European Parliament - EPRS Policy podcasts

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Environmental protection Nov 09, 2018

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Through its environmental policy, the EU has been improving Europeans' well-being since 1972. To make sure that by 2050 we are living well, within the limits of the planet, the EU is striving to move towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy, to safeguard biodiversity and to protect human health through legislation on air quality, chemicals, climate, nature, waste and water. In a recent poll conducted for the European Parliament, three quarters of EU citizens expressed support for increased EU action on environmental protection.
Since 2014, efforts have been made in a number of areas, including waste management (for example new recycling targets, restrictions on plastic carrier bags, action on plastics, measures to tackle marine litter); climate (for example the 2030 greenhouse gas emission targets, and measures to decarbonise the transport sector); nature (primarily to improve the way EU rules on biodiversity protection are implemented); and air quality (new rules on maximum amounts of five key air pollutants that EU countries can emit into the atmosphere).
The European Parliament has advocated ambitious policies in many of these areas. In the future, EU environment and climate spending is expected to rise.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/628233/EPRS_BRI(2018)628233_EN.pdf
Source: © European Union - EP

Digital Europe programme: Funding digital transformation beyond 2020 Oct 19, 2018

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In the framework of the next long-term EU budget for 2021-2027, the Commission is proposing a new, €9.2 billion programme to build up digital capacity and infrastructure and support a digital single market. It will operate mainly through coordinated and strategic co-investments with the Member States in the areas of advanced computing and data, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, their uptake and optimal use in the private and public sectors and boosting advanced digital skills. According to the Commission, the programme will help European societies and businesses to make the most of the ongoing digital transformation. The Commission sees the potential for efficiency gains in exploring complementarities and synergies with other planned programmes such as Horizon Europe, the Connecting Europe Facility and the European Regional Development and Cohesion Funds. In the European Parliament, the file has been allocated to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). The draft report was published on 13 July 2018 and the vote in committee is expected in December. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/628231/EPRS_BRI(2018)628231_EN.pdf
Source: © European Union - EP

Reform of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund Oct 19, 2018

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The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) was created in 2006 to finance active labour market policies targeting workers who have lost their jobs because of trade adjustment. The fund was subsequently modified in 2009 to cover major structural changes triggered by the economic and financial crisis. The rules of the EGF are laid down in EU Regulation (EU) No 1309/2013, which stipulates that the fund will continue to be financed until 31 December 2020. In May 2018, the European Commission submitted a proposal to reform the EGF and maintain it as a special instrument outside the MFF ceiling. The proposal introduces modifications to the eligibility criteria, the co-financing rules and the mobilisation procedure. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/628246/EPRS_BRI(2018)628246_EN.pdf
Source: © European Union - EP

General safety of vehicles and protection of vulnerable road users Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

On 27 May 2018, the Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on type-approval requirements for motor vehicles and their trailers, as regards their general safety and the protection of vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users. It would introduce a number of advanced vehicle safety features which passenger cars, vans, buses and trucks would have to have as standard equipment in order to be sold on the internal market.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/625192/EPRS_BRI(2018)625192_EN.pdf
Source: © European Union - EP

Mandatory origin-labelling schemes in Member States Sep 28, 2018

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Eight EU Member States have launched, or are about to launch, national mandatory labelling schemes for certain food products. The regulatory basis for these national measures is the Regulation on the provision of food information to consumers, which allows Member States to adopt additional national measures concerning the mandatory labelling of foodstuffs, as long as these are justified by reasons specifically defined in the regulation.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/625182/EPRS_BRI(2018)625182_EN.pdf
Source: © European Union - EP

New EU rules on labelling of tyres Sep 07, 2018

Show notes

In May 2018, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new regulation on the labelling of tyres for the purposes of fuel efficiency, safety, and noise reduction. This would increase consumer awareness of the tyre label and improve market surveillance and enforcement. It would oblige suppliers to display the tyre label in all forms of purchase, including where the tyre is not physically shown in the store and where it is sold online or on a long-distance basis. The tyre would now also apply to heavy-duty vehicles, and include visual information on tyre performance in snow or ice conditions. From 2020, all tyre labels would be included in the new product registration database for energy efficiency labelling.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/625144/EPRS_BRI(2018)625144_EN.pdf
Source: © European Union - EP

European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund 2021-2027 Sep 07, 2018

Show notes

The new regulation on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF) 2021-2027 identifies the specific objectives and scope of support for both funds. In line with evidence regarding impact, investments will focus on activities with the highest added value, such as support to SMEs, smart specialisation, the low carbon economy, sustainable urban development and regional co-operation. Some activities will be excluded, for instance support for nuclear power stations, tobacco products, airport infrastructure except in outermost regions and landfills. The ERDF will focus mainly on smart growth and green economy, while the CF on environmental and transport infrastructure.
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/625141/EPRS_BRI(2018)625141_EN.pdf
Source: © European Union - EP

Modernisation of EU consumer protection rules Jun 29, 2018

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As part of its ‘new deal for consumers', in April 2018, the Commission proposed a new directive on modernisation of EU consumer protection rules. The directive would amend four of seven main horizontal directives that make the core of the EU consumer legislation and that apply to all sectors of economy and would focus on harmonising penalties for infringements and possibilities for individual consumer redress, increasing transparency on online marketplaces, extending protection for consumers of ‘free' digital services and addressing the issue of dual quality of products.
Source: © European Union - EP

Corporate taxation of a significant digital presence Jun 29, 2018

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Digital economy is under taxed when compared to traditional businesses. To address this issue Commission proposes new rules which would allow taxation based on digital rather than just physical presence.
Source: © European Union - EP

European defence industrial development programme (EDIDP) Jun 08, 2018

Show notes

The European Union is facing new security threats amid growing uncertainty about the reliability of some of its allies. As a consequence it has embarked on a general scale-up of its defence capabilities. A European defence action plan has been agreed and a European Defence Fund created to provide financial support, ranging from the research phase to the acquisition phase of military equipment and technologies. The present legislative proposal for EDIDP, which would be part of that fund, is destined to provide the European defence industry with financial support during the development phase of new products and technologies in areas selected at European level. Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) decided to open trilogue negotiations; these have been ongoing since 15 March 2018.
Source: © European Union - EP

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