European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Ten issues to watch in 2018
Europe’s challenges in 2018: Ten issues to watch
‘Ten issues to watch in 2018’ was presented in the Library of the European Parliament on 11 January, in the context of a roundtable discussion that attracted an audience of more than 130 people. The significant attendance demonstrated the high interest in the publication – the second edition of an annual EPRS publication designed to identify key issues and policy areas that are likely to feature prominently on the political agenda of the European Union over the coming year. Continue reading
Future financing of the Union [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
The EU has a modest fiscal capacity in the form of an annual budget, whose size and structure are largely predetermined by a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The current MFF covers the 2014-2020 period and amounts to €1.09 trillion, or roughly 1 % of EU GDP. Continue reading
North Korea [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
One of the biggest concerns internationally is that 2018 could see the long-standing North Korean crisis develop into a larger-scale conflict, potentially affecting not only eastern Asia, but also a large variety of players across the globe. Continue reading
European elections [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
The next European elections – for the ninth elected term – will be held in May/June 2019. But the European Parliament elections struggle to be truly ‘European’ rather than ‘national’ in both form and substance. Continue reading
Future of the euro area [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
The euro area twice came under immense pressure in recent years: in 2007, when the US financial crisis spilled over to Europe, and then, when the European sovereign debt crisis broke out, peaking in 2010-2012. The latter clearly revealed weaknesses in the original architecture of economic and monetary union (EMU). Continue reading
Migration [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
Although the record-high migratory flows to the EU witnessed during 2015 and 2016 had subsided by the end of 2017, sea arrivals remained at significant levels. In 2018 and in the years to come, considering the global repercussions of international and internal conflicts, climate change and the growing disparities between the EU and third countries, it is unlikely that migratory pressure will decrease. Continue reading
Youth empowerment [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
According to Eurostat data, there are currently 88.6 million young Europeans between 15 and 29 years old. They constitute 17.4 % of the total population, a slow but steady decline from 19.6 % (96.6 million) in 2006. Continue reading
Rising inequalities [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
Inequalities are a deep-rooted and persistent problem in the EU and globally. While across the EU the Gini-co-efficient of equivalised disposable income has been somewhat stagnant both for individual Member States and for the EU-28 as a whole, there are major territorial and developmental differences. Continue reading
Brexit / United Kingdom withdrawal from the EU [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
On 29 March 2017, the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, notified the European Council of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU, thereby triggering a two-year deadline to reach a withdrawal agreement. Continue reading
Disinformation and cybersecurity [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
In 2017, Russian influence campaigns orchestrated via US-based social media continued to arouse deep anxiety in Western democracies. The scope of the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election campaign was steadily revealed throughout 2017. Continue reading
Terrorism [Ten issues to watch in 2018]
In recent years, terrorism has been an issue of major concern that has dominated public debates across the EU. The deadly attacks that took place in several EU Member States in 2017 attest to the ongoing reality of the threat, despite a massive security response. Continue reading
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