Abstract The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 caused deep changes in the international security environment, particularly in geopolitical region of Europe. It would not, therefore, be surprising if the European Union and its member states were to mobilize in order to help Ukraine in several areas. This article seeks to map the main humanitarian, economic and military instruments that constituted the EU’s reaction to the main challenges that were posed in the first year of war.

Resumo A invasão da Ucrânia pela Federação Russa no dia 24 de fevereiro de 2022 provocou alterações profundas no ambiente de segurança internacional, sobretudo na região geopolítica da Europa. Não seria, pois, surpreendente, que fosse a União Europeia e os seus Estados-Membros a mobilizarem-se no sentido de ajudar a Ucrânia nos vários domínios. Este artigo procura mapear os principais instrumentos humanitários, económicos e militares que constituíram a resposta da União Europeia aos principais desafios que foram colocados no primeiro ano de guerra.

A União Europeia tem na sua origem as aspirações a um projeto de paz para o continente europeu, fraturado após a Segunda Guerra Mundial. Não é por isso despiciente que a defesa assuma um papel fundamental quer no início do projeto europeu, através da instituição da CECA ou do Plano Pléven, quer, posteriormente, no desenvolvimento da PCSD. Este artigo percorre as dinâmicas mais recentes no quadro da defesa europeia, nomeadamente a redefinição da narrativa estratégica europeia, através da Estratégia Global e a opção pelo mecanismo da Cooperação Estruturada Permanente expondo a dificuldade em ultrapassar o caráter intergovernamental no domínio da defesa.

At its origin the European Union has the aspirations for a peace project throughout the European Continent, fractured after World War II. It is therefore not misleading that the Defense plays a fundamental role either at the beginning of the European project, through the establishment of the ECSC or the Pléven Plan and later in the development of the CSDP. This article looks at the most recent dynamics in the European Defense framework, namely the redefinition of the European strategic narrative, through the Global Strategy and the option for the Permanent Structure Cooperation mechanism, exposing the difficulty in overcoming the intergovernmental character in defense domain.

Abstract Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion may be an alternative therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with contraindication for anti-coagulation therapy. However, the influence of LAA occlusion on left atrial (LA) performance has not been studied. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the influence of percutaneous LAA occlusion device on LA function by transthoracic echocardiography plus speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE). Methods: We included 16 patients undergoing percutaneous LAA closure with adequate echocardiographic window for the study of LA mechanics. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed before and after the procedure. LA volumes were calculated using the biplane method, and LA mechanics were assessed using STE. The analysis focused on the LA reservoir phase strain and strain rate. Results: Seventy-five percent of patients had permanent atrial fibrillation. Embolic and bleeding risk scores used were CHA2DS2-VASc [median of 4-5] and HAS-BLED [median of 2-3]. Major bleeding (62%) was the most common indication for the procedure. Percutaneous LAA closure was performed successfully in all patients, without major complications. No differences were found in maximum LA volume (44 ± 11 vs. 46 ± 13 mL/m2; p = 0.54), minimum LA volume (32 ± 8 vs. 37 ± 14 mL/m2; p = 0.09) or LA emptying fraction (26 ± 17 vs. 21 ± 14%; p = 0.33) before and after the procedure. Similarly, no differences were noted in left atrial strain (13.7 ± 11.1 vs. 13.0 ± 8.8%; p = 0.63) or strain rate (1.06 ± 0.26 vs. 1.13 ± 0.34 s-1; p = 0.38) in the reservoir phase. Conclusions: Our data suggest that percutaneous LAA closure does not affect LA reservoir function.

Resumo Fundamento: As recomendações de miocardiopatia hipertrófica (MCH) da Sociedade Europeia de Cardiologia aconselham a estimativa do risco de morte súbita cardíaca (MSC) como parte da avaliação clínica e decisão de implantação de cardioversor desfibrilador implantável (CDI). Objetivo: Comparar a estratificação de risco de MSC de acordo com as recomendações de 2011 e 2014. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 105 pacientes com diagnóstico de MCH. Avaliou-se a recomendação para implantação de CDI conforme as recomendações de 2011 e 2014. A análise estatística foi realizada usando o software SPSS versão 19.0.0.2®. Os testes realizados foram bilaterais, sendo considerado o nível de significância de 5% (p< 0,05). Resultados: Conforme as recomendações ACCF/AHA 2011, 39,0% dos pacientes tinham indicação para implantação de CDI (nível de evidência classe IIa). Conforme as recomendações de 2014, apenas 12,4% dos pacientes apresentam indicação classe IIa para implantação de CDI. Comparando os dois modelos de estratificação de risco de MSC em MCH, verificou-se uma redução significativa na proporção de pacientes com indicação para implantação de CDI (p < 0,001). Do total de 41 pacientes classificados como IIa segundo as recomendações de 2011, 68,3% deles recebeu uma classificação diferente em 2014. Conclusão: No estudo foram encontradas diferenças significativas quando comparados os métodos de estratificação de risco de MSC para implantação de CDI. O escore de risco atual parece identificar muitos pacientes de baixo risco, que não são candidatos à implantação de CDI. A utilização desse novo escore resulta numa redução significativa do número de CDI implantados.

Abstract Background: The new European Society of Cardiology guidelines for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) define the estimation of sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk as an integral part of clinical management. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is recommended (class IIa) when the risk is ≥ 6%. Objectives: To compare the SCD risk stratification according to the 2011 and 2014 recommendations for ICD implantation in patients with HCM. Methods: Retrospective study including 105 patients diagnosed with HCM. The indication for ICD was assessed using the 2011 and 2014 guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 19.0.0.2®. The tests performed were bilateral, considering the significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). Results: Regarding primary prevention, according to the 2011 ACCF/AHA recommendations, 39.0% of the patients had indication for ICD implantation (level of evidence IIa). Using the 2014 guidelines, only 12.4% of the patients had an indication for ICD implantation. Comparing the two risk stratification models for patients with HCM, we detected a significant reduction in the number of indications for ICD implantation (p < 0.001). Of the 41 patients classified as IIa according to the 2011 recommendations, 68.3% received a different classification according to the 2014 guidelines. Conclusion: Significant differences were found when comparing the SCD risk stratification for ICD implantation in the two guidelines. The current SCD risk score seems to identify many low-risk patients who are not candidates for ICD implantation. The use of this new score results in a significant reduction in the number of ICD implanted.

Kosovo is the largest per capita recipient of EU financial aid in the world, and is home to the largest civilian crisis management mission ever launched by the Union (EULEX). However, it is questionable whether this assistance has been sufficiently effective. The judiciary continues to suffer from political interference, inefficiency and a lack of transparency and enforcement. This paper considers the EU's assistance to Kosovo in the field of the Rule of Law and attempts to assess whether it is achieving its intended results. It discusses what EULEX's impact has been on overall progress in the main areas of the Rule of Law: the police and justice.

Kosovo es el mayor receptor per cápita de la ayuda financiera de la UE en el mundo, y es el hogar de la mayor misión de gestión civil de crisis jamás lanzado por la Unión Europea (EULEX). Sin embargo, es dudoso que esta ayuda haya sido suficientemente eficaz. El poder judicial sigue sufriendo la interferencia política, la ineficiencia y la falta de transparencia y cumplimiento. En este trabajo se considera la asistencia de la UE para Kosovo en el ámbito del Estado de Derecho y se intenta evaluar si se están alcanzando los resultados previstos . Se discute el impacto de EULEX en el progreso global de las principales áreas del Estado de Derecho: la policía y la justicia.

O Kosovo é o maior beneficiário per capita de ajuda financeira da União Europeia (UE) em todo o mundo, ao mesmo tempo que alberga a maior missão de gestão civil de crises até agora empreendida pela UE, a EULEX. Mas tem a missão sido suficientemente eficaz? Se, por um lado, as autoridades do Kosovo não têm dado a necessária prioridade ao Estado de direito, por outro, o desacordo que se faz sentir na UE relativamente ao reconhecimento do estatuto do Kosovo tem vindo a prejudicar o incentivo que constitui a sua futura adesão à UE. Este artigo analisa a ajuda da UE ao Kosovo em matéria de Estado de direito e procura avaliar se esta ajuda tem ou não sido eficaz na concretização dos objetivos a que se propôs.

Kosovo is the largest per capita recipient of EU financial aid in the world, and is home to the largest civilian crisis management mission ever launched by the EU (EULEX). However, it is questionable whether or not this assistance has been sufficiently effective. The judiciary continues to suffer from political interference, inefficiency and a lack of transparency and enforcement. The Kosovar authorities do not prioritize sufficiently the rule of law and the disagreement over the recognition of Kosovo jeopardizes the incentive for EU accession. This paper considers the EU’s assistance to Kosovo in the field of the rule of law and assesses its success in achieving its intended results. It discusses the EULEX’s impact upon the overall progress of Kosovo in the main areas of the rule of law: the police and justice