European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Podcasts
The EU and Russia: Locked into confrontation [Policy Podcast]
Following the post-Cold War reset of the 1990s, EU-Russia relations have become increasingly tense. Although initially seen as a pro-Western reformer, since the start of his first presidency in 2000 Vladimir Putin has shown increasingly authoritarian tendencies, and his efforts to assert Russian influence over post-Soviet neighbours threaten the sovereignty of those states. Continue reading
Nutrition labelling schemes used in Member States [Policy Podcast]
The controversial issue of ‘front-of-pack nutrition labelling’ (FOP labelling) has been high on the agenda of those following European food labelling issues for many years. Continue reading
Understanding the EU response to organised crime [Policy Podcast]
The EU has made substantial progress in terms of protecting its citizens since the early 1990s, often in response to dramatic incidents, such as mafia or other organised crime group murders, big money-laundering scandals, a steep increase in migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings following the 2015 migration crisis, or – more recently – a sharp rise in cybercrime, fraud and counterfeiting during the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading
Impact of the pandemic on elections around the world: From safety concerns to political crises [Policy Podcast]
The coronavirus has taken a heavy toll on electoral processes around the world, with many elections being postponed because of emergency situations. Continue reading
What if insects were on the menu in Europe? [Science and Technology podcast]
Insects, while commonly consumed elsewhere in the world, have long been off the menu in Europe, but they could soon be creeping their way onto our plates. Continue reading
Public sector innovation: Concepts, trends and best practices [Policy Podcast]
The public sector is an important employer, service provider and procurer. Innovations in the public sector mainly focus on processes, products, organisation and communication. Continue reading
Enforcement of consumer protection legislation [Policy Podcast]
European consumers enjoy a high level of rights, but when the rules protecting them are broken, they need to be enforced. The main goals of enforcement are to prevent and punish infringements, and to enable consumers harmed by infringements to get wrongs put right (consumer redress). Continue reading
Single market and the pandemic: Impacts, EU action and recovery [Policy Podcast]
The coronavirus crisis caused an asymmetric shock to both supply and demand in the EU, inflicting unprecedented economic harm: the deep recession in 2020 is likely to be followed by a fragile recovery in 2021. Continue reading
EU agricultural policy and climate change [Policy Podcast]
In December 2019, the European Parliament declared a climate and environmental emergency in Europe and across the globe – a recognition of the challenges that the EU faces in this area. Continue reading
Understanding EU data protection policy [Policy Podcast]
The near-ubiquity of data in the lives of ordinary people, along with its exponential growth in generation rate and potential misuse, has made the protection of personal information an increasingly important social, legal and political matter for the EU. Continue reading
What if AI could advance the science surrounding dementia? [Science and Technology podcast]
Dementia is a growing public health concern, with no reliable prognosis or effective treatment methods. In the age of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the goal of more precise, early diagnosis and prediction of the progression of dementia may not be very far away. Continue reading
Impact of coronavirus on EU aid to the most deprived [Policy Podcast]
Around 24 million people in the EU, or 5.6 % of the population, are ‘severely materially deprived’. Fighting poverty and social exclusion is therefore a key priority, and to this end the EU supplements its Member States’ aid to those most in need through the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), which has a budget of €3.8 billion. Continue reading
Digital culture − Access issues [Policy Podcast]
The digital shift has touched all aspects of human activity, and culture is no exception. Cultural assets and works have been digitised and digital technology has become a tool for novel creations. Continue reading
Demography on the European agenda: Strategies for tackling demographic decline [Policy Podcast]
The EU faces a number of demographic challenges such as ageing, a declining birth rate and depopulation in some of its regions. Continue reading
Understanding the EU’s approach to cyber diplomacy and cyber defence [Policy Podcast]
Despite its expertise in cyber public awareness campaigns, research and development, and educational programmes, the EU is still subject to constant cyber attacks. Continue reading
How digital technology is easing the burden of confinement [Policy Podcast]
The coronavirus pandemic is bringing an unforeseen acceleration in the digital transformation of societies around the world. Continue reading
What if we could fight antibiotic resistance with probiotics? [Science and Technology podcast]
Recent research suggests that the future combat against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) may involve probiotic-based approaches. Their use in our microbial ecosystems, including humans, animals and the healthcare environment, may provide a novel approach which deserves exploration. Continue reading
Organ donation and transplantation: Facts, figures and European Union action [Policy Podcast]
The issue of organ donation and transplantation gained renewed political momentum as one of the initial health priorities of the current Croatian Presidency of the Council of the EU. Continue reading
Protecting the EU agri-food supply chain in the face of COVID-19 [Policy Podcast]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, EU countries’ governments have taken a host of measures, including reintroducing border controls and setting limits to free movement of people within their territory, in an attempt to stem the spread of the disease. Continue reading
Addressing shortages of medicines [Policy Podcast]
Medicines shortages have been a growing problem in the European Union (EU) in recent years. As the coronavirus outbreak unfolds, the risk of bottlenecks in the supply of medicines to patients has become particularly high. Continue reading
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