The European Union's outermost regions (ORs) qualify for special treatment owing to structural difficulties – such as remoteness, difficult topography and economic dependence on a few products – that can severely hamper their development. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic has hit their economies particularly hard. While these regions are quite different from one another, they have levels of unemployment and GDP significantly worse than EU and national averages. Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for specific measures to support the ORs, including the tailored application of EU law and access to EU programmes.

EPRS policy podcast - Outermost regions of the EU

Culture plays a fundamental role in human life. It is also an essential source of identity, at local, regional, national and European levels, while making a significant contribution to the EU economy. EU cultural policy relates to cultural heritage, but also to the cultural and creative sector. The EU supports culture through a variety of initiatives, including the European Capitals of Culture scheme. A number of EU programmes also offer funding for cultural projects, for instance the Creative Europe programme, Horizon Europe and New European Bauhaus. As one of the sectors of the economy worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU included culture in its coronavirus response investment initiatives and the REACT-EU programme aimed at dealing with the consequences of the pandemic. The European Parliament has called for increased support for culture as part of the post-pandemic recovery efforts.

EPRS policy podcast - Culture and regional development

SDG 14 on 'life below water' focuses on the sustainability of the oceans, recognising their essential role in life on our planet. Oceans contain 80 % of all life forms, produce more than 50 % of the Earth's oxygen and play a central role in regulating the climate. In addition, the 'blue economy' provides 4.5 million direct jobs in the EU. To manage maritime activities sustainably and cope with different environmental pressures, the EU has implemented a wide range of policies, such as the common fisheries policy, the marine strategy framework directive and the maritime spatial planning directive, as well as specific legislation related to marine litter. Other new initiatives under the European Green Deal also play an important role in relation to ocean governance and sustainable blue growth, such as the 2030 biodiversity strategy, the offshore renewable energy strategy, the 'Fit for 55' package and the new guidelines on aquaculture.

EPRS podcast - Policy: EU action on ocean governance and achieving SDG 14

The European Commission has announced 'right to repair' legislation, with the objective of cutting consumer costs and promoting a circular economy. 'Right to repair' legislation can refer to a variety of issues and circumstances: for example, the right to repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves.

Right to Repair - English

La Commission européenne a annoncé une législation sur le droit à la réparation pour réduire les coûts pour les consommateurs et promouvoir une économie circulaire. Cette législation peut concerner plusieurs situations: par exemple, le droit à la réparation pendant la garantie légale ou après expiration de celle-ci et le droit des consommateurs à réparer eux-mêmes leurs produits.

Le droit à la réparation - français

De Europese Commissie heeft aangekondigd dat zij wetgeving zal voorstellen rond het recht op reparatie. Het doel is de kosten te verlagen voor consumenten en een circulaire economie te bevorderen. Wetgeving over het recht op reparatie kan verband houden met een hele waaier aan thema’s en omstandigheden: zo is er het recht op reparatie tijdens de wettelijke garantieperiode, het recht op reparatie nadat die periode is verstreken en het recht op reparatie voor consumenten, die zelf hun producten repareren.

Recht op reparatie - Nederlands

On 17 November 2021, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise EU rules governing shipments of waste. The proposed regulation aims at easing shipments of waste for reuse and recycling in the EU, to support the transition to a circular economy; ensuring that waste exported from the EU is managed in an environmentally sound manner in the destination countries; and stepping up enforcement to counteract illegal shipments of waste. While supporting the proposed streamlining and digitalisation of procedures, stakeholders have stressed the need for significant improvements to ensure that the new regulation fulfils its objectives, in particular as regards exports of waste.

EPRS policy podcast - Revision of the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation

Over the past decade, space has gained increasing importance as an economic sector offering opportunities for established and emerging markets. Space policies and their applications have also gained in political relevance due to their capacity to tackle global challenges, such as the climate and biodiversity crises, but also due to the growing reliance of the EU economy and society on space infrastructure, services and data. This briefing focuses on the state of play in regard to the EU's space economy, while also examining the EU's reliance on space services. Specifically, it highlights the relevance of the EU in the global space market and looks at the ways the EU could boost its use of space data and services to deliver on its main political priorities.

EPRS policy podcast - EU space policy: Boosting EU competitiveness and accelerating the twin ecological and digital transition

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. While European industry has strengths (for instance in green tech), it has lagged behind in some key strategic sectors. Common weaknesses in strategic European industrial sectors include high dependency on critical raw materials – for instance around half of the materials needed in aircraft production come from third countries. Other weaknesses are insufficient research and development funding, technology gaps, market fragmentation, underinvestment, and lack of skills. The pandemic has, meanwhile, highlighted the broader vulnerabilities of global supply chains. #FutureShocks2022

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks: Establishing greater strategic autonomy for European industry

In line with EU’s 2050 climate neutrality goal under the Green Deal, the European Commission proposed a new Circular Economy Action Plan in March 2020, focusing on waste prevention and management and aimed at boosting sustainable growth, competitiveness and EU global leadership in the field. MEPs want the EU to adopt an ambitious circular economy model to achieve environmentally and economically sustainable growth by maintaining the value of products, materials and resources in the economy for as long as possible. Modernising the EU's legislative framework for batteries is an integral part of the Green Deal. It builds on commitments and reports adopted by the European Commission, including the action plans on batteries and the new circular economy, the new industrial strategy for Europe and the sustainable and smart mobility strategy aiming to deliver a 90% reduction in transport-related GHG emissions by 2050. The European Commission has announced the establishment of a 'right to repair', with a view of saving costs for consumers and facilitating the development of a circular economy. The right to repair may refer to different issues and situations: repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves. In a resolution adapted in April, MEPs say that a&nbsp;new “right to repair” must cover designing long-lasting products that can be fixed, as well as more informative labelling and extended guarantee rights.

Circular economy

&nbsp;Arelatively recent phenomenon, the collaborative economy has become to the centre of the interest&nbsp;a decade in some areas of activities, such as car-sharing or short-term lets. Although it is now a well-known term – with alternative names from the 'sharing' to 'gig' to 'peer-to-peer' economy – it remains difficult to grasp precisely, beyond the central feature that potential consumers and providers are connected via a digital platform that matches demand and supply, providing cheap access to information on a very large scale.

These 'match-makers' make it possible for non-professional providers to offer goods and servicesin a wide range of activities, generating value and with the potential for further development.

The success of collaborative platforms has raised concerns regarding workers’ rights and unfair advantages these firms might enjoy over traditional companies that are bound by stricter legal regulations. Taxation issues in the collaborative economy increasingly highlight the need for an in-depth look into taxation, focusing on the link between the value created and tax, and the need for a level playing field for incumbent business facing competition from these new entrants to the market.

See more on this topic by visiting our package&nbsp; for the 8th parliamentary term.

Collaborative economy

As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Parliament worked on four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. The proposals also strengthen provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamline definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets.

#EUelections2019 - Circular economy

The collaborative economy is based on the sharing of human and physical resources like creation, production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services. 

A 2016 Eurobarometer showed that 17% of European consumers have used services provided by the collaborative economy, and 52% are aware of the services offered. Peer-to-peer accommodation is the largest collaborative economy sector on the basis of generated commerce, while peer-to-peer transportation is the largest measured by platform revenue.

Collaborative economy - 8th parliamentary term

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

Press conference by Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, EC Executive Vice-President, Paolo GENTILONI, Commissioner for Economy and Nicolas SCHIMIT, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights on the Autumn 2023 European

Press conference by Kadri SIMSON, Commissioner for Energy on the proposal for a market correction mechanism to protect citizens and the economy against excessive gas prices

Plenary session

Cross-border crime thrives on illegal activities like drugs, precious minerals and human trafficking. These crimes often take place in regions affected by unstable governance, corruption or extreme poverty. Conversely, these activities worsen security, economy and democratic values in these regions. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Peace and security: cross-border crime

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 Covid-19 pandemic left an indelible mark on Europe. While we may no longer live in lockdown or see masks everywhere, the pandemic’s impact is still being felt. Because of the far-reaching effects on our economy and society at large, the European Union's response went far beyond securing enough vaccines. The European Commission rolled out €800 billion in financial relief through the Next Generation EU Recovery Instrument. In this first episode of the chronicle, Alessandro D'Alfonso, the Head of the Next Generation EU Monitoring Service at the EPRS, will delve into the details of this historic package and what it means for the EU. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely. #NextGenerationEU

EPRS - EU Recovery Instrument: What is it?

The amount of clothes bought per person in the EU increased by 40 % between 1996 and 2012. Producing new clothing causes chemical pollution and contributes to climate change. There is a strong push in the EU to make every phase of garment production more sustainable. Some companies and fashion brands are investing in new technologies and business models. So what is the way forward? Even though there is no global one-size-fits-all answer, key trends have emerged, like circular fashion. This model promotes clothing rental, re-use and recycling.

EPRS - Circular fashion

The European Commission’s proposal for a regulation establishing a general framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, repeals rules currently in force which concentrate on energy-related products only. The regulation would lay down rules that would apply 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. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Ecodesign for sustainable products

MEPs discuss on recent revelations concerning Uber’s lobbying practices in the EU. In particular, the plenary debate inquires about the situation of Uber drivers in Europe, and the extent to which Uber’s former lobbying activities have affected their labour and social rights. Closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs.

Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU: closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

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Circular economy

Collaborative economy

#EUelections2019 - Circular economy

Collaborative economy - 8th parliamentary term

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EPRS - Peace and security: cross-border crime

EPRS - Strengthening the EU's chip sector

EPRS - EU Recovery Instrument: What is it?

EPRS - Circular fashion

EPRS - Ecodesign for sustainable products

Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU: closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs

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EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

EP Plenary session - Revelations of Uber lobbying practices in the EU

Ljudklipp (48)

EPRS policy podcast - Outermost regions of the EU

EPRS policy podcast - Culture and regional development

EPRS podcast - Policy: EU action on ocean governance and achieving SDG 14

Right to Repair - English

Le droit à la réparation - français

Recht op reparatie - Nederlands

EPRS policy podcast - Revision of the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation

EPRS policy podcast - EU space policy: Boosting EU competitiveness and accelerating the twin ecological and digital transition

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks: Establishing greater strategic autonomy for European industry