Raising the Game: Better Legislation

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has forced millions of people, mostly women and children, to flee the country. They seek shelter in neighbouring countries where the international community has mobilised to provide support. Nevertheless, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating and the European Union is working to protect all these people, especially the most vulnerable ones. In this podcast, we wi...

The Russian attack on Ukraine is having a severe impact on food security. Not only Ukrainians will feel this side effect of the war but also Europeans, Middle Eastern and people from several African countries will too. The European Union is working to secure food supply.

Tougher sanctions against Moscow, a swift delivery of defensive weapons to Kyiv, granting Ukraine EU candidate status but also a huge effort for humanitarian assistance to civilians. These are the requests put forward in the resolution adopted by the European Parliament during the March 1st extraordinary plenary session.

The Russian intervention in Syria, disinformation and cyber-attacks, the EU energy dependence from Moscow, the lack of human rights in Russia and lastly the attack on Ukraine. These are among the causes that have put EU-Russia relations under strain.

The consumption and production of illicit substances in the European Union represents a very sizeable market. In fact, it’s the biggest criminal enterprise in the EU, with an estimated street value of 30 billion euros a year. More than a third of organised crime groups operating in the EU are involved in the illicit drug trade. The EU is well aware of the problem and is actively involved in tackli...

From the 21st to the 24th of March 2022, Parliament organised the Ukraine Solidarity Days to show its support for Ukraine's parliament following the Russian invasion.

European Parliament 23rd March 2022 - One month after Russia attacked Ukraine, MEPs during the plenary session unanimously condemned the brutal invasion and urged the EU to further sanction Moscow and protect the European economy.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Union questions itself about its role in a changing world and the continent’s security situation. Defence and energy are two key topics. In this podcast, we will find out more.

The so-called ‘Gene drive’ is best known for its capacity to suppress malaria by eradicating mosquito populations. However, its potential benefits are even bigger, ranging from eliminating other insect-transmitted diseases to putting an end to pesticide resistance.

Since 2014, the European Union and Ukraine are working to establish a political association and an economic integration. The EU has mobilised funds for Kyiv, asking the country to implement reforms, human rights and the rule of law. Even during the pandemic, the EU was alongside Ukrainians.

Did you know that our current food systems generate nearly one third of global greenhouse gas emissions? Food systems have very complex social, economic and ecological components, and we will have to radically transform them to make them more sustainable. As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission published its ‘farm to fork’ strategy in May 2020. The strategy aims to make food sy...

For our modern world, steel is an essential material. At the same time, the steel industry is responsible for a great deal of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. Steel production is one of the pillars of European industry but also one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. In order to reach the goals of the European Green Deal, the EU needs to reduce its ecological footprint, and the Europ...

When we look at the digital sector, the figures paint a troubling picture of gender inequality. Although women make up 52% of Europe’s population, only one in every six ICT specialists is a woman. For a number of years, the EU has been carrying out many initiatives to combat these inequalities.

The European Union is combating climate change. With this in mind, it has undertaken to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases – including carbon dioxide – by at least 55 %. It has several tools at its disposal to achieve this goal: its emissions trading system, its forests and its clean energy laws. The energy transition is about consuming better and less so that people can lead healthier lifes...

Innovation will be critical for economic recovery – and the transport sector offers many opportunities for innovation to help drive the post-pandemic economy forward. The strategy for sustainable and smart mobility, as part of the Green Deal initiatives, will play a significant role in defining the way ahead, as well as in addressing pandemic-related concerns in the field of mobility.

The EU’s agricultural policy has been completely restructured to make it sustainable and fair. Parliament is ensuring that farming is on the right track for the future.

How can we make our digital society more resilient and strengthen our cybersecurity? In this podcast, we will see how the European Union helps us improve our cyber-preparedness and response.

Although most purchases in the European Union still take place offline in physical stores and are paid for primarily in cash, online shopping and cashless electronic payments are dramatically rising. In the EU, a large majority of people, especially those under the age of 45, shop online at least some of the time. Online and in physical stores, the use of cashless payments, particularly e-wallets,...

Equality between women and men is one of the European Union’s core values and objectives. Under the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted in 1995, the European Union and its Member States committed to working towards gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

How did the United Nations come into being, and has it always been in the same format? Here we take a brief look at the history of the United Nations, its most recent reform and the role the EU plays at the UN. We also take a look at the areas in which the EU and the UN will partner up in the future.

Fake news is information deliberately manipulated with the aim of fooling people. It is an increasingly visible, global phenomenon and seen by many as a threat to democracy. There are steps that individuals can take to halt the spread of fake news though.

How does the EU promote democracy and democratic development? Supporting democracy worldwide is a top priority of the European Union. It is the only system of governance in which people can realise their human rights and it is a determining factor for long - term stability. Through election observation missions and financial support, the European Parliament is committed to promoting democracy, in...

Artificial intelligence is a growing force in the EU’s economy. It has the power to cut labour costs and improve efficiency across all sectors and has a near-infinite number of applications. But whether artificial intelligence destroys jobs and concentrates wealth or drives innovation and economic growth will depend largely on the policy framework that surrounds it.

The platform or ‘gig’ economy is flourishing in both the EU and the US. Research carried out on behalf of the European parliament’s Employment Committee has looked at the situation of workers in the platform economy and made recommendations on how to improve it, particularly in relation to improving the social protections enjoyed.