The Thin Veil of Change: The EU’s Promotion of Gender Equality in Egypt and Tunisia. EU Diplomacy Paper 02/2018

The images of women protesting alongside men in the squares of Egypt, Tunisia and other Arab countries in 2011 sent a strong message to the West: they were ready to fight for the liberation of women in their societies. However, as events unfolded, these hopes gradually faded. Today, Tunisia represents the only case of a successful democratic transition which has brought about many channels for the promotion of women’s rights and empowerment. On the contrary, Egypt sank back into the nightmare of a ‘deep state’, betraying the values of freedom, equality and justice that the protesters had demanded. This paper pursues the complex task of assessing the role of women in the Arab Spring and the impact that the revolutions had on women’s empowerment, gender equality and fundamental rights in Tunisia and Egypt, and how the European Union (EU) has responded to these changes. To what extent has the EU been able to uphold and to prioritise the values of gender equality and fundamental women’s rights in its policy-making towards its Southern neighbours? The paper starts with the assumption that human rights, of which women’s rights represent a fundamental category, are universal and should be recognised as such without falling into the dangerous traps of cultural relativism. The divergence between Islamist feminist movements and secular movements is central to understanding women’s quest for liberation and empowerment, especially in the case of Tunisia. Important results have been achieved in the field of equality, conceived as the elimination of those structural inequalities hindering the participation of women in the economic, political and social tissue. However, many more steps need to be taken to ensure gender equity, that is, the achievement of equal opportunities and equal treatment in the distribution of benefits. While the EU has acknowledged the role of women in the democratisation processes and supported them through funding, projects and dialogue, its approach seems to promote the inclusion of women in the same gendered and asymmetrical structures that are at the origin of their exclusion. Therefore, the Arab Spring was but a thin veil of change that has uncovered the women’s quest for equality in the North African region

European Union diplomats: an emerging epistemic community? College of Europe Policy Paper December 2019.

The Lisbon Treaty introduced far-reaching changes in the field of European Union (EU) external action, including institutional reforms such as the de facto creation of an EU diplomatic service and new policy-making instruments. Yet, ten years later, some scholars and policy-makers alike still seem to believe that EU diplomats are mere coordinators of member states’ positions. What does the notion of ‘EU diplomat’ as a hybrid figure mediating between national diplomacy and the EU’s post-Westphalian diplomatic engagement stand for? This policy brief argues that we are witnessing the emergence of a novel epistemic community, that is, a unique network of EU professionals with specific expertise and competences. In order to continue shaping its own diplomatic culture and epistemic community, the EU should invest more in training, contributing to the following key goals: the promotion of ‘layered’ knowledge, a shared working culture among EU officials, joint ownership of EU external action between EU and member state diplomats, reinforced socialisation and the further development of an esprit de corps

Brucellosis Control in Malta and Serbia: A One Health Evaluation

Brucellosis, also known as \u201cundulant fever\u201d or \u201cMalta fever\u201d, is a zoonotic infection caused by microorganisms belonging to Brucella, a genus of gram-negative coccobacilli that behave as facultative intracellular pathogens of ruminants, swine and other animals. Brucellosis is a threat to public health, hence identifying the optimal way of preventing disease spread is important. Under certain circumstances, integrated, multidisciplinary \u201cOne Health\u201d (OH) initiatives provide added value compared to unidisciplinary or conventional health initiatives. Conceptualizing and conducting evaluations of OH approaches may help facilitate decisions on resource allocation. This article historically describes and compares Malta's 1995\u20131997 with Serbia's 2004\u20132006 brucellosis control programmes and quantitatively assesses the extent to which they were compliant with a OH approach. For both case studies, we describe the OH initiative and the system within which it operates. Characteristic OH operations (i.e., thinking, planning, working) and supporting infrastructures (to allow sharing, learning and systemic organization) were evaluated. We scored the different aspects of these programmes, with values ranging from zero to one (1 = strong integration of OH). Malta demonstrated a higher OH index (0.54) and ratio (1.37) than Serbia (0.49 and 1.14 respectively). We conclude that context and timing are key to determining how, when and why a One Health approach should be applied. The adoption of a true OH approach that involved systemic organization, leadership clarity and transdisciplinary communication, collaboration, and co-ordination was essential to Malta's successful eradication of brucellosis after several failed attempts. In contrast, contextual factors in Serbia permitted the successful adoption of a primarily sectorial approach for short term control of brucellosis. However, while a fully-fledged transdisciplinary OH approach was not initially required, it is likely to be key to maintenance of brucellosis control in the medium and long term. Through these two case studies, we demonstrate that One Health initiatives should be applied at the right place, at the right time, with the right people and using the appropriate conditions/infrastructure. Lastly, OH evaluations should include economic assessments to identify optimal of resources in these situations, thereby justifying funding and political support required

Additive Manufacturing of Al Alloys and Aluminium Matrix Composites (AMCs)

In this chapter a large description of additive manufacturing techniques for obtaining Al alloys and Al matrix composites is given. Results on mechanical properties, roughness and microstructure achievable with such fabrication route on Al alloys are reported

Brucellosis Control in Malta and Serbia: A One Health Evaluation

Brucellosis, also known as “undulant fever” or “Malta fever”, is a zoonotic infection caused by microorganisms belonging to Brucella, a genus of gram-negative coccobacilli that behave as facultative intracellular pathogens of ruminants, swine and other animals. Brucellosis is a threat to public health, hence identifying the optimal way of preventing disease spread is important. Under certain circumstances, integrated, multidisciplinary “One Health” (OH) initiatives provide added value compared to unidisciplinary or conventional health initiatives. Conceptualizing and conducting evaluations of OH approaches may help facilitate decisions on resource allocation. This article historically describes and compares Malta's 1995–1997 with Serbia's 2004–2006 brucellosis control programmes and quantitatively assesses the extent to which they were compliant with a OH approach. For both case studies, we describe the OH initiative and the system within which it operates. Characteristic OH operations (i.e., thinking, planning, working) and supporting infrastructures (to allow sharing, learning and systemic organization) were evaluated. We scored the different aspects of these programmes, with values ranging from zero to one (1 = strong integration of OH). Malta demonstrated a higher OH index (0.54) and ratio (1.37) than Serbia (0.49 and 1.14 respectively). We conclude that context and timing are key to determining how, when and why a One Health approach should be applied. The adoption of a true OH approach that involved systemic organization, leadership clarity and transdisciplinary communication, collaboration, and co-ordination was essential to Malta's successful eradication of brucellosis after several failed attempts. In contrast, contextual factors in Serbia permitted the successful adoption of a primarily sectorial approach for short term control of brucellosis. However, while a fully-fledged transdisciplinary OH approach was not initially required, it is likely to be key to maintenance of brucellosis control in the medium and long term. Through these two case studies, we demonstrate that One Health initiatives should be applied at the right place, at the right time, with the right people and using the appropriate conditions/infrastructure. Lastly, OH evaluations should include economic assessments to identify optimal of resources in these situations, thereby justifying funding and political support required

Advancing One Health:Updated core competencies

International audienceAbstract One Health recognises the interdependence between the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment. With the increasing inclusion of One Health in multiple global health strategies, the One Health workforce must be prepared to protect and sustain the health and well-being of life on the planet. In this paper, a review of past and currently accepted One Health core competencies was conducted, with competence gaps identified. Here, the Network for Ecohealth and One Health (NEOH) propose updated core competencies designed to simplify what can be a complex area, grouping competencies into three main areas of: Skills; Values and Attitudes; and Knowledge and Awareness; with several layers underlying each. These are intentionally applicable to stakeholders from various sectors and across all levels to support capacity-building efforts within the One Health workforce. The updated competencies from NEOH can be used to evaluate and enhance current curricula, create new ones, or inform professional training programs at all levels, including students, university teaching staff, or government officials as well as continual professional development for frontline health practitioners and policy makers. The competencies are aligned with the new definition of One Health developed by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), and when supported by subjectspecific expertise, will deliver the transformation needed to prevent and respond to complex global challenges. One Health Impact Statement Within a rapidly changing global environment, the need for practitioners competent in integrated approaches to health has increased substantially. Narrow approaches may not only limit opportunities for global and local solutions but, initiatives that do not consider other disciplines or social, economic and cultural contexts, may result in unforeseen and detrimental consequences. In keeping with principles of One Health, the Network for Ecohealth and One Health (NEOH) competencies entail a collaborative effort between multiple disciplines and sectors. They focus on enabling practitioners, from any background, at any level or scale of involvement, to promote and support a transformation to integrated health approaches. The updated competencies can be layered with existing disciplinary competencies and used to evaluate and enhance current education curricula, create new ones, or inform professional training programs at all levels-including for students, teachers and government officials as well as continual professional development for frontline health practitioners and policymakers. The competencies outlined here are applicable to all professionals and disciplines who may contribute to One Health, and are complimentary to, not a replacement for, any discipline-specific competencies. We believe the NEOH competencies meet the need outlined by the Quadripartite’s (Food and Agriculture Organisation, United Nations Environment Programme, World Health Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health) Joint Plan of Action on One Health which calls for cross-sectoral competencies

Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: a multicenter Italian survey

Background: Law 219/2017 was approved in Italy in December 2017, after a years-long debate on the autonomy of healthcare choices. This Law, for the first time in Italian legislation, guarantees the patient's right to request for withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments, including mechanical ventilation (MV). Objective: To investigate the current status of MV withdrawal in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients in Italy and to assess the impact of Law 219/2017 on this practice. Methods: We conducted a Web-based survey, addressed to Italian neurologists with expertise in ALS care, and members of the Motor Neuron Disease Study Group of the Italian Society of Neurology. Results: Out of 40 ALS Italian centers, 34 (85.0%) responded to the survey. Law 219/2017 was followed by an increasing trend in MV withdrawals, and a significant increase of neurologists involved in this procedure (p 0.004). However, variations across Italian ALS centers were observed, regarding the inconsistent involvement of community health services and palliative care (PC) services, and the intervention and composition of the multidisciplinary team. Conclusions: Law 219/2017 has had a positive impact on the practice of MV withdrawal in ALS patients in Italy. The recent growing public attention on end-of-life care choices, along with the cultural and social changes in Italy, requires further regulatory frameworks that strengthen tools for self-determination, increased investment of resources in community and PC health services, and practical recommendations and guidelines for health workers involved