European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
International Relations
US: Economic indicators and trade with EU
Written by Gyorgyi Macsai and Giulio Sabbati (Members’ Research Service) with Igor Tkalec (GlobalStat, EUI). The US-EU trading relationship is one of the biggest in the world, even though the overall value of traded goods dropped in 2020 in the pandemic. The EU and US economies account for about half the entire world’s GDP, and … Continue reading
Peace and Security in 2021: Overview of EU action and outlook for the future
According to the Global Peace Index, the state of peace in the world deteriorated further in 2020, owing not least to the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Harnessing the new momentum in transatlantic relations: Potential areas for common action during the Biden presidency
Like-minded strategic partners, natural and historical allies or an Atlantic bridge are among the terms used to describe the complex relationship between the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). Continue reading
G7 summit, June 2021: Asserting democratic values in the post-crisis context
Ahead of the summit, ministerial meetings in areas selected by the presidency have already taken place, shaping future cooperation among the G7 nations. Continue reading
China: Partner or rival? [What Think Tanks are thinking]
This note offers links to recent commentaries, studies and reports from major international think tanks on China, its ties with the EU and related issues. The previous issue on the subject was published in October 2020. Continue reading
European Peace Facility: Promoting peace or fuelling conflict?
The European Peace Facility (EPF) is a new off-budget fund with a financial ceiling of €5.692 billion financed by Member State contributions. Continue reading
Trade policy for the Biodiversity Strategy 2030
Human economic activity has surpassed for years the rate of biosphere regeneration and total biodiversity stock of the planet. Continue reading
Outlook for the special European Council meeting of 24-25 May 2021
On 23 April 2021, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, called a special European Council to be held on 25 May 2021; it was subsequently announced on 9 May, that the meeting would commence on the evening of 24 May. Continue reading
Chinese counter-sanctions on EU targets
The EU sanctions against which China retaliated with counter-sanctions were among the first uses of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (GHRSR) established in December 2020. Continue reading
Sakharov’s legacy on the centenary of his birth
Sakharov’s achievements, as both a scientist and a human rights defender, are still honoured in Russia. Buildings and streets are named after him, such as Sakharov Avenue in Moscow, which has become a popular protest venue. There are Sakharov museums in Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow. Continue reading
Outcome of the meetings of EU leaders in Porto on 7-8 May 2021
On 8 May 2021, EU Heads of State or Government met in Porto for an informal European Council, preceded on 7 May by a social summit, organised by the Portuguese Presidency. The informal European Council was followed by an EU–India leaders’ meeting, attended remotely by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Continue reading
The external dimension of the new pact on migration and asylum: A focus on prevention and readmission [Policy Podcast]
In the context of migration, the EU’s external policy has among its objectives to help third countries tackle the root causes of irregular migration or quests for asylum. Continue reading
The six policy priorities of the von der Leyen Commission: State of play in spring 2021
During the new European Commission’s first one hundred days in office, however, the European Union, and indeed the whole world, were to be profoundly affected by the sudden outbreak of the coronavirus crisis, with the developing pandemic soon evolving into a multi‑faceted global crisis. Continue reading
The level playing-field for labour and environment in EU-UK relations
The level playing-field (LPF) provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) constitute a key part of the agreement, and became a major source of divergence between the negotiators. Continue reading
Belgrade-Pristina dialogue: The rocky road towards a comprehensive normalisation agreement [Policy Podcast]
Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are key elements in the EU accession process for all western Balkan countries. Continue reading
The EU strategic autonomy debate [What Think Tanks are thinking]
An increasing number of politicians and analysts argue that the European Union should boost its ‘strategic autonomy’ and/or develop a higher degree of ‘European sovereignty’. Continue reading
Outcome of the video-conferences of EU leaders on 25 March 2021
Due to the worsening epidemiological situation, EU leaders met on 25 March 2021 in a series of video-conferences instead of a two-day physical meeting. Continue reading
The New START Treaty between the US and Russia: The last surviving pillar of nuclear arms control
Under New START, Russia and the US are limited to an equal number of deployed strategic warheads and weapons carrying them, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles. To ensure compliance, there are strict counting rules and transparency requirements, giving each side a reliable picture of the other’s strategic nuclear forces. Continue reading
Outlook for the meetings of EU leaders on 25-26 March 2021
One year after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the fight against the virus will again top the agenda of the European Council meeting on 25-26 March 2021. Continue reading
The Biden challenge in foreign policy [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Nearly two months ago, on 20th January, Joseph Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, at the end of perhaps the most divisive electoral processes in his country’s history. Continue reading
Download the EPRS App
