Academic literature on the topic 'EU integration principle'

The article is devoted to the study of the principles of law that determine the fundamentals of the EU functioning. The concepts of general principles of law, international principles of law as well as principles of EU law are distinguished. The principles of EU law are classified into international, democratic, economic, organizational, functional, sectoral. The study of the principles of EU law is important for Ukrainian science in the context of Ukraine's integration into the EU. The results of the research will help the judiciary to integrate the principles of EU law into its case law. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine and the Supreme Court will play an important role in the integration of EU law into the national legal order. The following definition of the concept is proposed: the principles of EU law are the fundamental ideological principles of the EU legal system, which determine legal status of the EU as a subject of law and international relations; legal status of EU citizens; basic principles of organization and functioning of the EU; areas, limits and mechanisms for exercising the powers of the EU institutions; principles of legal regulation in the areas that fall within the competence of the EU. The principle of conferral is singled out as a fundamental functional principle from which other principles of EU law originate, namely: the principle of coherence of policies and actions; the principle of open EU cooperation with Member States; the principle of subsidiarity; the principle of proportionality; the principle of open cooperation between EU institutions; the principle of institutional balance. Their relationship and the mandatory nature of compliance are established. The operation of any of the institutions contrary to the principle of conferral or any of the principles named is a ground for appealing against such actions before the Court of Justice. According to Article 263 TFEU, the Court of Justice has the jurisdiction to review the legality of legislative acts, decisions or actions of the European Council, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, as well as bodies, offices and agencies intended to produce legal effects vis-à-vis third parties. The content of the functional principles of EU law is revealed and the order of their application by the Court of Justice of the EU is analyzed on the example of one of the decisions. The classification of principles of EU law on a source of their placement is offered. In the system of principles of EU law should also be distinguished: 1) the principles of law that follow from the provisions of international law (the principle of peaceful cooperation and the principles of the UN Charter); 2) the principles of law derived from the principles of market economy and social policy (the principle of economic, social, territorial unity of the Member States and solidarity between them); 3) the principles of law derived from democratic principles (principle of respect for human dignity, freedom, representative democracy, equality, rule of law, respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities). Therefore, in a general sense, the system of principles of EU law includes: international principles of law, general (democratic principles of law, economic principles, principles of EU law) (organizational, functional, sectoral). KEYWORDS Key words: general principles of law, principles of EU law, EU Court of Justice, the principle conferral, EU goals

In the coming years, the number of tourist trips from and within the European Union can be expected to grow, as a result of ongoing integration processes, and also because it is becoming simpler and cheaper to travel. According to the WTO, tourism will grow at a moderate rate of four per cent annually in average, and by 2020 the number of tourist arrivals worldwide will reach 1.6 billion, of which 717 million tourist arrivals will be to Europe. Out of this number, more than half a million will be to present-day EU countries. Given the EU’s continuing enlargement, clearly this number will continue to increase, and with it the global importance of the EU. The EU’s tourist policy in the years to come will increasingly become better, more imaginative and more efficient. Regardless of the unchanging subsidiary principle, this policy will continue to develop, gradually adapting to new opportunities. The principles of the sector tourist policy are already being carried out in practice by all EU members, and any country aspiring to become a part this association will not only need to incorporate these principles, but respect them as well. Croatia is one of the countries which has embraced this orientation in tourism and it is aiming to address this “European challenge” at the level of market relations, taking efforts to avoid the pitfalls and threats of tourism marginalisation, given the harsh competition and protectionist measures existing within the EU.

All Western Balkan countries currently holding the EU Candidate Country status, namely, Albania, Montenegro, FYROM, Serbia, and hopefully in the near future Kosovo, are in a critical stage of the EU integration. From their institutions are required serious reforms, and some of these reforms are necessary for almost all the of above countries. The focus of this paper is Albania. After the approval of the EU Candidate Country status, each branch of the Albanian government is now facing new legal challenges. However, at this stage, particularly after the vetting process, the central role passes to the judiciary, which should and could turn into a real “engine” of the EU integration. The new role of the Albanian judiciary for the EU integration should primary be understood and recognized by judges themselves, as well as academics and the public. Judges in particular, should know what instruments are available there, in order to best perform their new task. This paper initially aims to clarify the new role of the Albanian judiciary, as the “engine” of the EU integration, in order to raise awareness not just to judges, but also to academics and the public. Then, it will present what practical instruments can and must be used by the Albanian judiciary in order to best achieve the required EU integration. Examples of such instruments are: the preliminary ruling; principle of supremacy; principle of direct effect; principle of indirect effect; and most importantly, EU remedies in national courts. The paper will analyze each of these instruments and will display precisely how Albanian courts can use them in favor of their citizens, and for achieving higher EU integration. In conclusion, the article suggests that although significant constitutional and legal reforms are needed, the existing constitutional and legal framework of Albania allows the judiciary to perform its new role as the “engine” of the EU integration.

Abstract On 25 March 2017, the European Union celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, which established ‘an ever-closer union’ as a fundamental principle for European regional integration. Only four days later, the United Kingdom delivered an official letter triggering its withdrawal process from the Community. How could we comprehend Brexit integrative and disintegrative dynamics to the EU? The UK’s decision to leave the EU alongside recent crises in the Community and the spread of Eurosceptic movements fostered studies about disintegration dynamics. This article presents the current debate about differentiated (dis)integration based on up-to-date related literature. Next, it proposes a framework to assess the recent shifts in the UK-EU relationship and its contradictory effects on the EU project. The main argument of the paper is that the UK’s relationship with the European Union moved from an internal differentiated integration to a proposal of internal differentiated disintegration and, thereafter, to a process of external differentiated disintegration. Moreover, although Brexit means disintegration by one Member State, its effects on the EU project are mixed, initially promoting an integrative boom among the EU27 members, while at the same time neglecting disintegrating forces that could undermine the traditional European integration model.

We live in the Europe Union (EU) in a context of relations between legal systems of different levels. Therefore the positions of EU New Member States Constitutional or Supreme Courts are analysed in the paper with the use of the multilevel constitutionalism theoretical approach and focus on changes introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, that opened a new constitutional horizon in the EU integration process. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) defined relations between EU law and national law thanks to the primacy principle of EU law. Nevertheless the EU law's formal authority does not depend exclusively on ECJ position. It is conditioned largely by characteristics of each national legal system and national supreme or constitutional court case law. In fact, in most of EU Member States, certain constitutional reserves or constitutional limits to the primacy of EU law in the constitutional and supreme court case law with regard to (constitutional) fundamental rights and principles, can be found. The paper analyses the origin and development of those limits in the case law doctrine of Constitutional Courts in two old and three new EU Member States and concludes with the identification of the consequences and perspectives of EU integration with regard to the coherent protection of fundamental (constitutional) rights and principles across the EU. (original abstract)

AbstractThe principle of consistency has a prominent place in EU law. In the Treaty of Lisbon, it constitutes an umbrella under which a number of legal principles of EU law follow as corollaries. Consistency manifests itself within both horizontal and vertical levels of governance. This chapter will unpack this principle and will focus on the broader implications of consistency for the division of powers in EU law. In doing so, the authors aim to discuss the rise of consistency in EU law and decrypt its various constitutional expressions in order to determine its scope of application. Two notions of consistency are presented: a formal one that appears in the Treaty of Lisbon and a strategic one, prominent in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). It is argued that consistency is relevant to both traditional (integrationist) and alternative (differentiated) routes to European integration. The chapter concludes by discussing whether the undefined nature of ‘consistency’ puts it at risk of becoming an empty vessel.

Abstract The principle of consistency has a prominent place in EU law. In the Treaty of Lisbon, it constitutes an umbrella under which a number of legal principles of EU law follow as corollaries. Consistency manifests itself within both horizontal and vertical levels of governance. This chapter will unpack this principle and will focus on the broader implications of consistency for the division of powers in EU law. In doing so, the authors aim to discuss the rise of consistency in EU law and decrypt its various constitutional expressions in order to determine its scope of application. Two notions of consistency are presented: a formal one that appears in the Treaty of Lisbon and a strategic one, prominent in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). It is argued that consistency is relevant to both traditional (integrationist) and alternative (differentiated) routes to European integration. The chapter concludes by discussing whether the undefined nature of ‘consistency’ puts it at risk of becoming an empty vessel.

Corporate tax law has been closely related to the principle of freedom of establishment. Because European Union (EU) Member States have declined to resign sovereignty in the field of direct taxation, harmonization progress in corporate taxation in the EU has been slow. Although EU treaties, regulations, and directives are all measures of positive integration, case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) declaring national tax measures incompatible with primary EU law is that of negative integration. This paper discusses the corporation tax field and its' many important decisions within the principle of freedom of establishment and what affects these decisions have on Member States' corporate tax law. This article demonstrates Turkey's significant efforts to fulfil requested accession criteria concerning economic and tax legislation with the EU in light of CJEU's case law.

This paper discusses the distinctiveness of the European Union with focus on the Rule of Law and its importance for the EU integration process. Rule of Law is a notion that is very frequently used, but at the same time quite controversial as it is not so easy always to reach generally accepted meaning. Therefore, this paper provides a analysis of the EU Rule of Law as multidimensional legal principle gravitating between values and principles. The paper acknowledges that a concept of the EU rule of law can be the subject of diverse interpretations and implementation. High-ranking government officials of a two EU member states, Poland and Hungary, have argued recently that a concept of the EU rule of law lacks well-defined rules and remains the subject of much debate. Therefore, the paper provides for better understanding of the concept itself within the specific supranational legal environment. Also, the paper argues that the future of the EU and its integrations depends largely on the respect of the rule of law that remains to be a core and the element of unity within Europe’s legal space. The relationship between the principles and values upon which the EU is founded remain close and interrelated. The EU Rule of law with all its distinctiveness can be concluded with certainty that it reflects a specific character and nature of the EU legal system.

AbstractComparing the EU law principle of loyalty with international law good faith and the duty of federal good faith in German constitutional law (Bundestreue), this article contributes to the discussion on the nature of the EU legal order and its relationship to international law more generally by finding that EU loyalty is in essence a specific incarnation of the international law principle that treaties are to be interpreted in good faith. At the same time, it challenges the assumption that international law good faith differs fundamentally from federal good faith. To this end, the article points at historical links between both, and posits that good faith is in essence a principle of constructive interpretation, the strictures of which increase with the level of integration of the legal order in which it is applied.

The EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies up to 2020, is a policy that seeks to integrate Roma in the fields of education, employment, healthcare and housing, and to combat and prevent discrimination and promote equality. The problem formulation that motivates this study is the phenomenon of discrimination that Roma population experience on the soil of European Union, funded on the principles of equality and non-discrimination. The aim of this paper is to carry out a policy analysis of the EU Framework with the goal to reveal in what ways the policy aims to combat discrimination and promote equality for Roma, the largest minority in the EU. Theoretical framework relies on the principle of equality and its influence on discrimination in the context of human rights. This research carries out a qualitative case study of Roma, in combination with policy analysis as method.  Results found, after conducted analysis, shows that the EU Framework doesn’t generate a rich concept of equality that can prevent, and combat discrimination based on racial and ethnic origin of Roma. The EU Framework doesn’t concretize various forms of discrimination towards Roma, nor address the phenomenon of anti-gypsyism as a main barrier to Roma inclusion.
EU-ramverk för nationella strategier för romsk inkludering fram till 2020 är en policy som åsyftar till att integrera Romer inom områden för utbildning, sysselsättning, hälso- och sjukvård samt bostäder. Ramverket söker att bekämpa diskriminering och främja jämställdhet. Problemformuleringen som denna studie vilar på är diskrimineringen som romer utsätts för i EU. Syftet med denna studie är att genomföra en policy analys av EU:s ramverk med målet att avslöja på vilka sätt policyn syftar till att bekämpa diskriminering av Romer och främja jämställdhet. Teorin bygger på principen om jämlikhet, vilket hjälper till att undersöka de konkreta sätten som diskriminering kan bekämpas på med rätten till jämlik behandling i mänskliga rättigheters kontext. Denna studie är en kvalitativ fallstudie av Romer i kombination med policy analys av EU:s ramverk. Resultatet visar att EU:s ramverk inte genererar en omfattande jämställdhetsprincip som är tillräcklig för att förebygga och bekämpa diskriminering av Romer. EU:s ramverk konkretiserar inte olika former av diskriminering som romer upplever i sina dagliga liv. Policyn behandlar inte heller fenomenet anti-ziganism som ett huvudhinder för inkluderingen av romer.

In the wake of the numerous institutional questions raised by the so-called Unitary Patent Package, the thesis aims to analyze the limits of the legitimate resort to differentiated integration techniques (or differentiation) within the EU legal order. In particular, the thesis focuses on the tools of enhanced cooperation, regulated by Article 20 TFEU, and international agreements concluded between Member States (the so-called inter se agreements) to exercise their shared competences. To these ends, the author defines the phenomenon of differentiated integration on the basis of Gaetano Arangio Ruiz's theory of legal pluralism and argues that it constitutes an essential feature of the European integration process. On the contrary, also in light of the enhanced role of the principle of subsidiarity in the Treaty of Lisbon, the thesis criticizes the legal doctrine maintaining the existence of the so-called principle of unity of EU law and the obligation of Member States to resort to EU legal instruments when they collectively exercise their shared competences. Finally, the thesis examines the limits imposed to differentiated integration by the structural features of EU law, as developed by the European Court of Justice throughout the process of self-constitution (in French, autoconstitution) of the European legal order. In particular, the analysis focuses on the principle of autonomy of the EU judicial system, as the necessary safeguard of the interindividual carachter of the EU legal order, and on the procedure of preliminary ruling as its keystone.
Prendendo spunto dalle questioni di natura istituzionale inerenti il legittimo esercizio delle tecniche di integrazione differenziata (o differenziazione) sollevate dal c.d. Pacchetto sul brevetto europeo con effetto unitario, la tesi affronta il tema dei limiti giuridici che l’ordinamento dell’Unione europea impone al fenomeno della differenziazione, con particolare riferimento agli istituti della cooperazione rafforzata, ex art. 20 TUE, ed allo strumento degli accordi internazionali inter se conclusi soltanto da alcuni Stati membri al fine di esercitare le competenze comunita rie non esclusive. A tal fine, l’analisi prende le mosse dalla nozione di integrazione differenziata, elaborata sulla bas e dei presupposti teorici accolti dalla dottrina pluralista, e ne evidenzia il carattere essenziale al processo di integrazione europea. Al contrario, anche alla luce del ruolo sempre più significativo riconosciuto dall’ordinamento comunitario al principio di sussidiarietà, l’analisi afferma l’insussistenza di un principio di c.d. unità dell’azione comunitaria ed esclude che possa argomentarsi la priorità giuridica degli strumenti comunitari su quelli internazionalistici nell’esercizio delle competenze non esclusive dell’UE. Infine l’elaborato si concentra sull’esame delle limitazioni imposte alla differenziazione dai principi strutturali inerenti il modo d’essere del diritto UE, così come sino ad ora effettivamente affermatosi ed autocostituitosi, concentrandosi sul ruolo necessario per la preservazione del carattere interindividuale dell’ordinamento rivestito dal principio di autonomia della tutela giurisdizionale comunitaria e, in quest’ottica, dall’istituto del rinvio pregiudiziale.

Moteur incontournable de l’économie publique, les marchés publics ont toujours fait l’objet de revendications diverses, voire opposées. L’efficacité de la gestion budgétaire et la transparence de la vie publique, s’agissant des ordres juridiques nationaux, la libre concurrence et le libre accès de tous les opérateurs économiques facilitant les échanges intracommunautaires, s’agissant du droit européen : tous ont tenté de monopoliser le droit de la commande publique, afin de se réaliser. Dans le même temps, la perspective de l’instrumentalisation de ce droit au service d’objectifs politiques qui ne lui sont pas directement attribués a suscité des intérêts très variés. Or, la question de la conciliation des politiques sociales et environnementales avec les prescriptions de nature principalement économique du droit des marchés publics s’inscrit dans une logique de valorisation de cet instrument juridique et financier. Ces politiques, répondant à la fois à des finalités d’intérêt général et à des objectifs prioritaires du droit communautaire, sont à la recherche de leur rôle et de leurs instruments en matière de marchés publics. Dans un contexte politique mouvant, la superposition des systèmes juridiques résultant des interventions réglementaires des États, en quête de leur pouvoir discrétionnaire dans la planification des leurs politiques, comme des interventions du droit communautaire dans le cadre de sa propre œuvre d’harmonisation des procédures de passation, vient redéfinir le rôle des politiques sociales et environnementales, tant au sein des objectifs endogènes du droit des marchés publics qu’en dehors de son cadre réglementaire, appelé dans ce cas à servir de levier
As a fundamental driving force of public economy, public procurement has traditionally been an area of diverse and often competing interests. Such contradictory interests are the efficiency of budgetary management and transparency in public life within national legal systems, free competition and open access of financial stakeholders in award procedures within the European regulatory framework. At the same time, the instrumentalisation of public procurement in order to serve political goals not directly linked to it has triggered considerable debate. The attempt of conciliation of social and environmental considerations with the financial requirements of public procurement law aims at enhancing this legal and financial instrument. The role and the legal means for the integration of social and environmental considerations in public procurement, which serve general interest purposes and overriding European law objectives, have not yet been clarified. The regulatory interventions of the Member States, on the one hand, and the harmonization attempts of the European Union, on the other, create a constantly changing political climate. In that context, the role of social and environmental policies is redefined both within the framework of primary objectives of public procurement law, as well as outside this regulatory framework which is used as a policy tool in this context

Moteur incontournable de l'économie publique, les marchés publics ont toujours fait l'objet de revendications diverses, voire opposées. L'efficacité de la gestion budgétaire et la transparence de la vie publique, s'agissant des ordres juridiques nationaux, la libre concurrence et le libre accès de tous les opérateurs économiques facilitant les échanges intracommunautaires, s'agissant du droit européen: tous ont tenté de monopoliser le droit de la commande publique, afin de se réaliser. Dans le même temps, la perspective de l'instrumentalisation de ce droit au service d'objectifs politiques qui ne lui sont pas directement attribués a suscité des intérêts très variés. Or, la question de la conciliation des politiques sociales et environnementales avec les prescriptions de nature principalement économique du droit des marchés publics s'inscrit dans une logique de valorisation de cet instrument juridique et financier. Ces politiques, répondant à la fois à des finalités d'intérêt général et à des objectifs prioritaires du droit communautaire, sont à la recherche de leur rôle et de leurs instruments en matière de marchés publics. Dans un contexte politique mouvant, la superposition des systèmes juridiques résultant des interventions réglementaires des États, en quête de leur pouvoir discrétionnaire dans la planification des leurs politiques, comme des interventions du droit communautaire dans le cadre de sa propre œuvre d'harmonisation des procédures de passation, vient redéfinir le rôle des politiques sociales et environnementales, tant au sein des objectifs endogènes du droit des marchés publics qu'en dehors de son cadre réglementaire, appelé dans ce cas à servir de levier.

Titles in the Complete series combine extracts from a wide range of primary materials with clear explanatory text to provide readers with a complete introductory resource. Complete EU Law combines extracts from leading cases and articles to take a fresh and modern look at the constitutional and substantive law of the EU. It starts by looking at the origins of EU integration and more recent developments such as the implications of the UK ‘Brexit’ vote. It then examines the role of EU institutions within the legislative process, and the sources of EU law. Next, it explores the relationship between the EU and the Member States; the supremacy of EU law and its impact upon the principle of UK parliamentary sovereignty; the direct and indirect effect of EU law in the national courts; and the ability of those national courts to request preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice. The book also examines the obligations that EU law imposes on Member States, including the operation of infringement actions and Member State liability in damages for breaches of EU law, and the obligations that it imposes on both the EU institutions and the Member States to protect human rights in the EU. It then discusses economic integration within the internal market and how EU law regulates the rights of individuals and businesses under the ‘four freedoms’, focusing on the free movement of persons and goods. Finally, the book considers competition law and its enforcement within Member States.

Titles in the Complete series combine extracts from a wide range of primary materials with clear explanatory text to provide readers with a complete introductory resource. Complete EU Law combines extracts from leading cases and articles to take a fresh and modern look at the constitutional and substantive law of the EU. It starts by looking at the origins of EU integration and more recent developments such as the implications of the UK ‘Brexit’ vote. It then examines the role of EU institutions within the legislative process, and the sources of EU law. Next, it explores the relationship between the EU and the Member States; the supremacy of EU law and its impact upon the principle of UK parliamentary sovereignty; the direct and indirect effect of EU law in the national courts; and the ability of those national courts to request preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice. The book also examines the obligations that EU law imposes on Member States, including the operation of infringement actions and Member State liability in damages for breaches of EU law, and the obligations that it imposes on both the EU institutions and the Member States to protect human rights in the EU. It then discusses economic integration within the internal market and how EU law regulates the rights of individuals and businesses under the ‘four freedoms’, focusing on the free movement of persons and goods. Finally, the book considers competition law and its enforcement within Member States.

Titles in the Complete series combine extracts from a wide range of primary materials with clear explanatory text to provide readers with a complete introductory resource. Complete EU Law combines extracts from leading cases and articles to take a fresh and modern look at the constitutional and substantive law of the EU. It starts by looking at the origins and development of EU integration. It then examines the role of EU institutions within the legislative process, and the sources of EU law. Next, it explores the relationship between the EU and the Member States; the supremacy of EU law and its impact upon the principle of UK parliamentary sovereignty; the direct and indirect effect of EU law in the national courts; and the ability of those national courts to request preliminary rulings from the Court of Justice. The book also examines the obligations that EU law imposes on Member States, including the operation of infringement actions and Member State liability in damages for breaches of EU law, and the obligations that it imposes on both the EU institutions and the Member States to protect human rights in the EU. It then discusses economic integration within the internal market and how EU law regulates the rights of individuals and businesses under the ‘four freedoms’, focusing on the free movement of persons and goods. It also considers competition law and its enforcement within Member States. Finally, the book includes a chapter on Brexit and its implications for the future relationship between the EU and the UK.

AbstractEuropean Union citizenship conveys important rights and opportunities to the almost 450 million citizens of EU Member States. European citizens are first and foremost citizens of their respective member states, but EU citizenship is designed to complement national citizenship, enabling individuals to move and live across the EU, participate in the political life of the EU, and exercise meaningful rights (e.g., diplomatic and consular protection in third countries). For instance, EU citizenship enables participation in local elections of an individual’s their country of residence (independent of national citizenship), as well as vote for members of the European Parliament. Voting in these types of elections promises to increase the political legitimacy of the EU and, in principle, diminish the democratic deficit of this supranational institution. And through political participation that builds political legitimacy, EU citizens push this institution toward an “ever closer Union.”

AbstractThe Once-Only Principle (OOP) enables public administrations to support citizen and business life-cycle oriented issues as opposed to mere integration of administrative systems designed to serve bureaucratic ends. The Once-Only Principle project (TOOP) was funded by the EU Program Horizon 2020, with the aim to explore and demonstrate the OOP through multiple sustainable pilots in different domains, using a federated architecture on a cross-border collaborative pan-European scale, enabling the connection of different registries and architectures in different countries for better exchange of information across public administrations. The different pilot domains (eProcurement, Maritime and General Business Mobility) identified potential use cases suitable to show the OOP, defined the goals and expected benefits of TOOP based on motivational scenarios and process analyses and provided requirements to the TOOP Reference and Solution Architectures. Especially for the General Business Mobility domain requirements were provided also from the Single Digital Gateway Regulation. These requirements guided the development of the TOOP specifications and the TOOP components, the Member States deployed the TOOP specifications and components and participated in different connectathons demonstrating the OOP.

AbstractGender equality is an increasingly topical issue, but it has deep historical roots. The principle of gender equality found its legitimacy, even if limited to salary, in the 1957 Treaty of Rome, establishing the European Economic Community (EEC). This treaty, in Article 119, sanctioned the principle of equal pay between male and female workers. The EEC continued to protect women’s rights in the 1970s through equal opportunity policies. These policies referred, first, to the principle of equal treatment between men and women regarding education, access to work, professional promotion, and working conditions (Directive 75/117/EEC); second, to the principle of equal pay for male and female workers (Directive 76/207/EEC); and finally, enshrined the principle of equal treatment between men and women in matters of social security (Directive 79/7/EEC). Since the 1980s, several positive action programmes have been developed to support the role of women in European society. Between 1982 and 2000, four multiyear action programmes were implemented for equal opportunities. The first action programme (1982–1985) called on the Member States, through recommendations and resolutions by the Commission, to disseminate greater knowledge of the types of careers available to women, encourage the presence of women in decision-making areas, and take measures to reconcile family and working life. The second action programme (1986–1990) proposed interventions related to the employment of women in activities related to new technologies and interventions in favour of the equal distribution of professional, family, and social responsibilities (Sarcina, 2010). The third action programme (1991–1995) provided an improvement in the condition of women in society by raising public awareness of gender equality, the image of women in mass media, and the participation of women in the decision-making process at all levels in all areas of society. The fourth action programme (1996–2000) strengthened the existing regulatory framework and focused on the principle of gender mainstreaming, a strategy that involves bringing the gender dimension into all community policies, which requires all actors in the political process to adopt a gender perspective. The strategy of gender mainstreaming has several benefits: it places women and men at the heart of policies, involves both sexes in the policymaking process, leads to better governance, makes gender equality issues visible in mainstream society, and, finally, considers the diversity among women and men. Among the relevant interventions of the 1990s, it is necessary to recall the Treaty of Maastricht (1992) which guaranteed the protection of women in the Agreement on Social Policy signed by all Member States (except for Great Britain), and the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997), which formally recognised gender mainstreaming. The Treaty of Amsterdam includes gender equality among the objectives of the European Union (Article 2) and equal opportunity policies among the activities of the European Commission (Article 3). Article 13 introduces the principle of non-discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or handicaps. Finally, Article 141 amends Article 119 of the EEC on equal treatment between men and women in the workplace. The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the Nice Union of 2000 reaffirms the prohibition of ‘any discrimination based on any ground such as sex’ (Art. 21.1). The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union also recognises, in Article 23, the principle of equality between women and men in all areas, including employment, work, and pay. Another important intervention of the 2000s is the Lisbon strategy, also known as the Lisbon Agenda or Lisbon Process. It is a reform programme approved in Lisbon by the heads of state and governments of the member countries of the EU. The goal of the Lisbon strategy was to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010. To achieve this goal, the strategy defines fields in which action is needed, including equal opportunities for female work. Another treaty that must be mentioned is that of Lisbon in 2009, thanks to which previous treaties, specifically the Treaty of Maastricht and the Treaty of Rome, were amended and brought together in a single document: the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Thanks to the Lisbon Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights has assumed a legally binding character (Article 6, paragraph 1 of the TEU) both for European institutions and for Member States when implementing EU law. The Treaty of Lisbon affirms the principle of equality between men and women several times in the text and places it among the values and objectives of the union (Articles 2 and 3 of the TEU). Furthermore, the Treaty, in Art. 8 of the TFEU, states that the Union’s actions are aimed at eliminating inequalities, as well as promoting equality between men and women, while Article 10 of the TFEU provides that the Union aims to ‘combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation’. Concerning the principle of gender equality in the workplace, the Treaty, in Article 153 of the TFEU, asserts that the Union pursues the objective of equality between men and women regarding labour market opportunities and treatment at work. On the other hand, Article 157 of the TFEU confirms the principle of equal pay for male and female workers ‘for equal work or work of equal value’. On these issues, through ordinary procedures, the European Parliament and the Council may adopt appropriate measures aimed at defending the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment for men and women. The Lisbon Treaty also includes provisions relating to the fight against trafficking in human beings, particularly women and children (Article 79 of the TFEU), the problem of domestic violence against women (Article 8 of the TFEU), and the right to paid maternity leave (Article 33). Among the important documents concerning gender equality is the Roadmap (2006–2010). In 2006, the European Commission proposed the Roadmap for equality between women and men, in addition to the priorities on the agenda, the objectives, and tools necessary to achieve full gender equality. The Roadmap defines six priority areas, each of which is associated with a set of objectives and actions that makes it easier to achieve them. The priorities include equal economic independence for women and men, reconciliation of private and professional life, equal representation in the decision-making process, eradication of all forms of gender-based violence, elimination of stereotypes related to gender, and promotion of gender equality in external and development policies. The Commission took charge of the commitments included in the Roadmap, which were indirectly implemented by the Member States through the principle of subsidiarity and the competencies provided for in the Treaties (Gottardi, 2013). The 2006–2010 strategy of the European Commission is based on a dual approach: on the one hand, the integration of the gender dimension in all community policies and actions (gender mainstreaming), and on the other, the implementation of specific measures in favour of women aimed at eliminating inequalities. In 2006, the European Council approved the European Pact for Gender Equality which originated from the Roadmap. The European Pact for Gender Equality identified three macro areas of intervention: measures to close gender gaps and combat gender stereotypes in the labour market, measures to promote a better work–life balance for both women and men, and measures to strengthen governance through the integration of the gender perspective into all policies. In 2006, Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and Council regulated equal opportunities and equal treatment between male and female workers. Specifically, the Directive aims to implement the principle of equal treatment related to access to employment, professional training, and promotion; working conditions, including pay; and occupational social security approaches. On 21 September 2010, the European Commission adopted a new strategy to ensure equality between women and men (2010–2015). This new strategy is based on the experience of Roadmap (2006–2010) and resumes the priority areas identified by the Women’s Charter: equal economic independence, equal pay, equality in decision-making, the eradication of all forms of violence against women, and the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment beyond the union. The 2010–2015 Strategic Plan aims to improve the position of women in the labour market, but also in society, both within the EU and beyond its borders. The new strategy affirms the principle that gender equality is essential to supporting the economic growth and sustainable development of each country. In 2010, the validity of the Lisbon Strategy ended, the objectives of which were only partially achieved due to the economic crisis. To overcome this crisis, the Commission proposed a new strategy called Europe 2020, in March 2010. The main aim of this strategy is to ensure that the EU’s economic recovery is accompanied by a series of reforms that will increase growth and job creation by 2020. Specifically, Europe’s 2020 strategy must support smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth. To this end, the EU has established five goals to be achieved by 2020 and has articulated the different types of growth (smart, sustainable, and inclusive) in seven flagship initiatives. Among the latter, the initiative ‘an agenda for new skills and jobs’, in the context of inclusive growth, is the one most closely linked to gender policies and equal opportunities; in fact, it substantially aims to increase employment rates for women, young, and elderly people. The strategic plan for 2010–2015 was followed by a strategic commitment in favour of gender equality 2016–2019, which again emphasises the five priority areas defined by the previous plan. Strategic commitment, which contributes to the European Pact for Gender Equality (2011–2020), identifies the key actions necessary to achieve objectives for each priority area. In March 2020, the Commission presented a new strategic plan for equality between women and men for 2020–2025. This strategy defines a series of political objectives and key actions aimed at achieving a ‘union of equality’ by 2025. The main objectives are to put an end to gender-based violence and combat sexist stereotypes, ensure equal opportunities in the labour market and equal participation in all sectors of the economy and political life, solve the problem of the pay and pension gap, and achieve gender equality in decision-making and politics. From the summary of the regulatory framework presented, for the European Economic Community first, then for the European Community, and finally for the European Union, gender equality has always been a fundamental value. Interest in the issues of the condition of women and equal opportunities has grown over time and during the process of European integration, moving from a perspective aimed at improving the working conditions of women to a new dimension to improve the life of the woman as a person, trying to protect her not only professionally but also socially, and in general in all those areas in which gender inequality may occur. The approach is extensive and based on legislation, the integration of the gender dimension into all policies, and specific measures in favour of women. From the non-exhaustive list of the various legislative interventions, it is possible to note a continuous repetition of the same thematic priorities which highlights, on the one hand, the poor results achieved by the implementation of the policies, but, on the other hand, the Commission’s willingness to pursue the path initially taken. Among the achievements in the field of gender equality obtained by the EU, there is certainly an increase in the number of women in the labour market and the acquisition of better education and training. Despite progress, gender inequalities have persisted. Even though women surpass men in terms of educational attainment, gender gaps still exist in employment, entrepreneurship, and public life (OECD, 2017). For example, in the labour market, women continue to be overrepresented in the lowest-paid sectors and underrepresented in top positions (according to the data released in the main companies of the European Union, women represent only 8% of CEOs).

A recognition of the duties of solidarity in constitutional provisions necessarily starts from Article 2 of the Constitution, in which solidarity is solemnly affirmed and recognised as a fundamental constitutional legal principle. Solidarity is realised as the source of non-derogable duties, including the tax duty. The construction of the tax relationship is no longer the purely atomistic one of the qualification of the reciprocal positions of the state (tax sovereignty) and the taxpayer (subject of abstention claims), but becomes the construction of the (tax) system in which the burdens arising from the common interest are distributed among all members of the community. Such a systematic dimension of solidarity, which is the one found in the Italian Constitution, is challenged in the context of European integration. And, in any case, as many have observed, the EU lacks a solidaristic set-up that characterises it in terms even comparable to those of the Italian constitutional system and in any case such as to authorise a systematic construction of European solidarity. The criticism of the current set-up must be followed by a proposal, which could be centred on a truly European tax.

The part of the monograph is devoted to specific issues of the theory and practice of the international enforcement process, analyzed international acts and national legislation, which regulate the enforcement of decisions of courts and other bodies (officials) that include a foreign element in relations also taking into account the unprovoked war against Ukraine.The path to European integration chosen by Ukraine is not consistent with the essential problems of the modern executive process of Ukraine, since the legal doctrine has not yet revealed the specifics ofexecutive proceedings in the EU countries, many international treaties on legal assistance lack the principle of reciprocity, the issue of the execution of decisions with a subterranean element in Ukraine is declarative nature, etc. This, in turn, has a negative effect on guarantees of protection of the rights of Ukrainian citizens in EU countries and foreign citizens in Ukraine. For these reasons, a deep and comprehensive rethinking of the legal significance of the international aspect in the legal system of Ukraine is necessary, taking into additional account the new war and post-war realities.The place of the international enforcement process in the legal system and its relationship with other branches of law are analyzed.The international executive process is a sub-branch of the executive process, causing the attention of scientists and a wide expert audience to the study and regulation of issues with a foreign element, the study of foreign experience in this area, as well as the appropriate determination of issues of nforcement of decisions in international treatiesconcluded by Ukraine.Procedural features of enforcement actions in the international enforcement process have been identified. The problems of implementation of executive proceedings regarding the decisions of courts and other jurisdictional bodies issued in another state, as well as issues that arise when the state executes decisions with a foreign element at the expense of state funds are considered.Several improvement directions of the coercive enforcement procedure in international enforcement process have been suggested.

In this paper, it will be analyzed the free movement of goods principle’s progress in European Union. This principle have special importance for all countries not only EU members. Because of globalisation’s effects, all countries have to open their boundaries to all over the World. Thus the free movement of goods affects almost all countries. Free movement of goods principle is achieved a successful progress in EU case. In this paper, we will try to show this principle’s success in EU agreements, regulations, settlements and peaks. Not only in EU, but also all open economies are getting extra benefit from trade. Free movement of goods is a part of international trade and also first step of EU integration process. Followings steps are consisting of free movement of capitals, services and human. In this paper, we’ll show the meaning and importance of this principle and its historical progress in EU. And also it will be analyzed to basic drawback, preventions, and exceptions of this principle.

The EU integration process brings substantial transformations across all economic domains, agriculture included, as a result of shifts in both the economic and political landscapes. These processes necessitate numerous adjustments to legislation, agricultural support structures, business conditions within the single market, and the harmonization of domestic producer prices with those prevailing in the EU market. The impacts of these changes can be assessed utilizing partial equilibrium models such as the AGMEMOD model. While this paper primarily lays the methodological framework for constructing the Serbian national AGMEMOD model, upon its completion, it could serve as a valuable instrument for evaluating the effects of political changes on agricultural markets in Serbia, aligning with the evidence-based policy principle, similar to other EU member states

The principle of mutual trust, whose fundamental importance is recognized by the CJEU, is not mentioned in the Treaties, but nonetheless, it plays an essential role for the EU integration process and has become a structural principle of the EU law. In addition to its role as a basis for a large set of EU rules in the areas such as the internal market and the area of freedom, security and justice, this principle is also closely related to the EU founding values including the rule of law. Having in mind that is not a “blind trust” but an assumption, it is applied through ensuring compliance with the Union law for which both the Member States and the European Commission share responsibility, inter alia, by means of the infringement procedure. Under Article 259 TFEU, Member States are also entitled to bring a direct action against another Member State for an alleged infringement of an obligation under the Treaties. However, it is extremely rare for a Member State to take action upon the Article 259 TFEU and its potential remains untapped till now. This contribution aims to answer why do Member States are inactive in terms of invoking the infringement procedure. It argues that infringement procedure initiated by a Member State against another Member State should not be perceived as a violation of the mutual trust between them but as a tool to uphold the mutual trust and to protect the Union’s founding values, including the rule of law.

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.

Backgraund: Ukraine's European integration course conditions the convergence of Ukraine's social policies with the European Union. The signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU caused the further reform of the state policy regarding the elderly. Changes in approaches to policy regarding the elderly in Ukraine are due to the transformation of relevant approaches in the European Union. Purpose: justify changes in policy approaches to the elderly in Ukraine in the context of European integration. Methods: method of analysis, method of traditional document analysis, content analysis were used. Conclusion: In the context of the European integration process in Ukraine, there are changes in the approaches to the state policy regarding the elderly. This proves the transition from passive forms of policy regarding the elderly (guardianship, social protection, social assistance) to active forms of combating the aging of the population of Ukraine (active aging policy) - increasing the retirement age, stimulating the continuation of work, increasing the level of employment of persons under the age of 64 years old, promoting volunteer activities. In the information space, approaches to older people are changing – from a "used resource" to a social resource. The principle of sustainable development (mutual responsibility of generations) becomes a component of the state policy regarding the elderly. Keywords: approaches to social policy, state policy regarding the elderly in Ukraine, elderly people, active aging, social resource, sustainable development, European integration.

Due to the hazard which lead poses to health and the environment the EU is banning its use in electrical and electronic equipment from July 2006. This ban along with the market drive to more environmentally friendly products means that tin-lead solders must be replaced with lead-free alternatives. This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the mechanical fatigue properties of tin-silver-copper (SnAgCu) solder joints with a baseline of tin-lead (SnPb). The test vehicle comprised of an 8-layer FR4 printed circuit board (PCB) mounted with four micro-ball grid array (BGA) components — each with a total of 100 solder balls in a 10×10 array. The solder joints were formed using surface mount reflow processes optimised for both solder types. A torsion mechanical fatigue test was employed to evaluate the solder joints — the principle of which was to stress the solder joints repetitively in order to determine the number of cycles to failure. The BGA components were daisy-chained — the resistance across each daisy-chain was monitored continuously during the cyclic defection of the test board. A profile of the increase in resistance with cycle number was established and the number of cycles to failure determined. The failure mechanism induced by the cycling was examined using cross-section and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The results for SnAgCu joints show a superior performance during torsion mechanical fatigue testing than SnPb joints; giving a greater number of cycles to failure. The results from the tests presented in this paper show that the torsion test method provides a viable alternative to ATC as a qualification method for solder joints, while also providing substantial time savings — taking weeks rather than months to complete.

China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) is a superconducting tokamak proposed by national integration design group for magnetic confinement fusion reactor of China to bridge the R&D gaps between ITER and DEMO. Since the launch of CFETR conceptual design, a modular helium cooled lithium ceramic blanket concept had been under development by the blanket integration design team of the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, to complete CFETR in demonstrating its fusion energy production ability, tritium self-sufficiency and the remote maintenance strategy. To validate the feasibility, the neutronic analyses for CFETR with this modular helium cooled lithium ceramic blanket were performed. The 1-D neutronic study for CFETR was done in the first place to give a preliminary and quick demonstration of the overall neutronic performance. Meanwhile, the neutronic analyses for a single standard helium cooled lithium ceramic blanket module were done in several times to give more insight for the material and geometry parameters of intra-module structures. Therefore, the principles for neutronic design and the module level optimized parameters were produced, based on which the design of practical blanket modules planted in tokamak vacuum vessel was completed. In the end, the 3-D neutronic analysis for CFETR was done utilizing the MCNP code, in which the 11.25 degree sector model (consist of blanket modules, manifold, support plate, shield, divertor, vacuum vessel, thermal shield and TF coils) was generated with the McCad automated conversion tool from the reference CAD model for analysis, the bi-dimensional (radial and poloidal) neutron source map was plugged via general source definition card to stimulate the D-T fusion neutrons. The concerned neutronics parameters of CFETR, mainly including the tritium breeding ratio to characterize tritium self-sufficiency, the energy multiplication factor to characterize power generation, as well as, the inboard mid-plane radial profiles of neutron flux densities, helium production rate, displacement damage rate and the energy deposition to characterize the shielding performance, were produced. In principle, the neutronics performance of CFETR with modular helium cooled lithium ceramic blanket is promising. The tritium breeding capability meets the design target and, by referring to that for ITER and the EU DEMO fusion power plant, the inboard mid-plane shielding is effective to fulfill the radiation design requirement of the superconducting TF-coils, resulting in a compulsory warm-up time interval of ∼2 FPY for TF-coils. The nuclear heating loads to other CFETR components were generated. As an outcome of this work, the applicability of McCad on CFETR neutronic modeling is demonstrated.

It is possible to define a novel design method, which aims overcoming both traditional, the traditional Multidisciplinary Design Optimization, and to solve a fundamental issue relating to the actual formalization of the Constructal optimization method. It aims only to enhance and integrate the constructal design method and aims to produce designs, which could be, optimized both at system level and subsystem definition. This novel method is based on the second principle of thermodynamics and the constructal law. It aims to produce a design process based on two steps. The first step aims producing a theoretical design of a system to reach energetic and operative optimization. The second aims to optimize the subcomponents of the system according the bottom up approach defined by constructal design optimization. A third step relating to the readiness against technology analysis is necessary to develop an effective industrial design. This method has named Constructal Design for Efficiency. In this paper the authors, starting from the experience produced by the MAAT EU FP7, about the design of a cruiser-feeder and energy self sufficient airship for transport has produced the optimization of a medium altitude airship for transport, focused on the optimization of flying vehicle architecture to minimize by design the energy consumption during flight. The produced results allow defining a novel airship concept, which optimizes the airship shape to reach three fundamental energetic goals: energy consumption minimization; photovoltaic energy production maximization; definition of the conditions for energetically self-sufficient flight. The defined architecture can maximize the operative possibilities realizing an airship, which can ensure a point-to-point ground, based logistic models without any airport infrastructure with potential breakthrough impacts because of a better integration with any other terrestrial, maritime and aerial transport mode. Notwithstanding the use of hydrogen, it ensures an increased perception of safety by potential customers. It presents a safer ballooning architecture, without internal air ballonets, a cabin not directly attached to the bottom part of the balloon, which can be detached and piloted safely on the ground in case of serious accident during flight.

The blue economy develops in a multicultural environment, posing an additional risk for the organizations involved. Operations at sea where people are involved, be it in ships or offshore infrastructures, are not free from operational risks, affecting safety of on board operations for example. Moreover, international projects and operations pursued by multinational organizations (such as UN, EU or NATO), have the potential for the risk levels to increase as a result of a particular aspect of human factor – cultural diversity. Crises response and peace operations, for instance, force teaming up people not only with different cultural backgrounds among themselves, but additionally make such teams interface with local populations whose culture is usually much different from theirs. Not being aware of the cultural differences of the involved people may lead to increased misunderstandings, unnecessary controversies, increased risks and avoidable accidents. Conflicts originate from different mental models of the world, which are developed as a consequence of the growing experience – not only within a specific social context, but also national one. Therefore, when people with different backgrounds are gathered as part of a multinational effort, the potential for misaligned perceptions and conflicts arise, and consequently organizational and operational increased risk levels.Several distinct models and frameworks exist to bring understanding over intercultural management; however, there’s barely any established taxonomy or standard model which one could refer to in order to master any situation. Among the main frameworks, we have the ones from Hall, Trompenaars, Hofstede. The purpose of this paper is to bring some clarity, and if possible order, contributing to establish a general framework as a result of the integration, or blending, of the main different ones, and as such provide guidance for professionals who have to face risks in their respective fields of work as a result of the impact of different multicultural settings. Even if the writing of this paper was done with the maritime industry in mind, which is perhaps the oldest multicultural industry in the world, the attained results and practical implications will spill over the purely maritime operations and extend their application into most multinational systems’ endeavours – be it within the business, NGO or security contexts.The methods used comprise the analysis and comparison of the main culture models and associated frameworks, clarifying where such models superimpose each other and where they are complementary. Once they are understood, it will be possible to think in terms of cause and effect and design useful procedures to support the people on the fields, hence contributing to an improved human factor paradigm in what intercultural interactions concern.The expected outcome will be a clearer and tentatively universal model – a proposed taxonomy - which may help to address, manage and keep risks derived from multicultural interactions under control, so their organizational risk level doesn’t arise as a result of such endeavours.Finally, and guided by the principle of usefulness, some practical implications will be presented and discussed; and a summary of suggested actions, followed by some conclusions.

Environmental protection and the accompanying sustainable development, as one of the most important segments of society globally, require the efforts and inputs from all segments and actors in society. In addition, the EU accession process in the field of environment, Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change is the most complex area in the process of European integration. Montenegro as an accession country needs to ensure adequate strong structure and human resources for the demanding reform processes underlying the harmonization and integration into the democratic European society. To fulfill the sustainable development principles and ensure sustainable development of the country’s economy and its declaration as an ecological state, Montenegro’s educational system plays a crucial role in shaping and creating the human resources needed to transform and reform development, which ensures quality living conditions and protection of natural resources. Analyses of student population structure and enrollment in study programs pertaining toward environmental protection and Chapter 27 sectors at the public University of Montenegro provide insights in the current trends and the gaps that should be tackled in order to support the country’s economy and reform processes to benefit people and nature. 76 Key words: environment, education, development, student, higher education enrollment, EU, Chapter 27, accession, reform

20 years ago a concept of “Green Chemistry” was formulated by Paul Anastas and John Warner, aiming at an ambitious agenda to “green” chemical products and processes. Today the concept, laid down in a set of 12 principles, has found support in various arenas. This diffusion was supported by enhancements of the legislative framework; not only in the European Union. Nevertheless industry actors – whilst generally supporting the idea – still see “cost and perception remain barriers to green chemistry uptake”. Thus, the questions arise how additional incentives as well as measures to address the barriers and impediments can be provided. An analysis addressing these questions has to take into account the institutional context for the relevant actors involved in the issue. And it has to reflect the problem perception of the different stakeholders. The supply chain into which the chemicals are distributed are of pivotal importance since they create the demand pull for chemicals designed in accordance with the “Green Chemistry Principles”. Consequently, the scope of this study includes all stages in a chemical’s life-cycle, including the process of designing and producing the final products to which chemical substances contribute. For each stage the most relevant legislative acts, together establishing the regulatory framework of the “chemicals policy” in the EU are analysed. In a nutshell the main elements of the study can be summarized as follows: Green Chemistry (GC) is the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. Besides, reaction efficiency, including energy efficiency, and the use of renewable resources are other motives of Green Chemistry. Putting the GC concept in a broader market context, however, it can only prevail if in the perception of the relevant actors it is linked to tangible business cases. Therefore, the study analyses the product context in which chemistry is to be applied, as well as the substance’s entire life-cycle – in other words, the six stages in product innovation processes): 1. Substance design, 2. Production process, 3. Interaction in the supply chain, 4. Product design, 5. Use phase and 6. After use phase of the product (towards a “circular economy”). The report presents an overview to what extent the existing framework, i.e. legislation and the wider institutional context along the six stages, is setting incentives for actors to adequately address problematic substances and their potential impacts, including the learning processes intended to invoke creativity of various actors to solve challenges posed by these substances. In this respect, measured against the GC and Learning Process assessment criteria, the study identified shortcomings (“delta”) at each stage of product innovation. Some criteria are covered by the regulatory framework and to a relevant extent implemented by the actors. With respect to those criteria, there is thus no priority need for further action. Other criteria are only to a certain degree covered by the regulatory framework, due to various and often interlinked reasons. For those criteria, entry points for options to strengthen or further nuance coverage of the respective principle already exist. Most relevant are the deltas with regard to those instruments that influence the design phase; both for the chemical substance as such and for the end-product containing the substance. Due to the multi-tier supply chains, provisions fostering information, communication and cooperation of the various actors are crucial to underpin the learning processes towards the GCP. The policy options aim to tackle these shortcomings in the context of the respective stage in order to support those actors who are willing to change their attitude and their business decisions towards GC. The findings are in general coherence with the strategies to foster GC identified by the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council.