khair Baker Mohammad Jamil , Al Ahmad Mohamad Hilmi , Shehabat Abdullah , Al-Anbar Omar
Published: May 2022

The theme of conflict in the Professor’s character in Willa Cather’s The Professor’s House (1925) is a prevalent idea that caught the reader's attention throughout the novel. This inner conflict divides the professor’s character into two halves: one that is connected and attached to the past domain of his life that haunts his character during his entire life, or rather perpetuates and overlaps with his own way of living, and the other dimension is the aspect that is connected with the future part of his life, which is seen as an awakening or self-realization, and thus constitutes another essential ontological part in Godfrey's life. However, this conflict is accompanied by the contradictions of life itself from the point of view of the professor’s character. It is found that Godfrey's ambivalent considerations of his own life are essential, decisive, and influential.
Arden of Faversham: Failure of Arden’s Marriage
Authors: Dohal Gassim H.
Published: May 2022

The 16th c. tragedy, Arden of Faversham, depicts the murder of Arden by his wife and her lover. There are a number of critical issues that have been addressed by researchers in this tragedy like sexuality and domestic violence. But what I will focus on in this short paper is a trial of tracing the reasons that have led to the disastrous disintegration of the Ardens’ marriage in a way of extracting lessons from old literary texts for the benefits of our daily lives. Discouse analysis will be used to explore the tragedy and the way it treats the disintegeration of the Ardens’ marriage. Hence, this article aims at analyzing the texts and exploring what causes the failure of the marriage in question. The topic is complicated and it is hard to hold an individual in the family accountable for what has taken place. There are factors that lead to the consequences that this family ends up with.
How Gender Influences Arab Academics’ Using of Certainty Markers
Authors: Mohammed Sir Al Khatim Mohammed Ahmed , A. Ahmed Sami Hussein
Published: May 2022

One of the most significant abilities of professional communication in academic writing is articulating uncertainty and conviction. In this context, this study aims to identify whether a researcher's gender affects their use of interactional metadiscourse, particularly certainty markers, in published research articles written by Arab academics. The study data is collected from twenty research articles from international refereed journals. As the study analyses the effect of two variables (male vs. female) on the use of interactional metadiscourse (certainty markers), a t-test was used to analyze the data. The data analysis revealed significant differences in the effect of gender on the use of interactional metadiscourse markers in favor of female researchers. Based on these findings, the study recommends that educational institutions offer systemic training packages to help postgraduate students and novice researchers to write theses and research articles that reflect these developments.
Outcomes of vascular interventions for chronic limb-threatening ischaemia in nonagenarians
Authors: Atkins E , Stather P , Burrows M , Singh A , Medagoda A , Ezzarghani A , Al-Jundi W , Mughal NA
Published: May 2022

Background: With increasing age of the population, more patients over 90 years old are being referred to vascular surgery with increasingly complex comorbidity. There are minimal data on undertaking revascularisation at this extreme of age. This study therefore aims to evaluate the outcomes of nonagenarians who underwent vascular surgical procedures for chronic limb-threatening ischaemia. Methods: A retrospective clinical record review was carried out of all patients aged 90 and older with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia who presented to a tertiary centre between January 2010 and December 2017 and underwent vascular surgical intervention. Primary outcomes were mortality at 30 days, 90 days and 1 year. Results: Ninety-nine patients were included. The median age was 92 years (IQR 90–94) and median follow-up was 15 months (IQR 4–32). A total of 117 limbs were treated, with 15 limbs requiring multiple procedures. Of the patients’ ﬁrst procedures, 76 (76.8%) were endovascular, 14 (14.1%) open and 9 (9.1%) were major limb amputations. The 30-day, 90-day and 1-year procedural mortality rates were 5.1%, 18.2% and 44.4%, respectively, with higher mortality for emergency cases at 1 year (p=0.045). Conclusions: Mortality for these procedures in patients aged over 90 is high, similar to patients who undergo surgery for hip fracture. Given similar beneﬁts for treatment in terms of pain relief and ability to retain independence, patients in this age group should be considered for limb salvage procedures.
The General Court’s Decisions on State Aid Law in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Correia Vincent
Published: May 2022

The unprecedented crisis caused by the pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) not only shattered the economics of the aviation industry, it also put to test long established legal rules, while Governments were desperately adopting emergency measures. Facing a very severe situation, caused by airspace closures and restrictions imposed to travellers, several European airlines received governmental support, while others did not. This led to criticisms from airlines, most notably from the low-cost carrier Ryanair, which transposed into legal actions undertaken in front of the General Court of the European Union. At the heart of this legal battle lay the rules governing State Aid, as the European Commission was criticized for not assessing thoroughly enough the measures that were notified by the Member States. The judgments of the General Court revealed that, irrespective of the exceptional situation faced in Europe, the correct application of EU Law must prevail, which includes the judicial review of acts adopted by the European institutions. As two decisions of the Commission authorizing measures of governmental support were annulled, some lessons can be learnt for the future.

State Aid, Justification, Duty to state reasons, Proportionality, Non-discrimination, Fair competition, Temporary Framework
Unstealing the Sky: Third World Equity in the Orbital Commons
Authors: Van Eijk Cristian
Published: May 2022

To whom does outer space ‘belong’? This question lead to space law’s first treaty provision and its most fundamental disputes, but remains unanswered. This ambiguity empowers the loudest interpreters to conquer the cosmos in plain sight – a conquest that continues today in how we read its law, how we remember its past, and how we imagine its future. Space can only be as common as its history. This counterhistory of the decade from Sputnik to the Outer Space Treaty expands our discipline’s origin story. Through reviving these histories, we can see the space commons which might have been, and reimagine the scope of our law’s potential.

outer space law, history, global commons, TWAIL, environmental law
Book Review: War and Peace in Outer Space: Law, Policy, and Ethics. Cassandra Steer and Matthew Hersch eds, Published by Oxford University Press. 2021.
Authors: Johnson Christopher D.
Published: May 2022

air passenger rights, compensation, collective bargaining, social dialogue
Book Review: Drone Law and Policy: Integration Into the Legal Order of Civil Aviation, Ronald Schnitker & Dick van het Kaar eds, Essential Air and Space Law, Publisher Information: Eleven International Publishing – The Hague. 2021.
Authors: Scott Benjamyn I.
Published: May 2022

air passenger rights, compensation, collective bargaining, social dialogue
COVID-19 and Its Sweeping Effect on Businesses in Nigeria: Lessons for the Future
Authors: Itanyi Nkem , Obuka Uju
Published: May 2022

The impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is being felt in all spheres of human life. From everyday socialization to work to religious and commercial activities, no aspect of human interaction as we know it is spared; neither is any economy across the world. For Nigeria, the case is no different. With the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to witness more inclination to adopt information technology in workplaces, especially as many firms have adopted a Work-From-Home policy. On the other hand, staff have been, and continue to be, laid off as businesses grapple with dwindling revenue. In this article, we examine some of the recent pandemic- induced changes in the world of work; the adoption of increased use of information technology resources in businesses and everyday life; termination of employment contracts; and the heightened attention by lawyers and clients to an often neglected but essential clause in commercial transaction documents – the force majeure clause. We conclude that the pandemic has had devastating consequences for business financing and employment in Africa’s biggest economy and, indeed, across the globe. There are, however, a few fundamental changes brought about by the pandemic, which are beneficial and should continue post- COVID-19.

Information Technology, COVID-19, Pandemic, Employment, Commercial Transactions
Appointment of Independent Directors in India: A Critique
Authors: Khetan Shruti , Koshy Varsha Maria
Published: May 2022

The mode of appointment of independent directors has gained traction in recent years and has recently been in the limelight since the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), (the regulatory body for listed securities in India) proposed reforms for the process of appointment/removal of independent directors. This article has explored the accountability cast on independent directors and safeguards provided to them within the ambit of the Companies Act, 2013, along with the concerns and recourses available to minority shareholders from proceeding against the independent directors. The article has attempted to resolve the fallacies in the current modus of appointment of independent directors and has examined alternate modes of appointment, including the feasibility of adopting the dual voting structure followed in the United Kingdom which was proposed in the SEBI reforms.

Independent directors, appointment, dual voting structure, the United Kingdom, Securities Exchange Board of India Consultation Paper, Companies Act, 2013, cumulative voting and minority shareholders.
Constitutional creativity or constitutional deception? Acts of the Member States acting collectively and jurisdiction of the Court of Justice
Authors: Spaventa Eleanor
Published: May 2022

This article looks at the collective acts of the Member States which have a close connection with the EU, either because they trigger action at EU level, or because they find their basis in the Treaties. It is argued that such acts should not escape review just because they are not clearly situated within either the EU or the domestic legal system. The article identifies five categories of such acts, and then focuses on the EU-Turkey Statement and Sharpston cases as examples. For collective acts not based on the Treaties, various factors determine whether or not they are ascribable only to the collective action of Member States, or rather are adopted jointly with the EU institutions. If an act is also ascribable to an EU institution it must not escape judicial review, either through Article 263 TFEU or via preliminary rulings. Furthermore, EU acts deriving from a collective decision are subject to judicial review at EU level, and if an EU institution participated in the adoption of such acts, or failed to ensure that the act complied with EU primary law, the EU might incur non-contractual liability. Collective acts of the Member States can produce legal effect in the EU legal system only insofar as based on the Treaties and such acts have primary law status only when ratified according to national constitutional requirements. Acts lacking primary law status must be subject to the jurisdiction of the ECJ regarding their compatibility with the Treaties and the Charter.

Collective acts of the Member States, judicial review, EU-Turkey Statement, Sharpston affaire, Case T-192/16, C- 684/20 P, C-685/20 P, T-180/20
Judicial review and the Common Foreign and Security Policy: Limits to the gap-filling role of the Court of Justice
Authors: Van Elsuwege Peter
Published: May 2022

Since Opinion 2/13, the ECJ has gradually clarified that its role in the field of CFSP is less limited than a cursory reading of the Treaties may suggest. This article aims to take stock of this evolving case law and discuss the remaining uncertainties and criticisms regarding the Court’s approach. After a brief introduction to the ambiguous position of the CFSP in the EU legal order, specific attention is devoted to the “gap-filling” role of the ECJ’s case law in relation to CFSP matters. It is argued that the Court has developed a consistent line of case law, based on the horizontal application of general constitutional principles and mechanisms. The question remains how much further this “gap-filling role” can be stretched in light of the principles of institutional balance and conferral. The article discusses to what extent the specific features of EU law as regards judicial review in CFSP matters may still be regarded as an obstacle for EU accession to the ECHR.

Judicial review, Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, Court of Justice, ECJ, CJEU, jurisdiction, gap-filling, judicial protection, constitutional principles, EU accession to the ECHR
So close, yet so far: The EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Authors: Peers Steve
Published: May 2022

The recent EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement is a complex treaty covering a wide range of trade and criminal law cooperation issues. It raises a number of legal issues, for instance as regards its legal effect, legal basis, termination or suspension, and dispute settlement. This article examines the general legal issues relating to the Agreement, discussing in particular its attempts to draw a line under the EU membership of the UK, placing the legal relationship firmly on the basis of international law. It examines how this compares to the Withdrawal Agreement and other EU relationships with non-EU countries, looking in detail in particular at the termination and suspension, dispute settlement, and “level playing field” provisions of the treaty.

EU/UK TCA, Trade and Cooperation Agreement, Brexit, Withdrawal Agreement, External relations
EU regulation of artificial intelligence: Challenges for patients’ rights
Authors: Kolfschooten Hannah Van
Published: May 2022

In order to create a well-functioning internal market for Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, the European Commission recently proposed the Artificial Intelligence Act. However, this legislative proposal pays limited attention to the health-specific risks the use of AI poses to patients’ rights. This article outlines that fundamental rights impacts associated with AI such as discrimination, diminished privacy and opaque decision-making are exacerbated in the context of health and may threaten the protection of foundational values and core patients’ rights. However, while the EU is facilitating and promoting the use and availability of AI in the health sector in Europe via the Digital Single Market, it is unclear whether it can provide the concomitant patients’ rights protection. This article theorizes the Europeanization of health AI by exploring legal challenges through a patients’ rights lens in order to determine if the European regulatory approach for AI provides for sufficient protection to patients’ rights.

health law, artificial intelligence, patients’ rights, fundamental rights, digital single market, EU governance, EU regulation
The greening of the Economic and Monetary Union
Authors: Steinbach Armin
Published: May 2022

All pillars of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) have unleashed an array of measures to transform the economy towards climate neutrality. With the Green Deal, the strategy review of the European Central Bank (ECB), and the growing body of sustainable finance legislation, climate considerations have entered the traditional mandates governing the conduct of financial, fiscal, and monetary policy. The cross-sectional nature of climate issues reinforces the interdependence and coordination of EMU policies. This article explores changes to EMU architecture and discusses the institutional and legal implications of the novel role of climate in the coordination of EMU policies. It addresses the relationship between Treaty mandate and policy leeway, specifically the way in which the ECB extends its focus on price stability to account for climate considerations and the fiscal legal framework relies on flexibility to incentivize climate investment. It also tracks the emergence of climate stability as an EMU concept, adding to existing concepts of price, fiscal and financial stability.

EMU, ECB, monetary policy, financial policy, fiscal policy, climate change, sustainable finance, greenflation, policy coordination
Next Generation EU and its constitutional ramifications: A critical assessment
Authors: Ruffert Matthias , Leino-Sandberg Päivi
Published: May 2022

Following the early turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic on societies in Europe, the foundations of financing the European Union have been overturned. In this article, we demonstrate the magnitude of change that Next Generation EU (NGEU) creates. While explained as exceptional and justified with reference to the pandemic, in substance, the NGEU is not a crisis measure. It will change the reading of EU law permanently by establishing a new type of instrument for redistribution between the Member States and funding this through debt. This article argues that consensus among large Member States and key institutional stakeholders is insufficient for disregarding key Treaty principles. We scrutinize the regulating capacity of EU constitutional law in relation to that consent and discuss the control of constitutionality by the Court of Justice, the role of national constitutional bodies, and the effect of the package on institutional balance. Finally, the role of EU scholarship is considered in relation to such a profound shift in the EU’s constitutional fabric.

COVID-19 pandemic, finance, Next Generation EU, NGEU, crisis measures, debt funding, Treaty principles, constitutionality, role of national constitutional bodies, EU scholarship
EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: Key Issues Going Forward
Authors: Marín Durán Gracia
Published: May 2022

About four months ahead of the global climate summit in Glasgow, the European Commission revealed the details of its controversial proposal for a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). If adopted by the European Parliament and Council, the proposed CBAM would make the EU the first jurisdiction worldwide to extend its domestic carbon price to emissions that are produced outside its borders but are embedded into its imports of carbon-intensive commodities. While aligning with the EU’s long-standing ambition to play a leadership role in the global battle against climate change, this novel regulatory initiative raises a number of critical legal and policy questions – i.e., would it be effective, legal and ‘fair’?
The EU-Korea Labour Dispute: A Critical Analysis of the EU’s Approach
Authors: Han Ji Sun
Published: May 2022

On 4 July 2019, the EU formally requested the Panel of Experts to be convened under Article 13.15 of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The gist of the dispute revolved around Korea’s compliance with its labour rights obligations under the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapter of the FTA. The Panel of Experts gave its decision on 20 January 2021, making several recommendations for Korea to amend its domestic legislation. As a result of the EU-Korea labour dispute, Korea ratified three International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions and made amendments to its Trade Union and Labour Relations Adjustment Act (TULRAA). While the dispute has yielded some successful results for the EU, this article examines shortcomings of the EU’s approach to promoting labour rights in its relations with Korea, and remaining challenges as regards Korea’s obligations under the TSD Chapter.

European Union, external relations, labour rights, EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement, Trade and Sustainable Development, labour dispute, Panel of Experts, freedom of association, forced labour
Russia’s Perceptions of the European Union as an Actor in the Shared Neighbourhood Before and During the Ukraine Conflict
Authors: Khayrizamanova Irina
Published: May 2022

This article draws on the argument that systematic consideration of the perceptions held at the level of foreign policy-makers can enrich the understanding of Self-Other identity interactions. This research examines the evolution of the discursive dialogue between the EU’s self-portrayals as an actor in the shared neighbourhood and as an actor in the Ukrainian crisis and its external perceptions in Russia. In focus are the EU’s and Russia’s political narratives formulated and communicated from 2003 to 2015. The analysis shows a leading trend of Russia challenging the EU’s predominantly self-ingratiating images thus refusing to sediment the EU’s self-proclaimed identity as a distinctive actor. In turn, the EU’s inattention to its ‘mirror’ images has led to the self-reinforcing cycle of reciprocal mis – and non-recognition of Russia as the constitutive Other in the EU identity formation. These patterns have contributed to the escalation in the discursive clashes between the two actors during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

the EU, Russia, external perceptions, discourse
Youth Perceptions of the EU and the Baltic States in Ukraine: Emotive Attitudes and Images
Authors: Chaban Natalia , Whitten Lisa Claire
Published: May 2022

This article analyses the perceptions that young people in Ukraine have of the European Union (EU) and the Baltic States. Based on a qualitatively rich data set from surveys carried out with students across four regions of Ukraine – Kyiv, Odesa, Ivano-Frankivsk and Kharkiv – the paper draws on International Relations (IR) image theory to analyse the cognitive, normative, and emotive elements of youth perceptions of the national Self of Ukraine and the important Others of the EU and the Baltic States. Several key findings emerge from the study: (1) youth in Ukraine have broadly positive attitudes towards the EU and the Baltic States; (2) young people in Ukraine report greater familiarity with EU affairs than those of the Baltic States; but (3) attitudes to the EU are predominantly cognitive while (4) attitudes to the Baltic States are predominantly emotive; and finally (5) youth in Ukraine perceive the EU and Baltic state Other in normatively positive terms but the national Self in normatively negative terms.

Our findings underline the centrality of the emotive aspect of IR image theory in public perception research and in processes of political socialization. This study therefore makes an important contribution to theoretical literatures on IR image as well as providing a timely empirical analysis with direct relevance to EU external relations diplomacy and the development of EU neighbourhood policy.

European Union, Ukraine, Baltic States, International Relations, Image Theory, Mental Mapping, Public Perception Research
The Global Compact for Migration: A Case of De-Politicization?
Authors: Lauwers Nathan
Published: May 2022

In a political context characterized by democracies with fading partisan identities, political entrepreneurs in the form of radical right parties turned immigration into a powerful subject of issue competition on the basis of a cultural or identity cleavage.1 The literature has illustrated that political parties can respond to this challenge through various strategies (e.g., through ‘accommodation’, ‘adversarial’ and ‘diffusion’ strategies). In this article, we develop an innovative analytical framework to examine strategies of de-politicization in the context of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) in three countries; France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Through this analytical framework, we aim to generate new insights in the dynamics of strategic action through de-politicization, looking at the differentiations between political parties. In the conclusion, we formulate hypotheses for the varying choices in de-politicization strategies, highlighting why some strategies are more prominent in some countries. The application of the analytical framework on rich empirics could serve as a basis for further research on de-politicization strategies in multiple contexts, looking at the factors that explain the variation between political actors.In a political context characterized by democracies with fading partisan identities, political entrepreneurs in the form of radical right parties turned immigration into a powerful subject of issue competition on the basis of a cultural or identity cleavage.1 The literature has illustrated that political parties can respond to this challenge through various strategies (e.g., through ‘accommodation’, ‘adversarial’ and ‘diffusion’ strategies). In this article, we develop an innovative analytical framework to examine strategies of de-politicization in the context of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) in three countries; France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Through this analytical framework, we aim to generate new insights in the dynamics of strategic action through de-politicization, looking at the differentiations between political parties. In the conclusion, we formulate hypotheses for the varying choices in de-politicization strategies, highlighting why some strategies are more prominent in some countries. The application of the analytical framework on rich empirics could serve as a basis for further research on de-politicization strategies in multiple contexts, looking at the factors that explain the variation between political actors.
EU and US Narratives of Order and Disorder in Their Southern Neighbourhoods After the Migration Crises
Authors: Giedraityte Ieva
Published: May 2022

Employing strategic narrative theory, (A. Miskimmon, B. O’Loughlin & L. Roselle, Strategic Narratives: Communication Power and the New World Order (Routledge 2013)) the article compares the EU’s and the US’s strategic narratives of their Southern neighbourhoods, forged after the simultaneous migration crises at their Southern borders in 2013-2015. By this comparison, the article tests the claims that the EU and the US have different preferences for (regional) orders and explores the region’s role in their strategic narratives. Exploring three levels in the circulation of the narratives – system, identity and issue – this article concludes that both powers share the idea of desired regional order. At the same time, the place of the ‘region’ in the strategic narratives is different, demonstrating the EU’s deeper engagement in the region and its identity as a regional power.

strategic narrative, the EU, the US, ENP, Central America, region-building
Perceptions of the EU in the Western Balkans Vis-à-vis Russia and China
Authors: Markovic Khaze Nina
Published: May 2022

This article evaluates public perceptions of the European Union (EU) in Montenegro and Serbia as the front running EU membership candidates. It uses a multidisciplinary approach, which comprises a comparative survey data analysis method, the Image Theory and a mind-mapping approach of EU perceptions analysis to study the EU-Western Balkans relations. Public perceptions of the EU in the Western Balkans are (re)created and juxtaposed against perceptions of other external actors, notably Russia and China. This has led to the EU’s ‘power of attraction’ being diminished in the Western Balkans. Rival perceptions of China and Russia as ‘less demanding’ partners than the EU, and the slowing down of EU’s enlargement agenda have also contributed to this trend. In order to maximize its own security and counter the growing geopolitical influence by China and Russia in the Western Balkans, the EU would benefit from a more comprehensive study of its own representation and public perceptions in candidate states. By doing so, the EU could improve the knowledge about its soft power, which can in turn increase the effectiveness of its foreign policy programmes globally and democracy promotion in the neighbourhood.

European integration, EU public diplomacy, accession, Image Theory, EU-Western Balkans relations, Montenegro, Serbia, EU membership, EU accession, EU foreign policy, soft power
Trade and Attitude Towards the EU: What Really Matters
Authors: Keller Florian , Zoller-Rydzek Benedikt
Published: May 2022

The main goal of this article is to identify which aspect of trade drives positive attitudes towards the trading partner country. Whereas research has shown a positive influence of trade already, it is not clear whether total trade, trade balance, exports or imports is the best variable to predict attitudes. Furthermore, we investigate whether different sorts of the traded good do impact attitudes differently. As attitudes are formed on an individual level, we estimate that goods whose origins are visible to the individual customer do have greater impact than goods with no visible origins. In our analysis we use data from the Global Attitudes Survey from the Pew Research Center to measure attitudes towards the European Union (EU) and data from UN Comtrade to measure trade with the EU. Our results show that imports from and total trade with correlate significantly with attitude towards the EU, whereas exports to the EU and the bilateral trade balance do not. Given that imports are a part of total trade, we argue that imports are the best variable to predict attitudes. Additionally, we found that it is the import of differentiated goods that impacts attitudes whereas the import of homogeneous goods does not. We argue therefore that positive attitudes towards a trading partner are driven by individual experiences of consumers with products from the respective countries.

Trade, Attitude, Soft Power, Exports, Peace
Strategic Autonomy and the EU as a Global Actor: The Evolution, Debate and Theory of a Contested Term
Authors: Helwig Niklas , Sinkkonen Ville
Published: May 2022

For all the attention on ‘strategic autonomy’ in the European Union (EU)’s foreign and security policy debate, the academic reflections on the term have so far been limited. Strategic autonomy is a prominent framework through which policy-makers discuss the EU’s response to global challenges, which raises the question to what extent its study can tell us more about the development of the EU as a global actor. This article discusses the evolution of the term ‘strategic autonomy’, the current policy debates that surround it, as well as how its emergence and implications can possibly be analysed through the use of International Relations theory. It argues that strategic autonomy should not be understood as a binary choice between dependence and independence or engagement and decoupling. By accepting the ambiguity of the term and its various meanings in today’s policy debate, it is possible to explore the grey areas of the EU’s struggle to manage its external interdependencies, as well as the implications in diverse policy fields, including foreign policy, security and defence, as well as trade.

Strategic Autonomy, European Union, International Relations, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common Security and Defence Policy, Trade and Investment Policy, Realism, Liberal theory of International Cooperation, Constructivism
The Ambiguity of the EU’s Global Role: A Social Explanation of the Term ‘Strategic Autonomy’
Authors: Helwig Niklas
Published: May 2022

The term strategic autonomy has become a major reference point in the debates on the EU as a global actor despite concerns of some Member States that worry about global decoupling signals. What explains the attractiveness and widespread use of the concept in the EU’s policy debates? This article puts forward an explanation grounded in social factors and dynamics. It uses role theory to develop a hypothesis for the proliferation of the strategic autonomy concept in the debate on EU’s global role. Based on this perceptive, the conflict between the EU’s roles as a market-, normative-, and realist power is at the heart of the emergence of the strategic autonomy discourse. Rather than forcing the EU to adapt its role as an international actor, the reference to strategic autonomy allows for ‘role ambiguity’. The article discusses this in light of the current debates on the ‘geopolitical Commission’, qualified majority voting (QMV) in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), as well as in the area of defence. Whether the ambiguity – the lack of clarity and certainty the EU as a collective actor faces with regards to the enactment of its role – will prove to be constructive or destructive for its foreign policy remains still open.

Strategic Autonomy, European Union, EU’s Global Role, Role theory, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common Security and Defence Policy, Normative Power, Market Power, Realist Power
Past as Prologue? The United States and European Strategic Autonomy in the Biden Era
Authors: Sinkkonen Ville , Martin Garret
Published: May 2022

Europe breathed a sigh of relief after Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, following a difficult period for transatlantic relations under Donald Trump. Yet, a friendlier tone in Washington has not so far translated into markedly better relations between the US and Europe. This article inquires why Biden – a pro-European President by disposition – is not proving more amenable to transatlantic relations in general, and European strategic autonomy in particular. It suggests that the considerable continuity between Biden and Trump can be explained by an interplay between the historical legacy of transatlantic relations, international and domestic structural factors, and on-going ideational contests over US grand strategy. Considering these factors, the US approach to Europe in the Biden era looks to oscillate between a ‘primacy’ model, marked by a US expectation that it will continue to lead and determine the direction of the transatlantic alliance, as well as ‘benign neglect’ of Europe in an age marked by ‘strategic competition’ with China. Neither approach is particularly conducive to the development of European Union (EU) strategic autonomy. In the meantime, the transition from Trump to the Biden era continues to hold little promise for a mutually negotiated ‘major reform’ of the transatlantic relationship.

transatlantic relations – foreign policy – European Union – United States – strategic autonomy, grand strategy – primacy – restraint – Biden – Trump
EU Strategic Autonomy and the Perceived Challenge of China: Can Critical Hubs Be De-weaponized?
Authors: Poutala Tero , Sinkkonen Elina , Mattlin Mikael
Published: May 2022

Geoeconomic competition, supply security vulnerabilities and complex technological dependencies challenge the European Union’s ‘strategic autonomy’. Evolving from more traditional security/ defence notions, a broader definition of strategic autonomy encompasses also economic dimensions. Economic resilience underpins security and defence arrangements. The EU has lacked instruments for protection against ‘predatory’ strategic investments by external actors, and technological dependence on potential strategic rivals. This article analyses two critical hubs, or potential ‘chokepoints’, in the EU’s attempts to achieve strategic autonomy – critical maritime transport infrastructure and 5G – as well as countermeasures developed by the EU. Chinese enterprises have made strategic investments in key EU infrastructure and high-tech industries over the past decade. In response, the EU has established an investment screening framework to screen (authorize, issue condition, prohibit or unwind) inward foreign direct investment (FDI) on security or public order grounds, and activated a mechanism for the enhancement of coordination and cooperation between the Commission and Member States. The EU has also sought to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers by introducing the ‘5G toolbox’. We argue that the EU aims to ‘de-weaponize’ these two potential chokepoints. However, our article concludes that the political goal of strategic autonomy vis-à-vis external actors is hampered by the competence limitations of the Union to act in critical areas. Ultimately, much of the heavy lifting on implementing EU policy goals still falls upon Members States with varied economic and security interests.

chokepoint effects, critical hubs, strategic autonomy, interdependence, investment screening, 5G toolbox
Third Ole Lando Memorial Lecture: European Contract Law in the Post-Brexit and (Post?)-Pandemic United Kingdom
Authors: MacQueen Hector L
Published: May 2022

The subject-matter of this lecture is the fate of ideas about or from European contract law in a United Kingdom (UK) which ceased to be a Member State of the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020 and then shortly afterwards shared the common European and indeed global experience of the coronavirus pandemic. Its main thrust is that, while in the UK Brexit has been a major setback to the idea of European contract law – indeed, European private law – the continuing pandemic provides an opportunity for Scots and English law to re-engage with the subject to find answers – or better answers – to the problems which they now face. The main substantive topics addressed are frustration of contract, equitable adjustment upon change of circumstances, and the requirements of good faith.
Allocation of Liability in Case of Payment Fraud: Who Bears the Risk of Innovation? A Comparison of Belgian and Portuguese Law in the Context of PSD2
Authors: Steennot Reinhard , Guimarães Maria Raquel
Published: May 2022

The number of fraudulent payment transactions is increasing over Europe. In many cases it remains impossible to recover the amounts from the fraudster, so that the question arises whether the payment service provider (PSP) or the payment service user (PSU) must bear the risk. Within the EU, the second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) allocates liability between the PSU and the PSP. Important concepts when allocating liability are gross negligence and strong customer authentication. Equally important is the question who bears the burden of proof.