European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
briefings
Support for democracy through EU external policy: New tools for growing challenges
The crisis of democracy and the rise of authoritarianism across the globe, compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, highlight the importance of taking a more strategic and autonomous approach to supporting democracy worldwide – an objective often balanced against other external policy aims until now. Continue reading
Revision of the TEN-E Regulation: EU guidelines for new energy infrastructure [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 15 December 2020, the European Commission adopted a proposal to revise the 2013 regulation on trans-European networks in energy (TEN-E). Continue reading
New EU regulatory framework for batteries: Setting sustainability requirements [EU Legislation in Progress]
Given the important role they play in the rollout of zero-emission mobility and the storage of intermittent renewable energy, batteries are a crucial element in the EU’s transition to a climate neutral economy. Continue reading
The NIS2 Directive: A high common level of cybersecurity in the EU [EU Legislation in Progress]
The Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive is the first piece of EU-wide legislation on cybersecurity, and its specific aim was to achieve a high common level of cybersecurity across the Member States. Continue reading
Hydrogen as an energy carrier for a climate-neutral economy
Hydrogen is expected to play a key role in a future climate-neutral economy, enabling emission-free transport, heating and industrial processes as well as inter-seasonal energy storage. Continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Brexit: The EU-UK trade deal [What Think Tanks are thinking]
The European Union and the United Kingdom reached a last-minute deal on trade and other issues on 24 December 2020, thereby avoiding major disruption from 1 January 2021, the date on which the transition period ended. Continue reading
After the storming of the US Capitol: A second impeachment trial of President Trump?
At 13.00 EST on 6 January 2021, the 117th United States Congress and US Vice-President Mike Pence assembled in the Capitol Building, seat of the US Congress in Washington, DC, to tally the electoral votes certified by the 50 states and the District of Columbia, thereby declaring Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, respectively, US President-elect and Vice-President-elect. Continue reading
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