European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Structural and Cohesion Policies
Studying abroad with Erasmus+ [What is Europe doing for its citizens?]
Written by Denise Chircop, The European Union’s Erasmus+ programme is best known for subsidising study periods abroad and other forms of learning mobility for individuals, including volunteering and cross-border professional experiences for teaching staff. Studies show the benefits and limitations of learning mobility and after 30 years, the programme continues to evolve. Erasmus+ Erasmus+ is … Continue reading
Structural funds – Investing in people [What is Europe doing for its citizens?]
Written by Christiaan van Lierop, Accounting for over one third of the EU’s budget, structural funds (ESIF) have helped to transform Europe. From motorways to wind farms, airports to urban regeneration schemes, structural fund investments are a tangible expression of the EU’s promise to develop infrastructure and generate economic growth. Yet beyond these very visible … Continue reading
Culture in EU-US relations
Written by Ivana Katsarova, North America and Europe dominate the global trade in cultural goods. Together they account for 49 % of exports and 62 % of imports. However, there is a significant cultural divide between the EU and USA, which is reflected in contrasting policy approaches towards culture. Under the 2005 Unesco Convention – not signed … Continue reading
Access to culture in the European Union
Written by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, Culture, by its very nature, is a difficult concept to define precisely; and it is just as difficult to impose the statistical rigour needed to back cultural policy ambitions and funding. The same terminological and statistical difficulties apply to the issue of access to culture and participation in culture. Culture has … Continue reading
EU certification of aviation security screening equipment [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Ariane Debyser (1st edition), On 7 September 2016, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation establishing a certification system for aviation security screening equipment. The proposal seeks ‘to contribute to the proper functioning of the EU internal market and to increase the global competitiveness of the EU industry by establishing an … Continue reading
How the EU budget is spent: European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
Written by Magdalena Sapala, Jean Weissenberger, The €6 396.6 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) may be the smallest of the European Structural and Investment Funds for the 2014-2020 period, but it is the principal financial tool supporting the EU common fisheries policy (CFP). Governed by Regulation 508/2014, (the EMFF Regulation), the Fund aims at providing the … Continue reading
Current priorities and challenges in EU agricultural policy [Policy Podcast]
Written by James McEldowney, The European Commission’s work programme for 2017 includes a commitment to progress and consult widely on the simplification and modernisation of the common agricultural policy (CAP). A public consultation exercise was launched at the beginning of February 2017 and closed on 2 May 2017. A number of stakeholder organisations and think tanks have issued … Continue reading
Creating opportunities: The EU and students [Policy Podcast]
Written by Ivana Katsarova, Over one third of the European Union (EU) population – some 170 million citizens – are aged under 30, with half that number under the age of 15 years. Although education policies in the EU are essentially decided and implemented by the individual EU countries, the EU provides sound evidence and analysis to … Continue reading
Promoting development in the outermost regions [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Christiaan Van Lierop, Located far from the European continent and with regional gross domestic product well below the EU average, the EU’s outermost regions – the Azores, the Canary Islands, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion and Saint-Martin – face many challenges to development, owing to factors such as climate or economic … Continue reading
EU strategy for international cultural relations [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass, Culture as a tool of EU diplomacy aims at reinforcing cultural diversity, human rights, and social and economic cohesion based on cultural and creative industries as a driving force for growth. Yet, in the view of the European Parliament, EU action needs proper funding and a clearly defined programme. An own-initiative … Continue reading
Structural reform support programme 2017-2020 [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Agnieszka Widuto (4th edition), Structural reforms have been identified as crucial to accelerating economic recovery, boosting growth and reducing unemployment. In November 2015, the European Commission proposed to establish the Structural Reform Support Programme 2017-2020, to provide Member States with technical assistance in designing and implementing structural reforms. The proposed budget is €142.8 million, … Continue reading
State aid in sport: Striking a difficult balance [Policy Podcast]
Written by Ivana Katsarova, Under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, a measure constitutes state aid if it grants a selective economic advantage to one or more enterprises through state resources, thus distorting or threatening to distort competition. However, not all forms of state aid are prohibited. Indeed, under certain conditions the … Continue reading
Increasing partnership in cohesion policy [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Christiaan Van Lierop, The partnership principle lies at the very heart of the EU’s cohesion policy. A process involving public authorities, economic and social partners, and civil society, partnership reinforces the legitimacy of EU policymaking and, by increasing ownership of the policy on the ground, can help to communicate the results of EU … Continue reading
Training of professional drivers [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Ariane Debyser (1st edition), The revision of existing provisions regarding the training of professional drivers was announced in the 2017 Commission Work Programme (in annex II covering REFIT initiatives). The initiative fits within the general framework regarding professional drivers of trucks and buses, and is closely related to road safety. It is also … Continue reading
Major challenges for EU tourism and policy responses [Policy Podcast]
Written by Vasilis Margaras, Constituting the third-largest economic activity in the EU, tourism is of considerable importance as a source of economic growth, regional development and employment. Although it has been badly affected by the economic crisis in the past years, tourism has proved resilient, as witnessed by the growing number of visitors to the … Continue reading
CO2 emissions from aviation [Policy Podcast][EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Gregor Erbach (1st edition), CO2 emissions from all flights to and from airports in the European Economic Area (EEA) have been included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) since 2012. Although this would include flights between an airport within the EEA and an airport outside it, the application of the ETS to … Continue reading
Resource efficiency: Reducing food waste, improving food safety [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Ivana Katsarova, As part of its action plan on the circular economy, the EU is aiming to give substance to a more efficient use of resources by reducing food waste and increasing food security. The European Parliament is due to vote in May 2017 on an own-initiative report proposing measures to cut the … Continue reading
Inspections of ro-ro ferries and high-speed passenger craft [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Marketa Pape (2nd edition), 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. This proposal seeks to … Continue reading
Safety rules and standards for passenger ships [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Marketa Pape (2nd edition), 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.This proposal seeks to clarify … Continue reading
Cross-border portability of online content services [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Tambiama Madiega (2nd edition), In February 2017, negotiators from the European Parliament, the Council and Commission reached a compromise on the proposal for a regulation on cross-border portability of online content services. The EP must now formally approve the new rules, enabling consumers to access their online subscriptions for content services when they … Continue reading
