European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Economic and Social Policies
Implementing the Aarhus Convention, Access to justice in environmental matters [Policy Podcast]
The Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters is an international agreement that gives the public a number of rights with regard to the environment. Continue reading
EU labour markets [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Economic recovery has reduced the unemployment rate in the euro area and the wider European Union, but there are still significant challenges for EU labour markets. Continue reading
Amending social security coordination [EU Legislation in Progress]
Approximately 14 million EU residents (mobile workers, unemployed and economically inactive citizens) are not living in their home country. Continue reading
Parliament rejects criteria for endocrine disruptors
Endocrine disruptors, or endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are substances that impact on the functioning of hormones, with potentially harmful effects on health. Continue reading
Road transport: Driving, breaks, rest times and tachographs [EU Legislation in Progress]
Road haulage is important for the EU transport economy: in 2015, it accounted for almost 50 % of freight transport. Continue reading
Contracts for supply of digital content to consumers [EU Legislation in Progress]
The digital content directive was proposed by the European Commission as part of a legislative package, alongside the online sales directive, to facilitate the development of the internal market for such content. Continue reading
Framework for a pan-European personal pension product (PEPP) [EU Legislation in Progress]
Europe’s population is ageing, due to people living longer and having fewer children, putting increased pressure on pension systems. Continue reading
Cities: Front line of climate action
Cities have a crucial role to play in addressing the climate change challenge and delivering on the ambitions of the Paris Agreement. Continue reading
European Solidarity Corps [EU Legislation in Progress]
The Commission launched the European Solidarity Corps in a December 2016 communication, and this proposed regulation aims to set the legal basis for the Corps, defining the budgetary and implementation arrangements for the initiative as well as setting specific objectives and defining key terms. Continue reading
Consumer Protection Cooperation [EU Legislation in Progress]
The Commission estimates that the detriment to consumers caused by non-compliance with basic EU consumer rules in certain cross-border online markets and also by inefficient cross-border enforcement amounts to €770 million per year.
To remedy this, the Commission has presented a legislative proposal to review the existing rules on consumer protection cooperation between enforcement authorities as part of its e-commerce package in May 2016. Continue reading
Inspections of ro-ro ferries and high-speed passenger craft [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Commission, in line with its regulatory fitness and performance programme (REFIT), has evaluated existing EU legislation on passenger ship safety and presented three proposals for directives, aimed at simplifying rules and cutting administrative costs, while at the same time making sea travel safer. Continue reading
Registration of persons on board passenger ships [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Commission, in line with its regulatory fitness and performance programme (REFIT), has evaluated existing EU legislation on passenger ship safety and presented three proposals for directives, aimed at simplifying rules and cutting administrative costs, while at the same time making sea travel safe. Continue reading
Safety rules and standards for passenger ships [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Commission, in line with its regulatory fitness and performance programme (REFIT), has evaluated existing EU legislation on passenger ship safety and presented three proposals for directives, aimed at simplifying rules and cutting administrative costs, while at the same time making sea travel safer. Continue reading
EU energy policy [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Faced with uncertain energy demand, volatile prices and possible disruptions to supply, the European Union is pushing ahead with efforts to fully integrate its still fragmented energy market. The aim is to boost economic growth, foster innovation, ensure stable supplies and protect the environment. Continue reading
Understanding the EU customs union [Policy Podcast]
In December 2016, the European Commission adopted its long-term plan to strengthen the governance and management of the EU customs union. The customs union, in place since 1968, is a pillar of the single market, and vital to the free flow of goods and services. According to the Commission, a strong customs system helps foster competitive businesses, increases wealth, and also protects against terrorist, health, and environmental threats. Continue reading
Introducing a European services e-card [EU Legislation in Progress] [Policy Podcast]
Cross-border provision of services in the EU is relatively common, and is undertaken by an increasing number of entities, especially in sectors such as construction and business. Despite this fact, many service-providers still face obstacles to benefitting from comparable business opportunities available to local persons and organisations. Continue reading
Understanding nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles
Nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles need to be understood if the risks and challenges they entail are to be grasped. This understanding starts with two processes discovered in the last century – nuclear fission and nuclear fusion – that have the ability to release a significant quantity of energy from a very limited amount of matter. Continue reading
Safety rules and standards for passenger ships [Plenary Podcast]
After a review of the EU legislation on passenger ship safety, the European Commission proposed a number of changes to simplify the existing rules and cut administrative costs, while making sea travel safer. This proposed directive clarifies technical requirements for construction, stability and fire protection of vessels travelling on domestic routes. The newly defined standards should provide for uniform national interpretations and make the rules easier to update, monitor and enforce. Continue reading
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) [EU Legislation in Progress]
Following a request made by nine Member States in December 2014, on 18 October 2016 the European Commission adopted a proposal to establish a new public-public Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Article 185 TFEU. Continue reading
Amending VAT rules on distance sales [EU Legislation in Progress]
In its VAT digital single market package, published on 1 December 2016, the Commission proposes to extend payment possibilities through the MOSS to online supply of goods and cross-border services to final consumers. Continue reading
