European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
what think tanks are thinking
The digital economy in the EU [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The digital revolution is reshaping the European Union’s economy, from financial services and telecoms to creative industries and the way workers are employed. While posing certain threats, such as cyber-attacks, new technologies offer vast opportunities, provided that people acquire the right skill-sets to underpin their use. Seeking to tap the full … Continue reading
NATO and EU defence [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The US President, Donald Trump, will meet with the other leaders of the NATO member states at a summit in Brussels on 25 May 2017. Among issues on the table are the new US Administration’s commitment to Europe’s security, and the levels of military spending in Europe, which Washington considers too … Continue reading
EU social policies [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, On 26 April, the European Commission presented a European Pillar of Social Rights, which is a package of legislative proposals and recommendations aimed at enhancing work-life balance, fostering equal opportunities and better access to the labour market, as well as improving working conditions. Under the proposal, for example, new fathers would … Continue reading
ECB policies [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The European Central Bank is pushing ahead with its monetary stimulus programme, which was launched more than two years ago to counter deflationary pressures in the euro zone economy, and to strengthen then fragile economic growth. Some economists and politicians say the time is becoming ripe for the ECB to taper … Continue reading
Brexit negotiations [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, has called an early general election on 8 June 2017, arguing that victory for her party would ‘strengthen her hand’ in negotiations on the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union. In March, her government launched the formal procedure for leaving the Union, by triggering … Continue reading
The European Union at 60 [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Heads of State or Government of the EU-27 marked the 60th anniversary of the European Union’s founding Treaty of Rome on 25 March 2017, with pledges to seek closer unity, improve internal and external security, boost economic growth and employment, reduce social inequalities and bolster the bloc’s global role. Their Rome … Continue reading
International trade [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The election of Donald Trump, who favours a bilateral over multilateral approach to international economic relations, as U.S. President may herald the end of an era of progressive liberalisation in global trade since the Second World War. At their meeting in March, finance ministers of the G20 group of major economies … Continue reading
Turkey and the EU [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Relations between Turkey and the European Union have been strained for some time, and most recently, Ankara became embroiled in a diplomatic spat with Germany and the Netherlands, following decisions in both countries to prevent Turkish ministers from addressing rallies of expatriate Turks. On 16 April, the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip … Continue reading
The Western Balkans and the EU [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, European Union heads of state and government reiterated support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans at their meeting on 9 March, and underlined that the situation in the region was fragile due to internal and external challenges. Despite relatively good economic growth prospects, the Western Balkans’ reform progress has … Continue reading
Euro-area reforms: Challenges and policies [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Reforms to the system of governance of the euro area, launched in the wake of the 2008-09 financial crisis, have included, inter alia, the creation of authorities to better supervise the financial markets, improved mechanisms to coordinate fiscal policies, and procedures to correct economic imbalances. While the drive to overhaul the … Continue reading
Gender equality: EU challenges and policies [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Equality between women and men is one of the European Union’s founding values. Under the “Strategic engagement for gender equality 2016-2019” policy plan, the EU seeks to increase female labour-market participation, reduce the gender pay gap, promote equality between women and men in decision-making, fight gender-based violence, and promote gender equality … Continue reading
Challenges for the EU [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The European Union faces challenges, such as in relation to migration and stagnant economic growth, which test its ability to offer solutions to its citizens. Some politicians and analysts have called for a reform of the EU to shore up popular support for European integration 60 years after the signing of … Continue reading
Latest thinking on Brexit [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, The United Kingdom is preparing to meet the deadline it has set itself of end-March 2017 for launching the formal procedure to leave the European Union. Following a UK Supreme Court ruling, triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty now requires that the UK Parliament pass legislation on the matter, … Continue reading
The EU and migration [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, At their meeting in Malta on 3 February, 2017, EU heads of states and government endorsed further objectives to ease the migratory challenge, with a view to stemming irregular migration flows through the central Mediterranean route. The plan foresees ‘immediate operational measures’ focused on training and supporting the Libyan coastguard in … Continue reading
Cyber-security [What Think Tanks are Thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Allegations of interference in the US electoral campaign in 2016 through cyber espionage and leaks have put the spotlight on cyber-security and cybercrime, not only for ensuring financial or strategic advantages, but increasingly as means of pursuing political aims. As digital technologies grow in importance, the clear view among analysts is … Continue reading
US President Donald Trump [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Donald Trump has begun his four-year term as the US President by moving to deliver on some of his campaign promises, such on Obamacare, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement and the North American Free Trade Agreement. Analysts and politicians agree that the Trump presidency will have wide-ranging implications for trade, international … Continue reading
EU budget reform [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, A long-running discussion on reforming the European Union’s budget gained momentum when the High-Level Group on Own Resources, led by former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, presented its report in January 2017. The report proposes simpler methods for funding the EU, to make it less reliant on direct contributions from Member … Continue reading
2016: A Year of Shifts and Shocks [What Think Tanks are thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, 2016 may rank as an ‘annus horibilis’ for the European Union – a year when it confronted several simultaneous crises, or a ‘polycrisis’ as the President of the European Commission characterised the situation, including the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the EU, deadly terrorist attacks, migration pressures, growing Russian assertiveness, eurozone … Continue reading
The EU and the fight against terrorism [What Think Tanks are Thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Following the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 and in Brussels and Nice this year, the European Union is moving ahead with its Security Union concept to help strengthen internal security cooperation, combat terrorism and prevent youth radicalisation. As part of anti-terrorist efforts, the European Parliament and the Council are … Continue reading
EU Defence [What Think Tanks are Thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Europe’s increasingly unstable neighbourhood, Britain’s plans to leave the European Union and a search for potentially successful areas of cooperation amid several crises have all renewed momentum for increased EU defence cooperation. Plans for stronger military ties among EU Member States, already envisaged in the recent EU Global Strategy, have received … Continue reading
