European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Angelos Delivorias
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
Amending securitisation requirements for the impact of coronavirus [EU Legislation in Progress]
Preserving the ability of banks to continue lending to companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, is key when it comes to softening the economic impact of the pandemic and easing recovery. Continue reading
Replacement benchmarks for financial benchmarks in cessation [EU Legislation in Progress]
The pricing of many financial instruments and contracts depends on the accuracy and integrity of (financial) benchmarks, i.e. indices, by reference to which the amounts payable under such financial instruments or contracts, or the value of certain financial instruments, are determined. Continue reading
Prospectuses for investors – Simplifying equity-raising during the pandemic [EU Legislation in Progress]
A prospectus is a legally required document presenting information about a company and the securities that it offers to the public or seeks to admit to trading on a regulated market. Continue reading
Developing a pandemic emergency purchase programme: Unconventional monetary policy to tackle the coronavirus crisis
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union specifies the maintenance of price stability in the euro area as the primary objective of EU single monetary policy. Continue reading
Joint debt instruments: A recurrent proposal to strengthen economic and monetary union
The idea of issuing joint debt instruments, in particular between euro-area countries, is far from new. It has long been linked in various ways to the Union’s financial integration process and in particular to the implementation of economic and monetary union. Continue reading
What can the EU do to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus crisis?
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has now been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Alleviating the human effects of the crisis is paramount, but repercussions are being felt across many sectors. Continue reading
Economic impact of epidemics and pandemics [Policy Podcast]
Despite significant medical progress over the last centuries, infectious diseases such as influenza or malaria still represent a considerable threat to society. While some are endemic to specific geographical regions, others can spread, becoming epidemics or pandemics. Continue reading
Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2020
Growth in the European Union and euro-area economies – albeit still positive – slowed significantly in 2019. Moreover, prospects for the next two years remain muted, against the backdrop of a generalised slowdown. Continue reading
Introduction to the European Semester: Coordinating and monitoring economic and fiscal policies in the EU
In response to the financial and economic crisis, the European Union introduced a series of changes to its institutional architecture for economic and social governance, with the aim of achieving more integrated fiscal and economic coordination. Continue reading
The InvestEU programme: Continuing EFSI in the next MFF [EU Legislation in Progress]
Since its launch in November 2014, the Investment Plan for Europe (IPE) has had considerable success in mobilising private investment across Europe. Despite its success, investment levels in Europe remain below pre-crisis levels. Continue reading
EU policies – Delivering for citizens: Economic policy [Policy Podcast]
In the European Union (EU), although economic policy is the remit of each Member State, there is, nevertheless, multilateral coordination of economic policies between individual countries. Continue reading
Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2019
This EPRS study, the third in an annual series, provides an overview of the economic and budgetary situation in the EU and beyond. It summarises the main economic indicators in the Union and euro area, and their two-year trends. Continue reading
Review of the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR): Updated rules on supervision of central counterparties (CCPs) [EU Legislation in Progress]
The increasing importance of central counterparties (CCPs) and challenges such as the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU call for a more comprehensive supervision of CCPs in EU and non-EU countries to secure financial market infrastructure and build confidence. Continue reading
Sovereign bond-backed securities: Risk diversification and reduction [EU Legislation in Progress]
As a part of the European regulatory responses to the financial and sovereign debt crises, the European Commission has proposed a regulation on sovereign bond-backed securities (SBBS), a new class of low-risk securities backed by a diversified pool of national government bonds. Continue reading
Cross-border distribution of investment funds [EU Legislation in Progress]
Investment funds are products created to pool investors’ capital and to invest it in a collective portfolio of securities. In the European Union, the characteristics of a range of different types of investment funds have been established in Union law, and most funds on the market are categorised as one of these types. Continue reading
Law applicable to the third-party effects of assignments of claims [EU Legislation in Progress]
The assignment of a claim refers to a situation where a creditor transfers the right to claim a debt to another person. This system is used by companies to obtain liquidity and access credit. At the moment, there is no legal certainty as to which national law applies when determining who owns a claim after it has been assigned in a cross-border case. Continue reading
Establishing a basis for European crowdfunding service providers [EU Legislation in Progress][Policy podcast]
Crowdfunding, an open call to the wider public for raising money online, can help ensure that both individuals and companies get access to finance, especially in the seed and early growth stages of their projects or business. Continue reading
Covered bonds – Issue and supervision, exposures [EU Legislation in Progress]
Covered bonds are debt securities issued by credit institutions and secured by a pool of mortgage loans or credit towards the public sector. They are characterised further by the double protection offered to bondholders, the segregation of assets in their cover pool, over-collateralisation, and their strict supervisory frameworks. Continue reading
The Future of Europe: Contours of the current debate
In the aftermath of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union (EU), following the referendum of June 2016, the EU launched a profound reflection on the Future of Europe, which continues in various fora and institutions. Continue reading
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