Rural Accessibility in European Regions explores concepts, methodologies, and case studies dealing with accessibility in European rural areas, embracing cultural, socioeconomic, and governance aspects that play a key role for accessibility policies in rural and peripheral areas. In the first part, the chapters introduce rural accessibility challenges, present a methodology to support policymaking for enhancing accessibility in rural areas and apply it to case studies in the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Sweden. In the second part, additional cases from Poland, Germany, Greece, and France provide alternative approaches to the topic, and a research agenda is proposed. Overall, the book contributes to a conceptualisation of rural accessibility, addressing challenges and potentials for rural accessibility and urban–rural relationships in European regions. The book fills a gap in the existing bodies of literature on accessibility and on rural planning, bridging the two spheres with an interdisciplinary approach to rural accessibility for mobility, planning, and regional studies.

Estonia Country Study Guide - Strategic Information and Developments Volume 1 Strategic Information and Developments

This clear and comprehensive introduction to the European Union considers its development through the theme of crisis and renewal. John Van Oudenaren describes EU institutions and policies, both historically and as they relate to current events. He traces the renewal of the EU that was underway at the end of the 2010s following the euro, migration, and Brexit crises and the health, economic, and political crisis that subsequently hit the Union with unexpected force in the coronavirus pandemic of 2020–2021. Exploring how institutions and policies are adapting to unprecedented political, economic, and geopolitical challenges, the author focuses on two key EU priorities—digitization and the transition to a carbon neutral future. These, he argues, are both intrinsic policy goals and the means by which the Union hopes to ensure its revitalization and its emergence as a “sovereign” power, taking its place alongside the United States and China as one of the big three players in global politics. Explaining the different theoretical perspectives used to understand the EU, the book gives students the tools they need to assess whether the Union is on a path to recovery and renewal.

This unique book shares the knowledge and experience of experts and scientists who apply high-quality findings and input from their research to issues concerning the management of water resources and their quality in Baltic countries including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and Russia. It summarizes the latest results of several systematic investigations, and assesses the occurrence and quality of surface and underground waters within the Baltic countries to help decision-makers plan for sustainable development. The book addresses a range of water resources management issues, especially those that are relevant to the water quality in these Baltic countries. It presents cutting-edge information and findings that can be effectively used to solve a variety of problems in integrated water resources management. Accordingly, it will be of interest to graduate students, researchers, water scientists, professionals, experts and practitioners working in water resources management.

An in-depth survey of the region presenting the latest economic and political developments. It includes expert comment on issues of regional importance, up-to-date statistics, a directory of institutes and companies and political profiles.