In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to be attained by 2030. The SDGs and the broader 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, of which they form the core, are based on findings that human activities have triggered dramatic changes in the conditions on Earth (climate change and biodiversity loss), which in turn have contributed to the deterioration of human wellbeing. To reverse the trend, there is an urgent need to simultaneously address the multiple causes and consequences of environmental depletion and social inequalities, by developing synergies and managing trade-offs between the SDGs. The European Union has been a leader in drafting the SDGs; it is also a frontrunner in mainstreaming the SDGs in all its policies.

EPRS podcast - Policy: Understanding SDGs: The UN's Sustainable Development Goals

In an unprecedented and unanimous reaction to Russia's war on Ukraine that began on 24 February 2022, the EU swiftly decided to make available €500 million from the European Peace Facility – followed soon after by additional financing – to fund EU military assistance and to deliver military equipment to Ukraine. For the first time in its history, the EU is now using a dedicated, although off-budget, tool to finance – but not to deliver, with that responsibility falling on Member States alone – lethal military equipment to a third country. This is a further update of a publication, the previous edition of which was released on 30 March 2022. UPDATE: Since the recording of this podcast, the EU has agreed to mobilise additional financing of military assistance to Ukraine amounting to €2 billion currently.

EPRS policy podcast - Russia's war on Ukraine: The EU's financing of military assistance to Ukraine

Automated decision-making by systems that use machine learning to dynamically improve performance are still seen as lacking the 'human perspective' and flexibility to adapt to the particular nuances of specific cases. But perhaps, as they lack the 'cunning' to hide their biases, automated systems actually make fairer decisions than do humans, when these decisions are based on data that have been properly curated.

EPRS STOA podcast - What if machines made fairer decisions than humans?

Over the past decade, space has gained increasing importance as an economic sector offering opportunities for established and emerging markets. Space policies and their applications have also gained in political relevance due to their capacity to tackle global challenges, such as the climate and biodiversity crises, but also due to the growing reliance of the EU economy and society on space infrastructure, services and data. This briefing focuses on the state of play in regard to the EU's space economy, while also examining the EU's reliance on space services. Specifically, it highlights the relevance of the EU in the global space market and looks at the ways the EU could boost its use of space data and services to deliver on its main political priorities.

EPRS policy podcast - EU space policy: Boosting EU competitiveness and accelerating the twin ecological and digital transition

The European Union already has an outstanding level of social security compared to the rest of the world. While the EU constitutes less than 6 % of the world's population and 20 % of global gross domestic profit (GDP), it accounts for at least 40 % of global public spending on social protection. According to Eurostat, In the EU-27 in 2020, expenditure on social protection stood at 22.0 % of GDP, at 41.3 % of total global public spending and at €2 943 billion. While the European social model is undoubtedly a unique achievement, it has to be adapted to the challenges of the future to maintain its long-term sustainability. #FutureShocks2022

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks: Building a European social model for the 21st century

European industry is central when it comes to achieving the twin green and digital transition of the EU's economy and society, and making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. While European industry has strengths (for instance in green tech), it has lagged behind in some key strategic sectors. Common weaknesses in strategic European industrial sectors include high dependency on critical raw materials – for instance around half of the materials needed in aircraft production come from third countries. Other weaknesses are insufficient research and development funding, technology gaps, market fragmentation, underinvestment, and lack of skills. The pandemic has, meanwhile, highlighted the broader vulnerabilities of global supply chains. #FutureShocks2022

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks: Establishing greater strategic autonomy for European industry

The war on Ukraine is the latest manifestation of Russia's revisionist policy over the past decade. Russia has increasingly been using hybrid warfare tactics to assert its international position and gain 'strategic leverage'. Russia has used both non-conventional and conventional warfare tactics in conflicts in the EU's neighbourhood, in particular in Syria, Libya, Africa and in Ukraine. Prior to the ongoing war, Russia seized and illegally annexed Crimea in 2014 and carried on a war in Donbass, recognising unilaterally, a couple of days before the invasion of Ukraine, the independence of the self-proclaimed independent republics of Luhansk and Donetsk. In this podcast, we’ll analyse the impact of Russia’s expansionism on the EU and different scenarios on Russia’s possible behaviour in the next years, up to 2030. #FutureShocks2022

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks: Russia's brutal expansionism

The most serious risks are both complex and complicated. Multiple risks can also arise together. We have recent examples of risks that became reality, and that had an impact on society, economy and political life together. This strengthens the case for cross-sectoral monitoring and cross-sectoral strategies. In this podcast, we’ll give you an overview of the most serious risks facing the EU, from health and security ones, to climate change, energy and economic risks. Governance is key for facing future risks as a society. Effective governance needs to be holistic and strategic analytical capacity. So, risk monitoring should be conducted as part of a broader effort to develop strategic foresight and anticipatory governance.

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks: Overview of risks for Europe in 2022 and beyond

Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union's founding principles, enshrined in Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). However, the implementation and enforcement of this principle remain a challenge. Due to a lack of pay transparency, pay discrimination often goes undetected and victims face difficulties in making a claim for redress. On 4 March 2021, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal on binding pay transparency measures. The proposed directive to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms focuses on measures to ensure pay transparency, and better access to justice for victims of pay discrimination.

EPRS policy podcast - Equal pay for equal work between men and women: Pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms

As part of the 'Fit for 55' package, the Commission is proposing a revision to the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) as regards carbon dioxide emissions from aviation. The proposal seeks to ensure that the sector contributes to the EU's climate targets through increased auctioning of allowances, with an end to free allowances from 2027, and by applying the linear reduction of aviation allowances. The proposal will also integrate, into the revised ETS, the International Civil Aviation Organization's agreed global market-based Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and apply it to international flights departing from or arriving at an airport inside the European Economic Area (EEA). For domestic flights in the Member States or flights within the EEA, the ETS would continue to apply.

EPRS policy podcast - Revision of EU ETS as regards aviation: 'Fit for 55' package

On 20 July 2021, the European Commission presented a package of legislative proposals in the area of anti-money-laundering efforts and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). The package includes a proposal for a regulation on preventing the use of the financial system for money laundering or terrorist financing. The proposed regulation would be the central element of what is commonly referred to as an EU 'single rulebook' on AML/CFT. Its detailed and directly applicable provisions would replace the minimum rules of the EU AML directives currently in force. In this podcast, we’ll examine the European Commission proposal to strengthen the EU's anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist financing rules, which is vital to ensure financial stability and security in our continent.

EPRS policy podcast - Fighting money laundering and counter terrorist financing

As part of the 'Fit for 55' package, the Commission presented a legislative proposal to review the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The aim of the review is to align the EU ETS Directive with the EU target set out in the European Climate Law to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55 % by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. To this end, the amount of emission allowances would be reduced, fewer allowances would be allocated for free, and the ETS would be extended to maritime transport. This would reduce emissions in the ETS sectors by 61 % by 2030, compared to 2005. A separate new emissions trading system would be established for fuel distribution for road transport and buildings.

EPRS policy podcast - Review of the EU ETS: 'Fit for 55' package

Green bonds are committed to financing or re-financing investments, projects, expenditure or assets helping to address climate and environmental issues. Both governments and companies use them to finance the transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy. Since the EIB inaugurated the green bond market in 2007 with its Climate Awareness Bond, the market has grown very fast, but it still represents only about 3 to 3.5 % of overall bond issuance. The green bond market needs to grow more quickly to achieve the targets in the Paris Agreement. In this podcast, we’ll talk about European green bonds, a tool for financing green investments that can help us make the transition to a low-carbon economy, and how a European standard could be become global.

EPRS policy podcast - European green bonds: A standard for Europe, open to the world

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

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

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?

EPRS Policy roundtable - Ten issues to watch in 2025

EPRS Policy roundtable - Towards a European democracy shield in our digital world: The role of information integrity

EPRS Policy roundtable - EU finances: Is Next Generation EU delivering?

EPRS round table discussion - Trust, truth and democracy: In a digital world, is knowledge still power ?

EPRS round table discussion - Roadmap for the future of Europe: Migration and borders.

Signature of an agreement between the EP and the BNU (National and University Library)

EPRS round table - EU Economic and Budgetary Outlook 2019

EPRS - Article 17 TFEU dialogue with churches, religions and philosophical organisations. Book presentation

Data protection, (dis)information, artificial intelligence: European perspectives

Roundtable discussion around the book ' Paul Collowald, pionnier d'une Europe à unir '

EPRS round table discussion - ' The Lisbon Treaty : launch of the English language translation of a commented version '

Working Group- Launch of 2019 European Semester Cycle

Parlameter 2018: survey results

EPRS policy roundtable : ' Thinking about tomorrow today: Global Trendometer 2018 '

EPRS Policy roundtable - The impact of automation:Identifying jobs at risk

EPRS policy round table - Environmental sustainability transitions in Europe: options and insights for policymakers

Harnessing emerging and disruptive technologies: Converting EU research into successful start-ups

EPRS Policy round table - Countering online Disinformation in Europe : Next steps

Debate on ' Espionage in Europe throughout the ages '

EPRS - EUI Policy Roundtable - ' The Development of European Integration : Crisis or Opportunity ? '

EPRS Policy Roundtable - ' Performance-based Budgeting:  A means to improve EU spending in the 2021-2027 MFF ? '

The European Union and NATO have a joint history of security and defence cooperation. Their strategic partnership is based on shared interests and values, like democracy, human rights and attachment to a rules-based international order. In 2016 and 2018, the EU and NATO signed two joint declarations. A third joint declaration is currently in preparation. Their aim is to strengthen cooperation in key areas of mutual interest to both organisations like hybrid threats, cyber-security, operational cooperation, defence capabilities, capacity-building, research and industry and training. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Working together to tackle common threats : The EU - NATO relationship

A renowned historian specialising in tyranny and totalitarianism, Timothy Snyder writes and teaches with the hope that we might learn from history. In 2019, the ERSTE Foundation, which cites the preservation of a democratic Europe as one of its strategic goal, invited the Yale professor to deliver a speech to Europe. Timothy Snyder delivered his speech – a powerful address to Europeans – in this symbolic place, on a symbolic date: Europe Day, celebrated every year on 9 May. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Speeches that have made Europe: Timothy Snyder (2019)

Intellectual property lies at the heart of innovation and competitiveness around the world as well as in the European Union. Intellectual property rights are protected mainly through patents, trademarks and copyright. They enable individuals and companies to earn recognition and/or financial benefit from what they invent or create. By striking the right balance between innovators and public interest, intellectual property aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish. But despite impressive patent activity, European businesses still encounter various challenges to register or protect patents. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Key challenges for European patents

In 2019, the European Parliament declared a climate emergency, calling for immediate and ambitious action to limit effects of climate change. What stage are we at today? In our video, Liselotte Jensen and Henrique Simões dig into the latest developments and expected impacts of climate change, as well as the required actions to fight this global emergency. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Climate emergency: what stage are we at ?

In April 2023, the European Parliament approved the deals reached with EU countries in late 2022 on several key pieces of legislation that are part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”. This is the EU’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels) in line with the European Climate Law. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Fit for 55: how will we cut our emissions?

The Commission, on 24 February 2021, adopted the new EU strategy on climate change adaptation which aims at enhancing the EU’s and the world’s capacity to adapt to and minimise the impacts of climate change and at the same time further develop and accelerate actions across the economy and society. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Climate adaptation: how can we build resilience?

Over the years, techniques to limit freedom of expression have been refined, in innovative ways, often taking advantage of a legal void or grey zones between legal norms. Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are abusive or meritless lawsuits filed against someone for exercising their political rights or freedom of expression in relation to matters of public interest. In April 2022, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a directive intended to protect people who engage in public participation from these manifestly unfounded or abusive civil court proceedings with cross-border implications. The proposal is being analysed by the co-legislators. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Combating strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Climate change generates competition over diminishing natural resources, including food and water. It also causes weather-related disasters, which forced over 61 million people across the globe to flee their homes, in 2020 alone. These issues can exacerbate political instability, social tensions and poverty. The countries most vulnerable to climate change are located in fragile regions wracked by conflict. But the situation in Europe is also alarming! Almost one third of Europeans already face water stress in an average year. ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Peace and security: climate change

Here is an abstract from Louise Weiss' speech delivered in the European Parliament in 1979. Born in 1893, Louise Weiss was a peace activist, writer and film-maker, as well as a prominent journalist on European affairs and a champion of women’s rights. The year 1979 was pivotal for the European Parliament: it was no longer Member States, but citizens, who chose their representatives. On 17 July 1979, the first directly-elected European Parliament – as we know it today – held its inaugural session. It was chaired by its eldest member, Louise Weiss.

EPRS - Speeches that have made Europe: Louise Weiss (1979)

The media situation in Belarus has never been easy. Over the years various laws have lessened the rights of independent journalists and imposed limits on both traditional and electronic media. Following the August 2020 presidential election, which ignited a brutal crackdown against the democratic opposition, the situation has worsened. The European Union, and the European Parliament in particular, actively support independent media and civil society in Belarus, and the Council of the EU and the Parliament both address the challenges to media freedom in the country. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely. Dig deeper into the Belarusian media environment in and what the EU does to support press freedom on our blog: https://epthinktank.eu/2022/02/11/media-environment-in-belarus/

EPRS - Media environment in Belarus

Russia’s war on Ukraine has brought geopolitics, security and defence back to the fore of global conversations. And just like all actors around the world, the European Union is also reflecting on the future of its security and defence policy. Launched in 2020, developing the Strategic Compass entails a complex strategic reflection, threat analysis and strategic dialogue among Member States. It started with unprecedented exercise: a joint threat assessment by the 27 EU Member States. A process aimed at bringing clarity, guidance and incentives to completing the common security and defence policy, the Strategic Compass is a first for the European Union. It aims to set a strategic vision of the entirety of European security and defence policy and the way it will look in the 2030... Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - A Strategic Compass for the EU

As part of the 'Fit for 55' package, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal to review the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The aim of the review is to align the EU ETS Directive with the EU target set out in the European Climate Law to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55 % by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. To this end, the amount of emission allowances would be reduced, fewer allowances would be allocated for free, and the ETS would be extended to maritime transport. This would reduce emissions in the ETS sectors by 61 % by 2030, compared to 2005. A separate new emissions trading system would be established for fuel distribution for road transport and buildings. The Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund would be enlarged, and Member States would be obliged to spend all of their ETS revenues on climate action. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Review of the EU ETS

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced hundreds of thousands of people, mostly women and children, to flee the country and seek shelter in neighbouring countries. As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, children are particularly vulnerable. According to the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), the war is posing an immediate and growing threat to Ukraine’s 7.5 million children. Since 24 February, 2 million children have fled the country, but there are still up to 5.5 million children trapped in Ukraine (data on 30 March 2022). With growing numbers of attacks on schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, where many people have been sheltering, these children are in grave danger and are vulnerable to injury or death, as well as being deprived of food, clean water, education and health care... Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Ukraine's children

33 000 people die in Europe every year from untreated infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This number could increase tenfold by 2050. By then, antibiotic resistance will surpass cancer as the second biggest cause of death worldwide. Without working antibiotics, we could return to a “pre-antibiotic era”, where infections from surgeries or cancer treatments, and even simple infections would no longer be possible to treat.Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics when we use the wrong antibiotic or abuse antibiotics to treat an infection. We can acquire antibiotic-resistant bacteria from eating meat from animals treated with antibiotics or by being exposed to contaminated water. Antibiotic resistance also impacts livestock, agriculture and food production, causing a serious economic burden that costs the EU €1.5 billion per year... Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Fighting antibiotic resistance

The extent of the negative impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the social and economic situation of women has triggered a debate on the urgent need to take a gender-sensitive approach to the policy response to the pandemic. In this context, the establishment of the EU's biggest financial instrument supporting recovery in the Member States – the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – is an opportunity to channel the extraordinary resources to the measures that take into account the principles of gender equality. It is also a chance to put in practice the EU's long-standing commitments regarding the need to mainstream gender across different policies and apply gender budgeting principles to EU spending... Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Gender equality in the Recovery and Resilience Facility

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already pushed millions of people to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The EU and its Member States have strongly condemned the aggression and mobilised to aid Ukraine. The EU has also adopted measures to help people, mostly women and children, fleeing Russian aggression, while ensuring proper management of the EU’s external borders. These measures include a proposal to grant EU-wide temporary protection to people arriving from Ukraine, guidelines to assist border guards carrying out checks at the EU-Ukraine borders, and support from specialised EU agencies. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Assisting Ukrainians at the EU’s borders

The deployment of publicly available electric charging points has been uneven across the EU, with nearly 80 % of the more than 208 000 publicly available charging points (as of end 2020) located in five Member States (the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden and Italy). In December 2019, the European Commission published a communication on the Green Deal, outlining its priorities to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy in order to meet the EU’s commitments to tackle climate and environmental-related challenges. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Public charging stations

According to a 2017 Eurobarometer survey, seven out of ten Europeans – women and men – think that women earn less that men (69 %). Nine out of ten Europeans think that it is unacceptable that women are paid less than men for the same work or work of equal value (90 %). European workers agree with pay transparency: more than two-thirds of them have said they are in favour of the publication of average wages by job type and gender at their company (64 %)... Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

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