European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
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European Parliament Plenary Session – September 2019
Parliament opens its doors for the first plenary session after the summer on Monday evening, with an agenda focused on climate issues and the EU budget. Continue reading
Translation and interpretation at the European Parliament
Using 24 languages creates 552 possible language combinations. To cope with these, the European Parliament uses a system of ‘relay’ languages: a speaker or a text is first interpreted or translated into one of the most widely used languages (English, French or German), and then into other languages. As a rule, each interpreter and translator works into his/her mother tongue. Continue reading
State of the Union [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The State of the Union addresses of the President of the European Commission are not prescribed by the EU Treaties. Rather, they were instigated with the 2010 Framework Agreement between the European Parliament and the European Commission as part of the annual political and legislative programming of the Union. Continue reading
Privacy and personal data protection [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
Personal data is processed – often automatically – for many purposes to the benefit of society and individuals; at the same time, its use (or the risk of its misuse) raises concerns for individual’s rights, including privacy and data protection, which are enshrined in both primary and secondary EU law. Continue reading
Parliamentary hearings of the Commissioners-designate and approval of the College of Commissioners (investiture) [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The European Parliament’s power to dismiss the Commission by means of a motion of censure goes back to its very inception (1951). However, it was not until the Maastricht Treaty (1992) that the Parliament acquired a role in the investiture procedure too, by gaining the power to approve (and, therefore, also to reject) the College of Commissioners before it took office. Continue reading
Pushing for an adequate response to online disinformation [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The visibility of disinformation as a tool to undermine democracies increased in the context of Russia’s hybrid war against Ukraine. It gained notoriety as a global challenge during the the United States presidential election campaign in 2016, and in the context of the UK referendum on EU membership the same year. Continue reading
Democracy support for Ukraine [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
Ukraine is a key example of how the European Parliament has increased its ‘soft’, diplomatic power. As explained below, before and after the Maidan revolution in 2013-2014, which was sparked by the decision by the then President, Viktor Yanukovich, not to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, the European Parliament has played an increasingly visible role in relation to democracy support. Continue reading
Review and revision of the 2014-2020 multiannual financial framework [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme dedicated to education, training, youth and sport. It is one of the best-known EU initiatives, but many think Erasmus+ is only for university students who go to study for a few months in another European university. Continue reading
An EU budget focused on results [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The principles of sound financial management, regularity and legality of budget implementation have been present in the EU legal and financial system since the earliest days of the European Communities. Continue reading
More EU funding to fight unemployment: Youth Employment Initiative [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The European Parliament has traditionally been very supportive of EU funding for employment-related programmes. On different occasions, it has expressed concerns about the level of unemployment among young people, calling for the European youth strategy and concrete actions, endowed with adequate financial resources. Continue reading
Promoting peace and stability in the world: the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
Development cooperation has been a cornerstone of the EU’s relations with the outside world, contributing to the objectives of EU external action, alongside foreign, security and trade policies. Continue reading
Passenger name records (PNR) for the prevention of terrorist offences and serious crime [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
In April 2016, after five years of legislative work and lengthy negotiations, the co-legislators adopted the Directive on the use of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime. Continue reading
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between EU and Canada [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the EU and Canada entered into force on a provisional basis on 21 September 2017, and most of the agreement now applies. The ratification process is still ongoing at the Member State level. Continue reading
Telecoms reform: a new European Electronic Communications Code [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The last overhaul of EU telecommunications rules took place in 2009, which is a very long time ago in a modern digital world that is increasingly reliant on rapid technological development. Given the urgent need to meaningfully adapt the framework so that European businesses can compete globally and citizens have stronger rights and are better protected in the virtual world, in September 2016 the European Commission proposed the directive establishing the new European Electronic Communications Code (EECC). Continue reading
Promotion of renewable energy in the EU after 2020 [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
In June 2018, the EU institutions reached agreement on a substantial revision of the Renewables Directive (RED), which sets an ambitious framework for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the EU over the 2021-2030 period. Continue reading
Online shopping: banning unjustified geo-blocking and discrimination practices [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme dedicated to education, training, youth and sport. It is one of the best-known EU initiatives, but many think Erasmus+ is only for university students who go to study for a few months in another European university. Continue reading
Protection of small producers against unfair trading practices in the food supply chain [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
The food supply chain ensures that food and drink products are delivered to the public. It affects all consumers in the EU. The final price paid by the consumer is impacted by the number of participants in the food supply chain. Continue reading
Erasmus+: more open for people from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as smaller organisations [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme dedicated to education, training, youth and sport. It is one of the best-known EU initiatives, but many think Erasmus+ is only for university students who go to study for a few months in another European university. Continue reading
Stricter CO2 emission standards for new cars and vans [European Parliament impact 2014-2019]
Road transport is responsible for around 20 % of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Transport is the only sector in the EU that did not record any significant decline in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. In 2016, EU transport emissions were 26 % above 1990 levels.
The European Parliament has played an important role in shaping EU legislation to respond to this challenge and in pushing for ambitious but realistic targets. Mandatory CO2 standards for new passenger cars in the EU were introduced in 2009 and strengthened in 2014. Continue reading
3 Key Questions on Nuclear applications and ballistic missiles
Listen for just three minutes to learn about the essentials of nuclear applications and ballistic missiles in the light of recent developments – with our Policy Analyst Vincent Reillon answering three key questions. Continue reading
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