European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Plenary round-up – June I 2021
Members approved by an overwhelming majority the proposed EU Digital Covid Certificate for EU nationals as well as the parallel proposal covering third-country nationals. Parliament agreed to an accelerated procedure to consider these proposals. Continue reading
G7 summit, June 2021: Asserting democratic values in the post-crisis context
Ahead of the summit, ministerial meetings in areas selected by the presidency have already taken place, shaping future cooperation among the G7 nations. Continue reading
European Parliament Plenary Session – June I 2021
Over 60 % of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which employ 100 million people, have reported a fall in turnover in 2020. Members will take part in a joint debate on the State of the SMEs Union on Monday evening and have already called for the EU strategy for a sustainable and digital Europe to take the impact of Covid‑19 into account. Continue reading
Understanding EU action on Roma inclusion
Since the mid-1990s, the European Union has stressed the need for better Roma inclusion. Continue reading
Coronavirus: Latest developments [What Think Tanks are thinking]
This note offers links to recent commentaries, studies and reports from international think tanks on the coronavirus and related issues. More studies on the topics can be found in a previous edition in this series, published in February 2021. Continue reading
Outcome of the special European Council meeting of 24-25 May 2021
In accordance with Article 235(2) TFEU, the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, addressed the European Council at the start of its proceedings. As President-in-Office of the Council, the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, provided an overview of progress made on implementing previous European Council conclusions. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – May 2021
Following a joint debate, Members voted on Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) own-initiative reports on developing EU strategies on hydrogen and on energy system integration. Continue reading
Outlook for the special European Council meeting of 24-25 May 2021
On 23 April 2021, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, called a special European Council to be held on 25 May 2021; it was subsequently announced on 9 May, that the meeting would commence on the evening of 24 May. Continue reading
EU Covid-19 certificate: A tool to help restore the free movement of people across the European Union
A temporary digital health certificate is seen as a less restrictive measure than others currently in place, such as entry bans, quarantine and business closures, and may allow for a gradual reopening of the economy. Continue reading
Towards a more resilient Europe post-coronavirus: Options to enhance the EU’s resilience to structural risks
In April 2020, the participants in the inter-institutional European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS), which aims to identify and analyse medium- and long-term global trends facing the European Union, were invited by the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for foresight to offer ‘food for thought’ on issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic, with a view to helping refine collective thinking on how to increase the long-term resilience of the Union over the coming decade. Continue reading
The rise of digital health technologies during the pandemic [Policy Podcast]
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
The role of the European Council in negotiating the 2021-27 MFF
As a result of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) and the coronavirus pandemic, the political and economic context for the negotiations on the 2021‑2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) was extremely challenging – and quite different to the previous set of MFF negotiations – testing the (limits of the) EU’s resilience and solidarity. 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
European Parliament Plenary Session – March II 2021
With several major debates on the agenda, Members will pack a number of legislative items into the short time available for the part-session taking place on 24 and 25 March 2021. Before that, however, they will discuss preparations for this week’s European Council meeting. 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
EU climate action policy: Responding to the global emergency
The European Green Deal aims at making the European Union (EU) climate-neutral by 2050, a target supported by all EU institutions. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – March I 2021
The highlight of the March I 2021 plenary session was the official signature of the Joint Declaration on the Conference on the Future of Europe, allowing the Conference’s work finally to get under way. Continue reading
EPRS and OECD hold a joint conference on science and research
The Covid‑19 pandemic has mobilised tremendous efforts in scientific research, but also exposed its inefficiencies, according to analysts and policy-makers attending a joint event organised by the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Continue reading
International Women’s Day 2021: Gender equality in the shadow of the pandemic
nternational Women’s Day on 8 March is a time for celebrating women’s achievements and a time to measure and commit to parity, globally and in our own European region, countries and communities. 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
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