What if quantum technologies were to revolutionise healthcare?
Quantum technologies could be a game-changer in the digital transformation of health care. By enabling much faster and more complex data analysis, they could open the door to the accelerated discovery and development of novel therapeutics, improved diagnostics and treatments, including for rare and complex diseases, genuinely personalised medicine, and better data-driven health policy planning. However, as is also the case in other sectors, quantum technologies come with risks, particularly to cybersecurity ...
International Anti-Corruption Day
International Anti-Corruption Day is marked every year on 9 December to raise awareness of the negative effects of corruption on all areas of life. While difficult to measure, corruption entails not only economic but also social and political costs. International and EU anti-corruption efforts have translated into a multi-layered policy and legal framework. The European Parliament recently called for strengthened EU anti-corruption rules.
Policy Departments’ Monthly Highlights - December 2022
The Monthly Highlights publication provides an overview, at a glance, of the on-going work of the policy departments, including a selection of the latest and forthcoming publications, and a list of future events.
ReFuelEU Aviation initiative: Sustainable aviation fuels and the fit for 55 package
On 14 July 2021, the European Commission presented a package of proposals to make the EU's climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 % by 2030, compared with 1990 levels – the 'fit for 55' package. The package includes a proposal to ensure a level playing field for sustainable air transport, also known as the ReFuelEU Aviation initiative. In the draft regulation, the Commission proposes obligations on fuel suppliers to ...
Combating corruption in the European Union
Corruption is a major challenge for the European Union (EU), with all its Member States affected by the problem to some extent. Its scale, however, is difficult to measure both in Europe and elsewhere. Surveys on the perception of corruption among citizens and experts – such as the Global Corruption Barometer and Eurobarometers – are the principal measurement tool. Since the 1990s, countries around the world have joined efforts to address corruption collectively. This has led to the emergence of ...
Trade aspects of China’s presence in Latin America and the Caribbean
Over the last 20 years, China has become the second largest trading partner of Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC). Between 2000 and 2020, China-LAC trade grew 26-fold from USD 12 billion to USD 310 billion. China is also among the top sources of foreign direct investment and finance for the LAC region. The impact of China in LAC is closely related to the Latin American boom in commodities extraction, and infrastructure construction. While traditional commodities continue to be important, trade in ...
Economic Dialogue with the European Commission on the launch of the 2023 European Semester cycle
Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioners Schmit and Gentiloni have been invited to an Economic Dialogue on the launch of the 2023 European Semester, in line with the relevant EU law. This briefing note covers the main elements of the 2023 European Semester Package proposed by the Commission. It gives also an overview of the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Stability and the Growth Pact, the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure, the Joint Employment Guidelines ...
The Revision of the Third Energy Package for Gas
This study investigates the revision of the third energy package for gas in light of the current energy crisis. The report presents findings from desk research, interviews and a workshop on the current political context regarding natural gas and hydrogen as well as the role of unbundling rules for gas and hydrogen infrastructure, the development of an EU hydrogen backbone and the issue of ensuring energy supply through gas interconnectors.
The European Health Data Space
This research paper provides an assessment of the legislative proposal for “The European Health Data Space”, including linkages with other EU measures and with Member State rules and laws. It also includes recommendations on further steps needed in order to achieve, facilitate and improve health data sharing, exchange and re-use across the EU.
2022 Sakharov Prize laureate: The brave people of Ukraine
Respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights is a core value of the EU, which it promotes through its policies. The European Parliament's Sakharov Prize honours the work of those who stand up for these freedoms and rights. With peace and human rights under increased attack today, the prize remains as relevant as ever. This year it has been awarded to the brave people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders, and civil society, who have fought hard and sacrificed a lot to protect ...
2022 Sakharov Prize laureate: The brave people of Ukraine
Respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights is a core value of the EU, which it promotes through its policies. The European Parliament's Sakharov Prize honours the work of those who stand up for these freedoms and rights. With peace and human rights under increased attack today, the prize remains as relevant as ever. This year it has been awarded to the brave people of Ukraine, represented by their president, elected leaders, and civil society, who have fought hard and sacrificed a lot to protect ...
A long-term vision for the EU's rural areas
In June 2021, the European Commission unveiled its vision on how to boost the development of the EU's rural areas by 2040. The European Parliament decided to draw up an own-initiative report on the issue. The report by Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) is due for a plenary vote in December.
Cultural policy in EU and external relations
The implementation of two European Commission documents on cultural policies is under scrutiny at a moment when the European Union is awaiting new guiding principles for its cultural policy. One document focuses on the role of culture in external relations and the way to establish an EU strategy in this domain. The other proposes objectives and specific actions regarding the role of culture in the EU's society and economy.
Upscaling the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework: A resilient EU budget fit for new challenges
The current multiannual financial framework (MFF) is under extreme strain owing to the multiple crises the EU is facing, notably the war in Ukraine and the effects it has triggered. With funds and flexibility measures already extensively used and further funding challenges still ahead, the European Parliament's Committee on Budgets, in an own-initiative report, calls for an urgent and ambitious revision of the MFF to increase the EU budget and make it more flexible. This should enable the EU to confront ...
Towards equal rights for persons with disabilities
In a report adopted on 17 November 2022, the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties takes stock of progress towards implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the European Union (EU). The text will be debated and put to the vote during Parliament's December plenary session.
REPowerEU: Amending energy legislation
Under the REPower EU plan, the European Commission proposed targeted amendments to EU legislation in the energy field that would accelerate the take-up of renewable energy sources and promote further increased energy efficiency and savings. The ITRE committee adopted its report on these proposals on 14 November 2022.
Strengthening equality bodies throughout the EU
This briefing provides a pre-legislative synthesis of the positions of national, regional and local governmental organisations on the European Commission's initiative on equality bodies, which have been established in every EU Member State to tackle discrimination. It forms part of an EPRS series offering a summary of the pre-legislative state of play and advance consultation on a range of key European Commission priorities during its 5-year term. It seeks to present the state of affairs, to examine ...
The EU's relations with China are changing rapidly. What priorities, choices, challenges and opportunities might emerge for the EU in its dealings with China over the next decade? This study presents the results of an expert survey on the future of EU-China relations. 171 China observers took part, drawn from among European think tanks, EU institutions and a China-focused European youth network. A synthesis of the responses reflects the considerations, insights and advice of Europe's China knowledge ...
E-commerce and the EU Green Deal - Analysis of the environmental footprint of online sales in the context of the circular economy
The rise of online sales and marketplaces poses new challenges to product safety, consumer protection, and unfair business practices. At the same time, e-commerce has the potential to facilitate more sustainable production processes and consumption patterns and ensure more circularity. This study provides information on the role of e-commerce in implementing the European Green Deal and makes recommendations for future action. This document was provided by the Policy Department for Economic, Scientific ...
This study on the Commission’s use of consultants in preparing legislation was produced for the Policy Department for Budgetary Affairs in 2022. It examines the European Commission’s use of consultants, its evolution and extent, and considers the budgetary, legal and political implications. In terms of scope, the study looks back over the past 10 years, providing an analysis of both the amounts spent on consultants and other issues including the types of activity that were contracted out, how many ...
This study analyses the main provisions of Directive (EU) 2016/680 as well as their implementation within national laws in order to contribute to the European Parliament’s positions and findings regarding the evaluation and review of the Directive. In that context, the study identifies shortcomings and explores potential ways forward through a concrete set of recommendations.This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at ...
Electronic signatures
Electronic signatures have been in use for a while, but it is not always obvious which specific type of signature is required for which process, and when they cannot be used. Neither is it clear whether electronic signatures protect users' interests as well as their handwritten equivalents. In its 2014 regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market, the EU offered some answers on electronic signatures' legal effect, but did not harmonise ...
The role of financial operators in the ETS market
This study investigates the role of financial actors, such as banks and investors, in the EU Emissions Trading System and their role in determining price dynamics and volatility. It concludes that activities on the market should be further monitored and data availability and quality improved. While further regulation of market participants may become necessary in the future, it is, at this stage, more important to focus on improving the Market Stability Reserve (MSR).
Revision of Council Directive 2004/82/EC on the obligation of carriers to communicate passenger data
The advance passenger information (API) system dates back to 2004, when the Council adopted Directive 2004/82/EC of 29 April 2004 on the obligation of carriers to communicate passenger data to improve border control and fight against irregular migration (the 'API Directive'). New data sharing schemes have since been developed to improve EU border control and migration management and, specifically, fight terrorism and serious crimes. Today, air carriers are required to transfer not only API but also ...
The Gender Dimension and Impact of the FITfor55 Package
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee, assesses whether a gender dimension has been incorporated into the initiatives proposed under the Fit for 55 package and whether a gender-sensitive approach was used in its formulation. Examples are given of good practice for gender mainstreaming in energy and climate policy. Recommendations are made to close identified gender gaps in policies ...
The role of financial operators in the ETS market
This study investigates the role of financial actors, such as banks and investors, in the EU Emissions Trading System and their role in determining price dynamics and volatility. It concludes that activities on the market should be further monitored and data availability and quality improved. While further regulation of market participants may become necessary in the future, it is, at this stage, more important to focus on improving the Market Stability Reserve (MSR).
Addressing the challenges of the social and territorial cohesion in National Recovery and Resilience Plans: a preliminary assessment
This briefing gives a comparative assessment of initiatives being undertaken in RRF Pillar 4 across a sample of four National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs) in Ireland, Italy, Poland and Portugal. In each of them, it covers three measures falling into the categories territorial infrastructure, targeting of specific territories, and adult and vocational training. Pillar 4 is covered as a cross-cutting theme that is picked up across a range of components, but there is substantial variation in ...
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA), provides a description of the legal framework (including oversight and redress mechanisms) governing the use of Pegasus and equivalent spyware in a selection of Member States.
Understanding EU policies for people with disabilities
Both the EU and its Member States have signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and use its definition of disability as a common reference at EU level; there is no other harmonised definition of disability in the EU. Although a wide variety of statistical surveys is available in terms of questions asked and population surveyed, a complete statistical assessment of disability in the EU does not yet exist. However, the annual Eurostat statistics on income and living conditions ...
Regulation on nature restoration
The IA examines the problem's nature and scale comprehensively. It offers a broad and realistic range of policy options and presents the stakeholders' views on the options transparently. It gives a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the economic, social and environmental impacts, referring to the evaluation of the EU biodiversity strategy to 2020 that ran in parallel to the IA, as well as an external support study, stakeholder consultations and various duly referenced data sources. It is ...
