European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
PUBLICATIONS
Advances in administrative cooperation in the field of taxation [EU Legislation in Progress]
The digitalisation of the economy opens the door to new cross-border economic activities that make it possible to under-report income and under-pay tax. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – February 2021
The main debates held during the February 2021 plenary session concerned the state of play of the EU’s Covid‑19 vaccination strategy and the de facto abortion ban in Poland. Continue reading
Recovery and Resilience Facility [EU Legislation in Progress]
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, on 28 May 2020 the Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility (the Facility). Continue reading
European Commission: Facts and Figures
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. Under the Treaties, its tasks are to ‘promote the general interest of the Union’, without prejudice to individual Member States, to ‘ensure the application of the Treaties’ and adopted measures, and to ‘execute the budget’. Continue reading
Transnational electoral lists: Ways to Europeanise elections to the European Parliament
Transnational electoral lists: Ways to Europeanise elections to the European Parliament Continue reading
Navalny vs Kremlin: Latest developments
Alexey Navalny is one of Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics. After surviving an assassination attempt and recovering in Germany, he returned to Russia in January 2021 to face arrest and imprisonment. Mass protests over his detention and revelations of high-level corruption show that an increasingly repressive Kremlin has not succeeded in crushing opposition to Putin’s rule. Continue reading
Coronavirus: Uncertainty and discontent [What Think Tanks are thinking]
As the latest wave of the coronavirus pandemic intensifies and some highly infectious new mutations of the virus spread, a growing number of countries have increased restrictions on travel and some lockdowns have been intensified. Continue reading
Access to justice in environmental matters: Amending the Aarhus Regulation [EU Legislation in Progress]
The European Union is party to the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters. Continue reading
Trump’s disinformation ‘magaphone’: Consequences, first lessons and outlook
The deadly insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 was a significant cautionary example of the offline effects of online disinformation and conspiracy theories. Continue reading
Search and rescue in the Mediterranean [Policy Podcast]
International law imposes an obligation to render assistance to persons and ships in distress at sea, which must be provided regardless of the persons’ nationality or status or the circumstances in which they are found. Continue reading
Critical raw materials for the EU: Enablers of the green and digital recovery [Policy Podcast]
The pandemic has highlighted the risk involved, including for the EU, in relying heavily on external suppliers. The EU’s 30 critical raw materials (CRMs) combine two characteristics: they are strategically important for its industry and economy, and there are high risks associated with securing their supply. Continue reading
EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: An analytical overview
On 30 December 2020, the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) signed a Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), concluding nearly ten months of negotiations. Continue reading
Policing in national parliaments: How parliaments organise their security
National parliaments organise their security in a variety of ways. Whereas in some cases the principles of separation of powers or of parliamentary autonomy prevent police forces from entering parliamentary premises − meaning that these legislative chambers rely on in-house security services – in others the security of parliaments is ensured exclusively by the police or other state forces with responsibilities in the area of security, defence or civil protection. Continue reading
Covid-19 vaccination campaigns: The public dimension [Policy Podcast]
The arrival of the Covid-19 vaccines marks a turning point in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. For European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, vaccination is about self‑protection and solidarity. Continue reading
Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2021
Growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in Europe collapsed in 2020 as a result of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Holocaust education: ‘Never, never be a bystander
This year, 27 January, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marks the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp. Continue reading
Outcome of the European Council video conference of 21 January 2021
Discussions at the 21 January video-conference meeting of EU leaders largely focused on a coordinated response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the evolving public health situation with the spread of new virus variants coming from the UK and South Africa, vaccination strategies and international solidarity. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – January 2021
The main debates of the January 2021 plenary session were on the inauguration of the new President of the United States, and the presentation of the Portuguese EU Council Presidency. Continue reading
Sustainable and smart mobility strategy
Transport is the backbone of the EU economy, connecting people and businesses across various EU regions and countries Continue reading
Qualified majority voting in foreign and security policy: Pros and Cons [Policy Podcast]
In her first State of the Union speech, and in the section of the speech most applauded by the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the use of qualified majority voting (QMV) in areas such as sanctions and human rights. Continue reading
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