European Parliament - Eprs Policy Podcasts

The European Commission's first outline for a Pillar of Social Rights should help to foster upward convergence in the social and employment field across EU. The twenty principles defined in the outline should in their final form support member states to create equal opportunities on the labour market, fair working conditions and well as social protection for all. Tapping into the EU's economic governance mechanism the Pillar should help to bring about more balance between economic and social issues. Its final content and format should be defined after the broad consultation that is currently taking place until the end of 2016.Source : © European Union - EP

Despite the EU's calls to protect vulnerable consumers, energy poverty affects nearly 11% of the EU's population! And without robust energy efficiency measures, the transition to smart markets and grids could aggravate the situation. This is why the European Parliament has asked the Commission and Member States to put in place measures to avoid having more EU citizens not being able to pay their energy bills! Find out more in this EPRS Policy Podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

Towns and cities are home to nearly three quarters of the EU's population. This concentration poses both challenges and opportunities which call for closer cooperation between the local and the European level. This is the spirit of the Urban Agenda for the EU, designed to give towns and cities a greater say in EU policies.Source : © European Union - EP

Strategic communication is not a new concept, but its significance for the EU's foreign and security policy is increasing, particularly following the propaganda and disinformation practices in relation to the Ukraine conflict, and recruitment practices by jihadi groups. So the European Union is designing a more strategic vision for engaging with stakeholders in its neighbourhood, find out more in this EPRS Policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

In this EPRS Policy podcast we're going to talk money, helicopter money! This term refers to additional free money distributed to citizens to re-launch stagnating economies. A partial cure for what ails of the European economy? While some experts argue it would help jump-start the EU economy, others are more sceptical, and warn about the dangers. Find out more in this Policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

To ensure the smooth functioning of the EU's internal energy market, individual EU countries negotiating energy agreements with third countries must ensure these deals comply with EU law. But in February 2016, the European Commission proposed an update to the current rules. Find out more in this EPRS Policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

Taking over one-third of the Union's budget, cohesion policy is one of the EU's main investment tool, and one the EU feels especially proud of! It has helped less well-off regions catch up with the rest, create growth and jobs across Europe. But could it be more effective? Find out more in this EPRS Policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

The EU's Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) lays down maximum annual levels of EU spending in different areas. The current MFF covers the 2014-2020 period and is the EU's fifth consecutive multiannual financial plan. However, the Framework is the first to take the form of a regulation, and the first to contain provisions providing for a mid-term review that may lead to its revision.Source : © European Union - EP

The United States is a key European Union partner in the area of justice and home affairs (JHA), including in the fight against terrorism. While formal cooperation on JHA issues between the US and the EU goes back to the 1995 New Transatlantic Agenda, it is since 2001 in particular that cooperation has intensified. Today, and for the period up until 2020, the key areas of transatlantic efforts in the JHA field are: personal data protection; counter-terrorism and countering violent extremism; migration and border controls; tracing of firearms and explosives; money laundering and terrorism financing; cybercrime; drugs; and information exchange.Source : © European Union - EP

For many, Schengen is one of the EU´s most important achievements. Today, more often than, we can jump on a train or hop in the car to visit friends in neighbouring countries without having to show our passport at the border. But current migratory pressures and security concerns have led several countries to reintroduce temporary border controls. Will this be the end of Schengen? Or will the EU manage to preserve this 30-year long achievement? Join us on this journey through Schengen in this EPRS Policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

What started as a pro-European revolution in downtown Kiev has escalated into an full-blown international crisis, putting the European Union and the US at odds with Russia. And despite that the guns have largely fallen silent, the conflict is nowhere near over... Stay with us for a recount of the origins and evolution of a conflict that has shaken the foundations of Europe's security architecture. Today, more than two years after the Euromaidan revolution, Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and the eruption of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, the country is still at a crossroads between war and peace, between corruption and reform. Find out more in this EPRS Policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

Recent estimates by the European Parliament suggest that moving from 28 national markets to a single one could contribute €415 billion per year to our economy and create millions of new jobs. The EU's single market is one of the greatest successes of European integration. But switch from the physical to the online, and you'll see the picture is not quite the same. Find out about the progress and challenges facing the EU digital single market in this EPRS policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

What started as local anti-government protests in south-western Syria in 2011 has evolved into a fully-fledged war whose end is not yet in sight. The conflict has forced over 4.5 million Syrians to flee the country, many of them seeking refuge in Europe. In this EPRS policy podcast, we will analyse the roots, evolution and international response to an external conflict that became EU business.Source : © European Union - EP

Achieving Europe's 2020 targets of sustainable growth is a team effort that will require the coordination of Member States' budgetary and economic plans. To lead this fiscal and economic choreography, the EU has set up the European Semester, a key element in the EU's economic governance. The European Semester aims to detect, prevent, and correct dangerous economic trends such as excessive government deficits or public debt levels that could put a country, or the whole Euro area, into trouble again. Find out more in this EPRS policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

With a budget of €14.7 billion over 7 years, Erasmus Plus brings together seven existing programmes in the fields of education, training and youth. And, for the first time, it also includes sport, supporting grassroots projects and combating match-fixing, doping, violence and racism. Erasmus Plus supports transnational partnerships among education, training, and youth organisations in 33 different countries, bridging the worlds of education and work to tackle the skills gaps that Europe is facing. Find out more in this EPRS policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

In a traditional linear economic model, things work like this: a company produces a good, say a mobile phone or a hair-dryer, we buy it, we use it, and when we don't need it anymore, we throw it away. This model assumes that resources are abundant, available and cheap to dispose of, so it bases itself on a 'take-make-consume-throw away' pattern. In sharp contrast to this a circular economy is based on sharing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling in an almost closed loop. In this alternative model, products and the materials they contain are kept within the economy for as long as possible, reducing waste to a minimum. Find out more about the new circular economy package in the podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

The Commission Work Programme, adopted on 27 October 2015 spells out actions on 10 political priorities for the coming twelve months, some of which were already presented in 2015, such as the measures on firearms or the Circular Economy Package. Well, ahead of the Commission's adoption of the new work programme in October 2015, the European Parliament set out its recommendations and urged the EU executive to show clear leadership and the importance it attaches to transparency of the legislative process. Listen to the podcast on the Work Programme for 2016.Source : © European Union - EP

Human rights and fundamental freedoms form the basis of European societies, but in other parts of the world, men and women must confront violence, abuses and impunity. Even at the risk of their own lives, some dare to stand up against these abuses… So what is the European Parliament doing to support them?Source : © European Union - EP

To make the EU aviation sector more competitive, the EU is pushing forward a new set of rules to make it fly even higher. Aviation is a key driver of economic growth and jobs in Europe and has a major impact on the life and mobility of its citizens. Find out more in this policy podcast.Source : © European Union - EP

In early December, negotiators from more than 190 nations around the world will meet are due to meet in Paris to hammer out a new global climate change agreement. But what's really at stake? In this podcast, we'll look at climate action in Europe and world-wide, and analyse the state of the negotiations ahead of the Paris conference.Source : © European Union - EP