European Union commitment towards RES market penetration: From the first legislative acts to the publication of the recent guidelines on State aid 2014/2020

Abstract During the last three decades, the European Union (EU) commitment towards the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) market penetration has been very complex, involving several aspects pertaining to the economic and political action of Member States. This paper seeks to overview the historical development of the legislative EU framework, including a description of the main financial programmes established and managed by the EU Directorates General. Moreover, the work will proceed with the picture of some Investment Funds, ad hoc created for RES undertakings, and managed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) in collaboration with the EU or other foreign Bank Institutes. The delicate matter of State aid is discussed, paying particular attention to the transition from 1999 to the recent EU Guidelines (2014/2020), as these wider scopes could lead to an effective and well functioning European Energy Single Market. Focusing the attention on three case-studies, we have produced final remarks on the correct functioning of the EU political framework, giving attention to important improvements needed at infrastructural level. The EU awareness of the power grid limits, that are currently recorded in Europe has lead to further reforms of the legislation, as shown by the new EU Guidelines that will probably support Member States in dealing with the infrastructure challenge

Measuring sustainable economic development through a multidimensional Gini index

This paper analyses the evolution of sustainable economic development inequality in Italy as regards the efforts made by each administrative Region, as a response to the main EU policies issued by the environmental and energy sector. For this purpose a multidimensional generalization of the Gini index has been performed, taking into account two different dimensions (energy and environment), in a time frame of six years (2008-2013). The multidimensional Gini results confirm the positive effect recorded by certain EU policies in determining a reduction in the inequality levels among the Italian Regions. A counterfactual analysis further underlined the relevant role played by the energetic dimension against the environmental one in strengthening Regional performance

THE ENTREPRENEURS’ PROPENSITY TO ADOPT ELECTRIC MOBILITY IN THE SHORT FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

In the last years, Short Food Supply Chain (SFSC) has gained relevant attention among the consumers, for its characteristics of environmental, economic and social sustainability. At the same time, recently some doubts has been raised about the environmental negative impacts that also SFSC is causing, despite the intrinsic “local” label. In particular, the reference is on the transport system and related CO2 emissions of SFSC that undermines the full achievement of environmental concerns. To deal with this challenge, electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a viable and very promising alternative. Starting from these considerations, this study investigates the propensity of entrepreneurs operating in the SFSC to introduce EVs inside their business. In particular, in order to understand which factors affect this behaviour, the Theory of Planned Behaviour and New Ecological Paradigm have been used. Results show that farmers with high attitudes towards the shift from carbon transport systems to electrical ones, and which are more sensitive to ecological and environmental sustainability issues, are more willing to adopt EVs in their business. This is the first work that investigates the intention of local producers, operating in the SFSC, to introduce an EV for the freight transports, providing interesting theoretical, managerial and political implication, and addressing scholars towards future researches

THE MEDITERRANEAN'S GOLD: WHICH COMMERCIAL PROSPECTS FOR THE THUNNUS THYNNUS IN ITALY?

By taking into consideration the relevant role, in the international trade of Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus), played by Italy, aim of this work is assess the change in the Italian competitive advantage in the international market over the last decade (2008/2017), as a consequence of the Total Allowable Catch system together with size limits set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Investigating the main changes occurred in the Italian international trade balance, by focusing the attention on the relations with the main commercial partners operating in this industry, is of relevant importance to make available updated data to policy makers, managers and scholars in order to reflect on alternative solutions to increase profits in the international trade. By applying the Relative Trade Advantage Index, results show that Italy in the last decade, although maintained an overall profitable position in the international market, has been affected by drastic changes at system level, mainly caused by the ICCAT regulations aimed at reducing the Thunnus thynnus stock overfishing. Measures that led the country to modify commercial partners relations and also internal production business patterns, such as a fragmentation of the Thunnus thynnus supply chain related to the export line. Results suggest to both policy makers and stakeholders to activate alternative solutions to improve the trade volume (in money terms) of this sector, in so doing better exploiting the great potential of product, respecting at the same time the Bluefin Tuna sustainability programs

Electric mobility in the Sicilian short food supply chain

This paper is the first study to explore the intention of entrepreneurs operating in the Short Food Supply Chain to adopt electric mobility inside their business. For this purpose, a case study approach was chosen, employing a questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the New Ecological Paradigm to investigate the determinants affecting this intentional behaviour. The empirical analysis has been carried out in the city of Palermo (Italy), involving 42 entrepreneurs who participate in farmer’s markets. Results show that entrepreneurs with higher levels of intention to introduce sustainable means of transport, such as electric vehicles, are the most concerned about the environment and the delicate balance of natural ecosystems. Moreover, the more frequently local farmers participate in local markets, the higher is their intention to adopt electric vehicles for their business. The preliminary results here discussed enrich the existing literature and provide interesting insights for Short Food Supply Chain entrepreneurs and policy makers, paving the way for future research into this topic

The assessment of EU photovoltaic trend by using PCA and DEA techniques

Aim of this work is, firstly, to produce a synthetic indicator able to identify the main factors that allowed the Photovoltaic (“PV” since now) diffusion from 1996 (PV wide diffusion starting date) to 2010, in 14 selected countries (on the basis of the best performance at EU level, showed by the time series considered) and, secondly, we want to evaluate the technical efficiency of these countries in terms of efficient resources utilization and cost efficiency. For this scope a two steps analysis is performed. In the first step, by using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique, we will identify specific weights of the variables considered for each year, and the roles (in terms of weight) played, by each of them, yearly. In the second step, by using a DEA (Data Envelopment Analysis) model, we will calculate the efficiency scores of 14 EU Member States (EU codes: AT, BE, BG, CZ, DK, FI, FR, DE, EL, IT, NL, ES, SE, and UK). In the first step, we will consider a set of 20 indicators concerning the diffusion of PV, from those concerning the usual electricity demand level/sources, to specific indicators concerning the solar irradiation intensity, modules costs, PV market growth and government financial support schemes. Expected results of the work are, firstly, a detailed analysis able to explain the evolution trend in 14 EU countries (the best performers in the EU PV sector); second, the production of a synthetic indicator able to identify the main variables that allowed the PV diffusion during the years considered; third, a detailed overview on EU solar energy supporting schemes implemented by the 14 EU countries; finally, using the scores of efficiency, the production of a useful tool to be used to measure the attractiveness of PV investments within each EU country considered. Moreover, our work foresees the achievement of important socio-economic impacts: from the role played by the PV sector to produce new job opportunities, to the improvement of attractiveness of Foreigner Direct Investments above all in those sunrich EU countries. Strictly connected to this last point, is the discussion concerning the role of convergence regions (and structural funds available for them) and the related strategic use of structural funds towards the PV’s goals. As a consequence of the heavy worldwide economic crisis, several EU countries are implementing spending review procedures; in this context we put our work, by informing policy makers about the economic potential of PV deployment as well as the government funding schemes role. A final consideration concerns the need to work towards a graduated match between PV labour demand and PV labour supply that, actually, results far to be reached: secondary schools and Universities are invited to play an active role in bridging the gap. Finally, the results reached with this work will fit with 2 of 7 EU 2020 flagships: from one hand, with the flagship an “Agenda for new skills and jobs” by equipping people with the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow and, from the other hand, with the flagship “Resource Efficient Europe”

ISO 14470:2011 and EU legislative background on food irradiation technology: The Italian attitude

Our work aim is to produce an overview of food irradiation technology at European Union level, with a focus on the Italian context, by specifying the legislative background, detection methods and labelling obligations. We highlight how consumers are too often misinformed about this technology and its benefits. For this purpose, a series of tools aimed at improving the amount of information have been proposed, allowing the consumer to make a free choice about whether or not to buy irradiated food based on the correct information received, independent from socio-economic factors. Finally, we show the common effort at EU and International level, represented by the ISO 14470:2011 quality standard

The effect of support schemes on Photovoltaic installed capacity in Europe: a WDEA-STATIS analysis

The European Union (EU) has been committed to promoting Renewable Energy Sources (RES) since 1985, focusing its attention on the financial coordination needed to support the sector, and the possibility of harmonizing support scheme systems. Starting from this assumption, the aim of this study is to provide, by means of STATIS together with windows DEA analysis, a response about which kind of support schemes have worked best in a sample of 11 EU Member States over the last 15 years in terms of Photovoltaic overall installed capacity, the most expensive RES technology

The photovoltaic growth in the European Union requires stronger RES support

Since the adoption of the EU Directive, 2001/77/EC, the production of electricity from renewable energy sources has progressed. Apart from the indicative target proposed by the Directive, actually no other tools of policy monitoring exist. To fill this gap, we propose a dynamic method able to capture this multidimensional phenomenon, providing an assessment tool to measure the technical efficiency performances of EU countries in the photovoltaic sector (1996–2010). Results show how technical efficiencies of countries are, from one hand, due to problems belonging to the economic and political contexts in which they operate, on the other hand driven by specific political support schemes adopted. By taking into consideration the EU interest for a common system focused on a harmonized support schemes framework, our findings suggest the necessity of a further strengthening on the monitoring tools to be used, in order to suitably assess the different faces of the political arrangements that need to be considered to this scope

Organizational models in the Sicilian ornamental plant industry: An empirical analysis based on transaction cost theory

The process of market globalization has led to a redefinition of business models in order to compete in domestic and international markets. In the current competitive scenario, the survival of companies is linked to their ability to reduce or contain the sum of both production and transaction costs. The aim of this paper is to identify the existence of similar organizational models of a sample of Sicilian firms active in the Ornamental Plants sector based on those transaction costs that they support in relation to the sales channel and the other human and firm characteristics. Using a clustering procedure, we identified four well-distinct organizational models whose formation is influenced not only by the physical and economic size of firms but also by the transaction costs experimented. A reconsideration of these models, both in cooperatives and in small firms managed by young entrepreneurs, is needed