scholarly journals Estimation of cancers caused by light to moderate alcohol consumption in the European Union

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pol Rovira ◽  
Jürgen Rehm
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Public Information ◽  
World Health ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Standard Drink ◽  
Moderate Drinking ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Background Research has identified alcohol to be an important risk factor for several types of cancers. This study estimates the number of incident cancers attributable to alcohol consumption in the European Union (EU) in 2017, with a special focus on those caused by light to moderate drinking levels. Methods The attributable-fraction methodology is used to estimate the number of new cancer cases in the year 2017 in the EU caused by alcohol use, and further examines those due to light to moderate drinking levels, defined here as alcohol consumption of <20 g of pure alcohol per day. Results Light to moderate drinking levels of alcohol caused almost 23 000 new cancer cases in the EU in 2017, and accounted for 13.3% of all alcohol-attributable cancers, and 2.3% of all cases of the seven alcohol-related cancer types. Almost half of these (∼11 000 cases) were female breast cancers. Also, more than a third of the cancer cases due to light to moderate drinking resulted from a light drinking level of <1 standard drink per day (total: 37%; women: 40%; men: 32%). Conclusions Alcohol use, including light to moderate drinking, continues to cause considerable cancer burden, and efforts should be made to reduce this burden. In addition to the alcohol control policies suggested by the World Health Organization, public information campaigns and the placement of warning labels on alcohol containers advising of the cancer risk associated with alcohol use should be initiated to increase knowledge about the alcohol-cancer link.

scholarly journals Exploring cross-border cooperation in Eastern Europe: What kind of initiatives have developed in the Romanian-Hungarian border area?

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-43
Author(s):  
Elena Grad-Rusu
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Living Standards ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Border Area ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
Cross Border Cooperation ◽  
The Eu

Since the beginning, the European Union has believed and promoted the idea that an increase in cross-border cooperation contributes to enhanced European integration. This means that cross-border cooperation supports sustainable development along the EU’s internal and external borders, helps reduce differences in living standards and addresses common challenges across these borders. The aim of this paper is to examine the cross-border initiatives between Romania and Hungary with a special focus on the INTERREG projects, which have provided new sources of funding for cross-border activities and regional development in the RomanianHungarian border area. In this context, the cooperation has intensified in the last two decades, especially since Romania joined the EU in 2007. The research proves that cross-border projects and initiatives represent an important source of funding for this type of intervention, when no similar funding sources are available.

scholarly journals SOLIDARITY CHECK IN TIMES OF COVID-19. ANALYSIS OF THE EU APPROACH TOWARDS ITS CLOSEST NEIGHBOURS WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON MONTENEGRO

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Đurić ◽  
Bojana Lalatović
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Western Balkans ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Member States ◽  
Balkan Countries ◽  
The Eu

Solidarity as one of the cornerstone values of the European Union has been once again seated on the red chair and intensively discussed within the European Union and broader. After the economic recession and migrant crisis that marked the last two decades, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has once again harshly tested the fundamental objectives and values of the European Union and the responsiveness and effectiveness of its governance system on many fronts. In April, 2020 several EU Member States were among the worst affected countries worldwide and this situation soon became similar in their closest neighbourhood. It put a huge pressure on the EU to act faster, while at the same time placing this sui generis community to the test that led to revealing its strengths and weaknesses. As it happened in the previous crises, the Union launched policies and various programmes that were meant to lessen the burden of the Member States and aspiring countries caused by the crises. The objectives of the mentioned soft law instruments that the EU adopted during the COVID-19 crisis has been not only to show that EU law is equipped to react to health and economic crises rapidly but to deliver its support in terms of solidarity to its Member States and its closest neighbours facing the unprecedented health and economic crisis. This article will explore the value and implication of the solidarity principle in times of Covid-19 in its various manifestations. A special focus will be on the financial and material aspects of the EU instruments created to combat the negative consequences of the pandemic and their further impact on shaping the solidarity principle within the EU system. While examining the character and types of these mechanisms a special focus will be placed on those available to Western Balkan countries, whereas Montenegro as the “fast runner” in the EU integration process will be taken as a case study for the purpose of more detailed analyses. One of the major conclusions of the paper will be that although the speed of the EU reactions due to highly complex structure of decision making was not always satisfying for all the actors concerned, the EU once again has shown that it is reliable and that it treats the Western Balkan countries as privileged partners all for the sake of ending pandemic and launching the socio-economic recovery of the Western Balkans. Analytical and comparative methods will be dominantly relied upon throughout the paper. This will allow the authors to draw the main conclusions of the paper and assess the degree of solidarity as well as the effectiveness of the existing EU instruments that are available to Montenegro and aimed at diminishing negative consequences of the crisis.

The Practices of ‘Splitting’ and ‘Common Accord’ Under Scrutiny: the European Parliament‘s Request for an Opinion of the European Court of Justice on the Istanbul Convention

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-486
Author(s):  
Elizaveta Samoilova
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
European Court ◽  
Forms Of Violence ◽  
Istanbul Convention ◽  
The Eu

Abstract With all eyes on the recent global COVID-19 pandemic, another pandemic has been growing in the shadows: violence against women. The Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention creates a legal framework in order to protect women against all forms of violence. Its ratification process, however, has faced considerable challenges, particularly in the Central and Eastern European Member States. This article discusses the basic elements of the Istanbul Convention, reflects on the ratification process in the EU and its Member States, and sets out the main legal issues raised in the European Parliament’s request for an opinion (A-1/19 of 22 November 2019) to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Special focus is put on the choice of the correct EU legal basis and the practices of ‘splitting’ and ‘common accord’. This article argues that the European Parliament’s request for an opinion provides the perfect opportunity for the Court of Justice of the European Union to further clarify the law and the practice of concluding mixed agreements by the EU and its Member States.

On-going evaluation of the WFD 2000/60/EC implementation process in the European Union, seven years after its launch: are we behind schedule?

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kanakoudis ◽  
S. Tsitsifli
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Implementation Process ◽  
Considerable Progress ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Water Legislation ◽  
The Eu

Although the European Union (EU) has made some considerable progress regarding protection of water resources (tackling significant problems at national and at EU level), increased efforts are still needed to get and keep its waters clean. After 30 years of developing EU water legislation, all the involved stakeholders express this demand. In 2000, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, establishing a framework for Community actions regarding protection of water resources, was adopted. Its implementation is now well underway, as most of the EU-Member States have fulfilled their current obligations of submitting their reports. An on-going evaluation of the WFD implementation process is attempted here, based on all available data seven years after its launch. Special focus is given to Greece regarding problems that have occurred.

scholarly journals An Assessment of Coherence Between Early Warning and Response Systems and Serious Cross-Border Health Threats in the European Union and Turkey

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 883-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perihan Elif Ekmekci
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
European Union ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Response Planning ◽  
Health Threats ◽  
Response Systems ◽  
The Eu

AbstractDisease outbreaks have attracted the attention of the public health community to early warning and response systems (EWRS) for communicable diseases and other cross-border threats to health. The European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have published regulations in this area. Decision 1082/2013/EU brought a new approach the management of public health threats in EU member states. Decision 1082/2013/EU brought several innovations, which included establishing a Health Security Committee; preparedness and response planning; joint procurement of medical countermeasures; ad hoc monitoring for biological, chemical, and environmental threats; EWRS; and recognition of an emergency situation and interoperability between various sectors. Turkey, as an acceding country to the EU and a member of the WHO, has been improving its national public health system to meet EU legislations and WHO standards. This article first explains EWRS as defined in Decision 1082/2013/EU and Turkey’s obligations to align its public health laws to the EU acquis. EWRS in Turkey are addressed, particularly their coherence with EU policies regarding preparedness and response, alert notification, and interoperability between health and other sectors. Finally, the challenges and limitations of the current Turkish system are discussed and further improvements are suggested. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:883–892)

Wieloletnie ramy finansowe na lata 2014–2020. Wyzwanie dla Europy

2014 ◽  
pp. 82-101
Author(s):  
Marcin R. Czubala
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Euro Area ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Member States ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Financial Framework ◽  
The Eu

The negotiations in the Council of the European Union and the draft budget for 2014–2020 approved by all of the Member States have shown a significant impact of the negative effects of the crisis and instability in the euro area on the next Multiannual Financial Framework of the European Union. Therefore, in the context of the current political situation in Europe and because of the stated factors, the aim of this article is to conduct an in-depth analysis of the above-mentioned negotiations, to attempt to assess the approved budget, as well as to present the conclusions of these inquiries. The main stages of the development of the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014–2020 negotiations constitute the basis of the considerations, with a special focus on the two tracks of determining the draft budget in the Council of the European Union. The author also analysed the positions of the Community actors involved in the negotiations: the European Commission, the Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Member States, and the European Parliament. Finally, an attempt to assess the approved project was made. The choice of analysed issues has been made on the premise of significance, while an attempt of evaluation was based on the criteria of legitimacy and efficiency.

scholarly journals The potential contribution of increased vegetable and fruit consumption to health gain in the European Union

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 893-901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Joffe ◽  
Aileen Robertson
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Health Gain ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Fruit Consumption ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Eu

AbstractBackground:The risk of many important diseases can be reduced by consuming a diet rich in vegetables and fruit. For this reason the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily intake of more than 400 g person−1. The pattern of both the supply and intake of vegetables and fruit and the potential health gain achieved by increasing intake in the European Union (EU) and three accession countries are presented in this paper.Methods:Patterns of supply and dietary intake were assessed using (1) FAO food balance sheets, which allow comparison between the levels of supply in countries but do not reflect actual intake; and (2) survey data reflecting dietary intake. Using WHO mortality data for coronary heart and cerebrovascular disease and major cancers up to age 65 years, the number of preventable deaths is estimated, assuming vegetable and fruit consumption were levelled up to that of the highest consuming group, and assuming relative risks of 0.5, 0.7 or 0.9.Results:Vegetable and fruit consumption varies considerably between EU Member States. The populations of about half (seven) of the EU Member States have a mean daily intake of less than 275 g. Using the best current estimates of relative risk, over 26,000 deaths before the age of 65 years would be prevented annually in the EU if intake was levelled up to the highest consumption levels (and about double this number of deaths before the age of 75 years).Conclusion:Increasing the intake of vegetables and fruit is feasible and could result in considerable improvements in public health within the EU. Priority should be given to developing methods that demonstrate the burden of disease caused by too low intakes of vegetables and fruit. This would enable the appropriate social, cultural and economic policies to be developed within the EU.

The smuggling of alcholic beverages into finland in the 1990s

1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 290-303
Author(s):  
Esa Österberg ◽  
Kari Haavisto
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
The Other ◽  
Alcoholic Beverages ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Pure Alcohol ◽  
The One ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Interview Studies ◽  
The Eu

This article looks at the quantities of alcohol smuggled into Finland in the mid-1990s and at changes in the smuggling of alcoholic beverages, both in quality and quantity, since the 1980s. Estimates of the extent of smuggling can be based on various sources. This article makes use of two types of information. On the one hand, it employs interview material where the interviewees have been asked about their possible purchase and use of smuggled alcoholic beverages, and about their attitudes towards smuggling. On the other hand, it draws on existing official statistics and registers, mainly data on alcohol seized by customs and on unlawful import or export. According to drinking habit surveys conducted in 1968-1992, self-reported purchases of smuggled alcohol remained at less than 100,000 litres of pure alcohol per annum. Seizures by customs totalled less than 5,000 litres of 100 % alcohol. However, this article clearly illustrates that the smuggling of alcoholic beverages has reached significant proportions since Finland joined the European Union in 1995. Based on two different interview studies conducted in 1996, and taking into account the possibility of hiding and cover-ups, our assumption is that the amount of smuggled alcohol (all kinds included) in 1996 totalled approximately one million litres, that is, nearly 2 % of the official alcohol consumption in the country. In 1995 customs seized 183,600 litres of alcohol; the figure in 1996 was 85,000. In 1995, most smuggled alcohol came to Finland in containers or trucks from the EU internal market. After new regulations were issued in 1996, there was a marked shift in smuggling preferences to transports from Estonia and Russia. The alcohol was smuggled into the country either hidden in vehicle structures or among the cargo.

scholarly journals Senior Citizens and the European Union. A Romanian Perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Georgiana Udrea ◽  
Laura Andreea Ticoiu
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
National Level ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Future Developments ◽  
The Future ◽  
Present Context ◽  
General Goal ◽  
The Eu

The general goal of this paper is to study senior Romanian citizens’ EU attitudes after ten years of European membership, with a special focus on the unsolved tension between the instrumental and symbolic perspectives. By looking at the present context, the purpose of this research is to assess the challenges and transformations of the EU-related opinions and support of traditional euro-enthusiastic citizens in times of vulnerability and struggling economies. Equally, the paper favours a future-oriented view, and puts under scrutiny people’s expectations and evaluations of the future developments of the EU and their consequences at personal, national and supra-national level.

scholarly journals Homogenisation in alcohol consumption in the European Union

2001 ◽  
Vol 18 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 15-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Håkan Leifman
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Drastic Reduction ◽  
Total Consumption ◽  
Member States ◽  
Wine Consumption ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Politics And Culture ◽  
The Eu

Håkan Leifman: Homogenisation in alcohol consumption in the European Union This article examines the trends in aggregate alcohol consumption in 15 European countries (14 European Union or EU member states and Norway) from 1950 to 1995. One of the aims is to outline the general trends in total consumption and beverage preferences, focusing on the dispersion over time between all the countries involved, another to look more closely behind these trends and to analyse the development for different groups of countries. Evidence points to a clear homogenisation for the whole study period in qualitative terms, that is, in beverage preferences. In terms of quantity, the homogenisation of the last 15–20 years is less distinct and can be explained mainly by a drastic reduction in wine consumption in the Mediterranean wine-drinking countries. As to the remaining countries (beer and former spirits-drinking countries), there has not been any quantitative homogenisation from the mid-1970s onwards. The results are discussed in the light of the on-going globalisation of economy, politics and culture, not least between the EU member states.

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