Search Results (115)

Contemporary democracies face profound challenges, including political polarization hollowed by voter apathy, all of which are reshaped by the surge of digital innovations. Education for democracy plays a key role in sustaining democratic values and practices. This article explores how six European countries—Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Germany, Spain, and Poland—approach democratic citizenship education (DCE) in policy and practice. Drawing on the Horizon Europe DEMOCRAT project, the article describes a multi-method design combining Living Labs, desk-based research, and fieldwork to compare national frameworks. We discuss the findings of the project, showing a convergence toward integrated and participatory approaches to DCE, but also persistent disparities in teacher training, digital literacy, and resource accessibility. We identify four key Responsible Democratic Competencies (RDC), participation, deliberation, judgment, and democratic resilience, which together define an adaptable framework for effective DCE. Strengthening these competencies requires coordinated policy support, inclusive teacher education, and integration of emotional learning and reflection. This study concludes that a more cohesive yet context-sensitive European strategy could enhance citizenship education, reinforce democratic agency, and foster resilient, informed, and responsible citizens across Europe. Full article

The beginning of the 21st century is associated with a significant technological leap on a global scale, which has had a substantial impact on production and economic processes at the national and regional levels. This radical technological change in the economy is linked to the emergence and development of artificial intelligence and effective knowledge management, which are the main drivers of economic growth. The use of AI today can be traced in many different areas of applied science—medicine, physics, mathematics, and engineering design, including modeling, planning, and management of territorial systems. The accumulation of large databases and other information necessary for AI to function is directly related to the spatial aspects of economic development, which is also based on local potential (a place-based approach). At the same time, local knowledge resources and innovation potential are not fully utilized in the context of technology diffusion and AI implementation in individual countries and regions. In this regard, this study aims to analyze the role of regional innovation systems, with a focus on AI development, and to track their impact across individual European regions, using NUTS2 spatial-level data to ensure objectivity. The authors consider AI innovation a modern tool for decision-making in the implementation of regional policy, with a specific impact on cohesion between EU regions. The results of the study show a direct link between the localization of regional innovation systems, R & D expenditure, AI implementation, and the economic development of European regions. Important factors influencing this process are the degree of Internet coverage, the capacity to generate innovation, the degree of AI implementation in the individual economic sectors of the countries, the growth of the ICT sector in relation to the overall development of GDP and the economy, and the result of the smart specialisation of regional innovation systems. Full article

The transition toward renewable energy systems offers significant opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while also introducing new challenges in risk management and policy design. This study examines the long-term effects of renewable energy consumption, the risk factors associated with environmental taxation, and public expenditure on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across 27 European Union countries over a period of 22 years. Using panel data techniques—specifically the Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) estimators—the analysis identifies robust cointegrating relationships among environmental, fiscal, and energy variables. The joint null hypothesis (H₀) states that renewable energy consumption, environmental taxation, and public environmental expenditure do not exert a statistically significant negative long-run effect on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (i.e., none of these variables contributes to reducing GHG emissions in the long run). The findings show that renewable energy consumption and environmental taxes significantly and negatively affect GHG emissions, confirming their effectiveness as instruments for emission risk mitigation. Pollution taxes display the strongest elasticity among fiscal measures, indicating their pivotal role in carbon reduction strategies. Furthermore, public expenditure, particularly in waste management, meaningfully contributes to long-term emission reductions. These results highlight that a cohesive policy framework combining renewable energy development, targeted taxation, and strategic public investment can effectively minimize the environmental and economic risks associated with decarbonization. The study provides valuable empirical evidence for policymakers and risk analysts, underscoring the importance of integrated fiscal and energy policies in achieving sustainable climate risk management across the European Union Full article

In a context of environmental and socio-economic challenges, metropolitan areas represent a fundamental territorial scale for addressing cohesion, competitiveness, and sustainability, key priorities in European territorial development. Accessibility to services is crucial, as it reflects the right to full citizenship, particularly in territories where attractive urban centres coexist with peripheral areas. Balancing these dynamics is a major challenge for metropolitan governance and planning, especially in Italy, where Metropolitan Cities (MCs) have been institutionalised for over a decade. This paper examines spatial structure, accessibility, and governance through a comparative analysis of three Italian MCs in the Po Valley macro-region, a polycentric system along the Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network. Despite overall interconnections, the MCs display different settlement and accessibility patterns. The Metropolitan City of Turin is selected as a case study for its territorial diversity, metropolitan-mountainous character, misalignment between administrative and functional boundaries, and accessibility limitations. The research examines current planning instruments and governance-government arrangements of the case study in addressing these challenges. Findings, framed within the decadal review of Italian MCs, emphasise the need for greater coordination between plans, policies and programmes, combined with strengthened inter-municipal collaboration and territorial representation, to support a multi-level governance framework capable of coherent, effective, and balanced metropolitan development. Full article

Health financing is a core determinant of the resilience and equity of health systems. Using WHO’s three-pillar framework as an orienting reference—rather than a prescriptive template—this article analyzes the evolution, structural shortcomings, and policy dilemmas of the Greek health financing model, within a comparative European context. While many EU countries have strengthened public financing to ensure universal access, Greece maintains a hybrid, fragmented model in which out-of-pocket payments play a disproportionately large role. Despite recurrent reform attempts, Greece has not developed a cohesive public system with a clear commitment to social solidarity. Instead, the system has silently shifted into a de facto semi-privatized two-tier model that exacerbates social inequities, limits access and undermines efficiency. Drawing on international experience and documented policy lessons, the article proposes a strategic redesign of the health financing architecture. The proposal is conceptual and does not enter implementation specifics. Its central axis is the establishment of two national single purchasers of health services by level of care, with a clear allocation of responsibilities and authority, the Ministry of Health for hospital care, and the National Organization for Healthcare Services Provision (EOPYY) for primary, outpatient, and post-acute/rehabilitation care, to strengthen prevention, equitable access, and chronic care management while easing pressure on hospitals. The proposed model includes targeted investments in human resources and infrastructure, the enhancement of prospective payment mechanisms, the strengthening of primary care networks, and the leveraging of innovation. At the same time, it provides for reforms in governance, digital transformation of the system, and reallocation of resources based on principles of equity and efficiency. The proposed overall restructuring aims to strengthen financial protection, reduce inequities in access, and improve health outcomes through a publicly oriented, socially responsive, and strategically governed system. Full article

In recent decades, sustainable development has become a strategic priority for both national and EU economic policies, reflecting the need to integrate economic progress, social cohesion, and environmental protection. Public and private investments—particularly those directed toward infrastructure, human capital, and technological advancement—play a decisive role in supporting this transition. This study examines how the allocation of investments across institutional sectors in Romania influences the country’s sustainable development trajectory, with the underlying assumption that an efficient distribution of resources contributes to balanced regional growth, technological progress, and the strengthening of human capital. Using official national and European datasets, the research employs descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, sectoral comparisons, and complementary regression models to evaluate investment patterns over the period 2008–2023. The empirical findings indicate significant disparities in investment intensity among institutional sectors, which are reflected in uneven regional development and persistent gaps in innovation capacity. The results also show strong associations between targeted investments—especially those made by non-financial corporations and public institutions—and improvements in technological advancement, productivity, and human resource retention. Overall, the study concludes that a more coherent and strategically coordinated investment policy is essential for enhancing Romania’s sustainable development outcomes. Strengthening the alignment between investment flows and long-term development priorities would increase economic resilience, stimulate innovation, and support a more equitable and sustainable growth model. Full article

The European Union’s Cohesion Policy is a key instrument designed to reduce disparities among regions and promote sustainable, inclusive growth across Europe. In the context of the green and digital transitions, understanding how Cohesion Policy funds affect innovation is crucial to effective policy design. This study examines the impact of these funds on firm-level innovation in three domains: digital, green, and combined digital–green innovation. Using firm-level data and econometric models, our analysis uncovers a strong and statistically significant positive effect of Cohesion Policy funding on digital innovation. The impact on green innovation alone is positive but weaker and only marginally significant. Innovations that are both digital and green benefit from Cohesion Policy significantly, highlighting the potential of integrated innovation strategies. Full article

This paper investigates the determinants of economic growth in EU member states that joined the Union in 2004 and later, focusing on institutional quality, competitiveness, and the green transition. Three composite indices are constructed using principal component analysis (PCA) and incorporated into a panel ARDL-PMG model, complemented by robustness checks with fixed-effects and system-GMM estimators. The results highlight competitiveness as the most robust driver of growth across specifications, while institutional quality emerges as an enabling factor, particularly under dynamic specifications that account for endogeneity. The green transition shows significant long-run benefits, although its short-run effects are weaker, reflecting the gradual payoff of environmental investments. Policy implications emphasize the importance of strengthening institutional frameworks, fostering innovation and productivity, and sustaining commitments to the green transition as pillars of sustainable convergence. The findings enrich the literature on EU integration and provide evidence-based insights for aligning cohesion policy and the European Green Deal with growth objectives. Full article

This article explores participatory planning as a key tool for addressing the challenges of overtourism, a phenomenon that exerts complex pressures on the environment, social cohesion, and the cultural identity of cities, despite its contribution to economic growth. Through a comparative analysis of six European urban destinations with high tourism intensity, the study presents different forms of participatory processes as strategies for the sustainable management of tourism. The findings show that the active involvement of stakeholders—local authorities, professional associations, civil society organizations, and residents—strengthens the legitimacy and social acceptance of policies, while improving their overall effectiveness. The article examines whether existing strategies address the structural conditions that generate overtourism or are limited to managing its symptoms, and how the level of community engagement influences the sustainability of these policies. It also highlights that the concept of overtourism, while useful, is often overused in both public and academic discourse, which makes evidence-based analysis even more crucial. The study concludes that there is a pressing need for a more inclusive and strategically oriented model of tourism governance, one that goes beyond symptom management and targets the deeper causes of the phenomenon. Full article

Our study analyzes the essential role of social innovation in reducing social exclusion and unemployment while improving citizens’ well-being through targeted public policies that enhance GDP allocations to social protection. Using Eurostat data and European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) from 2019 to 2020, a comparative econometric analysis of all 27 EU member states, focused particularly on Romania, examines the interdependence between social innovation, social protection expenditures, social exclusion, and unemployment rates. Regression and ANOVA models confirm a significant positive relationship between social innovation and social protection spending. However, Romania’s overall share of social protection in GDP remains well below the EU average, despite higher relative spending on health, pensions, and family support, reflecting structural limitations and a slower diffusion of innovative practices. As an exploratory effort, the study acknowledges possible distortions caused by the pandemic, which temporarily increased expenditures and altered long-term trends. Broader macroeconomic factors such as inflation, demographics, and technology were not included but may refine future analyses. The findings provide both theoretical and practical insights, suggesting that enhancing social innovation through public policy can strengthen social cohesion, improve quality of life, and support the sustainable development of national protection systems. Full article

This article examines the role of urban design in integrating biodiversity preservation with the enhancement of environmental and human health and quality of life in urban and peri-urban areas. Building on three complementary perspectives—urban design, the Healthy Habits framework, and socio-ecological networks—the review seeks to bridge short- to medium-term actions for improving the quality of life with long-term strategies for biodiversity preservation. While partial connections between these domains exist, they remain fragmented, underscoring the need for a holistic and transdisciplinary approach to urban socio-ecological health. The study employs a two-stage methodology, combining a scoping review to map existing evidence with a qualitative thematic review across SCOPUS-indexed research, European and international policy frameworks, and practical applications. The One Health paradigm is used as the principal integrative tool to link urban design, the Healthy Habits framework, and the socio-ecological networks. The topics of European environmental policies, evolutionary pillars, and social cohesion are incorporated to strengthen the interrelations between environmental and societal health and well-being. The findings highlight the importance of a holistic approach, behavioural insights, urban nudges, and participation, which can become key elements in fostering social cohesion, ecological resilience, and overall health. The research concludes that health-oriented urban design must go beyond traditional planning paradigms and tools, adopting adaptive, relational, and transdisciplinary approaches to address the challenges posed by contemporary times. Full article

The study investigates how agriculture can serve as a driver of sustainable tourism and local development within the Vesuvius National Park under the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST) framework. Based on 14 semi-structured interviews with farmers, tourism operators, cultural institutions, and producer consortia, the findings reveal that agriculture plays a central role not only as a productive sector but also as a custodian of biodiversity, identity, and territorial resilience. Stakeholders emphasised the economic and symbolic value of traditional crops, highlighting how farm-based experiences, product certifications, and civil-society networks strengthen community cohesion and diversify visitor flows. Nevertheless, tourism remains predominantly concentrated in the vicinity of the volcano’s crater, thereby excluding the park’s other trails, limiting the positive impacts on rural and peripheral areas. Practical implications point to the need for improved mobility infrastructure, cross-sector coordination, and targeted incentives to link agrotourism circuits with regional branding and EU sustainability policies. Overall, the study shows that integrating agriculture into tourism governance can foster more inclusive, resilient, and territorially embedded forms of rural development in protected areas. Full article

After the powerful socioeconomic shock of the fall of the communist regime in the early 90s, the ten countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) analyzed in this study became growing Member States of the European Union (EU). However, they faced the 2008 financial crisis, the 2019 COVID shock, and sharp income disparities both at the regional level and compared to the countries in Western EU. This study explores the differences in sustainable regional development, modeling with Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) to analyze relationships across multiple cross-sections in the short and long run, as well as with Cointegration Tests and Granger Panel Causality to detect evidence of causality among the variables in the study. The analysis covers 2012–2022, a period in which the Member States from CEE had the best access to generous structural and cohesion EU funds and that includes both the post-financial crisis convergence phase and the COVID-19 shock, enabling us to capture regional resilience dynamics. The results indicate that capital formation and population density positively influence disposable household income in the long run, across CEE regions, while unemployment and life expectancy exert negative effects. The results of this paper can be of use to decision-making institutions seeking to implement proactive socioeconomic policies in the lagging regions, before the next crisis, focused on capital investments, reducing unemployment, and bridging the rural–urban divide. The study contributes to the literature on inclusive and sustainable economic development at the CEE regional level. Full article

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute the backbone of the EU economy, yet their uneven digital transformation raises challenges for competitiveness and territorial cohesion. This article examines the organizational and spatial aspects of SME digitalization across the European Union using Flash Eurobarometer 486 data and latent class analysis (LCA) combined with Bayesian multilevel multinomial regression. The results reveal four SME digitalization profiles—Digitally Conservative Backbone; Partially Digital and Upgrading; Digitally Advanced and Diversified; and Focused Digital Integrators—reflecting diverse adoption patterns of key technologies such as AI, big data and cloud computing. Digitalization is shaped by organizational factors (firm size, value chain integration, digital barriers) and territorial factors (urbanity, border proximity, national digital infrastructure as measured by the Digital Economy and Society Index, DESI). Contrary to linear modernization assumptions, digital adoption follows geographically embedded trajectories, with sectoral uptake occurring even in low-DESI or non-urban regions. These results challenge core–periphery models and highlight the significance of place-based innovation networks. The study contributes to modernization theory and regional innovation systems by showing that digital inequalities exist not only between countries but also within regions and among adoption profiles, emphasizing the need for nuanced, multi-level digital policy approaches across Europe. Full article

In recent years, the field of European funds for business development has generated significant interest in the academic literature, stimulated by European Union (EU) regulations and the implementation of business financing programs. This context has led to an increase in research on the impact and use of European funds, particularly in terms of support for economic development and infrastructure. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis, using topic modeling, to examine academic publications on the use and absorption of European funds and how they influence the business environment. Using a dataset of 74 publications indexed in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science Core Collection, covering the period 2005–2024, the present study aims to identify the main authors, institutions, journals, and collaboration networks involved. It also analyzes research trends, dominant themes, and the countries with the largest contributions in this field, using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and BERTopic analysis as a complement to the classical bibliometric approach. The thematic analysis reveals a thematic cohesion around entrepreneurship, EU structural funds, regional development, and innovation. In addition, there has been a significant annual increase in publications in this field, and through the use of thematic maps, word clouds, and collaboration networks, this study provides an overview of the evolution of research on the absorption of European funds and its impact on the business environment. These findings contribute both to deepening academic knowledge and to formulating more effective European policies for optimizing fund absorption and supporting the sustainable development of the business environment. Full article