European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
briefings
Story of the European Anthem
Du côté de ce qui deviendra l’Union européenne, les institutions saisissent l’occasion des débats sur le thème de l’Europe des citoyens, au milieu des années 1980, pour adopter, elles aussi, l’Ode à la joie comme hymne. Continue reading
The level playing-field for labour and environment in EU-UK relations
The level playing-field (LPF) provisions of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) constitute a key part of the agreement, and became a major source of divergence between the negotiators. Continue reading
Customs programme: Supporting cooperation to strengthen the customs union [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 18 June 2018, the Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation establishing a Customs programme for cooperation in the field of customs over the 2021-2027 MFF period, a successor to Customs 2020. The programme’s main objective is to fund actions aimed at strengthening the customs union. Continue reading
Belgrade-Pristina dialogue: The rocky road towards a comprehensive normalisation agreement [Policy Podcast]
Regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations are key elements in the EU accession process for all western Balkan countries. Continue reading
EU legislation and policies to fight racial and ethnic discrimination [Policy Podcast]
Racial and ethnic minorities face discrimination and its consequences on a daily basis. The exact scale of the problem is hard to gauge owing to a lack of data and general under-reporting of racist incidents. Continue reading
Building up resilience to cross-border health threats: Moving towards a European health union [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 11 November 2020, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation on serious cross-border threats to health. Continue reading
The rise of digital health technologies during the pandemic
Coronavirus has accelerated the rise of digital health, a broad concept that includes solutions for telemedicine and teleconsultation, remote monitoring, connected devices, digital health platforms and health apps. Continue reading
Smart villages: Concept, issues and prospects for EU rural areas [Policy Podcast]
The smart village concept is gaining traction on the rural development agenda, coinciding with the ongoing reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP). A key element of this reform will be a new delivery model based on each Member State developing a CAP strategic plan. Continue reading
Addressing the dissemination of terrorist content online [EU Legislation in Progress]
Dissemination of terrorist content is one of the most widespread and most dangerous forms of misuse of online services in the field of internal security. Continue reading
The EU strategic autonomy debate [What Think Tanks are thinking]
An increasing number of politicians and analysts argue that the European Union should boost its ‘strategic autonomy’ and/or develop a higher degree of ‘European sovereignty’. Continue reading
Outcome of the video-conferences of EU leaders on 25 March 2021
Due to the worsening epidemiological situation, EU leaders met on 25 March 2021 in a series of video-conferences instead of a two-day physical meeting. Continue reading
The New START Treaty between the US and Russia: The last surviving pillar of nuclear arms control
Under New START, Russia and the US are limited to an equal number of deployed strategic warheads and weapons carrying them, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles. To ensure compliance, there are strict counting rules and transparency requirements, giving each side a reliable picture of the other’s strategic nuclear forces. Continue reading
Outlook for the meetings of EU leaders on 25-26 March 2021
One year after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the fight against the virus will again top the agenda of the European Council meeting on 25-26 March 2021. Continue reading
Electronic evidence in criminal matters [EU Legislation in Progress]
In December 2020, the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee adopted its reports on a pair of 2018 legislative proposals on electronic evidence in criminal matters, and mandates to start trilogue negotiations on the two proposals. Continue reading
The Biden challenge in foreign policy [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Nearly two months ago, on 20th January, Joseph Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, at the end of perhaps the most divisive electoral processes in his country’s history. Continue reading
Pushbacks at the EU’s external borders
In recent years, the migration policy of the European Union (EU) has focused on strict border controls and the externalisation of migration management through cooperation with third countries. Continue reading
Reform of the Comitology Regulation [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 14 February 2017, the European Commission adopted a proposal amending Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 (the ‘Comitology Regulation’) in order to increase the transparency and accountability of the decision-making process leading to the adoption of implementing acts. Continue reading
Digital services act [EU Legislation in Progress]
The rules governing the provision of digital products and services in the EU have remained largely unchanged since the adoption of the e-Commerce Directive in 2000, while digital technologies and business models continue to evolve rapidly and new societal challenges are emerging, such as the spread of counterfeit goods, hate speech and disinformation online. Continue reading
Coronavirus: Vaccination debates [What Think Tanks are thinking]
As the second wave of the coronavirus passes, new infections and the death rate are currently both in decline globally. At the same time, countries across the world have begun vaccination programmes. Continue reading
Green and sustainable finance [Policy Podcast]
The dramatic consequences of climate change and environmental degradation have brought the need for a more sustainable economy to the top of the agenda. Continue reading
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