European Parliament - Eprs Policy Podcasts

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

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 (mainly coming from laundering of synthetic textiles and abrasion of tyres while driving).Source: © European Union - EP

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 expire at the end of 2016. Although the International Civil Aviation Organization agreed on a global market-based measure for the sector in October 2016, this is not due to come into effect until 2021. The Parliament therefore has to vote on a Commission proposal to extend the suspension until then.Source: © European Union - EP

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 Commission has presented two communications on tourism in the past decade, EU competence in the field is shared with Member States, and tourism policy remains essentially at national level.Source: © European Union - EP

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 public procurement, proposals for an EU social enterprise statute and developing methodologies for measuring social impact.Source: © European Union - EP

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 public procurement, proposals for an EU social enterprise statute and developing methodologies for measuring social impact.Source: © European Union - EP

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.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

This briefing provides insights into the objectives, priorities and measures of the EU Rural Development Policy 2014-2020 that can offer support to rural communities in the process of the integration of the migrants who settle in rural Europe. The projects launched by rural communities to assist the integration of migrants illustrate that integration is a two-way process with implications for both host communities and third-country nationals.Source: © European Union - EP

What will be the relations between the EU and ACP countries after 2020? There is a lot to discuss and it might be difficult for all parties to find convergence of interests. Source: © European Union - EP

A number of major issues are set to colour the year 2017, some in ways that seem relatively clear already and others unpredictably. This in-depth analysis looks at 10 of the main issues likely to be on the table for EU policy-makers throughout 2017. Some are entirely internal concerns while others are global issues. And for some, the EU and its leaders will be able to make the running whereas they will have to find ways to react to some of the others, always with the underlying goal of protecting and supporting European citizens.Source: © European Union - EP

Damiano Scordamaglia. The vote in plenary on the market pillar of the fourth railway package scheduled for December 2016 puts the spotlight on a set of policy measures to improve the competitiveness of EU rail and the quality of its services. Indeed, the measures on markets and governance aim to enhance the level playing field between operators, including for domestic operations, and cost-efficiency of rail services. Think Tank Topical DigestSource: © European Union - EP

James McEldowney. Over the years, the Common Agricultural Policy has been subject to several reforms. Often described as being incremental in nature, these reforms have progressively resulted in significant changes in both the orientation and architecture of the CAP.Source: © European Union - EP

Wilhelm SCHOELLMANN (XPOL).EU-Canada negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) started in May 2009 and were declared concluded in September 2014. The agreement's overall aim is to increase flows of goods, services and investment to the benefit of both partners. For the EU, CETA represents the first comprehensive economic agreement with a highly industrialised Western economy. On 5 July 2016, the Commission made three proposals for a Council decision with respect to CETA: to sign the agreement, on provisional application, and on conclusion. The Council and Member States have had difficult discussions on the conditions under which CETA can be signed.Think Tank briefingSource: © European Union - EP

Laura Puccio (XPOL).The EU has been negotiating trade agreements since the 1970s, then as the European Communities. Over time it has diversified its trading partners, and is now negotiating trade agreements with partners from every continent. The content of trade agreements has also evolved as EU trade competences have developed. This briefing looks at how trade negotiations are conducted and concluded in the EU after the Lison treaty, and discusses some of the key issues in the current EU trade policy debate.Think Tank briefingSource: © European Union - EP

The Cohesion Fund supports large-scale investments in environmental sustainability and in transport infrastructure. The Fund allocation for 2014-2020 is €63 396.06 million, this is almost 7% of the total Multiannual Financial Framework. It is an important contributor to public investment in (particularly underdeveloped) infrastructure of the eligible Member States.Source : © European Union - EP

Scientific knowledge has become a key element in the policy-making process, alongside societal values and political considerations. As a consequence, stronger science advice systems have been developed to provide timely and useful scientific advice to policy-makers in both legislative and executive bodies.Source : © European Union - EP

Despite significant progress made, the Single Market for services is not fully integrated yet. Trade in services has been more resilient to the economic crisis than trade in goods and many see further potential for its delivery of economic growth in the EU. Find out about the main current issues and possible steps towards further integration in our podcast.Source : © European Union - EP