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An automatic dimensioning strategy for AMR in the sequential version of EUROPLEXUS
No full textThis report presents a strategy for automatic dimensioning (i.e. automatic memory growth) of Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) in the sequential version of the EUROPLEXUS code (also abbreviated as EPX). AMR is an advanced technique available in EPX in order to increase the accuracy of large industrial numerical simulations by locally refining the Finite Element (FE) mesh with an acceptable computer time overhead.JRC.E.7 - Defence and External Securit
Setting safe ecological boundaries for nutrients and exploring climate impacts on biological resilience in lowland lakes and rivers in the Nordic and central European regions
No full textBoundary concentrations for phosphorus and nitrogen set by EU countries and Norway are intended to support good ecological status in lakes and rivers. Yet these boundaries vary by more than an order of magnitude within comparable waterbody types, raising concerns that some limits may not ensure good status. This study estimates nutrient boundaries compatible with good ecological status for lake phytoplankton and river phytobenthos by using binomial logistic regression (BLR) and examines how climate variables affect their ecological status. Using datasets on total phosphorus, total nitrogen and ecological quality ratios for lake phytoplankton and river phytobenthos from three Nordic and three Central European/Baltic countries, we estimated nutrient boundaries that are likely to support good ecological status for nutrient-sensitive biota in common lake and river types within each of these regions. The boundaries estimated with BLR correspond well to previous estimates based on other regression methods. Most of the currently used national boundaries are also in line with our estimates. However, some national boundaries exceed the upper 95% confidence limit of the estimated values – indicating that they may require further validation. Climate effects on ecological status were variable and much weaker than the strong influence of nutrients. Nonetheless, ecological status for phytoplankton in lakes (expressed as normalized ecological quality ratio) showed a small but consistent negative relationship with summer air temperature for all the stratified lake types included. Consequently, river basin managers may need to adopt more stringent nutrient boundaries and/or implement additional measures to mitigate climate-driven risks to freshwater ecosystems.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
Mapping the transition of the EU ammonia industry to carbon neutrality
Full text linkThis factsheet provides an overview of sectoral emission sources, emissions breakdowns, decarbonisation trajectories, and estimated technology-specific CO₂ abatement costs. It further examines the evolution of decarbonisation technology maturity (from research and innovation to demonstration and deployment) in the timeline from 2025 to 2050 and evaluates the extent to which this evolution aligns with relevant policy targets and objectives.JRC.C.7 - Energy Transition Insights for Polic
Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) – Stock assessments in the Western Mediterranean Sea (STECF 25-09)
No full textCommission Decision of 25 February 2016 setting up a Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries, C(2016) 1084, OJ C 74, 26.2.2016, p. 4–10. The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to marine and fisheries biology, fishing gear technology, fisheries economics, fisheries governance, ecosystem effects of fisheries, aquaculture or similar disciplines This report documents the outcomes of STECF Expert Working Group 24-10: 2024 stock assessments of demersal stocks in the Western Mediterranean Sea from the meeting held in hybrid mode from 2nd to 8th September 2024. A total of 20 fish stocks have been considered as 15 stocks were evaluated by means of a statistical catch at age using as a4a, 1 stock (NEP11) as production model using SPICT, 1 stock (NEP5) as index-based advice and, finally advices for 3 stocks (ARA8-9-10-11, NEP9 and MUT10) have been provided as catch only advice (20% of reduction) (ICES Category 5). The content of the report gives the STECF terms of reference; the basis of the evaluations; assessments, reference point calculations; summaries of state of stock and advised catch or F based on either the MSY approach for assessed stocks and category 3 and 5 based advices for those without assessments. The report contains the full stock assessment reports, the exploration of assessments and category 3 and 5 evaluations for the remaining stocks. The report also contains the STECF observations and conclusions on the assessment report. These conclusions come from the STECF mini plenary meeting 17-18 October 2025.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
Drought in East Africa January 2026
Full text linkA severe drought has been gripping East Africa, particularly Somalia, southeastern Ethiopia, and eastern Kenya, with devastating consequences for the agricultural sector.
The drought is expected to cause crop failures and yield losses, exacerbating food insecurity and threatening the livelihood of millions of people.
Soil moisture levels are at historic lows, with vegetation conditions being severely affected by the lack of rainfall and by the high temperatures.
The humanitarian crisis is worsening, with 4.6 million people already affected and over 135,000 displaced in Somalia.
Seasonal forecasts offer little respite, with spots of drier-than-average conditions predicted for southern Somalia and southeastern Kenya in the coming months, but significant forecast uncertainty.JRC.E.1 - Disaster Risk Managemen
An erosion mechanism for Cell Centered Finite Volumes in EUROPLEXUS
Full text linkThis report describes the extension of the element erosion algorithm of the EUROPLEXUS computer
code (also abbreviated as EPX) to the Cell Centered Finite Volumes model used to represent the fluid
domain in fast transient dynamic simulations. The model is applied to building vulnerability studies and
to the protection of public spaces.JRC.E.2 - Space, Connectivity and Economic Securit
On- and off-chain demand and supply drivers of Bitcoin price
No full textAround three-quarters of Bitcoin transactions occur off-chain. While most empirical studies focus exclusively on on-chain transactions, only few papers analyse offchain transactions. The empirical evidence of Bitcoin market considering both types of trading strategies remains limited. This paper is one of the first to present an empirical analysis of both on- and off-chain demand and supply-side factors and their short- and long-run relationship with the Bitcoin price. Employing the ARDL approach with daily data from 2019 to 2024, we demonstrate a differentiated contribution of on-chain and off-chain drivers to the Bitcoin price. In the long-run, off-chain demand pressures have a significant relationship with the Bitcoin price. In the short-run, both offchain demand and supply factors are statistically significantly related to the Bitcoin price. The relationship between blockchain transactions and the Bitcoin price is also present, albeit likely operating through a different channel than offchain trades. These findings confirm the dual nature of the Bitcoin market, in which price movements are related to both market fundamentals and speculative considerations captured by on- and off-chain trades, respectively.JRC.D.4 - Economics of Food System
Do drinking occasion characteristics differ across individuals using different moderation approaches? A social practice perspective
No full textBackground
Limiting alcohol consumption is challenging as alcohol often serves as a ‘social lubricant’ in drinking practices. While individuals adopt different behavioral approaches to reduce drinking, it remains unclear how they align their drinking behaviors with moderation goals.
Aim
This study utilizes a unique dataset that captures detailed information about the characteristics of drinking occasions, encompassing key theoretically-informed elements of (social) drinking practices. The aim is to investigate whether drinking occasion characteristics differ: (i) between individuals trying to moderate their drinking and those who are not; (ii) among four subtypes of drinkers using different approaches to moderation: reducing drinking occasions, consuming smaller-sized drinks, limiting the number of drinks, or employing a mixed approach, including alcohol-free drinks.
Method
Data from a large British cross-sectional survey of 101,461 regular drinkers, detailing 307,175 drinking occasions, were analyzed. Participants reported on the context of these occasions and on whether, and how, they attempted to moderate their drinking. Random intercept models examined how the probability of reporting specific occasion characteristics varied across moderation approaches, and between moderators and non-moderators.
Findings
While few differences were found between moderators and non-moderators, substantial heterogeneity emerged when comparing individuals using different moderation approaches. Notably, approaches involving smaller-sized or nonalcoholic drinks were more frequently reported in social settings, suggesting that self-control approaches are particularly useful in managing social pressure.
Conclusions
Different moderation approaches are associated with distinct drinking occasion characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of tailoring moderation guidance to the specific contexts in which individuals typically consume alcohol.JRC.S.3 - Science for Modelling, Monitoring and Evaluatio
An urban agglomerations prototype using the Degree of Urbanisation
Full text linkThe Degree of Urbanisation (DEGURBA) is a globally harmonised framework for classifying cities, towns, suburbs and rural areas, which is widely used for territorial analysis and policy monitoring. However, it does not explicitly assign suburban and peri-urban areas to the cities and towns around which they are located. This report presents a methodology to delineate urban agglomerations (UAGGs) within the DEGURBA framework, enabling a coherent representation of urban systems that links urban settlements with their contiguous suburban surroundings.
The proposed approach applies a scalable, grid-based procedure that identifies urban settlements as reference points, defines contiguous urban domains, and assigns surrounding areas univocally to an urban settlement using population-weighted gravitational interactions. The method is designed to accommodate diverse urban morphologies, including monocentric and polycentric configurations, and to operate consistently at global scale without reliance on commuting data.
A two-stage calibration process, combining local exploratory testing in selected regions with global optimisation, ensures robustness and limits the inclusion of rural areas while maximising suburban coverage. The resulting urban agglomerations complement existing DEGURBA classes and provide a policy-relevant spatial unit for analysing urbanisation patterns, population dynamics, and urban–suburban relationships across countries and over time.JRC.E.1 - Disaster Risk Managemen
Final preliminary report on the revision of the EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes
Full text linkThis Preliminary Report is intended to provide the background information for the revision of the existing EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes (Commission Decision 2014/312/EU). The present study has been carried out by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) with the technical support of Viegand Maagøe A/S. The work was developed for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment.
The EU Ecolabel criteria for indoor and outdoor paints and varnishes set out in Decision 2014/312/EU were established in 2014. Commission Decision (EU) 2022/1229 prolonged their validity until 31 December 2025.
To support the revision process with technical evidence, this Preliminary Report consists of:
— an analysis of the scope, definitions and description of the legal framework, as well as a first proposal for the revised scope (Task 1);
— a market analysis (Task 2);
— a technical analysis, including an environmental assessment (Task 3).
This background information, combined with input received from the stakeholders involved, was used in the revision process to justify the choices behind the revision of the criteria (research and work carried out from June 2023 to June 2025).JRC.B.5 - Circular Economy and Sustainable Industr