Cross-border provision of services in the EU is relatively common, and is undertaken by an increasing number of entities, especially in sectors such as construction and business. Despite this fact, many service-providers still face obstacles which stop them benefitting from comparable business opportunities available to local persons and organisations. The European Commission has a proposed a new...

The EU customs union has become the world's largest trading bloc. While customs rules are the same across the EU, national customs authorities do not always apply them in a consistent manner. Therefore, the European Commission adopted its long-term plan to strengthen the governance and management of the EU customs union (December 2016). The Commission proposes structural and administrative changes...

The Bioenergy is generally produced from plants such as agricultural crops or trees, Et is a renewable but finite energy source, and considered as climate-friendly, However, its production and use has environmental impacts and the climate benefits may vary. To ensure the sustainability of bioenergy, the Commission proposed a revised Renewable Energy Directive which includes mandatory sustainabilit...

The Commission published a proposal in January 2017 for a new e-Privacy 'regulation. The aim is to reform the existing 2002 legislation to adapt the e-Privacy rules to the new technological reality, and to align them to the 2016 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Stakeholders are divided on certain issues, including on the basic need for a new measure to protect confidentiality in e-commun...

The Commission's public consultation exercise on the simplification and modernisation of the Common Agricultural Policy closed on 2 May 2017. It received in excess of 320,000 online responses. The initial results of this exercise will be presented at a stakeholder event in July. As a prelude to these results, some key features of EU agriculture are outlined along with an overview on prospects for...

The Commission's public consultation exercise on the simplification and modernisation of the Common Agricultural Policy closed on 2 May 2017. It received in excess of 320,000 online responses. The initial results of this exercise will be presented at a stakeholder event in July. As a prelude to these results, some key features of EU agriculture are outlined along with an overview on prospects for...

Over 105 million young Europeans are part of national education systems at different levels. Our briefing reviews progress in reaching common objectives to address the most pressing concerns in EU education systems by 2020. Source: © European Union - EP

Over 105 million young Europeans are part of national education systems at different levels. Our briefing reviews progress in reaching common objectives to address the most pressing concerns in EU education systems by 2020. Source: © European Union - EP

With citizens being painfully aware of the cost of hosting mega-sporting events, such as the football World Cup or the Olympic Games, state aid control in the area of sport has come to the fore. Read our briefing to find out what the European Commission has been doing recently. Source: © European Union - EP

With citizens being painfully aware of the cost of hosting mega-sporting events, such as the football World Cup or the Olympic Games, state aid control in the area of sport has come to the fore. Read our briefing to find out what the European Commission has been doing recently. Source: © European Union - EP

There are thousands of types of plastics. Plastics production account for about about 6 % of global oil consumption, set to grow to 20 % by 2050. Half of the plastics waste collected and recycled is treated in the EU, while the other half is exported, mainly to China. It is estimated that 2 to 5% of plastics produced end up in oceans.15 to 30% of plastics entering the oceans are microplastics (mai...

There are thousands of types of plastics. Plastics production account for about about 6 % of global oil consumption, set to grow to 20 % by 2050. Half of the plastics waste collected and recycled is treated in the EU, while the other half is exported, mainly to China. It is estimated that 2 to 5% of plastics produced end up in oceans.15 to 30% of plastics entering the oceans are microplastics (mai...

Although the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) includes provision to cover CO2 emissions from all flights to and from airports in the EU, this was suspended pending the agreement of emissions-reduction measures applicable across the world. This was to prevent conflicts with major EU trading partners. As this briefing explains, the original suspension of the aviation sector from the ETS was to ex...

Although the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) includes provision to cover CO2 emissions from all flights to and from airports in the EU, this was suspended pending the agreement of emissions-reduction measures applicable across the world. This was to prevent conflicts with major EU trading partners. As this briefing explains, the original suspension of the aviation sector from the ETS was to ex...

Tourism is the third largest industry in the EU, and vital for employment, economic growth and regional development. Despite the impact of the economic crisis, tourism has benefited from growing numbers of visitors in recent years. Nonetheless, as this briefing shows, the industry faces a number of challenges, not least growing competition from destinations outside Europe. Although the European Co...

Tourism is the third largest industry in the EU, and vital for employment, economic growth and regional development. Despite the impact of the economic crisis, tourism has benefited from growing numbers of visitors in recent years. Nonetheless, as this briefing shows, the industry faces a number of challenges, not least growing competition from destinations outside Europe. Although the European Co...

Social enterprises combine social and environmental goals with entrepreneurial activity. To help them overcome challenges related to regulatory obstacles and difficulties in accessing funding, the EU is taking steps such as the Social Business Initiative, review of the regulation on the European Social Entrepreneurship Funds, tailor-made financing solutions, provisions facilitating access to publi...

Social enterprises combine social and environmental goals with entrepreneurial activity. To help them overcome challenges related to regulatory obstacles and difficulties in accessing funding, the EU is taking steps such as the Social Business Initiative, review of the regulation on the European Social Entrepreneurship Funds, tailor-made financing solutions, provisions facilitating access to publi...

Social enterprises combine social and environmental goals with entrepreneurial activity. To help them overcome challenges related to regulatory obstacles and difficulties in accessing funding, the EU is taking steps such as the Social Business Initiative, review of the regulation on the European Social Entrepreneurship Funds, tailor-made financing solutions, provisions facilitating access to publi...

Social enterprises combine social and environmental goals with entrepreneurial activity. To help them overcome challenges related to regulatory obstacles and difficulties in accessing funding, the EU is taking steps such as the Social Business Initiative, review of the regulation on the European Social Entrepreneurship Funds, tailor-made financing solutions, provisions facilitating access to publi...

The European Commission is proposing to set up an automated system that would gather information on visa-exempt travellers prior to their arrival to the Schengen border. The aim is to determine any irregular migration, security or public-health risks associated with those third-country nationals. The proposal follows similar models already existing in the USA, Canada and Australia, among others. T...

The European Commission is proposing to set up an automated system that would gather information on visa-exempt travellers prior to their arrival to the Schengen border. The aim is to determine any irregular migration, security or public-health risks associated with those third-country nationals. The proposal follows similar models already existing in the USA, Canada and Australia, among others. T...

The EU-NATO Joint Declaration adopted in the margins of the NATO Summit in Warsaw represents a clear milestone in bilateral cooperation to counter hybrid threats. This briefing provides an overview of the concrete proposals currently on the table and the progress on their implementation. Think Tank - "Briefing" product Source: © European Union - EP

The EU-NATO Joint Declaration adopted in the margins of the NATO Summit in Warsaw represents a clear milestone in bilateral cooperation to counter hybrid threats. This briefing provides an overview of the concrete proposals currently on the table and the progress on their implementation. Think Tank - "Briefing" product Source: © European Union - EP

How can a third country access EU financial services markets? What is the difference between the passporting rights enjoyed by the Member States and the equivalence recognition of external frameworks? Source: © European Union - EP