European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Economic and Social Policies
The coronavirus crisis: Options for economic recovery [What Think Tanks are thinking]
As the coronavirus crisis keeps the world in its grip, analysts ponder what future measures could stimulate recovery from the deep recession expected in its aftermath, with a focus, in particular, on the European Commission’s plans and the growth-boosting fund recently proposed by France and Germany. Continue reading
Food trade and food security in the coronavirus pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has not only created a global public health crisis, but it has had a significant effect on the global economy and international trade. Continue reading
EU export authorisation scheme for personal protection equipment
In the midst of the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission issued an implementing regulation requiring authorisations for exports of personal protection equipment (PPE), effective as of 15 March 2020 for a six-week period. Continue reading
Coronavirus: The world in limbo [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Most countries recovering from the first – and hopefully last – wave of the coronavirus pandemic are now in limbo. Continue reading
How digital technology is easing the burden of confinement
The coronavirus pandemic is bringing an unforeseen acceleration in the digital transformation of societies around the world. Continue reading
EU budgetary and financial response to the coronavirus crisis
Within the limits of its powers, the EU has acted quickly to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Brussels, May 2020
The May 2020 plenary session was the third conducted with a majority of Members participating remotely, although more were present in Brussels than at the April session, and using the alternative voting procedure put in place in March by Parliament’s Bureau. Continue reading
Which ‘new normal’ after coronavirus? [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Many countries are now beginning to relax their strict confinement measures as the infection, hospitalisation and death rates from the coronavirus all fall. However, the impact of such moves is being monitored very closely, in order to try to forestall any second wave of infection. Continue reading
Potentially negative effects of internet use
The internet has received increasingly negative media coverage in recent years. Numerous articles have reported on major privacy scandals and security breaches, the proliferation of fake news, harmful behaviours such as cyber-bullying, cyber-theft, revenge porn and internet addiction, as well as the negative effects that the internet can have on social relationships and social cohesion. Continue reading
States of emergency in response to the coronavirus crisis: Situation in certain Member States II
Member States have adopted a range of emergency measures in response to the unprecedented public health crises generated by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
World Health Organization: Is it fit for purpose?
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19, the disease resulting from the novel coronavirus SARS-COV2, a pandemic on 11 March 2020, putting the United Nations (UN) agency in the global spotlight. Continue reading
Coronavirus and the cost of non-Europe: An analysis of the economic benefits of common European action
Although the European Union is about much more than economics – promoting peace, common values, democratic governance, international development, human rights, health, social protection, research and innovation, and many other public goods – the process of European integration has been key to driving economic growth for half a century, generating significant gains in gross domestic product (GDP) for EU Member States both collectively and individually. Continue reading
Mobility, transport and coronavirus
One of the first, and most visible impacts of the Covid-19 crisis was on transport, travel and mobility. In early March 2020, European Union (EU) Member States had already reintroduced border controls at internal Schengen borders on the grounds of an immediate threat to public policy and on 17 March 2020, the Heads of State or Government agreed to reinforce the external borders by applying a coordinated temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU. Continue reading
What if we could fight antibiotic resistance with probiotics? [Science and Technology podcast]
Recent research suggests that the future combat against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) may involve probiotic-based approaches. Their use in our microbial ecosystems, including humans, animals and the healthcare environment, may provide a novel approach which deserves exploration. Continue reading
Coronavirus: From lock-down to de-confinement, and beyond [What Think Tanks are thinking]
A number of European countries have now started, or will soon start, relaxing the lock-downs put in place to slow the spread of the lethal coronavirus. Continue reading
Organ donation and transplantation: Facts, figures and European Union action [Policy Podcast]
The issue of organ donation and transplantation gained renewed political momentum as one of the initial health priorities of the current Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Continue reading
Coronavirus and the trade in wildlife
Nearly three quarters of emerging infectious diseases in humans are caused by zoonotic pathogens. The majority of them originate in wildlife. Human activities, such as trade in wildlife, increase opportunities for animal–human interactions and facilitate zoonotic disease transmission. Continue reading
States of emergency in response to the coronavirus crisis: Situation in certain Member States
With the first case of unknown pneumonia reported in the province of Wuhan (People’s Republic of China) on 31 December 2019, within few weeks the coronavirus (Covid-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 30 January 2020. Continue reading
Coronavirus and the European film industry
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused the shutdown of some 70 000 cinemas in China, nearly 2 500 in the US and over 9 000 in the EU, the joy sparked by the success of the film industry in 2019 has quickly given way to anxiety. Continue reading
Outcome of the European Council video-conference of 23 April 2020
At the European Council’s video-conference meeting on 23 April, EU leaders demonstrated greater willingness to achieve a coordinated response at EU-level to face the coronavirus crisis than had previously been the case. Continue reading
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