European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Information Technology
Adapting to new digital realities: Main issues and policy responses
Digital technologies have changed the way we live and transformed the world around us at unprecedented speed. They have affected all important aspects of life, both at work and at home, and have influenced almost everything from human relations to the economy, to the extent that access to the internet has now become a basic human right recognised by the United Nations. Continue reading
WIFI4EU – Promotion of internet connectivity in local communities [EU Legislation in Progress]
Written by Christian Scheinert (3rd edition), On 12 September 2017, the European Parliament voted to adopt a legislative act that aims at the promotion of very fast wireless internet access in local communities. This service will be provided free of charge to the public at large. The areas covered will encompass public administrations, libraries and … Continue reading
Developing supercomputers in Europe
A number of companies, universities and start-ups are racing to develop the fastest supercomputer in global rankings. So far China, Switzerland and the USA occupy the top four places in this regard, while the EU does not feature in the top 10. Continue reading
Single digital gateway [EU Legislation in Progress]
As part of the ‘compliance package’, the Commission intends to provide a single digital entry point to offer easy and efficient online access for businesses and citizens, comprising: (1) information about Union and national law and administrative requirements, (2) procedures, such as company registration, and (3) services providing assistance upon request. Continue reading
Opportunities and challenges of 5G in the EU
Written by Mihalis Kritikos. ‘The European Union will manage to gain a competitive advantage if it takes a leading role in the definition and standardisation of 5G technologies’ is how Eva Kaili, (S&D, Greece), Chair of Parliament’s Scientific and Technology Options Assessment (STOA), opened the workshop on ‘Opportunities and challenges of 5G in the EU’, which … Continue reading
What if blockchain changed social values? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Philip Boucher, Blockchain technology could shake up many aspects of our daily lives, from the currency we use to the purchases we make. But what is the impact on our social values, and what can policy-makers do about it? Blockchain technology is a remarkably transparent and decentralised way of recording lists of transactions. … Continue reading
STOA Workshop: Opportunities and challenges of 5G in the EU
Webstreaming Hashtag: #STOA5G Written by Mihalis Kritikos 5G has been described as the most critical building block of our ‘digital society’, as it promises a new wave of technology services – from driverless cars to smart home appliances – and mobile broadband download rates up to 60 times faster than from the current 4G providers. … Continue reading
Fundamental rights implications of big data [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Shara Monteleone, The development of smart devices connected online and of big data practices, allowing unprecedented availability, sharing and automated use of data, brings both opportunities in terms of efficiency and improvement in our lives and risks for individuals’ fundamental rights. The European Parliament will vote on an own-initiative report on these issues … Continue reading
European space policy; Historical perspective, specific aspects and key challenges
Written by Vincent Reillon, In the 1950s, development of the space sector in Europe was limited to investments made by individual Member States (France, Italy, the United Kingdom). The failure of the first European partnerships in space activities in the 1960s led to the establishment of the European Space Agency (ESA), an intergovernmental institution, in … Continue reading
Digital skills in the EU labour market
Written by Monika Kiss, Information and communications technologies (ICT) play an increasingly important role in our professional and private lives, and digital competence is of growing importance for every individual. In the future, nearly all jobs will require digital skills. However, European Commission figures show that two fifths of the EU workforce have little or … Continue reading
What if computers were trillions of times faster? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Lieve Van Woensel with James Tarlton, Could the theory of quantum mechanics one day revolutionise commonplace technical devices such as sensors, communication devices and computers? Quantum mechanics is a scientific theory that has revolutionised our understanding of the Universe. In the world of classical physics, a system is always in one particular state … Continue reading
12 graphs: Eleven sectors of ‘data users’
Written by Clare Ferguson, In 2016 we all became more aware of the enormous quantities of data we generate in our daily working and private lives, and the uses to which this data can be put. Analysis of ‘big data’ generated by economic and social activities can be used to improve processes or predict human … Continue reading
Copyright in the digital single market [EU Legislation in Progress]
On 14 September 2016, the European Commission presented a legislative package for the modernisation of the EU copyright rules, including a new directive on copyright in the digital single market. The proposal aims at further harmonising the EU copyright framework taking into account the increasing digital and cross-border uses of protected content. Continue reading
What if blockchain technology revolutionised voting? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Philip Boucher, Is blockchain the revolution in security and transparency that is needed to enable e-voting and, if so, what are the implications for the future of democracy? Despite the digitalisation of several important aspects of modern life, elections are still largely conducted offline, on paper. Since the turn of the century, e-voting … Continue reading
Economic impact of Big Data
Written by Eulalia Claros and Ron Davies, Advances in information and communication technologies, the increasing use of electronic devices and networks, and the digitalisation of production processes mean that vast quantities of data are generated daily by economic and social activities. This ‘big data’ can be transmitted, collected, aggregated and analysed to provide insights into … Continue reading
Geo-blocking and discrimination among customers in the EU [EU Legislation in Progress]
Geo-blocking practices commonly restrict cross-border sales of tangible goods as well as of electronically supplied services and electronically delivered content services in the EU. Continue reading
UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030
Written by Zsolt G. Pataki with Sarah McCormack, On 31 May 2016 the European Parliament’s (EP) Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel hosted a joint workshop along with UNESCO and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) to examine the key findings of the ‘UNESCO Science Report: Towards 2030’. UNESCO examines every five years … Continue reading
Focus on digital health events
Written by Nicole Scholz, Digital health is high on the European and international agenda in June 2016, notably during eHealth Week from 8 to 10 June in Amsterdam, at the eHealth360°Summit from 14 to 16 June in Budapest and at the Digital Health World Congress on 22 and 23 June in London. See our Topical Digest on … Continue reading
Ten technologies which could change our lives
Written by Lieve Van Woensel and Geoff Archer Technological progress has occurred with dazzling speed over a matter of decades, impacting upon virtually every aspect of our lives and society. For many it has become the lifeblood of the European Union’s (EU) economy, illustrated by the inclusion of “Smart growth: developing an economy based on … Continue reading
A new STOA Panel for the new European Parliament
The European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Panel (known as STOA) has had its political leadership mandate renewed for the next two and a half years at a constituent meeting held during the recent European Parliament (EP) plenary session week in Strasbourg. On 22nd October 2014, MEPs appointed to the STOA Panel by parliamentary committees … Continue reading
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