European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
BLOG
Parents and parents-to-be [What Europe does for you]
As soon as you find out that you are going to become a parent, you are confronted with a new situation that requires not only mental readiness but also some basic equipment. Continue reading
People concerned about food safety [What Europe does for you]
If you love chips or indeed any other fried or baked foods such as crisps, biscuits or toast, you may have heard of acrylamide, a harmful substance present in these foods. Continue reading
Teleworkers [What Europe does for you]
If you work from home, you are among the 17 % of EU employees engaged in telework or mobile work. This type of work can be good for your work-life balance, reducing commuting time and boosting productivity; but it also brings the risk of longer working hours and work-home interference. Continue reading
Hairdressers [What Europe does for you]
The hairdressing sector in Europe employs more than a million people. Together with other owners of small and medium-sized companies, as a hairdresser you can benefit from the EU’s small business-friendly legislation. You can access EU-backed loans for small businesses and European market information. Enterprise Europe Network makes it easier to find a new business partner in Europe. Moreover, EU laws allow EU countries to apply reduced value added tax rates to various services, including hairdressing. This reduction, if applied, helps to increase profit margins for the sector. Continue reading
Vocational students [What Europe does for you]
If you are studying on a vocational or professional track, your talents are key to a strong economy and the EU wants to help you develop your skills. The EU invests in improving awareness, creating opportunities, and supporting those in charge to provide the best quality and most relevant training possible. Continue reading
People who do not drive [What Europe does for you]
There is roughly one car for every two people in the EU, but not all Europeans drive. For people living in densely built up areas, the convenience of a car may be outweighed by the inconvenience of finding a parking spot; the cost of buying, maintaining and running a car; or health or environmental considerations. Not driving means relying on alternative forms of getting about: walking, cycling, public transport, taxis – and for longer distances, buses, trains and aeroplanes. The EU is working to improve these services on two fronts: by encouraging investment in public transport and cross-border transport links for the movement of people, goods and services; and by fostering competition on transport routes across the continent, to secure a better deal for consumers. Continue reading
Disabled road users [What Europe does for you]
Perhaps you, or someone you know, are one of the estimated 14 to 17 % people aged over 15 in the EU who suffer from a disability? You are not alone, as these numbers are expected to rise, mainly due to the aging population. By 2020, approximately 120 million Europeans will have a disability. The EU is working to remove barriers preventing your equal participation in life activities, particularly as regards your access to transport. Continue reading
Breastfeeding mothers [What Europe does for you]
If you recently gave birth and are breastfeeding your baby, you may be wondering how you are going to reconcile the need to go back to work with the desire to continue breastfeeding. As mother’s milk is known to be very important for infants, the EU supports breastfeeding, including in the workplace, by means of legislation, information campaigns, and funding for projects and research. Continue reading
Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, 2 August
The tragedy of the Holocaust was a crucial consideration in the development of European integration Continue reading
Diabetes sufferers [What Europe does for you]
Have you had your blood sugar level checked lately? Did you know that a simple test can diagnose diabetes and spare you a lot of health problems, or even save your life? Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting over 33 million EU citizens, characterised by elevated levels of blood sugar that over time can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 results from a lack of insulin production and type 2 from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Type 2 diabetes accounts for almost 90 % of diabetes cases and can often be prevented by a healthy lifestyle, regular physical activity and maintaining a normal body weight. Continue reading
People who exercise to keep fit [What Europe does for you]
Most people know they should get more exercise. There is a strong link between physical activity and physical and mental wellbeing, and between membership of associations like sports clubs and community cohesion. But too few Europeans practise any sport or exercise. For many, the issue is not so much motivation as finding the time and opportunities. Initiatives like the European Week of Sport and the sport chapter of Erasmus+ were conceived to show Europeans just how easy it can be to make small but regular amounts of physical activity a habit. Sport and fitness are part of public health policy, which is mostly decided by national governments, but the EU is taking steps to remove barriers to cross-border collaboration and recreation through sport. Continue reading
People who exercise outdoors [What Europe does for you]
You do not need to be a member of a gym to exercise. City streets, parks and green belt areas offer plenty of space to walk, run, practise yoga or do other bodyweight exercises. We cannot influence the weather, but there are other ways in which the public space can be made more inviting for people who want to exercise outdoors. One is by offering more and better purpose-built facilities, such as protected cycle paths, athletics tracks, pull-up bars and outdoor ice skating rinks. The other is by improving air quality, which can be a significant disincentive to exercising outdoors in urban centres. Continue reading
Transplant patients [What Europe does for you]
In the European Union, 16 patients die every day waiting for the organs they need. Around 60 000 patients are on waiting lists. Organ transplantation is becoming an increasingly common way to save human lives or to improve their daily life, but its application is limited by the shortage of available organs. Kidneys are the most frequently transplanted organ. Continue reading
Women in the military and in peace-keeping and peace-making [What Europe does for you]
Women have proved they can perform the same police, military and civilian roles to the same standards and under the same difficult conditions as their male counterparts. They are also key agents in mediation and peace-making. Continue reading
Local and regional civil servants [What Europe does for you]
Local and regional authorities play an important role in implementing EU policy as they work close to the public. Efficient service and a high level of expertise are crucial for the quality of public administration. Continue reading
Translators and interpreters [What Europe does for you]
Are you a translator or interpreter working in some of the European Union’s 24 official languages? As the EU has grown, so has the number of official languages, now more than any other organisation (the United Nations has only six). Continue reading
Tourism operators [What Europe does for you]
There is no specific EU fund for tourism but, as a tourism operator, you can apply for funding from various EU sources, such as the European structural and investment funds. Continue reading
A Parliament unlike any other? Academic perspectives on the European Parliament
Desmond Dinan, Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, Virginia, USA, and the first European Parliamentary Research Service Visiting Fellow, inaugurated the new EPRS Annual Lecture series on 11 July 2018, at the EP’s Library Reading Room in Brussels. Continue reading
Bus drivers [What Europe does for you]
Bus and coach travel plays a significant role in the daily life of many Europeans. In 2015, over 8 % of all passengers made use of these services, compared with 9.8 % for air transport and 6.7 % for rail. In 2014, there were over 361 000 road passenger transport enterprises in the EU. European roads are the safest in the world and the EU is striving to move closer to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050. Continue reading
EPRS conference: EU needs policy overhaul to spur disruptive innovation
The European Union lags behind the United States and China in fostering disruptive technology and needs a policy overhaul to catch up with, or even leapfrog, its rivals. Continue reading
Download the EPRS App
