scholarly journals Impact of the First Wave of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Promotion in the European Union: Results From a Policymaker Survey

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Peter Gelius ◽  
Antonina Tcymbal ◽  
Stephen Whiting ◽  
Sven Messing ◽  
Karim Abu-Omar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
The Eu

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge for societies and governments around the world that severely affects all aspects of health promotion. This study assesses the potential influence of the first wave of the pandemic on national physical activity promotion policy in the European Union (EU). Methods: Data were collected using an online survey among members of the EU Physical Activity Focal Point Network, which consists of government officials from all EU member states. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected physical activity promotion across the EU. In particular, experts indicated that it has negatively impacted opportunities for physical activity in their countries. There have, however, been positive effects of the crisis on public awareness of physical activity. While almost all countries were able to issue physical activity recommendations during quarantine, opinions varied regarding the overall impact of the pandemic on governmental capacities for physical activity promotion and policy. Conclusions: This study shows that the COVID-19 crisis has had both negative and positive effects on physical activity promotion in the EU. The positive experiences reported by some members of the Focal Point Network may assist other countries in identifying potential policy windows and strategies for the ongoing pandemic.

scholarly journals Testing the Youth Physical Activity Promotion Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic, with Partial Least Squares Second-Order Latent Constructs

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6398
Author(s):  
Elena Druică ◽  
Rodica Ianole-Călin ◽  
Monica Sakizlian ◽  
Daniela Aducovschi ◽  
Remus Dumitrescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Second Order ◽  
Latent Constructs ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Youth Physical Activity ◽  
Mediating Mechanisms

We tested the Youth Physical Activity Promotion (YPAP) framework on Romanian students in order to identify actionable determinants to support participation in physical activity. Our sample consisted of 665 responses to an online survey, with participants aged 18–23 (mean = 19 years); 70% were women. We used the partial least squares algorithm to estimate the relationships between students’ behavior and possible predictors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results indicate that all the theoretical dimensions of YPAP (predisposing, enabling and reinforcing) have a positive and significant impact on physical activity, with two mediating mechanisms expressed as predisposing factors: able and worth. Unlike previous research, we used second-order latent constructs, unveiling a particular structure for the enabling dimension that only includes sport competence, fitness and skills, but not the environmental factors.

scholarly journals Competition Law and State Aid for Failing Banks in the EU and its Specific Implications for CEE Member States

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (14) ◽  
pp. 145-157
Author(s):  
Virág Blazsek
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
State Aid ◽  
Common Market ◽  
Competition Authority ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Bank Bailouts ◽  
The Eu

The bank bailouts following the global financial crisis of 2008 have been subject to prior approval of the European Commission (EC), the competition authority of the European Union. The EC was reluctant to reject rescue efforts directed at failing banks and so it consistently approved all such requests submitted by Member States. Out of the top twenty European banks, the EC authorized State aid to at least twelve entities. In this context, the paper outlines the gradually changing interpretation of EU State aid rules, the “temporary and extraordinary rules” introduced starting from late 2008, and the extension of the “no-State aid” category. The above shifts show that the EC itself deflected from relevant EU laws in order to systemically rescue important banks in Europe and restore their financial stability. The paper argues that bank bailouts and bank rescue packages by the State have led to different effects on market structures and consumer welfare in the Eurozone and non-Eurozone areas, mostly the Eastern segments of the European Union. As such, it is argued that they are inconsistent with the European common market. Although the EC tried to minimize the distortion of competition created as a result of the aforementioned case law primarily through the application of the principle of exceptionality and different compensation measures, these efforts have been at least partially unsuccessful. Massive State aid packages, the preferential treatment of the largest, or systemically important, banks through EU State aid mechanisms – almost none of which are Central and Eastern European (CEE) – may have led to the distortion of competition on the common market. That is so mainly because of the prioritization of the stability of the financial sector and the Euro. The paper argues that State aid for failing banks may have had important positive effects in the short run, such as the promotion of the stability of the banking system and the Euro. In the longrun however, it has contributed to the unprecedented sovereign indebtedness in Europe, and contributed to an increased economic and political instability of the EU, particularly in its most vulnerable CEE segment.

Crisis and European Union: Political Aspects

2012 ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
N. Arbatova
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Systemic Crisis ◽  
World Economic ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Economic And Financial Crisis

The focal point of the article is the future of the European Union that has been challenged by the deepest systemic crisis in its history. The world economic and financial crisis became merely a catalyst for those problems that had existed earlier and had not been addressed properly by the EU leadership. The author argues that the EU crisis can be overcome only by new common efforts of its member-states and new integrationist projects.

scholarly journals Policy, trade, economic, and technological aspects of improving nutrient intake and lifestyles in the European Union

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2a) ◽  
pp. 325-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Hautvast ◽  
Ibrahim Elmadfa ◽  
Mike Rayner
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
European Community ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Public ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Nutrition Committee ◽  
The Eu

Summary of recommendations1.A new Nutrition Committee for the European Union1.1 A new Nutrition Committee for the European Union, should be created to give independent scientific and policy advice on nutrition, diets and physical activity to the Commission. This should be supported by a strengthened Nutritional Unit within the Commission.2.Policy development2.1 There needs to be a comprehensive and coherent nutritional policy for the EU2.2 The development of European dietary goals should continue after the completion of the Eurodiet Project.2.3 The European Commission should revise its Recommended Daily Allowances for vitamins and minerals using a systematic, evidence-based approach. Recommended Daily Allowances should be set at a level which would prevent deficiencies and lower the risk of disease.2.4 The European Commission should produce, preferably every four years, a report on the state of nutrition, diet and physical activity in the EU. This report should contain proposals for action3.Components of a nutrition policyEducation3.1 The European Commission should not be involved in the direct delivery of lifestyle advice to the public.3.2 The European Commission should continue to support networks whose members are involved in educating the public and in training professionals about nutrition, diets and physical activity.Research3.3 European Community funding of health-related research should better reflect the Community's public health priorities.3.4 The European Community should ear-mark funds for large, multi-centre studies into nutrition, diet and physical activity with a duration of up to 10 years.Consumer protectionFood labelling3.5 The European Commission should draw up proposals for the regulation of health claims.3.6 The European Community should agree rules for the use of nutrition claims along the lines agreed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.3.7 The European Commission should review the 1990 Nutrition Labelling Directive particularly with a view to making nutrition labelling more comprehensible and it should encourage the development of other ways of providing consumers with information about the nutrient content of foods though, for example, the Internet.Food composition3.8 The European Commission should review the Novel Food Regulations, particularly with a view to ensuring that the nutritional consequences of consuming novel foods are better assessed and to making approval procedures more efficient.3.9 European Community rules on food fortification and on food supplements should be harmonised but in such a way that the interests of consumers are paramount.Agriculture policy3.10 The Common Agriculture Policy should be subject to a regular and systematic health impact assessment.3.11 Given that there are subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy designed to increase consumption of surplus food, these should be directed towards promoting the consumption of foods for which there is strong evidence of a need for increased consumption in the EU for health reasons.Special issuesFruit and vegetable consumption3.12 The promotion of increased fruit and vegetable consumption across the EU should be a key aspect of the European Union's proposed nutrition policy.Breast feeding3.13 The European Union should review its policy on breast feeding including assessing and, if necessary, improving its legislation on breast milk substitutes and maternity leave.Physical Activity3.14 The European Union should have a policy for promoting physical activity in Europe. This should be part of, or at least closely integrated with, the European Union's proposed nutritional policy.

scholarly journals BREXIT IMPACT ON THE EU’S CLIMATE DIPLOMACY

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-61
Author(s):  
William Sulisyo ◽  
Hendhia ◽  
Ivonne ◽  
Ellica ◽  
Andhika Raflie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
European Union ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Leading Position ◽  
Economic Union ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states. Britain is one of the leading members of the EU. The UK decided to leave the European Union. The EU struggled with the project that was being worked on called Climate Diplomacy. EU and its member states are part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The EU has built a significant and potentially a leading position in global governance on climate. Brexit is only one factor that could change the dynamics of its role. In this case, The EU has a negative impact as well as positive impacts due to Brexit. It turns out that the negative implications are more dominant than positive effects. European Union will lose the financial contribution made by the UK to the EU budget.   Keywords: European Union, UK, Brexit, Climate Diplomacy.

scholarly journals Germany and the European Union After the Epoch of Chancellor Angela Merkel

2021 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 43-55
Author(s):  
V. Vasil'ev
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
World Order ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Angela Merkel ◽  
The Russian Federation ◽  
The Eu

The article is devoted to the analysis of the political legacy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and in what way the new German government might possibly use it dealing with the transformation of the country and modernization of the European Union. The new political coalition with possible participation of the Green Party will preserve the continuity of the German foreign policy course for strengthening the European Union, deepening the transatlantic partnership, for active cooperation between Berlin and Paris, as well as for inclusion of Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic area. The European sovereignty is the main focal point in Berlin. The Conference on the Future of Europe examines it, as well as other evolution issues. The updated legal framework of the EU, feasible strengthening of the European Parliament positions could help transform the European Union into a weighty actor in the polycentric world. Only powerful, relatively sovereign EU is able to secure the “European way of life”. Judgments about the disintegration of the European Union are far from reality. The EU margin of safety and resistance are quite impressive, primarily due to the economic potential of Germany. However, it is really difficult to predict how the European Union will get out of the crisis caused by Covid 19. American concessions to the Germans on the Nord Stream 2 project mean Biden’s serious attitude towards Merkel and Germany – the leader in the EU and one of the important NATO allies. The conditions for Russia’s return to the “European club”, for example, through the revival of M. Gorbachev’s new political thinking in Moscow, indicate rather an illusory desire. There is another, more pragmatic approach. The single European cultural and historical matrix of Greater Europe, communication between the leaders of the Russian Federation, Germany, France and the USA, the economic foundation of contacts, as well as mutual sympathies between Russians, Germans, Europeans give reason to hope for a turn for the better. The chances of a unification agenda remain. Perhaps, it will be used by future generations of politicians, experts of the Russian Federation and the Federal Republic of Germany without preconditions, on the basis of reasonable compromises. Acknowledgements. The article was prepared within the project “Post-Crisis World Order: Challenges and Technologies, Competition and Cooperation” supported by the grant from Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation program for research projects in priority areas of scientific and technological development (Agreement 075-15-2020-783).

Promoting the Transition to Non-Lead Hunting Ammunition in the European Union Through Regulation and Policy Options

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Vernon G. Thomas ◽  
Niels Kanstrup ◽  
Deborah J. Pain
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Lead Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Wild Game ◽  
Lead Ammunition ◽  
Game Birds ◽  
Monitoring And Enforcement ◽  
Hunting Ammunition ◽  
The Eu

Regulation (EU) 2021/57, banning the use of lead gunshot in wetland hunting, and adoption of the proposed European Union (EU) restriction on lead ammunition use by civilians in other types of hunting and target shooting, would complete the transition to non-lead ammunition use in the EU and ensure major compliance among hunters and shooters. The transition is possible since non-lead substitutes for all types of shotgun and rifle ammunition are produced already by leading European manufacturers. To ensure ammunition non-toxicity, EU standards are needed for lead substitutes to accompany both existing and potential future lead ammunition restrictions. Meat from wild game birds and mammals is a large and important commodity in the EU. Setting a maximum lead level in all marketed game meats under Regulation (EC) 1881/2006, aided by mandatory food labelling, would add extra health protection to human consumers. This regulatory step would help ensure that all wild game destined for retail markets were taken with non-lead ammunition, would complement existing and proposed European Commission restrictions on lead hunting ammunition and aid monitoring and enforcement. Increased public awareness of the risks posed by lead from ammunition to the health of humans, wildlife, and the environment, and especially their associated externalized costs to society, would promote and facilitate the passage of regulation to protect human and environmental health from toxic lead ammunition.

scholarly journals Romania’s Tourism - Effects of the Accession

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela SIMTION ◽  
Roxana LUCA
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Geographical Position ◽  
The Impact ◽  
International Financing ◽  
Hardware Industry ◽  
The Eu

Romania’s accession to the European Union produced a number of effects on local economy, both positive and negative. Market specialists say that the positive effects of the accession are felt by improved services, improved healthcare and improved education or by creating efficient markets. The first areas that have felt the impact of the EU accession are: leasing, SMEs, telephony, internet, hardware industry, software industry etc. In contrast, there are areas that feel the effects after a longer period, and here enters the capital market, banking industry, tourism or HR industry (hotels and restaurants) and agriculture. While top areas in terms of performance, feel the positive effects of accession in the short term, certain sectors of the economy disappear or restrict their activity. Tourism and transport are areas that benefit from the accession, the main advantages, which Romania counts as attractive, in competition with other traditional destinations of the world, are: geographical position in Europe, accessibility by air links with most capitals and cultural tourism so fascinating for foreigners. The accession also brings an increase of professionalism of the services offered by hotel operators. In particular, the effects of our country's integration into the European Union touch many aspects of which are noted:increased competition, resulting in improved tourism offer; access to international financing; rebuilding infrastructure; increase of tourism traffic to and from our country.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL FUNDING IN BULGARIA

2020 ◽  
pp. 95-101
Author(s):  
Ognyan Stoichkova
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Common ◽  
Programming Period ◽  
The Eu

The article deals with the issues related to financing of agricultural industry in Bulgaria from the EU funds and programs. The outcomes of European support under the first and second pillars of the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union, in which Bulgaria has been participating since 2007, are analyzed. Besides, the positive effects on Bulgaria’s agriculture as well as the problems facing the agricultural sector in the new programming period are highlighted.

scholarly journals Question of Participation

Eureka ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aryan Azmi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
University Students ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
School Health ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Counseling ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Activity Promotion

Background. Recent studies indicate that physical activity levels among Ontario university students are about 35% to 42%. Furthermore, there is a sparsity of evidence on effective interventions to support increased physical activity among university students. The current study uses the Comprehensive School Health (CSH) framework for the analysis of current physical activity interventions at York University and provides four observations of an effective program. Methods. 249 York University undergraduate students (n = 153 women, n = 96 men) ages 18 – 42 (M = 19.92 years, SD = 2.99 for men; M = 19.96 years, SD = 2.61 for women) were recruited from the school of Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Participants were measured for their physical activity status and physical activity factors pertaining to the CSH framework via an online survey. Results. 67.9% of the participants were considered physically active, and 80.3% declared they would not “travel to the university only to engage in physical activity”. Additionally, 74.7% of the participants reported that they believed that they had enough information regarding physical activity, with 44.2% having been exposed to signs and posters about physical activity on campus. 49.4% of participants reported engaging in the school’s mandatory practicums (PKINs) with a resulting 125 minutes of average weekly physical activity. 16.9% of participants reported having received physical activity counseling and 83.1% did not. Conclusions. Based on the results of this study, an effective intervention to support increased physical activity among university students, in the case of York University, was one that fit well with the students’ academic schedule, did not rely on signs or posters for physical activity promotion, integrated itself into the curriculum, and would benefit from incorporating partnerships with healthcare professionals.

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