The European Commission proposes new measures for a high level of public sector interoperability across the Union (the interoperable Europe act). The initiative seeks to ensure a consistent, human-centric EU approach to interoperability, create an interoperability governance structure that helps public administrations and the private sector to work together, and establish an ecosystem of interoperability solutions for the EU's public sector. It should also cut red tape for citizens and businesses.

EPRS policy podcast - Interoperable Europe act

Today, renewable hydrogen makes up a small fraction of total hydrogen production. Most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels and, although cheaper, it causes carbon emissions. Demand for renewable hydrogen is expected to grow quickly as the need for climate-friendly solutions increases. To avoid a situation where renewable electricity used for hydrogen production is diverted away from other uses, it is important to ensure additional renewable electricity capacity for renewable hydrogen production, or ‘aditionality.’

EPRS policy podcast - EU rules for renewable hydrogen

Nowadays, a wide range of key technologies across all industries, from chips to batteries, medical imaging to tanks, rely on the unique physical properties of some specific critical raw materials (CRMs). Demand for CRMs is projected to skyrocket in the coming years. However, as the transition to 'net-zero' and the digital age is particularly materials-intensive, it remains uncertain whether supply will keep up with the expected needs. The EU's ambition to become a climate-neutral economy by 2050, and its ability to sustain the green and digital transitions and achieve strategic autonomy, all rely heavily on reliable, secure and resilient access to CRMs.

Policy podcast : Securing Europe's supply of critical raw materials

Over the past 3.8 billion years, nature has been engineering itself to survive. It has also developed efficient and sustainable adaptation mechanisms against changing environmental conditions. To further the EU's political ambitions, could we employ biomimicry to mitigate climate change and achieve climate neutrality?

Science and Technology Podcast : What if nature taught us to adapt to climate change?

The proposed update to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive would introduce new obligations to better control pollution due to rainwater, impose stricter standards for nutrient removal and require advanced treatment for the removal of micro-pollutants. To cover treatment costs, a system of extended producer responsibility targeting pharmaceuticals and cosmetics would be set up. To align the directive with the Green Deal's ambitions, an energy neutrality obligation would be introduced for wastewater treatment plants.

EPRS Policy podcast - Updating the EU rules on urban wastewater treatment

The proposed EU regulation to ban products made using forced labour, including child labour, covers all products made available on the internal market of the European Union -meaning both products made in the EU for domestic consumption and for export, and imported goods. The provisions of the proposal would apply to products of any type, including their components, regardless of the sector or industry.

EPRS Policy podcast - Proposal for a ban on goods made using forced labour

In this podcast we explore the potential ecological benefits of increasing our capacity to store energy, especially from renewable sources. As the availability of some renewable energy sources is variable and intermittent, devising new energy storage capacities could ensure energy security and reliability and help the EU in its efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

EPRS Science and Technology Podcast - What if increased energy storage could help fix climate change?

The energy crisis of 2022 has brought new challenges for the EU electricity market. Concerns over very high prices, security of energy supply, and the need to increase decarbonisation have sparked discussions on the need to redesign the EU's electricity market. After the short-term measures adopted to mitigate the impact of the energy crisis, the European Commission has unveiled its much-awaited plan to reform the electricity market, with a triple objective: to shelter consumers from excessive bills, boost renewables and enhance competitiveness.

EPRS Policy podcast - Revamping the EU electricity market

To support its publications, the European Parliamentary Research Service is producing a wide range of informative, timely and varied audio-visual products. These products include content-rich videos and animations, and also regular monthly podcasts, such as policy podcasts and science and technology podcasts. They are based on EPRS' independent, objective and authoritative analysis of, and research on, policy issues relating to the European Union, so empowering Members and committees in their parliamentary work and supporting parliamentary outreach to the wider public.

Restrictions: © The material of this package may not be edited and single videos must be shown in its entirety.

EPRS Multimedia Centre

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

Russia's invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has caused vast displacement of people within the country as well as across the EU borders. While the annexation of Crimea had a negative impact on the country's education system, recent events have added additional strain. Outbound student mobility was already substantial in recent years, but it has accelerated even further since the Crimean conflict began. After doubling from some 25 000 to nearly 50 000 between 2007 and 2014, the number of Ukrainian students abroad has since skyrocketed by another 54 % to around 78 000 in 2019. Some 480 Ukrainian students are currently engaged in Erasmus+ activities via the programme's international strand. In the 2015-2019 programming period, Ukraine received 40 % of the available funding in the Eastern Partnership region, and over 9 000 Ukrainian students and staff participated in more than 1 300 Erasmus projects.

EPRS - Ukrainian students in the EU

Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine has raised a widespread international concern of a global food crisis similar, or worse, to the one the world faced in 2007-2008. Russia and Ukraine are key agricultural players which, combined, export nearly 12 % of the food calories traded globally, and are major providers of basic agro-commodities. Learn more in our previous video: https://youtu.be/cJBlBGuL_88 The military aggression has generated a significant reduction of exports and production of essential commodities from the two countries at war, and a global spike in food, fertilisers and energy prices. The EU, where food supply is not at stake, has reacted swiftly to prevent a global food crisis.

EPRS - EU food security responses to the war in Ukraine

Russia launched its war on Ukraine on 24 February 2022, but Russian cyber-attacks against Ukraine have persisted ever since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, intensifying just before the 2022 invasion. Over this period, Ukraine’s public, energy, media, financial, business and non-profit sectors have suffered the most. The European Parliament has called for stepping up cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine and for making full use of the EU’s cyber-sanctions regimes against individuals, entities and bodies responsible for or involved in the various cyber-attacks targeting Ukraine. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Building cyber resilience in Ukraine and the EU

With winter at our doorstep, we are all worried about high energy prices, which have been soaring, since the onset of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the EU imported more than 40 % of its gas from Russia. These deliveries are all but gone, a decision taken in Moscow, not Brussels. As a consequence, the EU has to look elsewhere for its natural gas imports. The gas shortage is not only increasing the price of gas itself, but also that of electricity. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely. #energyprices #RussiaUkraineWar

EPRS - High energy prices

European industry is central when it comes to achieving the twin green and digital transition of the EU’s economy and society, and making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Microchips are the engines of the digital transition. They are critical technologies, meaning that they are needed across the civil (including security), defence and space industries. The ‘European chips act package‘ adopted by the Commission in February 2022 includes a proposal for a regulation setting up a framework of measures to strengthen Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem (the ‘chips act’).

EPRS - Strengthening the EU's chip sector

The European Union pays billions of Euros a year for its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU’s initial reaction to reducing its dependence on Russian gas was to buy more elsewhere. Either from neighbouring countries like Norway or Algeria, or in the form of LNG gas which arrives by ship from Quatar or the United States. But this cannot compensate for all the gas the EU still gets from Russia. This is where the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan comes in. The plan aims to phase out Russian fossil fuels and speed up the EU’s green energy transition by boosting investment in renewable energy sources.

EPRS - REPowerEU: Ensuring Europe's energy security?

On 14 July 2021, the European Commission adopted the 'fit for 55' package, adapting existing climate and energy legislation to meet the new EU objective of a minimum 55 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The fit for 55 package is part of the European Green Deal, a flagship of the von der Leyen Commission that aims to put the EU firmly on the path towards climate neutrality by 2050, as set out in the European Climate Law. Speeding up the transition to cleaner energy sources, improving the energy efficiency of our buildings, reducing methane emissions... A lot must be done in the energy sector to achieve these objectives. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Fitfor55: a new energy system

Understanding inflation dynamics requires an understanding of the underlying concept and how it is measured. Inflation is defined as a process of continuously rising prices and falling purchasing power. In other words, a general and broad-based increase in the price of goods and services over an extended period. The main objective of central banks is to keep prices stable, to preserve the integrity and purchasing power of people's money. The most common inflation indicator measures the average change in the price of a basket of consumer goods and services over time. The Russian war on Ukraine is now likely to cause inflation to increase further, with underlying price pressure broadening and lingering supply-side bottlenecks.

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EPRS - Ukrainian students in the EU

EPRS - EU food security responses to the war in Ukraine

EPRS - Building cyber resilience in Ukraine and the EU

EPRS - High energy prices

EPRS - Strengthening the EU's chip sector

EPRS - REPowerEU: Ensuring Europe's energy security?

EPRS - Fitfor55: a new energy system

EPRS - Inflation explained

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EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

EPRS Annual lecture 'What only a speech can do'

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EPRS policy podcast - Interoperable Europe act

EPRS policy podcast - EU rules for renewable hydrogen

Policy podcast : Securing Europe's supply of critical raw materials

Science and Technology Podcast : What if nature taught us to adapt to climate change?

EPRS Policy podcast - Updating the EU rules on urban wastewater treatment

EPRS Policy podcast - Proposal for a ban on goods made using forced labour

EPRS Science and Technology Podcast - What if increased energy storage could help fix climate change?

EPRS Policy podcast - Revamping the EU electricity market

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