European Parliament

Expanding the use of forensic DNA intelligence requires the development of accurate DNA-based predictive models. The primary challenge in achieving a highly accurate epigenetic age prediction method in sperm lies in the unique biological function of male reproductive cells. In this study, we independently evaluated the Germ Line Age (GLA) calculator, one of the most comprehensive tools for predicting sperm age to date. We then set out to define a streamlined, well-curated set of sperm cell-specific markers suitable for forensic applications, while providing an integrated laboratory tool for targeted methylation profiling using bisulfite amplicon sequencing with Ion AmpliSeq™ technology. DNA was extracted from 212 sperm samples, genome-wide DNA methylation was measured using Infinium MethylationEPIC (EPIC) arrays and methylation beta values were extracted for 260 literature-reported CpG markers. Application of the GLA model to this sperm cell dataset resulted in a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.82 years. As a next step, predictive analysis based on 147 training set samples identified a subset of eight optimal CpG markers for model building. Due to technical constraints encountered during Ion AmpliSeq™ assay optimization, the final model was refined to include seven CpGs, yielding the ForSpEC (Forensic Sperm Epigenetic Clock) model. ForSpEC predicted age with an MAE of 3.13 years in the 65 test samples. When the EPIC-trained ForSpEC model was applied to Ion AmpliSeq™ data (N = 20), age prediction accuracy remained high, with an MAE of 3.76 years. For comparison, existing predictors were retrained using EPIC data, demonstrating that the seven CpGs comprising ForSpEC rank among the most accurate predictors of sperm epigenetic age. The model was further validated using data from publicly available repositories and the impact of cellular composition on prediction accuracy was additionally addressed by comparing DNA samples isolated from sperm cells with whole semen samples. Overall, this study advances sperm-based epigenetic age estimation by introducing ForSpEC, a highly accurate forensic epigenetic clock that relies on just seven CpG markers. This new method exhibits only a modest reduction in accuracy compared to the GLA model, which relies on 261 CpGs. Moreover, the analyses underscore the high utility of Ion AmpliSeq™ technology for targeted DNA methylation analysis in forensic applications.

ABSTRACT Stencil technology is always evolving to keep up with electronics miniaturization trends. Different foil materials, cutting methods, and coating technologies continue to propel printing capability to new levels. This study evaluates the emerging stencil technologies using the SMTA Miniaturization Test Vehicle (MTV). The top side of the MTV has a variety of decreasing SMT component sizes, enabling the study to classify print capability by package type. The test compared the performance of six different stencils, from four different suppliers. They were comprise of three different foil materials and four unique nanocoatings. All six stencils were tested sequentially in the same run, using the same solder paste and brand new SMTA boards. SPI data for 10 prints each were collected and analyzed by component type. The results of the tests are reported using mean transfer efficiencies and coefficients of variation. Effects of material, coating type and underwipe are discussed.

Abstract In the 25th of February 2024, four years since the first Act of Legislative Content of the Greek Government concerning the prevention and limitation of the spreading of coronavirus COVID-19 were completed. The regulatory production of this period is huge and has a series of unique characteristics with prevailing one the use of means of extraordinary legislation as foreseen in the Greek Constitution. All these measures are presented in a consolidated form in the “Special Administrative Codification of urgent regulatory measures to prevent and limit the spreading of coronavirus COVID-19 and to deal with relevant problems” under the short name of PANDEKTIS, conducted by the Department of Administrative Codifications – Raptarchis of the Secretariat General for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of the Presidency of the Greek Government. The study of this monumental work gives rise to very interesting findings, about the way Hellenic Government handled the Pandemic crisis. This article presents the law-making process and the process of issuing secondary legislation during the Pandemic, its quantitative and qualitative characteristics with special comment on the fulfillment of the rules and principles of Better Regulation and discusses the use of administrative codification as a means of reflecting an holistic picture of the regulatory production during a period of crisis.

ESG-litigation: duurzaamheidsverslaggeving, CSRD en de jaarrekeningprocedure bij de Ondernemingskamer ESG-litigation over duurzaamheidsverslaggeving kan met de implementatie van de Richtlijn duurzaamheidsrapportering (CSRD) en bijbehorende standaarden voor duurzaamheidsrapportage (ESRS) plaatsvinden via de jaarrekeningprocedure bij de Ondernemingskamer. Deze bijdrage bespreekt de sancties bij schending van de duurzaamheidsrapporteringsregels, het belanghebbendebegrip in de jaarrekeningprocedure en de rol van de AFM in het licht van de CSRD en ESRS.

Abstract This article analyses to what extend the rapid growth of Frontex has been accompanied by adequate democratic accountability, whereby the author draws on her experiences as a Member of Parliament. She elaborates on the safeguards in legislation but also on their application in practice, with a focus on the lessons the Parliament learned from its own inquiry on the role of Frontex in pushbacks. The contribution subsequently puts democratic control to a test on two relatively recent tasks of Frontex: return and external cooperation. Regarding the latter, the Parliament's role is highlighted in the negotiations on the Frontex status agreements between the EU and Mauritania/Senegal. The article answers the question of what obstacles must be overcome, through legislative amendments or changes in practice and culture, for the Parliament to exercise its role effectively. Two of these factors are dealt with more prominently: transparency and cooperation with national parliaments.

Napjainkban a hátrányos helyzetű, alulképzett társadalmi csoportok képzés útján történő felzárkóztatása, foglalkoztatottságának növelése mind társadalmi, mind gazdasági szempontból aktuális és fontos feladat. Ez egyaránt kihívást jelent a szakképzés, a felnőttképzés és a munkaerőhiánnyal küzdő gazdasági szervezetek számára. A tanulmány a munkaerőpiacon hátrányban lévő csoportok közül a fogyatékossággal élő és a megváltozott munkaképességű személyek munkaerőpiaci helyzetével foglalkozik felnőttképzési aspektusból.
 Az alul-foglalkoztatottságnak a szakképzettség hiányán túl számos oka van (alacsony információhiány, diszkrimináció, inkluzív, akadálymentesített munkahelyek hiánya stb.). További ok az a sajátos jelenség, hogy fogyatékossággal élő és megváltozott munkaképességű személyek esetén nem igaz a többségi társadalom tagjaira az a kutatásokkal igazolt tény, hogy minél magasabb a munkavállaló iskolai végzettsége, szakképzettsége, annál valószínűbb a munkaerőpiaci sikeressége.
 A tanulmány célja - egy későbbi nagyobb mintájú kutatás előkészítéseként - tisztázni a főbb fogalmakat, továbbá pilot jellegű vizsgálat révén informálódni az érintettek foglalkoztatásának (toborzás és kiválasztás, képzés és a karrierépítés) esélyegyelőségi kérdéseiről. A vizsgálat módszere félig strukturált interjú, a célcsoport egyrészt fogyatékossággal élő személyeket képviselő civil szervezetek vezetői, másrészt a munkaerőpiacon IT szolgáltatásokat nyújtó cégek vezetői. A két mesterszakos hallgató bevonásával készült interjúkutatás bővíti a fogyatékossággal élő személyek munkaerőpiaci helyzetének ismeretét és konkrét javaslatokkal segíti munkaerőpiaci helyzetük javítását.

Interrogé par le poète François Rannou, Pierre-Yves Soucy propose de substantielles réflexions sur ce qui anime la revue L’étrangère qu’il a fondée en 2002 : sa capacité à se renouveler afin de savoir durer sans perdre sa boussole, une forme de résistance à l’ordre des choses, au spectacle, en ce sens une marginalité assumée, son ambition d’accueillir et de mettre en forme une pluralité de voix, d’approches dans la création comme dans la pensée à même de faire résonner le réel dans toutes ses composantes. Il insiste sur l’ardente nécessité de prêter attention et soutien aux nouvelles voix qui s’annoncent, en chemin vers un livre possible. Interrogé enfin sur le futur de la revue, Pierre-Yves Soucy, s’il déplore le désengagement du CNL et insiste sur la nécessité de soutiens publics, réaffirme sa volonté d’être fidèle aux engagements premiers de L’étrangère : mener un travail collectif sur des terrains qui restent inexplorés, mission pour une équipe renouvelée.

Abstract The use for security purposes of airline passenger data (PNR) has gradually come to the fore especially in EU‐US relations because of the tension between those who considered the use of PNR an effective tool in the fight against terrorism and those who considered the interference in citizens' privacy disproportionate. The Court of Justice intervened decisively on the issue in June 2022 with the “Ligue des Droits Humains” Judgment C‐817/19. This ruling should have been followed by a review of the national legislations that transposed the Directive. On the contrary, the Member States are still going in the opposite direction to that indicated by the Court.