European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Structural and Cohesion Policies
Decarbonising maritime transport: The EU perspective [Policy Podcast]
International maritime transport is the backbone of the global economy. However, vessels release emissions that pollute the air and contribute significantly to global warming. Continue reading
LUX Prize 2.0: Pan-European Audience Film Award
The only parliament in the world to award a film prize, the European Parliament has been shining a spotlight on European cinema every year since 2007. Continue reading
Thirty years of European territorial cooperation
Established in 1990, the first European territorial cooperation initiative, Interreg I, focused on cross-border cooperation. Continue reading
Understanding farm structure
Farm structure refers to the composition and organisation of an agricultural productive unit, typically for growing crops and rearing farm animals. Continue reading
2021: European Year of Rail
Every year since 1983, the EU has chosen a special annual theme to celebrate and to bring to public attention. The idea is to raise awareness on the issue, encourage public debate on it across the EU and underline its political importance. Continue reading
Air transport survival during the pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on air transport in the European Union and the rest of the world. During the first wave, most Member States imposed entry or flight bans and other travel restrictions, bringing passenger flights almost to a standstill. Continue reading
The EU pig meat sector [Policy Podcast]
The 150 million pigs reared across the EU represent the largest livestock category before that of bovines, and the EU pig meat sector alone accounts for nearly half of total EU meat production. Continue reading
What if ‘rewilding’ could help reverse biodiversity loss in Europe? [Science and Technology podcast]
Biodiversity is in crisis across the globe: species extinctions and a loss of nature occurring at rates unprecedented in human history, and with the EU no exception, our biodiversity and the essential value it brings are under threat. Could ‘rewilding’ help restore Europe’s nature? Continue reading
European Day of Languages: Digital survival of lesser-used languages
Since 2001, Europe has marked European Day of Languages each year on 26 September, in order to focus attention on its rich linguistic diversity. Continue reading
Ten opportunities for Europe post-coronavirus: Exploring potential for progress in EU policy-making
The coronavirus pandemic that hit the world from January 2020 onwards, with Europe at its epicentre for some weeks in the spring, has led to a major, multi-dimensional global crisis. Continue reading
Road and rail transport and coronavirus: Mapping the way out of the crisis
In the first weeks of the coronavirus crisis, the lockdown and border closures halted most passenger services in road and rail transport and left road hauliers to face uncertainty and very long waiting times at many border crossings. Continue reading
Towards a revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive
In the December 2019 European Green Deal communication, which aims to reboot the EU’s efforts to tackle challenges related to climate change and the environment, the European Commission proposed to review the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive. Continue reading
EU tourism sector during the coronavirus crisis
Tourism in the European Union (EU) is one of the sectors hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis, with some parts of the sector and some regions more affected than others. Continue reading
Cultural tourism out of confinement
The lockdowns, border closures and other restrictive measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic brought tourist and cultural activities to a halt in most EU Member States between mid-March and mid-June, significantly affecting businesses and consumers. A progressive easing of these restrictive measures is now under way. Continue reading
What if insects were on the menu in Europe? [Science and Technology podcast]
Insects, while commonly consumed elsewhere in the world, have long been off the menu in Europe, but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates. Continue reading
Performing arts: Emerging from confinement
In the EU as elsewhere in the world, the performing arts were among the first sectors to be hit by measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and are now among the last to reopen. As the confinement measures are relaxed, the focus now is on supporting the performing arts and finding a way to re-engage with live audiences. Continue reading
Cross-border regional healthcare cooperation to combat the coronavirus pandemic
The pandemic has led to a situation where the healthcare systems of European regions have been heavily over‑burdened, with more patients to treat than they have capacity for. Continue reading
‘Farm to Fork’ strategy: Striving for healthy and sustainable food
Launched on 20 May 2020, the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy put forward the EU’s ambition for making its food system a model of sustainability at all stages of the food value chain. Continue reading
EU agricultural policy and climate change [Policy Podcast]
In December 2019, the European Parliament declared a climate and environmental emergency in Europe and across the globe – a recognition of the challenges that the EU faces in this area. Continue reading
Digital culture − Access issues [Policy Podcast]
The digital shift has touched all aspects of human activity, and culture is no exception. Cultural assets and works have been digitised and digital technology has become a tool for novel creations. Continue reading
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