The European Commission has announced the establishment of a 'right to repair', with a view of saving costs for consumers and facilitating the development of a circular economy. The right to repair may refer to different issues and situations: repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves. Rates of repair depend on the type of a product, with the cost of repair being the most important reason consumers avoid repair. Research shows that consumers favour products that are easily repaired, but their willingness to pay for such products depends on the type of product and the way information on the reparability is presented to them...

EPRS policy podcast - Right to repair

Precise figures about the numbers of illegal firearms in the European Union (EU) are lacking, but several indicators point to their widespread availability and accessibility. According to the Small Arms Survey, over half of the estimated total number of firearms held by civilians in the EU in 2017 were unlicensed. While most of these citizens had no criminal intentions, their illicit firearms could be used for self-harm or domestic violence, or end up in the hands of criminals or terrorists. Firearms seizures suggest that the EU illicit firearms market is made up mostly of shotguns, pistols and rifles, with converted or convertible weapons also frequently appearing. Illicit firearms trafficking is driven by criminal demand, with organised crime groups that engage in firearms trafficking also involved in other forms of criminality.

EPRS policy podcast - Understanding EU policy on firearms trafficking

While killing all microorganisms in our bodies may seem tempting to some germaphobes, scientific evidence indicates that beneficial microorganisms (that live in nearly ubiquitous communities called microbiota) are an essential component of human health, and could form a new frontier for personalised medicine to fight non-communicable diseases and improve human health. In this podcast, we’ll look at the microorganisms that live in our bodies and the incredible role they play in assuring our health.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if we killed all microorganisms in our bodies?

The growing importance of global supply chains has fundamentally changed the way the global economy and goods manufacturing are organised. While trade conducted through global supply chains has fallen somewhat as a share of total trade since the 2008-2010 global financial and economic crisis, more than two-thirds of international trade still involves transactions made possible by such chains. In this podcast, we’ll focus on global supply chains. We’ll analyse how dependent we are on them, the impact of the pandemic and what can be done –at the European and the global level- to make these chains more resilient in the future.

EPRS policy podcast - Resilience of global supply chains: Challenges and solutions

The European Union has an ambitious climate strategy and is looking for ways to boost technologies that will make it possible. Could hydrogen and the deployment of related technology and infrastructure become a decisive factor in decarbonising specific industry sectors? In this podcast, we’ll talk about hydrogen and its potential to accelerate the decarbonisation of European industry.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if hydrogen accelerated decarbonisation of European industry?

Human rights sanctions are nothing new, but the death in 2009 of Russian whistle-blower Sergei Magnitsky in detention resulted in calls for more vigorous action to counter continuing abuses in many countries. Adopted by the US in 2016, the Global Magnitsky Act was the first of a new generation of human rights sanctions programmes, which, in contrast to traditional sanctions targeted at individual countries, can be flexibly applied to perpetrators from all over the world, regardless of their geographical location. In this podcast, we’ll talk about the rise of global human rights sanctions and compare how the US, Canada, the UK and the EU deal with human rights violations and abuses worldwide.

EPRS policy podcast - Global human rights sanctions - Mapping Magnitsky laws: The US, Canadian, UK and EU approach

The fit for 55 package is part of the Commission's European Green Deal, which aims to set the EU firmly on the path towards net zero GHG emissions (climate neutrality) by 2050. The fit for 55 package includes a regulation establishing a new social climate fund (SCF). The aim of the SCF is to help vulnerable households, micro-businesses and transport users meet the costs of the green energy transition in the buildings and road transport sector. The SCF is designed to counter the additional costs that vulnerable consumers may face when the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive is revised to cover these two sectors, as proposed in the fit for 55 package. The SCF aims to provide over €72 billion in EU funding over the 2025-2032 period, to be paid for mainly by ETS credits in the buildings and road transport sectors. In this podcast, we’ll talk about the ‘social climate fund’: a new tool with which the EU aims to support lower-income groups through [...]

EPRS policy podcast - Social climate fund: Fit for 55 package

The European Commission proposes to establish a technology-neutral definition of AI systems in EU law and to lay down a classification for AI systems with different requirements and obligations tailored on a 'risk-based approach'. Some AI systems presenting 'unacceptable' risks would be prohibited. A wide range of 'high-risk' AI systems would be authorised, but subject to a set of requirements and obligations to gain access to the EU market. Those AI systems presenting only 'low or minimal risk' would be subject to very light transparency obligations. In this podcast, we’ll talk about the EU artificial intelligence act, the first ever comprehensive attempt at regulating the uses and risks of this emerging technology.

EPRS policy podcast - Artificial intelligence act

The way most food is produced is harming the planet. A profound change is needed, involving all agri-food actors. As consumers, we sit at the end of the agri-food chain. Our daily dietary choices implicitly support certain food systems, production methods and types of food. What could help us make better choices? In this podcast, we’ll talk about ecolabels and their potential to nudge us towards more sustainable food choices.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if ecolabels could nudge us to choose greener food?

In 2016, as a response to the shortcomings revealed in the EU's migration management, the Commission presented a proposal to amend and expand the mandate of The European Asylum Support Office (EASO), also changing its name to the European Union agency for asylum to reflect its stronger powers. As part of the asylum reform package, the proposal was put on hold, but was then relaunched as part of the new pact on asylum and migration in September 2020. On 29 June 2021, the European Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the agency. In this podcast, we’ll look at its changing role and extended powers to improve asylum management in Europe.

EPRS policy podcast - Introducing the European Union agency for asylum

According to statistics since 2008 over 318 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods, windstorms, earthquakes or droughts, 30.7 million in 2020 alone. This is equivalent to one person being displaced every second. Depending on the frequency and scale of the major natural disasters occurring, there are significant fluctuations in the total number of displaced people from one year to the next, yet the trend over recent decades has been a growing one. Many find refuge within their own country, but some are forced to go abroad. In this podcast, we’ll talk about ‘climate refugees’, a concept that remains unclear despite the rising number of people forcibly displaced because of climate disasters.

EPRS policy podcast - The concept of 'climate refugee': Towards a possible definition

In March 2018, the EU introduced a legislative package on the fair taxation of the digital economy. It contained proposals for an interim and a long-term digital tax. However, there was no immediate political agreement in the Council. As finding a global solution at the OECD level or a coordinated EU approach was not yet feasible at the time, some Member States started designing or implementing their own digital taxes, which gave rise to trade tensions. In this podcast, we talk about taxing the digital economy. We analyse the main challenges, look at EU proposals and new developments to make international tax regimes fit for the digital age.

EPRS policy podcast - Taxing the digital economy: New developments and the way forward

Nanoparticles lie at the heart of a new method for delivering medicines inside the body – and they were crucial to the success of the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines. This new drug delivery method and others could transform the way we treat disease, potentially boosting the treatment of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and HIV, among others. Insulin and Covid-19 vaccines might even become available as pills. In this podcast, we’ll look into new drug delivery methods that could simplify the way we treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if novel drug delivery methods revolutionised medicine?

The EU is an important market for illicit drugs, both in terms of consumption and production. An estimated 28.9 % of European adults aged 15-65 have used illicit drugs at least once in their lifetime, a majority of them being men. The illicit drugs market is the largest criminal market in the EU, with an estimated minimum retail value of €30 billion per year in the EU alone. Although the EU Member States carry the primary responsibility for developing their drug policy and legislation, cross-border cooperation is paramount in the fight against illicit drugs. In this podcast, we'll talk about the EU illicit drugs market! We'll look at current demand and supply trends, the challenges ahead and EU's response to this increasingly complex and global problem.

EPRS policy podcast - Understanding the EU's response to drugs

On 30 June 2021, the Commission adopted a proposal for a general product safety regulation, which would replace the current General Product Safety Directive, as part of the regulatory fitness-check programme (REFIT). The proposal seeks to address the challenges of product safety of emerging technologies, including use of artificial intelligence (AI) and connected devices, and to establish clear obligations for online marketplaces, which consumers increasingly use for their online purchases. In this podcast, we'll talk about the new general product safety regulation with which the EU wants to address challenges linked to new technologies and online sales.

EPRS policy podcast - General product safety regulation

In December 2020, the European Commission proposed the creation of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC), to facilitate trade, expand investment, develop compatible standards, boost innovation and strengthen the partners' technological and industrial leadership.The 2021 change of administration in Washington reinvigorated the relationship between the EU and USA. The TTC was formally launched during the EU-US Summit on 15 June 2021. The first meeting took place on 29 September 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In this episode, we'll look at TTC's purpose, objectives and its role in the context of the wider trade and tech relations between the EU and the USA.

EPRS policy podcast - The EU-US Trade and Technology Council

EPRS Policy Talks - What the EU is doing on critical raw materials?

EPRS History and politics roundtable : President Jose Maria Gil-Robles: A Historical Appraisal

Joint EPRS-CRS policy seminar

DG EPRS Policy round table - ' EU sanctions against Russia : What's next ? '

EPRS round table discussion - Roadmap for the Future of Europe: Security and Defence

EPRS round table - Demographic Outlook for Europe: What it is and why it matters .

Former Members Association - FMA spring events - EPRS Information Seminar

EPRS roundtable discussion : ' The European Council - Developments since the Rome Declaration '

EPRS Roundtable discussion - ' Outlook for the US mid-term elections: Where next for American politics ? '

EPRS Policy roundtable - ' The economics of Donald Trump: Implications for Europe and the world '

EPRS Policy Roundtable ' Negative  greenhouse gas emission technologies: Potential, limitations and risks '

EPRS Policy Roundtable ' Declining commitment to democracy : What's going on around the world ? '

EPRS Policy roundtable on ' Europe's national online encyclopaedias: Reliable knowledge in the post-truth era? '

DG EPRS discussion - 2018 : Navigating currents and winds - Ten issues to watch

EPRS - ' Transatlantic economics in the Trump era: Where next for the EU and US? '

EPRS book talk - The future of European Identity: A Conversation with Thomas RISSE

EPRS round table discussion - Winners and Losers of Globalisation: Maximising the EGF'S Impact

EPRS ' Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: The unstapped potential '

EPRS event - ' Text and Data Mining: A new Service for Libraries ? '

EPRS Roundtable: ' The European Council: What makes the agenda and why? '

On 14 July 2021 the European Commission adopted the 'fit for 55' package, a set of legislative proposals to meet the new EU objective of a minimum 55% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The fit for 55 package is part of the Commission's European Green Deal, which aims to set the EU firmly on the path towards net zero GHG emissions (climate neutrality) by 2050. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Social climate fund

The volume of data being produced worldwide is growing rapidly. It is expected to grow from 33 zettabytes, i.e. 1021 bytes or one thousand billion gigabytes, in 2018, to 175 zettabytes in 2025. The datafication of everyday life and data scandals have made the protection of personal information an increasingly important social, legal and political matter for the EU. In recent years, awareness of data rights and expectations for EU action in this area have both grown considerably. The right to privacy and the right to protection of personal data are both enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and in the EU Treaties. The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009 gave the Charter the same legal value as the Treaties and abolished the pillar structure, providing a stronger basis for a more effective and comprehensive EU data protection regime. ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - The future challenges of EU data protection

To address the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, the EU has put in place an unprecedented temporary recovery instrument, Next Generation EU (NGEU). Its main spending tool is the Recovery and Resilience Facility, worth €723.8 billion (in current prices). This video aims to give a flavour of the elements that EU countries want to take up to revive their transport and mobility systems. As all the projects financed have to be implemented by 2026, careful consideration has been needed to determine what is feasible and how it can fit in with long-term national greening efforts...

EPRS - Transport trends in national recovery and resilience plans

The EU and the USA share one of the longest and most complex defence and security relationships. Impressively, 79 % of citizens in NATO countries, 21 of which are EU Member States, consider the relationship between North America and Europe as important in handling security challenges. However, this relationship has been tense, at times distrustful, and uncertain, in particular since 2017...

EPRS - EU-USA: a renewed security and defence alliance

Accounting for 17 % of the global average per capita intake of animal protein, fisheries products support many people's livelihoods and make a significant contribution to food security. However, the share of stock fished at unsustainable levels has tripled since 1974. Economic losses from the depletion of fish stocks are estimated at US$83 billion. A reduction in fishing capacity and effort would contribute to the recovery of stocks, yet many governments of fishing countries continue to support the sector with harmful fishery subsidies. Subsidies that directly increase fishing capacity and may lead to overfishing are estimated at about US$22 billion worldwide. Although there are no specific global rules on fisheries subsidies, they are currently governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

EPRS - Phasing out harmful fishery subsidies

The EU has implemented the world’s largest carbon-pricing system, the emissions trading system (ETS). While pricing emissions can encourage industrial decarbonisation, it also risks carbon leakage, whereby EU companies move their production abroad. To date, the EU has mitigated carbon leakage through free allocations to certain industries, but with rising climate ambition and higher carbon prices, the Commission seeks to phase out free allocations. In parallel, a novel carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) would be introduced, requiring EU importers, as of 2026, to purchase certificates equivalent to the weekly EU carbon price. During the transition period, starting in 2023, importers would be required to report emissions, with a system of monitoring, reporting and verification ensuring accurate reporting of carbon footprints.

EPRS - EU carbon border adjustment mechanism: CBAM

From fighting the virus to addressing climate change or securing supply chains, the pandemic has accelerated our awareness of our common destiny. Global issues call for global solutions and global leadership − solutions that can inspire other countries and continents all over the world. To help us understand these global challenges and make sense of what is unfolding before our eyes, the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) asked its policy analysts to identify ten issues to watch in 2022.

EPRS - Ten issues to watch in 2022

These past years, we have become more aware of the factors affecting our ability to feed the world. Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the unsustainability and unfairness of our global food system. Russia's unprovoked invasion of #Ukraine, a country known as the 'breadbasket of Europe', is raising fears of a global food crisis, further exacerbating existing food security challenges worldwide. Much depends on the response of the international community, including the EU, to rapidly evolving scenarios. Russia and Ukraine are key agricultural players, together exporting nearly 12 % of food calories traded globally. They are major providers of basic agro-commodities, including wheat, maize and sunflower oil, and Russia is the world's top exporter of fertilisers. The two countries combined account for one third of wheat exports. ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Food security in times of crisis

In 2019, over 1.6 billion live animals (ovines, bovines, poultry and pigs) were transported across the EU and beyond its borders. Conditions during these journeys vary, depending on many factors, including the size of the consignment, the means of transport, the design and equipment of the vehicle, the time of year (temperature), and especially the duration (journeys to third countries can sometimes last days). Each animal species has its specific physiology and behaviour, therefore their welfare needs in transport are different. Certain categories of animals, such as young calves, lactating cows, unweaned animals and pregnant females, are particularly vulnerable and have higher welfare needs.

EPRS - Protecting vulnerable animals from illegal transport

Travel restrictions and border shutdowns generated by the Covid-19 pandemic have impacted our economic and social life. Much work has been done at European level to improve reporting of data on Covid-19, and to better understand when travel restrictions become a necessary part of protecting public health. In the event of a future health emergency, the routines established and the experience gained recently will help improve the management of travel restrictions. Reform of the Schengen Treaty can make it easier to meet future challenges while at the same time making sure that those living in Europe can continue to benefit from free movement. Broader global cooperation and coordination is also important.

EPRS - The future of EU borders in times of pandemic

The European Union has made substantial progress on 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, and – most recently – a sharp rise in cybercrime, fraud and counterfeiting during the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, criminal organisations continue to pose considerable risks to the internal security of the EU.

EPRS - EU action against serious crime

Violence against women is a problem that can affect anyone, anywhere in the world, including in the EU. As women disproportionately experience violence from family members or relatives, at home, violence against women tends to stay hidden. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated this problem. The EU does not have a specific legal instrument to address gender-based physical or cyber violence, despite the harm and costs it imparts on victims, their friends, family and society. EPRS assessment finds that a combination of policy options would generate the greatest European added value, promote victims' fundamental rights, address the impact on individuals, society and the economy, and support law enforcement and people working with victims.

EPRS - Combating gender-based violence at EU level

Scientists have been raising an alarm bell, stressing that continued greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions will increase the risk of severe (if not irreversible) impacts on our ecosystem and society. To fight climate change, it is key to decarbonise the economy and strengthen GHGs absorption capacities. In March 2020, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal for a European climate law, setting the objective and framework for the EU to become climate-neutral by 2050. However, the journey to carbon neutrality will be long. In the meantime, stronger adaptation efforts are needed to minimise the impacts of extreme weather events and natural disasters that may arise from climate change.

EPRS - EU Climate Action: Responding to the global emergency

Over the past 50 years, oceans have progressively warmed up, absorbing more than 90 % of the excess heat in the climate system. More and more, Europe's glaciers are facing a loss of ice mass. Consequently, the global sea level rise has accelerated in recent decades. The Joint Research Centre projects that extreme sea levels in Europe could rise by more than one metre by 2100. This trend will continue for many centuries, even if the surface temperature is stabilised.

EPRS - Rising Sea Levels

One person is displaced every second every year due to climate hazards and the figure is set to double by 2050. The lack of a legal definition to describe people who are forced to move for environmental reasons is of particular concern, as it leaves them in legal limbo and this needs to be addressed urgently. Since 2008 over 318 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods, windstorms, earthquakes or droughts, 30.7 million in 2020 alone. This is equivalent to one person being displaced every second. Many find refuge within their own country, but some are forced to go abroad. In the summer of 2021, Europe witnessed heavy and unprecedented flooding, particularly in Belgium and Germany, and heat domes in the Mediterranean region. Scientists relate this directly to climate change. All things considered, the number of 'climate refugees' looks set to rise.

EPRS - Climate refugees

From a niche concept to a proven sustainable practice, organic farming has come a long way over the years. The European Parliament has highlighted that the EU could reduce its emissions with organic farming. Studies also show that organic lands have 30 % more biodiversity than conventional ones (European Commission, 2021). To build on these key benefits, the EU action plan on organic production set an ambitious target: 25 % of EU farming should be organic by 2030.

EPRS - 5 facts about organic farming

Fishing is often seen as a male activity, especially when it comes to working on board fishing vessels and involving long absences at sea. However, women play an important role in the fisheries sector, especially in small-scale family businesses. Either they are involved in the fishing activity itself, on board or on foot as shellfish gatherers, or they support the business through on-shore activities such as fishing gear preparation and maintenance, transporting fish to auctions, sales, administration, logistics or even the development of tourist activities. This work is not always recognised. According to a study for the European Commission, the share of unpaid women in fisheries (6.6 %) is almost double their share in total employment (3.8 %). However, this level of employment is an underestimate, as women who are not actively engaged on board fishing vessels are often not visible in the official statistics.

EPRS - Women in EU fisheries

Europe hosts a rich diversity of wild pollinators, including over 2 000 species of bees, more than 480 species of butterflies, almost 1 000 species of hoverflies and thousands of other insect species. In the European Union (EU), 78 % of native flora and 84 % of crops are either partially or fully dependent on insects for pollination. However, significant pollinator loss has been documented over time across the EU. It entails risks for both societies and ecosystems. Pollinator protection is a key issue for the European Parliament, which made clear that the revision of the EFSA bee guidance document should ensure a level of protection at least equivalent to that laid down in 2013. Parliament also called for an urgent revision of the EU pollinators initiative, a ban on all neonicotinoid-based pesticides and the inclusion of EU-wide binding pesticide reduction targets in the upcoming revision of the directive on the sustainable use of pesticides.

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