European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Economic and Social Policies
Reform Support Programme 2021 2027 [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Commission adopted the proposal on the establishment of the Reform Support Programmeon 31 May 2018, as part of the package for the upcoming multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027. The programme will provide financial and technical support for Member States to implement reforms aimed at increasing the resilience and modernising their economies, including priority reforms identified in the European Semester. Continue reading
New EU rules on labelling of tyres [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 17 May 2018, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation on the labelling of tyres for the purposes of fuel efficiency, safety, and noise reduction. This would repeal and replace the 2009 Tyre Labelling Regulation (TLR), while maintaining and reinforcing most of its key provisions. Continue reading
Latest on the digital economy [What Think Tanks are thinking]
The digital revolution, which is reshaping the global economy and societies, offers numerous opportunities, but also poses many challenges, thereby putting governments in a dilemma on how to shape it. Continue reading
Introducing the definitive VAT system for B2B cross-border trade [EU Legislation in Progress]
Value added tax (VAT) is an important source of revenue for national governments and the European Union (EU) budget and, from an economic point of view, it is a very efficient consumption tax. Continue reading
More flexible VAT rates [EU Legislation in Progress]
Value added tax (VAT) is an important source of revenue for national governments and the European Union (EU) budget and, from an economic point of view, a very efficient consumption tax. Continue reading
Fairness and transparency for business users of online services [EU Legislation in Progress]
The Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on promoting fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services on 26 May 2018. Continue reading
Interim digital services tax on revenues from certain digital services [EU Legislation in Progress]
There is a consensus that the digital economy is relatively undertaxed when compared with traditional businesses. Certain inherent characteristics such as reliance on cross-border provision of services without physical presence, easy transfers of intangible assets, and novel ways to create value make it particularly easy for enterprises to limit their tax liabilities. Continue reading
Security of ID cards and of residence documents issued to EU citizens and their families
Currently, there are at least 86 different versions of identity cards (ID cards) and 181 types of residence documents in circulation in the EU. The Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC) stipulates the conditions that EU citizens and their third-country-national family members need to meet in order to exercise their right of free movement and residence within the Union. Continue reading
Limits on exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at work: Third proposal [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Commission has proposed to amend Directive 2004/37/EC by expanding its scope and by including and/or revising occupational exposure limit values for a number of cancer- or mutation-causing substances. The initiative is proceeding in steps. Continue reading
Single-use plastics and fishing gear: Reducing marine litter [EU Legislation in Progress]
Most of the plastic in our oceans originates from land-based sources. On European beaches, plastics make up 80-85 % of marine litter, which is considered a major threat to marine and coastal biodiversity. Marine litter also costs the European Union economy an estimated €259 million to €695 million per year. Continue reading
Cross-border distribution of investment funds [EU Legislation in Progress]
Investment funds are products created to pool investors’ capital and to invest it in a collective portfolio of securities. In the European Union, the characteristics of a range of different types of investment funds have been established in Union law, and most funds on the market are categorised as one of these types. Continue reading
European Labour Authority [EU Legislation in Progress]
The rapid increase in the number of Europeans working in a Member State other than their own, the large number of daily cross-border commuters and the need for information on job opportunities and rights at home and abroad (ensured by good cooperation between national authorities) necessitates the establishment of a European-level coordinating body. Continue reading
Stronger administrative cooperation in the VAT field [EU Legislation in Progress]
Value added tax (VAT) is an important source of revenue for both national governments and the European budget and, from an economic point of view, a very efficient consumption tax. However, the rules governing intra-Community trade are 25 years old and the current common EU VAT system is vulnerable to fraud. Continue reading
Corporate taxation of a significant digital presence [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy podcast]
Despite achieving unprecedented growth and profit rates, the digital economy seems to be relatively undertaxed when compared to more traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ companies. Continue reading
Combined transport directive review: Getting more goods off EU roads [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Union’s efforts to reduce the negative impacts of transport include promoting a shift from road freight transport to lower-emission transport modes. This also includes combined transport operations, which consist of at least one road leg for initial or final haulage and one non‑road leg on rail or water. Continue reading
New EU insolvency rules give troubled businesses a chance to start anew [EU Legislation in Progress]
In 2012, the Commission proposed to recast the 2000 Insolvency Regulation in order to address the cross-border aspects of insolvency in the EU. Adopted in 2015, the recast regulation introduced clear rules on the jurisdiction and law applicable to a debtor’s insolvency proceedings and made mandatory the recognition of those proceedings in other EU Member States. Continue reading
Modernisation of EU consumer protection rules: A new deal for consumers [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy podcast]
On 11 April 2018, the European Commission published a proposal for a directive on better enforcement and modernisation of EU consumer protection, as part of its ‘new deal for consumers’ package of measures. Continue reading
Law applicable to the third-party effects of assignments of claims [EU Legislation in Progress]
The assignment of a claim refers to a situation where a creditor transfers the right to claim a debt to another person. This system is used by companies to obtain liquidity and access credit. At the moment, there is no legal certainty as to which national law applies when determining who owns a claim after it has been assigned in a cross-border case. Continue reading
Challenges for the euro area [What Think Tanks are thinking]
In June, the Heads of State or Government of the countries sharing the euro currency will discuss ways to improve the functioning of the euro area. French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed an ambitious reform plan, but Germany, the euro area’s economic powerhouse, is more cautious. Continue reading
Establishing a basis for European crowdfunding service providers [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy podcast]
Crowdfunding, an open call to the wider public for raising money online, can help ensure that both individuals and companies get access to finance, especially in the seed and early growth stages of their projects or business. Continue reading
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