Latest documents

Summary : On 5 April 2022, the Commission presented a proposal for a regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases that would repeal Regulation (EU) No 517/2014. The proposal is amongst the last from the 'fit for 55' package, aiming to align EU climate and energy laws with the EU Climate Law's 2030 target. The proposal aims to further reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases). It would change the existing quota system, gradually reducing the supply of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) to the EU market to 2.4 % of 2015 levels by 2048. It would also ban F-gases in specific applications and update the rules on implementing best practices, leak checking, record keeping, training, waste treatment and penalties. The current licensing system and labelling obligations would be strengthened in order to improve enforcement of trade restrictions. Finally, the proposal would align EU legislation with the requirements of the Montreal Protocol to reduce production of HFCs. Parliament referred the file to its Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), which adopted a report on 1 March 2023. On 30 March 2023, MEPs adopted their position, with 426 votes in favour, 109 against and 52 abstentions, with few changes to the Committee's report. As both the Parliament and Council have reached their positions, trilogue negotiations can begin. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : HENRIQUE ANDRE MORGADO SIMOES

Summary : Champions' League finals, the Olympic Games, World Cup football matches – millions of people worldwide watch them live. The nature of live events makes their economic value diminish after the event, when the result is known and the public loses interest, but real-time blocking of illegal broadcasting is challenging. However, together with the removal of illegal content, it appears to be a meaningful tool to limit damage for rights holders.

Authors : POLONA CAR

Summary : The European Commission tabled a proposal for an EU regulatory framework on artificial intelligence (AI) in April 2021. The draft AI act is the first ever attempt to enact a horizontal regulation for AI. The proposed legal framework focuses on the specific utilisation of AI systems and associated risks. The Commission proposes to establish a technology-neutral definition of AI systems in EU law and to lay down a classification for AI systems with different requirements and obligations tailored on a 'risk-based approach'. Some AI systems presenting 'unacceptable' risks would be prohibited. A wide range of 'high-risk' AI systems would be authorised, but subject to a set of requirements and obligations to gain access to the EU market. Those AI systems presenting only 'limited risk' would be subject to very light transparency obligations. The Council agreed the EU Member States' general position in December 2021. Parliament voted on its position in June 2023. EU lawmakers are now starting negotiations to finalise the new legislation, with substantial amendments to the Commission's proposal including revising the definition of AI systems, broadening the list of prohibited AI systems, and imposing obligations on general purpose AI and generative AI models such as ChatGPT. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Tambiama André MADIEGA

Summary : As part of the 'fit for 55' package, the Commission proposed a revision to the EU's emissions trading system (ETS) as regards carbon dioxide emissions from aviation. The proposal sought to ensure that the sector contributes to the EU's climate targets through increased auctioning of allowances, with an end to free allowances from 2027, and by applying the linear reduction of aviation allowances. The proposal would also integrate, into the revised ETS, the International Civil Aviation Organization's agreed global market-based Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and apply it to international flights departing from or arriving at an airport inside the European Economic Area (EEA). For domestic flights in the Member States or flights within the EEA, the ETS would continue to apply. In the European Parliament, the file was referred to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), with Sunčana Glavak (EPP, Croatia) appointed rapporteur. Following adoption of Parliament and Council's respective positions in June 2022, a provisional agreement was reached in December 2022. Parliament adopted the text on 18 April and the Council on 25 April 2023. The directive entered into force on 5 June 2023, and Member States have until 31 December to transpose it into national law. Fifth edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : LISELOTTE JENSEN

Summary : Most products are not designed with their life cycle environmental impacts in mind, and it is difficult for consumers and economic operators to make sustainable choices when buying products. The EU still lacks an overarching legislative framework laying down rules for sustainable production and consumption of all products. Ecodesign refers to the integration of environmental sustainability considerations into the characteristics of a product, and into processes throughout its value chain. On 30 March 2022, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products. The proposed regulation would lay down rules applying to all products on the internal market, with the aim of making them more durable, reusable, reparable, upgradable, recyclable and generally less harmful to the environment. The regulation would include rules on a digital product passport, green public procurement and banning the destruction of unsold goods. The Council adopted its position on the proposal on 22 May 2023. In the Parliament, the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) is the lead committee. A total of 1 136 amendments were tabled in ENVI. The vote on the draft report took place in ENVI on 15 June 2023. The report was adopted with 68 votes in favour, 12 against and 8 abstentions. It is due to be voted in plenary in July 2023, thus setting Parliament's position for trilogue negotiations. Second edition of a briefing originally drafted by Nikolina Šajn. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Guillaume RAGONNAUD

Summary : Russia's military aggression against Ukraine has brought war back to Europe, altering the security equilibrium. The war has placed Ukraine at the centre of the European Council's agenda and debates. The European Council President is in regular contact with the Ukrainian leadership, multiplying visits to Ukraine and references to the war in his speeches delivered abroad. This has also been the approach of the other two key actors in the EU's external representation: the European Commission President, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP). However, this has not led to more cooperation or cohesion in the EU's external representation, as the three actors have carried out their tasks individually rather than jointly, and barely ever interact outside international summits. The Lisbon Treaty allows for parallel action in the EU's external representation, and the resulting reality is often competition between the different actors. Furthermore, the vagueness of the Lisbon Treaty provisions allows the various actors to (re)shape their external representation roles, often at the expense of the others. Mediation, a task the European Council President, Charles Michel, has taken upon himself with the Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue, is a case in point.

Authors : Suzana Elena ANGHEL

Summary : 'Rainbow families' – same-sex couples with or without children – still face many obstacles while exercising their free movement rights today. In a debate in the European Parliament in September 2010, then European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Viviane Reding, stated, 'Let me stress this. If you live in a legally recognised same-sex partnership, or marriage, in country A, you have the right – and this is a fundamental right – to take this status and that of your partner to country B. If not, it is a violation of EU law, so there is no discussion about this. This is absolutely clear, and we do not have to hesitate on this'. Over a decade later, same-sex couples still experience issues when relying on their free movement rights. While the European Court of Human Rights has upheld that all member countries must provide for a registered partnership for same-sex couples if they do not provide for same-sex marriage, it can be unclear which rights should be attached to such a status. And while the European Court of Justice has ruled that same-sex marriages and parenthood established for same-sex couples have to be recognised in all EU Member States for the purpose of free movement, this case law is still very unclear, due to mixed concepts, which has led to consistent Member State violations. In her 2020 State of the Union Speech, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated 'If you are [a] parent in one country, you are [a] parent in every country'. In 2021, the European Parliament declared the EU an LGBTIQ Freedom Zone. It has expressed its deepest concern regarding the discrimination suffered by rainbow families and their children in the EU and insists that the EU needs to take a common approach to the recognition of same-sex marriages and partnerships. In December 2022, the Commission proposed a regulation on the recognition of parenthood.

Authors : DAVID ARMAND JACQUES GERA DE GROOT

Summary : Russia's war on Ukraine has laid bare the challenges that the European defence industry faces as it tries to meet increased demand and ramp up production in the wake of a fundamentally changed security environment in Europe. The European defence industry comprises a number of large multinational companies, mid-caps and over 2 000 small and medium-sized enterprises. It faces a multitude of challenges, such as decades of under-investment, fragmentation, lack of supply of critical raw materials and semiconductors, and a lack of manufacturing capability. The EU and its Member States have taken several steps to reinforce the European defence industry, especially since the start of Russia's war on Ukraine: Member States have significantly boosted their defence budgets, the combined total of which is set to reach €290 billion a year in 2025; the European Defence Fund is investing in research and capability development projects and has achieved very positive results so far; and Permanent Structured Cooperation is providing the legal framework and binding commitments for important progress in collaborative defence. The EU has also broken taboos by proposing a joint defence procurement instrument (European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act) and an initiative to ramp up ammunition production (Act in Support of Ammunition Production), as part of a three-track proposal to support Ukraine's needs for ammunition (deliver ammunition from existing stocks, jointly procure from industry, and support the ramping up of production). Additionally, the European Peace Facility, most known for being used to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons, can be used to procure defence materiel from the European defence industry, further boosting its capacity. The European Chips Act and Critical Raw Materials Act will also be leveraged to benefit the European defence industry to ensure that it has all the necessary supplies to tackle the substantially increased demand for its products. These signals have led the industry to take the first steps to ramp up its production capacity.

Authors : SEBASTIAN CLAPP

Summary : Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will meet in Vilnius on 11-12 July against the backdrop of a complex and volatile security environment. Russia’s war on Ukraine, and the latter country’s future membership of the military alliance will dominate the annual summit, according to many public statements. The meeting will aim to send a strong signal of support for Ukraine, reiterating NATO’s open door policy towards the country's membership, increasing military aid, pledging to make the Ukrainian military more interoperable with NATO forces and, possibly, outlining future security guarantees for Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seeking a commitment that his country will join NATO as soon as the war is over, but only some Allies support that request, while others are more cautious. NATO leaders will discuss creating a new NATO-Ukraine Council, which would boost relations between the two, compared with the current NATO-Ukraine commission. NATO will also address strengthening its eastern flank, updating the Alliance’s current plans to defend the region from possible Russian aggression. NATO will also re-examine its Strategic Concept adopted last year in Madrid, discuss security challenges posed by China, and the required increases in the member states’ defence spending. Allies are expected to press Türkiye to drop its opposition to Sweden’s membership of NATO. NATO countries hope to find a replacement for, or prolong the term of, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is formally due to step down in September. This note gathers links to the recent publications and commentaries from many international think tanks on the NATO summit and related issues. Earlier analyses of Russia’s war on Ukraine can be found in a previous edition of the ‘What Think Tanks are Thinking’ series.

Authors : Marcin CESLUK-GRAJEWSKI

Summary : The video games sector is the fastest growing cultural and creative sector in Europe, with an estimated European market size of €23.3 billion in 2021. A highly innovative digital sector, it directly employs more than 90 000 people in Europe, and continues to generate new employment opportunities for many creators, including game developers, designers, writers, and music producers. Half of all Europeans consider themselves to be video game players; of these, almost half are women. An essential part of the video games phenomenon is e-sports: competitions, often hosted in large venues, where teams and individuals compete on video games in front of live audiences. However, there is currently no coherent strategy for the legal treatment of e sports either at the EU level or in most Member States. In recent resolutions, the European Parliament has called on the Commission and the Council to acknowledge the value of the video game and e-sport 'ecosystem' in the EU by developing a long-term European video game strategy. Parliament has also stressed that video game players need to be better protected from manipulative practices and potentially addictive game design features. The European Union has launched several initiatives to better understand and develop the video games sector, in particular under the Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme and the Creative Europe programme.

Authors : Tarja LAANINEN

Summary : This paper provides detailed insight on the use of the EU budget to support Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. It explains the recent Commission proposal for a new ‘Ukraine Facility’ to finance the country and its recovery in the years 2024 to 2027. Furthermore, the paper addresses the challenges of ensuring full parliamentary scrutiny, democratic oversight, and effective budgetary control of the enormous amounts spent on Ukraine’s recovery. On top of that, the paper presents principles for a successful recovery.

Authors : TIM ULRICH PETERS

Summary : The development of a European digital public space in which all European citizens could inform themselves about current affairs would be a great opportunity. While online platform operators from the United States and China provide various different digital media and also meeting spaces, these often lack democratic discourse and at the same time increase polarisation and division by concentrating and rewarding those types of content that generate outrage. Freedom of expression, and the possibility to access qualitative and trustworthy content from across the entire EU, and beyond, are essential to secure European democracies, ensuring that all EU citizens are well informed by offering them a broad spectrum of high quality, publicly available content. To enable such a setup, high-quality European broadcasters, including many public broadcasters, and media companies, and later also non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders, including citizens, would have to be supported in sharing broadcasts and other types of media-related content and data, as well as in developing innovative solutions. The development of a European streaming platform that taps into exactly these sources could provide a multilingual focal point that bundles together all high-quality European news broadcasts in one platform, enabling EU citizens to discover these programmes and also to consume them, without language barriers, in multiple languages, using sophisticated AI-based language technologies including automatic speech recognition (for the transcription and indexing of content including metadata generation, subtitling and captioning), machine translation (for the translation of subtitles) or, say, even automatic speech-to-speech translation (for the fully automated generation of dubbed programmes). A crucial aspect of such a platform is that it must not be vulnerable to external manipulation attempts. This diverse set of artificial intelligence technologies for processing the audiovisual content and for providing fair and balanced search, discovery and recommendation mechanisms, would enable, for the first time, communication across language barriers on the scale of a whole continent. This study assesses the technical feasibility of the implementation of such a European streaming platform.

Authors : DG, EPRS

Summary : The European Council consists of the 27 Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, who are voting members, together with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, who have no vote (Article 15(2) Treaty on European Union). The chart shows the current members, the national office they hold, their most recent European political affiliation, and the year their membership began.

Authors : Ralf DRACHENBERG

Summary : The last regular European Council meeting before the summer break will address a wide range of topics, from Russia's war in Ukraine, the economic situation and a strategic debate on China, to security, defence and migration. In the context of Ukraine, EU leaders will reconfirm the EU's multidimensional support for the country, with a specific focus on military assistance, and welcome the agreement on the 11th package of sanctions on Russia. On the economic situation, EU leaders are expected to discuss industrial policy, the EU's long-term competitiveness – including the potential of and challenges linked with artificial intelligence – and EU resilience and economic security. The proposed targeted revision of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework may also come up. EU leaders will attempt to bring positions closer on the divisive topic of EU relations with China. Finally, as a result of recent developments (notably the dramatic sinking of a migrant ship and growing opposition to the asylum agreement), migration may move higher up the agenda.

Authors : Annastiina PAPUNEN, Ralf DRACHENBERG

Summary : Midway of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the High-Level Political Forum 2023 marks a pivotal point in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The impact of the multiple crises of the past years, as well as the interlinkages and synergies of the SDGs present both challenges and opportunities for a systemic approach towards our common objectives. For the global community not to lose the progress in this global decade of action, there is a need for the EU to take the lead, both in domestic policies and international cooperation. Conclusions from the Eurostat Monitoring Report 2023, Sustainable Development Report 2022 and civil society analysis point to the EU’s progress on social-economic SDGs, and notes insufficient progress on environmental objectives and global partnerships. Thus, there is a strong need for policy coherence, financing frameworks and political will to ensure the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the objectives set out in the Paris Climate Agreement.

Authors : Nora HILLER

Summary : The study developed herein aims to address the concerns raised as to the field of retail investments. It aims at analysing market practices and the applicable legislative landscape in order to identify room for improvement and, ultimately, propose potential solutions to foster retail investor protection and participation in financial markets. This document was provided by the Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies at the request of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON).

Authors : Filippo ANNUNZIATA, Bocconi University, Milano. European Banking Institute, Frankfurt.

Summary : This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs, at the request of the PETI Committee, inquires about the connection between the “Protection of European linguistic and cultural diversity” and the “Protection and promotion of European minority and minoritised languages” in Europe. The situation of the European minority and minoritised languages can be seen as a barometer of the current state of European linguistic and cultural diversity. The available data show that more than two thirds of linguistic minorities within the European Union have significantly decreased in number in recent decades (1991-2011). At the pan-European level, too, two thirds of minorities have declined over the same period. The same must be assumed as to the use of the languages spoken by these minorities.

Authors : Paul VIDESOTT

Summary : In June 2023, trilogue negotiations between Parliament and the Council started on the Commission's proposal for a regulation on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. The proposal, put forward on 31 March 2022, would bring together in a single legal document the provisions on the procedures for registering geographical indications (GIs) for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products that are currently spread over three regulations. It would increase the powers and responsibilities of producer groups, lay down rules on sustainability undertakings, clarify rules on the use of GI products as ingredients, and improve the protection of GI products online. The Commission would be empowered to transfer its tasks regarding the management of geographical indications, including scrutiny, opposition, and cancellation and amendment procedures to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Nikolina SAJN

Summary : China, the United States, and the European Union are global rivals in areas covering trade, geopolitics, the military, economics, and technology. Economically, China's rise as a global player has disrupted the traditional dominance of the US and the EU. China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) seeks to expand the country’s economic influence by investing in infrastructure projects across many regions, challenging the economic interests of the US and the EU. For several years, US trade policy has aimed to prevent China from becoming the global technological leader, notably in the area of green transition and artificial intelligence (AI). Washington is encouraging the EU to follow a similar policy, and the Union is becoming increasingly wary of its economy being dependent on exports from some other regions. In April, the European Parliament called for clarity and unity in policy towards China. EU leaders, divided in their approach to China, will hold a strategic debate on China at the European Council meeting on 29-30 June. The clash between different ideologies exacerbates the rivalry, with the US and EU representing democratic values and China pursuing an authoritarian model. Despite the rivalry, the three powers also face common challenges such as climate change, necessitating a delicate balance between competition and collaboration. This note offers links to recent reports and commentaries from some major international think tanks and research institutes on the global rivalry of the three regional powers. It focuses on politics, the economy and technology. ‘What think tanks are thinking’ will focus on the military aspect of this competition and China’s attitude to Russia’s war on Ukraine in future editions.

Authors : Marcin CESLUK-GRAJEWSKI

Summary : This briefing provides a summary of the recent economic developments in the EU Member States and gives an overview of relevant economic projections forecasted by major international and EU institutions.

Authors : SAMUEL DE LEMOS PEIXOTO, GIACOMO LOI

Summary : This briefing paper provides an overview of the role and mandate of the Eurogroup and the role and accountability of its President, including the procedures for his/her appointment. In addition, this note refers to the debate around the transparency of Eurogroup proceedings. The paper is an update of a previous version and will be updated in light of relevant developments.

Authors : Kajus HAGELSTAM, WOLFGANG LEHOFER, GIACOMO LOI

Summary : This briefing provides background information about Ukraine’s financing needs, options to finance the reconstruction process and the possible role of the EU budget, as well as the governance architecture and the involvement of the European Parliament.

Authors : Diana HAASE, András SCHWARCZ

Summary : Paschal Donohoe is attending his fourth Economic Dialogue in the ECON Committee since being elected as President of the Eurogroup in July 2020. His previous Economic Dialogue took place on 2 February 2022. This briefing covers the following issues:); Economic situation and developments (Section 1); the Eurogroup work programme and Euro Area Recommendation (Section 2); Fiscal and economic surveillance (Section 3) and Completing EMU governance (Section 4). For an overview of the role of the President of the Eurogroup, please see Briefing: The role (and accountability) of the President of the Eurogroup.

Authors : Kajus HAGELSTAM, SAMUEL DE LEMOS PEIXOTO, GIACOMO LOI, Kai Gereon SPITZER

Summary : This study was prepared by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the JURI Committee. Commercial, industrial and military applications of metaverse bring both opportunities as well as significant concerns for everyday life, health, work, and security. Legislative initiatives promoting fundamental principles of law, legislative and judicial oversight, applied comprehensively across a broad range of policies, are necessary to make sure that metaverse will play a positive role.

Authors : Mariusz MACIEJEWSKI

Summary : Every 26 June, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking seeks to raise awareness of the problems, challenges and nefarious effects of illicit drugs (hereinafter referred to as drugs) on individuals and on society as whole. Drugs are an increasingly complex security, social and health problem that affects millions of people in the European Union (EU) and globally. The drug market generates huge profits for organised crime, and is estimated to be the source of approximately one fifth of global crime proceeds. The EU is considered an important market for drugs, in terms of both consumption and production. Over a third of the organised crime groups (OCGs) active in the EU are involved in the drugs trade. The fight against drugs is therefore a priority for the EU and its Member States.

Authors : KATRIEN LUYTEN

Summary : At the political trilogue meeting of 30 May 2023, the co-legislators reached agreement on revising the EU fisheries control system. The new legislation is a complete overhaul of the current system. It amends five regulations, of which Council Regulation (EC) 1224/2009 (the Control Regulation) forms the core of the EU fisheries control system. The deal is the result of a long process. In May 2018, the Commission tabled the proposal as the last major component of the 2013 revision of the common fisheries policy. The European Parliament and the Council adopted their positions in March and June 2021 respectively, after which interinstitutional negotiations started. The agreement was reached during the twelfth political trilogue meeting. Some of the main changes introduced by the proposal and supported in the agreement include tracking of all fishing vessels, electronic reporting of all catches, monitoring of recreational fisheries, improving (digital) traceability along the supply chain and harmonising sanctions across the EU. On control of the landing obligation via on-board closed-circuit television cameras for vessels at high risk of non compliance, the co-legislators agreed that this provision would only apply to vessels of 18 metres length or more. Parliament and Council also agreed on more flexibile tolerance margins as regards catch weight estimates on board, in particular for small pelagic and tuna species. The agreement is scheduled to be put to a vote in the Parliament's Committee on Fisheries meeting of 27 June 2023, after which the text of the agreement would need to be formally adopted by the Parliament and Council. Fourth edition of a briefing originally drafted by Irina Popescu. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : FREDERIK SCHOLAERT

Summary : Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union's founding principles, enshrined in Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). However, the implementation and enforcement of this principle remain a challenge. Owing to a lack of pay transparency, pay discrimination often goes undetected, and victims face difficulties in making claims for redress. On 4 March 2021, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal on binding pay transparency measures. The proposed directive to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for equal work, or work of equal value between men and women through pay transparency and enforcement mechanisms, focuses on measures to ensure pay transparency and better access to justice for victims of pay discrimination. The Council agreed its approach on the proposal on 6 December 2021. On 5 April 2022, Parliament voted to confirm the joint committee's negotiating mandate on the proposal with a view to initiating informal trilogue negotiations with the Council. Interinstitutional negotiations started on 30 June. On 15 December 2022, after five trilogue meetings, an agreement on the proposal was reached. The Parliament adopted the text in plenary on 30 March 2023, and on 24 April, the Council also did so. The Directive was published in the Official Journal on 17 May 2023, and has to be transposed into national law by the Member States by 7 June 2026. Fourth edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Marie LECERF

Summary : Semiconductors (or chips) are the foundation of the digital transition. Their production relies on complex and vulnerable global supply chains. Against the backdrop of global chip shortages, a global 'subsidy race' in the world's main producing regions, and the renewed EU industrial policy, the Commission presented a proposal for an EU chips act aimed at reinforcing the whole EU chips value chain in February 2022. The proposal for a chips act was based on a three-pillar structure, which has been retained by the co-legislators: pillar 1 to bolster large-scale technological capacity building and innovation in the EU chips ecosystem; pillar 2 to improve the EU's security of supply; and pillar 3 to set up a monitoring and crisis response mechanism. In the event of supply crises, the Commission would be allowed to implement three types of emergency measure: asking companies for information, asking companies to accept and prioritise orders of crisis-relevant products, and making shared purchases on behalf of Member States. Following provisional political agreement reached between the co-legislators on 18 April 2023, 14 months after the publication of the Commission proposal, and after four trilogues, the Parliament is expected to adopt its position at first reading during its July 2023 plenary session. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Guillaume RAGONNAUD

Summary : In 2016, with unprecedented numbers of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers arriving in the EU, the European Commission proposed a package of reforms to the common European asylum system (CEAS). In June 2018, a broad provisional agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the presidency of the Council of the EU on several of the reform proposals. However, the agreement did not get the necessary support from the Member States. The reform stalled owing to persistent disagreements among the Member States on how to apply the principle of solidarity in practice and share their responsibilities in the area of asylum in a fair manner. In September 2020, the Commission sought to revive the reform by putting forward a new pact on migration and asylum, offering a comprehensive approach aimed at strengthening and integrating key EU policies on migration, asylum and border management. The pact builds on and amends the previous reform proposals. In line with the gradual approach proposed by the French Presidency of the Council in June 2022, the Member States reached agreement on several aspects of the reform relating to the screening and registration of migrants arriving at the EU's external borders. Following an agreement in the Council in June 2023 on two key proposals, the negotiations between co-legislators can resume on most of the files, with the aim of finalising the reform of the EU migration and asylum system before the next European elections, in June 2024. This is an update of a briefing originally published in December 2022.

Authors : KATRIEN LUYTEN, Anita ORAV, Costica DUMBRAVA

Summary : The United Kingdom left the European Union on 31 January 2020. Much of the relationship following the withdrawal is set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which came fully into force in May 2021. The depth and complexity of relations between the EU and the UK following the withdrawal vary depending on the policy area concerned. For example, the TCA devotes many more articles to energy relations than to climate relations. There are a variety of reasons for this, but it can often be partially explained by the depth of previous relationships, as well as physical infrastructure already in place (such as electricity and gas interconnectors between the UK and EU Member States). In the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK and the EU have increased their coordination, especially on energy. At the same time, both the EU and UK are moving ahead on energy and climate issues at different paces. There are concerns, therefore, that differing regulatory approaches will result in discrepancies that could hamper trade between the EU and the UK. The focus here is on Ireland and Northern Ireland, where the absence of harmonisation could result in WTO disputes and create political tensions.

Authors : Angelos DELIVORIAS

Summary : The Return Directive is the main piece of EU legislation governing return procedures. Under this directive, Member States must issue a return decision (an administrative or judicial decision imposing an obligation to leave the territory) for every third-country national found to be irregularly present on their territory. A proposal to recast the EU Return Directive is under discussion in the European Parliament and Council. This infographic sets out the key data relating to EU return policy.

Authors : KATRIEN LUYTEN, Eulalia CLAROS GIMENO

Summary : This document compares the draft 2023 Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) proposed by the Commission on 24 May 2023 with the 2023 CSRs approved by the Council on 16 June 2023. The Council will finally adopt the recommendations in July.

Authors : ADRIANA HAJNALK HECSER, DONELLA BOLDI, OVIDIU IONUT TURCU

Summary : The end of free movement between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), following Brexit, has brought about a decline in long-term migration, but also in short-term mobility for certain categories of EU and UK citizens. Young people seem to be particularly affected.

Authors : Carmen-Cristina CIRLIG

Summary : Cross-border civil society links were integral to the UK's membership of the EU and continue to be an important aspect of the EU–UK relationship. In July 2023, members of the UK and European Parliaments will discuss ways to support civil society cooperation, including town twinning.

Authors : Rosamund SHREEVES

Summary : On 26 April 2023, the European Commission launched a revision of the EU's pharmaceutical legislation, including legislation on medicines for children and for rare diseases. Since the early 2000s, the EU legislative framework has provided a complex set of obligations, incentives and rewards to stimulate the development of medicines for children and for rare disease patients. Over the last 20 years, the EU legislation has led to the development of new medicines for these categories of patients. The legislation has not been flexible enough, however, to integrate scientific and technological advances, nor has it been able to direct research and development towards areas of unmet medical needs. Given the key role of Member States in determining the availability and affordability of medicines, implementation of the legislation cannot be assessed in isolation from the national context. This concerns, notably, key aspects such as pricing and reimbursement of medicines, taxation, and healthcare organisation, but also strategic decisions by pharmaceutical companies.

Authors : Izabela Cristina BACIAN

Summary : On 1 March 2023, as part of the road safety package, the European Commission published a legislative proposal to help ensure EU-wide application of driving disqualifications. It calls for increased cooperation, harmonisation of legislation, simplification of information exchange, capacity-building, and improved public awareness efforts. In order to prevent impunity due to a lack of legislation, the proposal sets out rules to allow better EU-wide enforcement of driver disqualification decisions when drivers commit major traffic offences outside their own country. In the European Parliament, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) is responsible for the file. Petar Vitanov (S&D, Bulgaria) has been appointed as rapporteur. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Monika KISS

Summary : On 18 April 2023, the European Commission tabled a package of proposals to amend the bank crisis management and deposit insurance (CMDI) framework. The objective of the reform is to calibrate the latter so as to further deepen harmonisation and reduce the use of taxpayer funding. More specifically, the proposal for a CMDI reform would amend the early intervention procedure and the decision to resolve a failing bank in the public interest. It would also encourage the use of funding from national deposit guarantee schemes in resolution. The package of proposals is being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : ISSAM HALLAK

Summary : This briefing provides a summary of all scrutiny activities of the European Parliament related to euro area monetary policy in the period between March 2023 and June 2023. These summaries are published regularly after each Monetary Dialogue (MD) with the European Central Bank (ECB). For a recap of the key monetary policy developments and decisions taken by the ECB’s Governing Council in that period, please refer to our briefing ahead of the 5 June 2023 MD.

Authors : Drazen RAKIC, GIACOMO LOI

Summary : This note has been prepared for a regular public hearing with the Chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), Andrea Enria, which will take place on 28 June 2023. The briefing addresses: (i) the ECB’s recent Financial Stability Review, (ii) the results of four asset quality reviews, (iii) the ECB’s progress report on the disclosure of climate and environmental risks, (iv) three critical reviews of the SSM’s work (vii) the ECB’s views on the proposed changes to the Crisis Management Framework, and (viii) an update on activities of significant banks in Russia

Authors : Marcel MAGNUS, Kai Gereon SPITZER

Summary : This briefing gives an overview of the different kind of EU funding for Africa and Latin America. Short explanations of the different types of funding are given and tables are provided with the different amounts targeting Africa and Latin America. The main EU budget instrument for funding for Africa and Latin America is the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe (NDICI). Besides the NDICI there are other funds that address humanitarian aid and emergency responses. Funding is done through different means. For example, grants, loans, investments and budget support. All these different types of funding have their pros and cons and target different issues in the partner regions. For 2024, the European Commission is planning a midterm revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. It is not yet clear if this will also have influence on the planning and implementation of the NDICI.

Authors : Alexandra Cynthia Jana POUWELS

Summary : The question of whether the 34 decentralised European Union (EU) Agencies and EPPO are adequately equipped with human and financial resources is a recurring discussion in the different budget and discharge procedures addressing the work of the Agencies. A common issue voiced is that extensions of an agency’s mandate are not matched by a corresponding increase in available funding and human resources. In a special report on the future of EU agencies from 2020, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) comes to a similar conclusion, stating that new tasks for the agencies rarely come with an adequate number of additional posts in the establishment plan. Further issues relevant in the context of EU agencies and their management are the increasingly important role of Contract Agents (CAs) as part of the Agencies’ structural workforce, problems with finding suitable staff in certain policy areas and in Member States with lower remuneration due to lower correction coefficients and the use of interim staff and “revolving doors”. By providing and discussing a variety of available statistics and data as regards the financial and human resources of decentralised agencies, this briefing aims to give a comprehensive overview regarding this issue. First, this briefing shows broader trends of staff developments in the EU decentralised Agencies. Then, it considers other issues related to personnel and staffing, before finally focusing on budgetary trends.

Authors : HENDRIK LARS BECKER

Summary : Platform work is on the rise, with hundreds of digital platforms active in the EU and millions of workers earning some income by working for them. A proposed EU directive seeks to set criteria to determine whether platform workers are self-employed or employees, which is key for improving their working conditions and social rights. In addition, it would set the first EU rules on the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. With their positions agreed, the European Parliament and the Council can now start interinstitutional negotiations.

Authors : STEFANO SPINACI, Marketa PAPE

Summary : On 24 May 2023, the European Commission put forward a package of two proposals to amend existing directives and a regulation with a view to fostering retail investor information transparency and ensuring that investment decisions are best for investors. The objective is to enhance trust and confidence, thereby increasing retail investor participation in financing the economy. The package is mostly concerned with clarity in communication and the prevention of misleading marketing. It also intends to mitigate potential conflicts of interest for advisers and increase retail investments' value for money. In the European Parliament, the file has been referred to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON). The Council has also started its discussions. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : ISSAM HALLAK

Summary : This infographic provides an insight into the economic performance of India compared with the EU, and looks at the trade dynamics between them. India’s unemployment rate had been decreasing gradually but steadily since 2006, before rising sharply in 2020, and then returning to the pre-2020 trend in 2022. Both foreign direct investment (FDI) and remittances have remained a relatively stable percentage of India’s gross domestic product (GDP), with slight fluctuations. Remittances to the EU have remained a low and stable percentage of GDP, whereas FDI inflows as a percentage of the EU’s GDP have fluctuated and fallen significantly since 2006. The EU’s exports and imports of goods to and from India remained almost equal until 2021, which saw a sharp increase in the value of goods imported by the EU.

Authors : GYORGYI MACSAI

Summary : Most rare diseases are incurable. Research into new diagnostics and therapies is hampered by the low number of patients, limited amount of data, lack of multi-centre coordination and low profitability. Biosensors are a technology that, driven by continuous advances in artificial intelligence, can help disease detection, lower the cost of novel therapies, replace placebo groups in clinical trials and foster patient-centred, personalised (e)-medicine. Governance of biosensor technology involves targeted action addressing various EU laws and policies.

Authors : LUISA ANTUNES

Summary : Tax authorities and businesses in the EU are preparing for the implementation of the minimum corporate tax ('Pillar Two'), following the milestone global agreement reached in the OECD Inclusive Framework in 2021. Questions have however been raised as to the extent to which countries should reform their tax incentives, in a world where the global minimum corporate tax can undermine such incentives.

Authors : Pieter BAERT

Summary : Platform work is an umbrella concept covering a heterogeneous group of economic activities completed through a digital platform. As platform workers' rights are not enshrined in EU labour law, this increasingly leads to problems related to various aspects of their work and human development. To remedy this situation, the European Commission has submitted a proposal for a directive aimed at improving the working conditions of platform workers, clarifying their employment status, and establishing the first EU rules for the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. The European Parliament adopted its negotiating mandate on the file on 2 February 2023, based on the report prepared by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (rapporteur: Elisabetta Gualmini, Italy, S&D). As the Council agreed its general approach on 12 June 2023, interinstitutional negotiations can now begin. Third edition of a briefing originally drafted by Monika Kiss. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Marketa PAPE

Summary : An independent media is a pillar of democracy and an important part of the economy, helping to shape public opinion and hold those in power to account. In recent years, however, there have been increasingly worrying trends across the European Union (EU), as documented in the annual rule of law reports by the European Commission and other tools such as the Media Pluralism Monitor. Published on 16 September 2022, the European media freedom act (EMFA) proposes a new set of rules to promote media pluralism and independence across the EU, and would amend the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The aim is to prevent political interference in editorial decisions and ensure transparency of media ownership. The proposed act seeks to protect journalists from having to disclose their sources and from the use of spyware against them. It also sets requirements for audience measurement systems and transparent allocation of state advertising. Media content would be better protected against online content removal, and a new European board for media services would be established. In the Parliament, the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) is the committee responsible, with the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) as associated committees. The draft report was presented in the CULT committee on 26 April 2023. The vote and adoption in the CULT committee is planned for September 2023. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Tarja LAANINEN

Summary : Partnership agreements (PAs) are overarching documents that define the strategy and investment priorities for the cohesion policy funds. By the end of 2022, the PAs for all 27 Member States for the 2021-2027 programming period had been adopted; EU support is worth €368 billion and the total investment is €545 billion, taking into account national financing. PAs in this programming period are much shorter and more concise documents than the agreements in the 2014-2020 period. The two policy objectives (POs) with the largest allocations are PO4 Social Europe and PO2 Greener Europe. Most of the funding is earmarked for the less developed regions, where gross domestic product (GDP) per inhabitant was less than 75 % of the EU average in the 2015-2017 period. With the programming completed, the implementation phase is now in full swing as the regions start spending the funds in accordance with the measures and priorities outlined in the PAs. However, ensuring fulfilment of all outstanding horizontal and thematic enabling conditions is key for the effective delivery of results. In general, PAs and their oversight are a responsibility of the European Commission, which has the lead among the EU institutions in implementing cohesion policy. The Commission assesses the PAs' compliance with the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) – including the horizontal principles, such as partnership and subsidiarity – and approves them via implementing acts. The European Parliament can exercise its role of political scrutiny and oversight of the Commission. As co-legislator for the CPR, Parliament has the right to be informed about the implementation of the Regulation, and can submit parliamentary questions asking the Commission to explain how it verifies that the horizontal principles are respected in the PAs. Through the discharge procedure, Parliament can ensure ex-post democratic oversight at political level of how the EU's budget has been used. However, Parliament cannot veto PAs as such, as it has no formal role in the approval procedure. Nevertheless, gradual steps could be taken to increase transparency and oversight. For example, Parliament could insist on the public release of the Commission's assessments of the PAs, similarly to the assessments of the national recovery and resilience plans.

Authors : ANDRAS SZECHY BALAZS

Summary : This At a glance note summarises the study investigating the welfare of the main fish species reared in the European Union, and highlighting current knowledge on fish welfare, knowledge gaps, fish needs and husbandry methods of concern for fish welfare. The study focuses on production systems and production phases in a species-specific way. Research includes a literature review, an evaluation of the regulatory framework, a stakeholders’ consultation, case studies and a SWOT analysis. Conclusions and policy recommendations relevant to EU decision-making are provided.

Authors : Michail PAVLIDIS; Leonidas PAPAHARISIS; Mikolaj ADAMEK, Dieter STEINHAGEN, Verena JUNG-SCHROERS; Tore KRISTIANSEN; Antonia THEODORIDI; Fernando OTERO LOURIDO

Summary : This study investigates the welfare of the main fish species reared in the European Union, and highlights current knowledge on fish welfare, knowledge gaps, fish needs and husbandry methods of concern for fish welfare. The study focuses on production systems and production phases in a species-specific way. Research includes a literature review, an evaluation of the regulatory framework, a stakeholders’ consultation, case studies and a SWOT analysis. Conclusions and policy recommendations relevant to EU decision-making are provided.

Authors : Michail PAVLIDIS; Leonidas PAPAHARISIS; Mikolaj ADAMEK, Dieter STEINHAGEN, Verena JUNG-SCHROERS; Tore KRISTIANSEN; Antonia THEODORIDI ; Fernando OTERO LOURIDO.

Summary : Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and United States-China rivalry continue to dominate the global political and economic landscape in 2023. Challenges to the multilateral rules-based global order are redefining strategic relations. In its attempt to foster alliances, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President (HR/VP) and the European Commission adopted a joint communication setting out a new agenda for relations between the European Union and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) on 7 June 2023. To strengthen and modernise the strategic partnership, reinforced political engagement, boosted trade and investment, and more sustainable investment through the Global Gateway connectivity strategy are key priorities of the EU strategy towards the region – one of the most aligned in terms of interests, culture and values. Less than a year earlier, on 27 October 2022, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and EU foreign ministers adopted the joint CELAC-EU Roadmap 2022 2023 in Buenos Aires. This paved the way for the long-awaited EU-CELAC Summit to take place in Brussels, set for 17 18 July 2023, under the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Expectations are high, as this will be the first fully-fledged summit in 8 years. EU-CELAC relations are not free of challenges: the LAC countries' stance on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine (including EU sanctions against Russia), China's emergence as a key actor in Latin America, political and ideological divisions and economic asymmetries within the LAC region, and concerns relating to EU legislation on the green transition all need to be addressed. A litmus test for the strategic partnership will also be whether the partners manage to finalise the three key pending international agreements (Mercosur, Mexico and Chile).

Authors : Marc JUTTEN

Summary : Cannabis is by far the most commonly used illicit drug (referred to as drug in this briefing) in the European Union (EU), where its distribution, cultivation, possession and use (consumption) are largely prohibited. The prohibition of drug-related activities other than those performed for medical or scientific purposes is the defining feature of the international drug control system. Set up by the United Nations (UN), this system is composed of three complementary conventions, to which all EU Member States are parties. Various countries around the world have made use of the flexibility of the UN system, not applying criminal penalties in some cases (e.g. for possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use) or replacing them with administrative ones. The UN bodies monitoring compliance with the conventions seem to have come to accept these policy choices. However, they remain resistant to the still rare yet increasingly common practice of legalising the recreational use of cannabis, which may entail regulating drug distribution and sale in a manner akin to that for alcohol and tobacco. In the EU, drug policy has remained primarily the Member States' preserve. The EU has fostered the Member States' cooperation on law enforcement and health-related issues, while at the same time respecting their diverse philosophies on how to address recreational drug use. National approaches range from very restrictive policies that prioritise criminal law responses, to more liberal ones that focus primarily on reducing the health and social harms resulting from drug use. In 2021, Malta became the first Member State to legalise recreational cannabis, and since then several others have taken steps that could potentially lead to similar drug policy reforms. The following EPRS policy analysts contributed to the country analyses in this briefing: Antonio Albaladejo Roman (Spain), David De Groot (Germany), Micaela Del Monte (Luxembourg), Verena Kern (Austria), Silvia Kotanidis (Italy), Marie Lecerf (France), Gabija Leclerc (Lithuania), Katrien Luyten (Belgium), Ingeborg Odink (the Netherlands), Anita Orav (Estonia), Marketa Pape (Czechia), Martina Prpic (Croatia) and Rosamund Shreeves (Malta).

Authors : KATRIEN LUYTEN, Piotr BAKOWSKI, Verena KERN, Micaela DEL MONTE, Marie LECERF, Martina PRPIC, Anita ORAV, Marketa PAPE, Rosamund SHREEVES, Ingeborg ODINK, Silvia KOTANIDIS, DAVID ARMAND JACQUES GERA DE GROOT, GABIJA LECLERC

Summary : Este documento se integra en una serie de estudios que, desde una perspectiva de Derecho Comparado, tienen como objeto analizar el Estado de Derecho en diferentes ordenamientos jurídicos. Tras la explicación de la normativa y la jurisprudencia de aplicación, se examinan el contenido, los límites y la posible evolución de dicho concepto. El presente estudio tiene por objeto el caso de México. En primer lugar, se identifican las principales normas que dan contenido al Estado de Derecho, el cual se caracteriza, esencialmente, por elementos de modernas vertientes del Estado social, democrático y constitucional de Derecho. También se describen los ordenamientos legales y reglamentarios en el propio ámbito federal que hacen referencia y, en ese sentido, apuntalan la noción del Estado de Derecho. Asimismo, se enuncian de modo extenso las Constituciones y leyes de las treinta y dos entidades federativas donde también se fundamenta esta idea. A continuación, se comentan segmentos representativos de una amplia jurisprudencia constitucional de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación, principalmente, en los que ha dado algún contenido al Estado de Derecho en las últimas décadas. Por último, se realiza un análisis de los principales elementos del Estado de Derecho desde una perspectiva crítica, en el sentido de que, pese a la generosa amplitud de la normatividad, pueden observarse al menos dos problemas para su materialización. Primero, la distancia existente entre copiosas normas y las prácticas dedicadas a interiorizar con convencimiento colectivo las condiciones normativas que lo harían efectivamente vigente. Segundo, la carencia de un conjunto de ingredientes técnicos, metodológicos, o de tipo sociológico, político, social o cultural para contrarrestar esa deficiencia. Estas condiciones hacen especialmente complejo considerar una consolidación de esos elementos normativos con miras a producir un enraizamiento efectivo del Estado de Derecho en México.

Authors : EPRS, Comparative Law

Summary : This At a glance note summarises the study Tproviding information on the current and potential impact of the gas supply crisis on the Just Transition Plans (JTPs). The evidence is based on the analysis of EU gas and energy supply dependencies, trade linkages with Russia, the general EU’s policy framework, Just Transition Mechanism (JTM), REPowerEU plan and the investigation of six case studies. It concludes with specified policy recommendations reflecting the implemen tation of the JTM, the JTPs in the light of risks of the energy crisis.

Authors : Kinga HAT, Marvin BÖHNKE, Erich DALLHAMMER, Roland GAUGITSCH, Chien-Hui HSIUNG, Isabella MESSINGER, Michele ALESSANDRINI, Elena IACOBUCCI, François LEVARLET, Tullio BUCCELLATO

Summary : This AT a glance note summarises the study providing a comparative assessment of the 28 Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans of the EU Member States. It assesses the main features of the regulatory framework for the 2023-2027 period including the approval process of the plans and provides an overview of the financial allocations of the 28 Strategic Plans and the specificities of their implementation. The study provides a first evaluation of the relevance of the Strategic Plans and their contribution to the objectives of the European Green Deal. It concludes with an overall analysis of the added value of the new delivery model and a set of policy recommendations.

Authors : Arndt MUNCH, Manon BADOUIX, Helene GORNY , Isabella MESSINGER, Bernd SCHUH, Sanja BRKANOVIC; Monika BECK, Sarah BODART, Patrick VAN BUNNEN, Tania RUNGE, Hervé GUYMOMARD.

Summary : The tentative agenda for the forthcoming European Commission meeting of 20 June 2023 includes a proposal on a second basket of new own resources, with the title 'An adjusted package for the next generation of own resources'. The proposal would be adopted together with the revision of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF). In the roadmap for new own resources annexed to the interinstitutional agreement (IIA) of 16 December 2020, the decision on the second basket was initially envisaged for 2024. The European Parliament approved the first basket back in November 2022. In a resolution of 10 May 2023, it called for the swift adoption of the second basket. The Council has yet to start debating the first basket of new own resources.

Authors : Alina DOBREVA

Summary : In December 2000, in a resolution to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, the United Nations General Assembly designated 20 June as World Refugee Day. According to UN estimates, 117.2 million people will be forcibly displaced or stateless in 2023 in the world, nearly 29.3 million of them refugees.

Authors : Anita ORAV

Summary : To support its economy, provide mobility for people and goods and ensure the connectivity of all regions, while also limiting negative impacts on climate and environment, the EU has been building a multimodal transport network across its territory: the trans-European transport network (TEN T). TEN-T construction is supported by EU funding, an example of which is the dedicated Connecting Europe Facility programme. In December 2021, after evaluating progress in TEN-T implementation, the European Commission put forward a proposal on the revised TEN T guidelines to ensure sustainable connectivity through a reliable and high-quality infrastructure network aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal. In May 2022, the Commission published an amended version of this proposal, extending transport corridors to Ukraine and Moldova and withdrawing plans that included Russia and Belarus. The European Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism adopted its report on the proposal on 13 April 2023; the Council adopted its general approach on 5 December 2022. The EP position was endorsed in plenary on 19 April, and trilogue negotiations are now ongoing. Third edition. The first edition, published in March 2022, was drafted by Marketa Pape. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Monika KISS

Summary : Asylum is a form of international protection given by a state on its territory to someone who is threatened by persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular group in their country of origin or residence. This infographic provides an overview of the number of third-country nationals seeking asylum in EU Member States, their success in asylum procedures, and requests for transfers between Member States, as a consequence of the Dublin Regulation.

Authors : Giulio SABBATI

Summary : On 1 March 2023, the European Commission published its legislative proposal on driving licences – a matter of EU competence – with the purpose of enabling the free movement of persons and goods throughout the EU by modernising the driving licence system. This involves making driving licence rules future-proof, improving road safety and simplifying rules for those wanting to get a driving licence. The proposal provides for accompanied driving for young learners, zero tolerance for drunk driving, better preparation for micro-mobility, and the introduction of digital driving licences. In the European Parliament, the legislative file was assigned to the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) on 27 April 2023. The rapporteur was appointed on 3 May 2023. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : KARIN SMIT-JACOBS

Summary : On 26 Avril 2023, the European Commission put forward a 'pharmaceutical package' to revise the EU's pharmaceutical legislation and make medicines more available, accessible and affordable, while supporting the competitiveness and attractiveness of the EU pharmaceutical industry, with higher environmental standards. The package includes proposals for a new directive and a new regulation, which would replace the existing pharmaceutical legislation, including the legislation on medicines for children and for rare diseases. The package is completed by a communication and a Council recommendation to step up the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The legislative proposals are now in the hands of the co-legislators. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Laurence AMAND-EECKHOUT

Summary : New financing needs, not foreseen when the EU's long-term budget for 2021 to 2027 was finalised, have arisen in recent months, reflecting multiple crises. From the very outset, in 2021, implementation of the EU's 2021-2027 budget faced challenging circumstances, with the pandemic and its consequences. In response, the EU and its Member States mobilised €3.7 trillion overall, with the EU budget providing direct support of €70 billion to help EU citizens and enterprises, and countries outside the EU, cope with the COVID-19 crisis. Financial pressure amplified in 2022 with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU and its Member States have so far provided €72 billion in financial, military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine. The war has, in addition, led to inflationary pressure, diminishing the real-terms value of financial resources. The EU's budgetary resources for the current financial period from 2021 to 2027 were originally set at €1.8 trillion from the multiannual financial framework (MFF) and from the EU's temporary recovery instrument, Next Generation EU (NGEU). These resources have been consumed much faster than anticipated. The funds set aside for responding to unforeseeable events, the special instruments, earmarked €10.5 billion for the years 2021 to 2024 and are almost entirely depleted. The European Parliament has called repeatedly for a meaningful and urgent revision of the EU budget. This briefing presents the state of the EU's finances as initially set for 2021 to 2027, as updated in June 2023, and provides an overview of how the EU's financial means have been impacted by two major unexpected crises. It provides background information in view of the Commission's adoption of the MFF revision, scheduled for 20 June 2023.

Authors : KAROLINE KOWALD, MARIANNA PARI

Summary : Most of the Member States have used corporate sponsorship during their Council presidency. Although the official meetings of the Council are financed by the EU budget, the rotating presidency usually organises unofficial meetings and events that are not covered, while other extra costs also incur due to the presidency tasks. Even the regular Council tasks may costs extra for the Member State holding the presidency as it may need to reinforce the permanent representation in Brussels, send more diplomats to be present at all the meetings in Brussels, and also take care of more officials or politicians visiting the country than usual. A Council presidency may also be a good opportunity for the country to promote its local businesses, tourist attractions or cultural heritage. Therefore, it is customary to organise political, business, social and cultural events connected to the presidency in the home country, in Brussels or other Member States. These meetings require venues, transport, security, travel and accommodations, catering, interpretation and translation, technical support and media logistics. All these extra costs are borne by the Member State, and many of them choose to involve sponsors in covering these. Sponsors mostly contribute in kind, most often with transport solutions, catering, IT or communications. In exchange, these sponsors may be presented with their names and logos alongside official Council Presidency logos.

Authors : András SCHWARCZ, FRANCISCO JAVIE PADILLA OLIVARES

Summary : The war in Ukraine was again central to the plenary session in June, with a debate on the humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam and sustainable reconstruction and the integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community. Another important debate concerned the preparation of the European Council meeting set for 29 30 June 2023, in particular in the light of the recent steps forward on agreeing the EU migration pact. Members held a number of debates, inter alia, on the rule of law in Poland, negotiations on the European electoral law, establishment of an EU ethics body, the water crisis in Europe, and how to make Europe the place to invest. Members also debated the situation in Lebanon, in Nicaragua and on the state of the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. Finally, Members held the latest 'This is Europe' debate, this month with Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus. And, in a formal sitting, they heard an address by Vjosa Osmani, President of the Republic of Kosovo.

Authors : CLARE FERGUSON, KATARZYNA SOCHACKA

Summary : The Withdrawal Agreement (WA) and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the EU and the UK set the terms for the UK’s departure from the Union and a framework for future relations. Tensions surfaced, mainly related to fisheries and the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland (the Protocol), which is a part of the WA. The UK had threatened to take 'unilateral measures' on issues such as border controls. For its part, the EU launched legal actions against the UK for failing to fulfil its obligations. In May 2023, the EU adopted a regulation empowering the Commission to act by means of implementing acts to enforce and implement the two agreements. The new Regulation means that the Commission may impose restrictions on trade, investment or other activities if the UK is in breach the terms of WA and TCA. The new law entered into force in April 2023. Second edition of a briefing originally drafted by Issam Hallak. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Marcin SZCZEPANSKI

Summary : On 14 June 2023, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position on the draft Artificial Intelligence Act, strengthening some provisions to protect people better from potential violations of their fundamental rights. Following this vote, Parliament will start negotiations with the national governments and the European Commission on the final shape of the legislation, which will be a decisive step in the European Union becoming the world’s first region to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). The recent launches of AI tools capable of generating direct textual answers to questions, notably ChatGPT, and the development of general-purpose AI technologies are expected to revolutionise the application of AI in society. The US and China are also working on AI regulation. In addition, the US and EU hope to negotiate a voluntary code of conduct for AI firms. The Artificial Intelligence Act would regulate AI according to the level of risk: the higher the risk to individuals' fundamental rights or safety, the greater the system's obligations. The EU's proposed high-risk list includes AI in critical infrastructure, education, human resources, public order and migration management. Parliament’s position on the proposal seeks to ban real-time remote biometric identification systems in publicly accessible spaces and most ‘post’ remote biometric identification systems, as well as AI predictive policy systems, based on gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, religion, or political orientation. This note offers links to recent reports and commentaries from some major international think tanks and research institutes on artificial intelligence. More publications on the topic can be found in a previous edition of What think tanks are thinking.

Authors : Marcin CESLUK-GRAJEWSKI

Summary : The EU offers financial support to regional and local authorities, NGOs, businesses, professionals and citizens through a wide variety of funds. This 'Guide to EU funding' produced by the European Parliamentary Research Service provides easily accessible information on the full range of EU funding sources, conveniently grouped by area of action. The main funding themes of the guide are divided in subsections in order to facilitate research. A number of hyperlinks have been included in the text in order to make access to the source of funding information easier. A list of major potential beneficiaries is mentioned at the end of each section of the guide in order to facilitate the reader.

Authors : ANDRAS SZECHY BALAZS, Vasileios MARGARAS

Summary : On 14 July 2021, the European Commission adopted the 'fit for 55' package of legislative proposals to meet the new EU objective of a minimum 55 % reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. The package is part of the Commission's European Green Deal, which aims to set the EU firmly on the path towards net zero GHG emissions (climate neutrality) by 2050. The fit for 55 package includes a regulation establishing a new social climate fund (SCF). The aim of the SCF is to help vulnerable households, micro-businesses and transport users counter the additional costs they may face when the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive is revised to cover these two sectors. The SCF should provide up to €65 billion in EU funding over the 2026-2032 period, mainly through ETS credits in the buildings and road transport sectors. Member States are expected to co-finance 25% of the total estimated cost of their social plans. The fund can be used for temporary direct income support, as well as investments in energy efficiency-related building renovations and sustainable transport. Trilogue negotiations concluded on 18 December 2022 with a provisional agreement, which was then formally adopted by the Parliament and the Council in April 2023. The adopted text was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 16 May 2023 and entered into force on 5 June 2023. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : MARIANNA PARI, Agnieszka WIDUTO, Alex Benjamin WILSON

Summary : 'This is Europe' – an initiative proposed by the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola – consists of a series of debates with EU leaders to discuss their visions for the future of the European Union. In his address to the European Parliament on 13 June 2023, the reunification of the island was a central theme for the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. He stressed that the EU has every interest, but also an 'obligation to actively contribute to its final settlement' by taking a leading role in the process. He stressed that the wider Middle East and Gulf were the EU's neighbourhood, and that Cyprus was the 'geopolitical gateway' from the EU to the MENA region. He also called for further European integration, and promised to promote the deepening of the EU within the European Council.

Authors : Ralf DRACHENBERG

Summary : In December 2022, the European Commission presented a proposal to review Directive 2011/36/EU to strengthen the rules on combating trafficking in human beings and to better protect victims. Despite some progress achieved in recent years, it is estimated that over 7 000 people become victims of human trafficking in the EU on an annual basis, although the figure could be much higher because many victims remain undetected. Human trafficking is not only a serious and borderless crime, but also a lucrative business, driven by demand for sexual (and other) services. Criminals exploit vulnerable people (increasingly children), making high profits and taking relatively low risks. Vulnerability can result from a whole range of factors, including socio-economic ones, and migrants are a particularly vulnerable group. Gender also plays an important part, as women and men are not trafficked in the same way or for the same purpose. Women and girls represent a disproportionately high number of victims, both globally and at EU level, especially in terms of sexual exploitation. This form of exploitation is still dominant in the EU, even though other forms are on the rise, such as exploitation for forced labour and for criminal activities. The COVID 19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have brought new challenges for victims, as well as amplifying the vulnerabilities of those most at risk. Traffickers – like legal businesses – have increasingly moved to digital modi operandi. In its efforts to eradicate human trafficking, the EU has not only created a legal framework, comprising an anti-trafficking directive and instruments to protect victims' rights and prevent labour exploitation; it has also put in place an operational cooperation network involving decentralised EU agencies, including Europol, Eurojust, CEPOL and Frontex. Moreover, trafficking in human beings is a priority in the EU policy cycle for organised and serious international crime. The European Parliament plays a major role, not only in designing policies but also in evaluating their implementation. This is an update of a briefing written by Piotr Bąkowski and Sofija Voronova in 2021.

Authors : Martina PRPIC

Summary : On 3 May 2023, the Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation establishing the act in support of ammunition production (ASAP). On 9 May 2023, the European Parliament agreed to trigger the urgent procedure under Rule 163 of its Rules of Procedure, to proceed quickly with the legislative proposal on the ASAP without a report. On 1 June 2023, the plenary agreed to refer the file back to the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE), for interinstitutional negotiations on the basis of the Commission proposal unamended. MEPs will now start negotiations with the Council. The ASAP comes in response to a Ukrainian request to the EU for assistance with the supply of 155 mm-calibre artillery rounds and the agreement of the Council on 20 March 2023 on a three track proposal on ammunition. Member States have been invited to urgently transfer ammunition from their own stocks to Ukraine (Track 1). Member States have agreed to jointly procure 1 million ammunition rounds (Track 2). Track 3 aims at ramping up production capacity in the European defence industry. This is supposed to be achieved through the ASAP, which responds directly to the Council's call to deliver ammunition urgently, and if requested missiles too, to Ukraine and to help Member States restock their supplies. The Commission proposes a budget of €500 million for ASAP. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : SEBASTIAN CLAPP

Summary : The EU's digital decade connectivity target aims at ensuring a fixed gigabit network (1 Gbps) covers all EU households, and for 5G coverage for all populated areas by 2030. A high-quality digital infrastructure based on such very high-capacity networks would underpin almost all sectors of a modern and innovative economy. The long-term success of a digital economy based on the internet of things, machine-to-machine technologies, cloud computing and big data, will crucially depend on access to the highest quality telecommunications infrastructure. The proposed gigabit infrastructure act, introducing a regulation that would review and replace the existing Broadband Cost Reduction Directive, aims at facilitating and stimulating the provision of very high-capacity networks by promoting the joint use of existing physical infrastructure and by enabling a more efficient deployment of new physical infrastructure, so that such networks can be rolled out faster and at lower cost. In Parliament, the file has been allocated to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Stefano DE LUCA

Summary : Robot applications, including 'collaborative robots' – cobots – designed to collaborate with humans, are in high demand, with sales and installation figures constantly on the rise. However, it is necessary to analyse the risks and opportunities of this technology and its possible social, economic, and ethical impacts. This study presents the current state of collaborative robotics, its benefits, and its disadvantages, with a special emphasis on key aspects such as safety. It presents possible policy options to enable the EU to remain at the forefront of this technology by taking advantage of the opportunities and avoiding the potential risks.

Authors : This study has been written by Ernesto Gambao (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid/UPM) at the request of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) and managed by the Scientific Foresight Unit, within the Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS) of the Secretariat of the European Parliament.

Summary : This study provides a comparative assessment of the 28 Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plans of the EU Member States. It assesses the main features of the regulatory framework for the 2023-2027 period including the approval pro-cess of the plans and provides an overview of the financial allocations of the 28 Strategic Plans and the specificities of their implementation. The study provides a first evaluation of the relevance of the Strategic Plans and their contribution to the objectives of the European Green Deal. It concludes with an overall anal-ysis of the added value of the new delivery model and a set of policy recom-mendations.

Authors : ÖIR GmbH: Arndt MÜNCH, Manon BADOUIX, Helene GORNY, Isabella MESSINGER, Bernd SCHUH, ADE S.A.: Monika BECK, Sarah BODART, Patrick VAN BUNNEN Expert input: Tania RUNGE (Thünen Institut), Hervé GUYOMARD (INRAE – National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment), Sanja BRKANOVIC (RegioGro)

Summary : Next Generation EU (NGEU) is the unprecedented instrument created by the European Union (EU) to help Member States recover from the socio-economic impact of the COVID 19 crisis, while also addressing structural challenges such as the green and digital transition. Its main spending tool is the €723.8 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) that finances ambitious packages of reform and investment measures agreed in the Member States' national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs). Given the RRF's strong links with the European Semester, the EU's economic governance coordination framework regularly takes stock of progress in RRF implementation. Combined with additional data on payments received so far by Member States (30.6 % of the approved allocation on average) and the milestones and targets linked to those payments (11 % of the overall objectives under the plans), the documents in the 2023 European Semester spring package provide an overview of the state of play in the implementation of the RRF in individual Member States. According to the European Commission, the deployment of the RRF is broadly on track. Variations appear to be emerging across the EU, however, since on the basis of the country-specific recommendations and reports, Member States can be classified into four broad groups as regards implementation of their NRRPs: 1) well under way (in 9 Member States); 2) under way (14); 3) under way with significant delays (2); and 4) significantly delayed (2). With 89 % of the milestones and targets still to be achieved, the years to 2026, the final year for the RRF, will be crucial for successful completion of the plans. Their ongoing revision, not least for the inclusion of new REPowerEU chapters on reinforced energy measures, may trigger delays in 2023, but it is also an opportunity to address current challenges, such as unexpectedly high inflation. As of 12 June 2023, only a quarter of Member States had submitted their REPowerEU chapters, which must be agreed and operational by the end of 2023 at the latest.

Authors : Alessandro D'ALFONSO

Summary : On 19 December 2022, the European Commission put forward a proposal for the targeted revision of Directive 2011/36/EU, which is the main EU instrument to combat trafficking in human beings and protect its victims. Despite progress achieved in fighting this crime, the Commission reports that, on average, 7 000 people per year are victims of human trafficking in the EU and that this figure is most likely only the tip of the iceberg. Moreover, forms of exploitation have evolved over time and have adapted to the new environment. For instance, criminal networks are now taking advantage of the possibilities offered by new technologies to recruit victims. Most recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has generated a massive displacement of women and children and created new opportunities for criminal organisations. While a large majority of victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation are women and girls, men are more victims of trafficking for labour exploitation, the share of which is increasing, or are forced to commit criminal activities. Against this background, the Commission is proposing a set of amendments to strengthen the current rules, further harmonise provisions across Member States in order to reduce demand, and collect robust data and statistics.

Authors : Martina PRPIC

Summary : In December 2022, the Commission presented two proposals to revise the rules on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information (API) data – data collected by air carriers at check-in and sent to competent authorities in the country of destination prior to the flight's take-off. One of the proposals is for a new regulation on the collection and transfer of API data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime. The proposal seeks to align the rules on the collection and transfer of API data with the rules on the processing of passenger name records (PNR) – data from air travellers' ticket reservations – in order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against serious crimes and terrorism in the EU. The proposal provides uniform criteria for the collection and transfer of API data on extra-EU flights and selected intra-EU flights. It builds on the provisions of another proposal for a regulation on the collection and transfer of API data for enhancing and facilitating external border controls. Both proposals rely on the establishment of a centralised router to enable the transmission of API data between air carriers and the competent national authorities dealing with API data. The proposal falls under the ordinary legislative procedure. In the European Parliament, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) has appointed a rapporteur, Assita Kanko (ECR, Belgium), who has begun preparing a draft report. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Authors : Costica DUMBRAVA

Summary : The briefing provides an overview of the key positions taken ahead of MEPC 80 with a focus on both the setting of ambitious GHG targets under the revision to the IMO GHG Strategy and the further discussion of the basket of mid- to long-term measures needed to deliver this enhanced level of ambition.

Authors : Nora WISSNER, Sean HEALY

Summary : There is a consensus among Parliament, Council and Commission that resolution should apply more often, including among smaller and medium-sized banks. To achieve this, the Commission has now proposed a number of changes to the criteria and process of the public interest assessment. This briefing reviews, against the background of the Single Resolution Board’s past practice, what impact the proposed changes might have. The proposed changes modify in particular the comparison between resolution and insolvency, while in the past, resolution was denied because it was not considered necessary. In practice, going forward, the public interest test may matter less if the SRB succeeds in making use of new possibilities to prevent and better prepare for resolution.

Authors : Marcel MAGNUS, Kai Gereon SPITZER