Search Results (6,401)

Platinum group elements (PGE) are six rare highly siderophile metals which have similar chemical characteristics and occur together in mineral deposits: platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), rhodium (Rh), ruthenium (Ru), iridium (Ir) and osmium (Os). In nature, they tend to exist in a metallic state or bond with sulfur and arsenic and occur as trace accessory minerals predominantly in mafic and ultramafic rocks. High industrial demand together with their scarcity in crustal rocks has been reflected in their inclusion in 2025 US Government’s List of Critical Minerals, European Union’s List of Critical Raw Materials and Mongolian List of 11 Critical Minerals. Although Mongolia is not currently a producer, it hosts four types of potentially economic PGE deposits: (1) Podiform chromitites associated with ophiolites; (2) Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization of rift-related mafic–ultramafic intrusions; (3) Alaskan–Uralian type arc related zoned mafic–ultramafic intrusions; and (4) Placers. Particularly promising are Permian Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide bearing mafic–ultramafic intrusions of the Khangai large igneous province which bear resemblance to mineralized Permian intrusions in Russia (e.g., Norilsk-Talnakh) and N.W. China (e.g., Kalatongke; Tarim basin). In addition, sub-economic ophiolite-hosted PGE mineralization can be extracted as a by-product during chromite mining. There is also the potential for PGE recovery as a by-product in existing gold placer operations in areas hosting ophiolitic massifs and Alaskan–Uralian type intrusions. Mongolia is a promising frontier for PGE exploration and mining. Full article

The world is undergoing rapid transformations driven by climate change, socio-economic pressures, and geopolitical tensions. Monitoring these dynamics is essential to understand and anticipate territorial change. Although initiatives such as the European Union’s Open Data program promote spatiotemporal datasets (e.g., population, land use), analyzing and interpreting these data over time remains complex and requires technical expertise, limiting their accessibility. This research proposes Semantic Web-based methods to detect and annotate trends in spatiotemporal series, thereby assisting in the systematic analysis of temporal patterns. We introduce the SETT ontology (SEmantic Trajectory of Territory) and its OFF-SETT framework (Ontological Framework For SETT), enabling the formal description of territorial trends and their publication as semantic trajectories in the Linked Open Data cloud. The study delivers (i) a generic methodology for detecting and describing trajectories in spatiotemporal datasets; (ii) a framework for automatically generating knowledge graphs capturing these trajectories; (iii) a knowledge graph describing trajectories of demographic and satellite-derived variables (e.g., temperature, water, vegetation) for study areas in France and Switzerland; and (iv) a web-based geovisualization platform. The approach shows that Semantic Web technologies bridge complex spatiotemporal analysis and public accessibility. By publishing territorial trajectories as knowledge graphs, it fosters transparency, interoperability, and reuse of data, supporting informed decision-making and citizen engagement. Full article

Growing water scarcity across the European Union (EU) increases the need for improved water-use efficiency in water-intensive sectors such as recreational facilities. This study evaluates the feasibility of integrating alternative water sources—including rainwater, graywater, and filter backwash water—into swimming pool operations through a comparative analysis of EU legislation and selected national regulatory frameworks. The study is based on a structured desk review of scientific literature, legal documents, and technical standards published between 2010 and 2025, complemented by a qualitative SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. Previous studies indicate that public swimming pool facilities may consume approximately 20–50 m³ of water per day, highlighting the potential benefits of alternative water supply strategies. However, regulatory fragmentation and the absence of harmonized EU-level quality standards for recreational water reuse remain the main barriers to wider implementation. While Regulation (EU) 2020/741 establishes minimum requirements for reclaimed water reuse in agricultural irrigation, no dedicated framework exists for swimming pool facilities. Among the analyzed options, rainwater harvesting and graywater reuse appear to be the most feasible solutions. Clearer regulatory guidance and risk-management procedures could support the safe adoption of alternative water sources and contribute to improving water-use efficiency in the recreational sector. Full article

Corrosion resistance of steel wires can be achieved through several approaches, one of the most established being hot-dip galvanizing. The effectiveness of anticorrosive protection of a galvanized wire is considered to depend not only on the galvanizing process itself, namely bath composition, temperature, and immersion duration—but also on the post-galvanizing wiping method, which ultimately determines the final thickness and uniformity of the zinc coating. This study describes and quantifies the resulting parameters of the Zn layer, systematically comparing two technical variants. Four parameters were analyzed to characterize the coating: the effective thickness of the constituent layers, their morphology (examined by SEM), their compositional profile (EDX mapping), and their microhardness. To comprehensively assess the influence of the wiping method on the anticorrosion performance of the galvanized wire, the final corrosion tests, fifth in the sequence, will be conducted in a salt fog environment using an Erichsen chamber, in accordance with standardized procedures. Full article

The Galileo Signal Authentication Service (SAS) is the next new feature to be offered by Galileo, the European GNSS. Its signal-in-space initial capability is expected already in the next months of 2025, starting with the L3 (Launch 3) Galileo elliptical-orbit satellites. It is the first-ever navigation signal authentication feature offered globally and openly. Galileo SAS uses the existing Galileo E6-C signal to be encrypted, in combination with OSNMA (Open Service Navigation Message Authentication), through the so-called semi-assisted authentication concept. In this concept, portions of the E6-C are re-encrypted with OSNMA future keys and published in a server. The concept allows signal authentication openly and for free, and without private key management by users. In exchange, the time between authentications is 30 s, inherited from OSNMA, and it introduces a latency between the E6-C signal reception and its authentication down to a few seconds. This work presents the status of Galileo SAS. It outlines its latest technical definition, already shared in previous publications. It will also present the MMARIO (Message and Measurement Authentication Receiver for Initial Operations) project, developing the first SAS server, receiver and testing platform. The paper also outlines the Galileo SAS plans for the near future, up to the Initial Service Declaration. Full article

The European Union’s regulatory mandate requirements for vehicular components include the integrity of sealing performance, mitigating leaks from fuel tanks and transmission systems in order to guard against environmental pollution. Non-compliance can result in significant costs for the OEM and their supplier base. The majority of the reported research regarding leakage from radial lip seals focuses on static analysis of leakage under a given set of laboratory conditions. However, in practice, seal conjunctions are often subjected to significant excitations due to vehicular vibration. In the current study, the case of a front-wheel drive vehicle, equipped with three-axle accelerometers and subjected to a comprehensive road test, is used as the basis for the development of a realistic representative test rig. The test rig is developed using bespoke components from the vehicle under investigation to assess the impact of the encountered natural frequencies on sealing performance in controlled laboratory conditions, when the system is subjected to controlled excitation. Experiments are conducted to evaluate leakage at the transmission interface, focusing specifically on the sealing system’s performance. The influence of driveshaft manufacturing processes using corundum grinding and subsequent surface topography upon leakage performance are also considered. Identified modal response frequencies are imposed upon the test rig using a shaker, whilst the seal leakage is measured. The importance of shaft roughness characteristics, such as topographical skewness upon seal leakage rate under various resonant conditions, are ascertained. The results indicate potentially significant leakage rates under excitation conditions, with a non-optimised shaft roughness profile. Full article

The European Union’s transition to climate neutrality by 2050 requires measurable reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, especially in territories characterized by geographical constraints, such as mountainous regions. The study analyzes how European funding guidelines are translated into concrete technical interventions for public buildings in mountainous areas of Romania, using a representative case study from Rodna, Bistrița-Năsăud County. The methodology is based on the national energy performance calculation framework (Mc 001/2022), harmonized with Directive 2010/31/EU and aligned with the EN ISO 52016-1 framework, while maintaining compatibility with the quasi-steady-state methodology implemented in MC 001/2022, and includes the assessment of compliance with the “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) principle also. The integrated energy rehabilitation of the analyzed building led to reductions in final energy consumption of 30–45%, primary energy consumption of 40–45%, and operational CO₂ emissions of 45–50%. The integration of renewable energy sources increased their share to approximately 35% of the building’s energy mix. The estimated annual reduction of 40–45 tons of CO₂ highlights the direct climate impact of investments financed from European funds. The results confirm that European funding instruments function not only as financial mechanisms, but also as governance instruments capable of steering the transition towards a low-emission construction sector in vulnerable mountain regions. Full article

Approximately one quarter of the European Union’s (EU’s) CO₂ emissions originate from the transport sector, of which road transport, such as cars and heavy-duty vehicles, contributes roughly 72%. Moreover, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, 92% of cars in the EU are internal combustion engine vehicles powered by fossil fuels. Therefore, boosting the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) is considered one of the most prominent solutions for reducing GHG emissions and achieving the EU’s climate targets. To increase EV adoption and fulfil the demand of EV users, adequate EV Charging Stations (EVCSs) are required. Nevertheless, since most EVCSs are supplied by electricity grids that remain predominantly fossil fuel-based, their operation entails substantial indirect GHG emissions. A prominent approach to reducing grid-related emissions is integrating renewable energy sources (RESs) with EVCSs, thereby lowering emissions and alleviating grid stress. Although promising, the energy, economic, and environmental (3E) benefits of this integration remain insufficiently explored. Therefore, this study develops and applies a 3E optimisation framework to assess the feasibility and performance of RES-powered EVCS at NOVA University Lisbon (UNL). Data was collected from the UNL parking area, such as time of arrival, and time of departure. Also, a rule-based algorithm was developed to curate data and estimate the EVCS load profile. Furthermore, HOMER optimisation software was employed to evaluate four scenarios, including (i) an EVCS based on PV, Wind Turbine (WT), and the grid, (ii) an EVCS based on PV and the grid, (iii) an EVCS based on WT and the grid, and (iv) an EVCS based only on energy withdrawal from the grid (base scenario). Under the adopted techno-economic assumptions, in the most optimised scenario, economic and environmental analyses illustrate significant improvements over the base scenario: CO₂ emissions are five times lower, and cost of energy is significantly lower, resulting in significantly lower EV charging costs for users. The results demonstrate that, through developed feasibility studies, researchers, decision-makers, and stakeholders can reach better conclusions about EVCS planning and management. Full article

Energy security has become a strategic priority for ensuring sustainable economic development, particularly for European Union (EU) countries characterized by high external energy dependence. This study investigates the key drivers of energy security risks in selected EU countries over the period 1995–2018, focusing on economic growth, tourism expenditures, technological innovation, renewable energy consumption, and urbanization. The empirical analysis employs panel vector autoregression and a panel error correction model to examine short- and long-run causal dynamics, while the augmented mean group estimator captures cross-country heterogeneity. The findings indicate that economic growth is the primary short-run determinant of energy security risk, whereas all variables exert significant long-run effects. Country-level results reveal common patterns for growth, renewable energy consumption, and urbanization, but heterogeneous impacts for tourism and technological innovation. These results suggest that strengthening renewable energy adoption, promoting innovation, and supporting sustainable urban development can enhance long-term energy resilience. Overall, this study provides policy-relevant insights for designing sustainability-oriented energy strategies aligned with the European Union’s climate transition goals. Full article

Understanding the composition and amount of waste is crucial for the health and development of communities. Panic and the unpredictable situation of COVID-19 caused significant demands for food, which resulted in high pressure on food waste and waste management systems. To determine the change in waste composition in Northern Cyprus during the COVID-19 pandemic, questionnaires were prepared and distributed through the media and via email. This study found that household waste generation per capita was 0.91 kg with a 6% error when compared with a conventional waste composition study performed by the European Union in 2016. According to the results, the quantity of domestic waste decreased during the pandemic, while garden waste increased. Additionally, the results show that 27% of plastic waste came from cleaning purposes. As face mask usage and tea consumption increased during the pandemic, these materials were incorporated as additives into marble-dust-modified cement paste to develop sustainable construction composite. The mechanical performance of the proposed material was evaluated by measuring the flexural and compressive strengths of specimens cured for 7, 28, and 56 days. Eco-efficiency metrics derived directly from mechanical data provided strong environmental engineering insight. When assessed per unit of compressive function, cement intensity increased with mask dosage, indicating reduced binder efficiency despite batch-level cement savings. Furthermore, waste diversion per unit strength increased with mask content, but progressively larger compressive penalties accompanied this benefit. Within this trade-off, low to intermediate mask dosages offered the most validified balance between waste diversion and mechanical performance. Full article

In the European Union, decarbonization has progressed unevenly across sectors and member states. This study examines sectoral CO₂ trajectories in the EU-27 during 2000–2022 using a harmonized annual panel built primarily from the European Commission’s Energy Statistical Country Datasheets and complemented with EDGAR/JRC sectoral emissions data. The empirical strategy combines descriptive analysis with OLS, fixed-effects, log-linear, and exploratory difference-in-differences specifications to assess conditional associations among per capita CO₂ emissions, the renewable energy share, GDP per capita, and the carbon price. EU-wide CO₂ emissions declined by 26.4% over the study period, with the largest contraction in the energy sector, while transport emissions remained comparatively stable. Across specifications, renewable energy share is consistently associated with lower emissions, although its magnitude weakens after controlling for time-invariant country heterogeneity. Carbon price is negatively associated with emissions in the baseline and log-linear models. In contrast, the exploratory DiD interaction is not statistically informative in the main treatment specification and yields negligible effect sizes in regional split models. The sign reversal in GDP between the pooled and within-country models indicates that cross-country differences and within-country dynamics should not be treated as equivalent. Overall, the findings support a heterogeneous and multi-speed decarbonization pattern and suggest that carbon pricing is better understood as part of a broader policy mix rather than as a stand-alone causal driver. Full article

The accelerated growth of the digitalization process is making digital skills increasingly important in the global economy. The purpose of this research is to empirically assess the impact of digital skills on economic growth in the 27 European Union (EU) member states over the period 2017–2023. In this respect, to measure the concept of digital skills, we employed the following four indicators of the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI): internet usage, enterprises offering information and communication technologies (ICT) training to their employees, ICT specialists, and ICT graduates, while economic growth was proxied by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. In addition, to obtain a more nuanced analysis, we included a set of control variables likely to influence growth. In the first stage of the research, we apprised the effect and importance of each explanatory variable on the GDP per capita using the Bayesian model averaging (BMA), while in the second stage, we ran a two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM). Based on the results obtained from applying the BMA, ICT graduates, trade, the new EU countries, and the employed population are the main determinants of economic growth. In addition, the new EU countries and inflation have a negative impact on GDP per capita, and the post-COVID dummy exerts a predominantly negative effect and all remaining regressors boost the GDP per capita. Furthermore, the GMM estimations confirmed the outcomes obtained through BMA, which denotes that the research findings are robust to changes in the methodological framework and, hence, are reliable and valid. The results of this research indicate that ICT graduates and digital skills play a decisive role in driving economic growth in the EU member states, with ICT skills having a significant positive impact on GDP. Full article

This article analyses the rise of economic security as a new organising principle of European Union economic governance and examines the extent to which this concept is transforming the traditional model of European industrial and market policy. In the context of escalating geopolitical rivalry, the disruption of global supply chains, technological competition, and energy uncertainty, the EU is gradually shifting away from a purely regulatory approach based on market liberalisation and competition enforcement towards a more active and strategically oriented model of intervention. The study employs a qualitative political-economic research design, combining policy and document analysis with case studies of strategic sectors, including advanced technologies, critical raw materials, energy, and trade-investment instruments. The findings demonstrate that economic security is operationalised through coordinated investment, the support of domestic capacities, and the selective protection of strategic industries. This contributes to the mitigation of systemic risks, the strengthening of technological sovereignty, and the enhancement of supply chain resilience. However, these policies simultaneously create tensions between efficiency, fiscal sustainability, and the integrity of the Single Market. The article contributes to the political economy literature by conceptualising economic security as a hybrid model that merges market integration with strategic public coordination and evaluates its implications for the Union’s long-term competitiveness and economic development. Full article

Population aging is widely regarded as a major fiscal risk for European welfare states and a central challenge to long-term fiscal sustainability. The article critically reexamines the deterministic assumption by assessing whether the fiscal implications of demographic aging in the European Union (EU) are mechanically driven or conditioned by policy context and institutional capacity. Using panel data for the EU-27 over the period 2014–2024, the study employs a two-way fixed-effects framework and interaction models to examine the relationship between demographic aging and key fiscal outcomes, including public pension expenditures, total social protection spending, and the general government balance. Furthermore, the analysis examines whether indicators associated with the silver economy, such as employment at older ages and digital inclusion, condition the fiscal effects of aging within countries over time. The results suggest that demographic aging does not exhibit a statistically significant association with pension or social protection expenditures once institutional heterogeneity and common shocks are controlled. In contrast to deterministic expectations, aging is positively associated with general government balance, suggesting the presence of policy-mediated fiscal adjustment dynamics rather than automatic fiscal deterioration. Interaction estimates further indicate that digital inclusion among older cohorts conditions the relationship between demographic aging and fiscal balance, while silver economy indicators do not display robust standalone fiscal effects. These findings should be interpreted as evidence of policy-mediated adjustment dynamics rather than as causal estimates of demographic effects. Building on these findings, the article advances a conceptual interpretation of the aging–fiscal nexus in which demographic pressures interact with institutional adaptation and policy capacity. Fiscal sustainability under demographic aging emerges as a policy-mediated outcome that may reflect broader institutional and governance contexts, rather than demographic structure alone. While governance quality is not directly estimated as an observable variable, the analysis interprets fiscal outcomes within a governance-conditioned institutional framework that emphasizes policy mediation rather than deterministic demographic effects. The findings contribute to ongoing debates on fiscal sustainability in aging societies by demonstrating that fiscal outcomes in the European Union are best understood as institutionally conditioned and policy-mediated rather than mechanically driven by demographic structure alone. Full article

This paper examines income convergence in Europe by jointly analyzing European Union member states and Western Balkan economies over the period 2004–2023. While classical growth theory predicts that poorer economies should grow faster than richer ones, empirical evidence for Europe remains mixed, particularly when institutional and structural heterogeneity is taken into account. Using panel data techniques, the study tests for absolute and conditional β-convergence and complements this analysis with an assessment of σ-convergence. The results provide strong evidence of absolute income convergence across the sample, indicating that economies with lower initial income levels tend to grow faster. Conditional convergence is also confirmed, although the direct effect of institutional quality weakens once structural factors such as foreign direct investment and human capital are included, suggesting that institutions operate primarily through indirect channels. An interaction analysis shows no systematic evidence that institutional quality alters the speed of convergence. Finally, σ-convergence analysis reveals pronounced regional heterogeneity, with strong convergence among new EU member states, stable but low dispersion within the Western Balkans, and more modest convergence patterns in the EU core. Overall, the findings highlight that European convergence remains uneven and highly conditional on institutional and structural characteristics. Full article