Torn by climate change, food insecurity, uncontrolled population growth, political instability and terrorism, the Sahel poses an evolving threat on Europe's doorstep, as the August coup in Mali has once again shown. With more or less success, the EU's strategy for the region has tried to address the multiple factors of instability but the new action plan for the region will need to take the EU's a...

The coronavirus has taken a heavy toll on our lives, our economies, our societies but also on electoral processes around the world, with many elections being postponed in order to protect citizens' health. But this involves a delicate balancing act between ensuring the democratic right to vote and a government's responsibility to protect public health. So, what can we learn from experience? https:...

To help consumers to make healthier food choices, the European Commission wants producers of foods and drinks to display clear nutritional information on the front-of-pack. But this may not be so simple… Some Member States have already introduced their own labelling schemes to mark “healthy” products but will the EU win the battle at European scale? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/docu...

Following the post-Cold War reset, EU-Russia relations have been strained, not least by Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, to which the EU responded with hard-hitting sanctions. Putin's support for rebel groups in eastern Ukraine, his policies in the neighbourhood, disinformation campaigns and Russia's intervention in Syria just added fuel to the fire... And yet, the two remain closely interdepen...

Organised crime is a growing threat to the EU and its citizens. And new digital technologies, combined with open borders and free trade, only make it easier for criminals… But the EU is stepping up police and judicial cooperation, as well as information-sharing, in order to stay one step ahead of them and make sure that crime does not pay! https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?...

An efficient and modern public system is a pre-condition for smart societies and economies. But how do we foster public sector innovation? The EU doesn't have a direct role here, but it can definitely provide direction! So, stay with us… as we spell out a new vision for the public sector in Europe! https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651954 Source: © E...

As more and more European countries went into lockdown, trade within the EU and the foundations of its single market were hit hard! The EU was quick to respond, but the effects of the pandemic on both European and world economies will be deep and long-lasting… https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651974 Source: © European Union - EP

Demography matters… it matters for the economy, for the labour market, for healthcare and pensions, even for election results! But future demographic trends in the EU are not encouraging… No, they're not! A number of demographic challenges, such as a declining birth rate, an ageing population, and depopulation of some of its regions, threaten the future demographic stability of the continent. So,...

The digital age has had a profound impact on many sectors, and culture is no exception! It has opened new and exciting opportunities for cultural industries… but it has also raised new challenges, related to skills, accessibility or affordability. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651942 Source: © European Union - EP

The EU has some of the strongest rules on consumer protection in the world! But sometimes, it can be difficult to enforce them… So, what can you do, as European consumer, if you're not getting value for money? Get to know your rights! https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651962 Source: © European Union - EP

The coronavirus crisis has made life even more difficult for the most deprived people in our society… To protect them, as well the workers and volunteers delivering aid to them, and ensure no one falls through the net, the EU has had to take some exceptional measures… https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651943 Source: © European Union - EP

Malicious cyber activities pose an increasing threat to our societies, our economies and our political systems. And no one is safe from virtual, yet very real… attacks. So, what tools does the EU have to respond to such threats? And what is its strategy? Join us in the world of cyberspace! https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651937 Source: © European U...

Declining yields due to warmer temperatures and less rain, biodiversity loss, increased risk of floods… the impacts of climate change on European agriculture are irrefutable… But what impact does agriculture have on climate change? And what role can it play in helping address this challenge? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651922 Source: © European...

The coronavirus pandemic forced most of the world's population into lockdown… But thanks to digital technologies, we were mostly able to keep on working, studying, shopping and chatting with our loved ones without leaving our homes! But the crisis has also highlighted some painful truths about our digital world… https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)6519...

In the digital era, data is the new currency… And data protection, an increasingly important social, legal and political matter for the EU! But how well protected is our data? And what challenges lie ahead? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)651923 Source: © European Union - EP

The coronavirus crisis has highlighted the EU's dependency on countries outside its borders for the production of many active pharmaceutical ingredients and medicines. It is not a new problem… but it has become painfully exposed in the past weeks. So, why is that? And what can the EU do about it? Never a debate has been timelier! https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=...

As COVID-19 has proved once again, diseases do not recognise borders… So, with labs around the world on the race to find a vaccine, it is time to ask ourselves the question: What can the EU do to help? Is there a European added value concerning vaccination? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)642828 Source: © European Union - EP

Apart from taking thousands of lives… COVID-19 has revealed one hard truth: the EU's dependency on other countries for essential medical equipment such as protective masks and gloves, but also respiratory ventilators. The EU and its Member States have acted swiftly to counter these shortages… but Europe may need to re-think its production and trade priorities if it doesn't want to find itself in t...

Despite the Commission's assurances that the long-term work on the European Green Deal will continue in parallel to the coronavirus firefighting… the COVID-19 emergency and the need to deal with its socio-economic consequences is raising concerns that decarbonisation strategies could be derailed… But is this a real threat or could it also be an opportunity? There's no lack of voices arguing that g...

Images of half-empty supermarket shelves are becoming all too common as European countries struggle to limit the effects of the coronavirus, a pandemic that has changed what everyday life looks like for everyone… So, what is the EU doing to protect the agri-food supply chain and ensure food security during the pandemic? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2...

Organ donation and transplantation saves lives… thousands of lives! And while some countries have seen encouraging increases in donation rates, in others transplantation rates have been stagnating or even decreasing…Responsibility for heath policies lies primarily with the Member States, but how can the EU bolster cooperation to save even more lives? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/doc...

The European Union is determined to clamp down on the dissemination of terrorist content online, to prevent radicalisation and keep European citizens safe online, as much as offline. But this is a sensitive area, with a fine line to tread. Let's look into some of the finer details of the proposed measures! https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2020)649326 Sou...

While the world population keeps on growing, the EU's population is growing only slowly and is even expected to decline in the longer term! So, how will these demographic changes impact on food and nutrition? Even if improving food quality and healthier eating habits lead to higher life expectancy, the EU still has to tackle the harmful consequences and prevent the causes of diet-related chronic c...

As the new coronavirus spreads massively across the globe, it's not only human lives which are at risk… but also our economies and our way of life. Trade, health, transportation, agriculture, tourism, education… no sector remains untouched! So, what can the EU do in such situations? How well-equipped is it to deal with the effects of epidemics and pandemics? https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktan...

The new Commission wants to “unite and strengthen” Europe to better protect citizens against both internal and external threats. But this won't happen if we don't have the necessary infrastructure and procedures in place that ensure a rapid and joint European response in case of a crisis. Here, the key word is “military mobility”. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference...