events

EPRS workshop: the view of early career researchers on the EU’s post-2020 cohesion policy proposals

Outreach with experts and the wider policy-making community represents a key part of our work here at the EPRS. That’s why we were delighted to be involved once again in the organisation of a specialist workshop as part of the European Week of Regions and Cities’ Master Class for early career researchers, which took place in Brussels from 8 to 11 October 2018. Continue reading →

Use and misuse of technology in contemporary election campaigns

Until recently, discussions of technology and elections focused primarily on e-voting. Controversies highlighted the potential for modernising the voting system, as well as the security flaws that open opportunities for interference and manipulation Continue reading →

A Parliament unlike any other? Academic perspectives on the European Parliament

Desmond Dinan, Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, Virginia, USA, and the first European Parliamentary Research Service Visiting Fellow, inaugurated the new EPRS Annual Lecture series on 11 July 2018, at the EP’s Library Reading Room in Brussels. Continue reading →

EPRS conference: EU needs policy overhaul to spur disruptive innovation

The European Union lags behind the United States and China in fostering disruptive technology and needs a policy overhaul to catch up with, or even leapfrog, its rivals. Continue reading →

Tables rondes à Niamey : Numérique, eau et agriculture, et énergies renouvelables

Le Président du Parlement européen se rendra au Niger les 17 et 18 juillet. Une nouveauté totale pour ce genre de déplacement : il a tenu à ce que sa visite comporte un important volet dédié à la recherche et que s’engagent un dialogue et une réflexion sur les expériences de l’Europe, les expériences du Niger, les enjeux et les défis communs, les réponses possibles. Autour de trois tables-rondes, les chercheurs et experts de haut niveau d’Europe et d’Afrique vont échanger leurs expériences sur la transformation numérique, l’agriculture et la gestion de l’eau, et les énergies renouvelables. Continue reading →

Shaping the future of Europe: investing in young researchers

Scientists and Members of the European Parliament recently got together at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The aim of the event, organised jointly by the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel of the European Parliament (EP) and the European Research Council (ERC), was to showcase Europe’s research and innovation efforts through programmes such as Horizon2020 and one of its most successful initiatives, the ERC. Continue reading →

How can the EIT strengthen EU innovation?

What should innovation policy look like as we approach 2020 and prepare for the next Multiannual Financial Framework? Continue reading →

The EU and the Western Balkans: Where Next?

On 18 June, EPRS hosted a roundtable discussion on ‘The EU and the Western Balkans: Where Next?’ in the Library of the European Parliament. It took place the day after the prime ministers of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev respectively, signed a deal on the name issue that could potentially resolve the bilateral dispute that has run for over a quarter of a century. This only highlighted the timeliness of the question, ‘Where next?’, as Etienne Bassot, Director of EPRS’ Members’ Research Service, outlined in his introductory remarks. Continue reading →

Performance-based Budgeting: A means to improve EU spending in the 2021-2027 MFF?

Following the publication of the study on ‘Performance budgeting: A means to improve EU spending’, an EPRS roundtable discussion was held in the European Parliament library on 5 June 2018. Speakers, including Martina DLABAJOVÁ (ALDE, Czech Republic, Vice-President of EP Committee on Budgetary Control), Maria Rosa ALDEA BUSQUETS (Deputy Director-General, DG Budget, European Commission), Joël COSTANTZER (Principal Auditor, Financing and Administering the Union, European Court of Auditors) and Magdalena SAPAŁA (Policy Analyst, Budgetary Policies Unit, EPRS), contributed to the lively discussion. EPRS Director Etienne BASSOT delivered a welcoming speech, while the event was moderated by Fabia JONES, acting head of the EPRS Budgetary Policies Unit. Continue reading →

Roadmap for the Future of Europe: shaping EU Security and Defence Policy

Speakers including David McAllister (EPP, Germany), Chair of the AFET Committee, Julia de Clerck-Sachsse (Adviser, Strategic Planning Division, EEAS), Tomáš Valášek (Director, Carnegie Europe) and Elena Lazarou (Policy Analyst, EPRS), as well as moderator Alexandre Stutzmann, Director of Committees, DG EXPO, joined the EPRS on 15 May 2018 for a roundtable event entitled ‘Roadmap for the Future of Europe: shaping EU Security and Defence Policy’. Continue reading →

EU sanctions against Russia : What’s next?

Four years after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, the issue of sanctions against Moscow is more topical than ever. Relations between Russia and the West have continued to deteriorate to a level not seen since the end of the Cold War, with revelations of the Kremlin’s interference in the United States elections and elsewhere – for example, in the United Kingdom’s EU referendum. Continue reading →

Are the upcoming United States mid-term elections the Democrats’ to lose?

On 6 November 2018, the outcome of the US mid-term elections could have far-reaching consequences for President Trump’s ability to pursue his policy agenda. To learn more about this potentially game-changing event, the EPRS organised a roundtable discussion on 24 April 2018 in the European Parliament’s Library. Continue reading →

New collection asks if we should fear artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging, once again, as one of the most hotly debated technologies on the horizon. This horizon is getting closer and, in some application areas, AI is already here. This has prompted debates about what AI means for the future of humanity, which occasionally includes extreme predictions on employment (such as a job-free society), and existential threats (such as a human-free earth). Continue reading →

EPRS Event: Economic and Social policies for young people

On 20 March 2018, the EPRS organised a policy roundtable in the Library of the European Parliament. This is the first of a series of five EPRS roundtables to set a ‘Roadmap for the Future of Europe – From Bratislava to Sibiu’. Continue reading →

Removing CO2 from the air – golden opportunity or dangerous fantasy?

How can CO2 be taken out of the air? Will the technologies be ready? How much would it cost? How much CO2 could be removed? What are the risks?

These questions were discussed on 8 March 2018 in the European Parliament, at an event co-organised by the European Science Academies’ Advisory Council (EASAC) and the European Parliament Research Service (EPRS). Continue reading →

The global state of democracy as seen by citizens

On 7 March 2018, the EPRS Members’ Research Service organised a roundtable on the global state of democracy as seen by citizens. The main questions addressed were: do citizens still trust democratic forms of governance? Are they still committed to the model, and can such commitment be boosted? What factors drive public preference for representative democracy over non-democratic options? These are vital questions to answer if there is to be a future for democracy in Europe and in the world. Continue reading →

Europe’s online encyclopaedias: Reliable knowledge for all in the post-fact era?

At a time when information is easily manipulated for ideological and/or economic purposes, emotions often trump evidence, while trust in institutions, expertise and mainstream media is declining. Continue reading →

EPRS Event: Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2018

On 30 January 2018, following the publication of our study on the Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2018, the EPRS organised a policy roundtable in the Library of the European Parliament. This second edition of the annual study presents an overview of the main economic indicators in the EU and euro area and their two-year trends. Continue reading →

Global Trends to 2030: Hard and soft power in a changing world

On 22 and 23 November 2017, the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS) held its third yearly conference since the publication of its pioneering report ‘Global Trends to 2030: can the EU meet the challenges ahead?’ at the beginning of this legislative cycle. Continue reading →

European Tourism Day

Addressing ‘the future of EU tourism’, the European Commission organised the 2017 edition of the European Tourism Day on 28 November in Brussels. Continue reading →