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European Parliament is refining its position on two new proposals in ongoing pharmaceutical package deliberations. Czech MEP, Kateřina Konečná, favours Commission’s proposal for a regulatory data protection period while criticizing shift to digital medicine leaflets.

We investigate the potential effects of the newly negotiated WTO Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement depending on the coverage of implemented provisions. The analysis is methodologically based on a multi-region general equilibrium simulation model including bilateral representative firms, foreign direct investment (FDI) and monopolistic competition. The results suggest substantial global welfare gains ranging between 0.63% for the IFD binding provisions and 1.73% for all IFD provisions. Countries in the group of Friends of Investment Facilitation for Development (FIFD) as well as low and middle-income countries gain the most. The benefits for all regions increase together with the coverage of the implemented IFD provisions as well as with the rising number of participating countries. This provides a strong incentive for non-participating developing countries to join the IFD, reform their investment frameworks in line with the IFD agenda, and use the support structure contained in the section on special and differential treatment.

We investigate the potential effects of the newly negotiated WTO Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement depending on the coverage of implemented provisions. The analysis is methodologically based on a multi-region general equilibrium simulation model including bilateral representative firms, foreign direct investment (FDI) and monopolistic competition. The results suggest substantial global welfare gains ranging between 0.63% for the IFD binding provisions and 1.73% for all IFD provisions. Countries in the group of Friends of Investment Facilitation for Development (FIFD) as well as low and middle-income countries gain the most. The benefits for all regions increase together with the coverage of the implemented IFD provisions as well as with the rising number of participating countries. This provides a strong incentive for non-participating developing countries to join the IFD, reform their investment frameworks in line with the IFD agenda, and use the support structure contained in the section on special and differential treatment.

We investigate the potential effects of the newly negotiated WTO Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement depending on the coverage of implemented provisions. The analysis is methodologically based on a multi-region general equilibrium simulation model including bilateral representative firms, foreign direct investment (FDI) and monopolistic competition. The results suggest substantial global welfare gains ranging between 0.63% for the IFD binding provisions and 1.73% for all IFD provisions. Countries in the group of Friends of Investment Facilitation for Development (FIFD) as well as low and middle-income countries gain the most. The benefits for all regions increase together with the coverage of the implemented IFD provisions as well as with the rising number of participating countries. This provides a strong incentive for non-participating developing countries to join the IFD, reform their investment frameworks in line with the IFD agenda, and use the support structure contained in the section on special and differential treatment.

Frankfurt has been chosen by Parliament and Council as the seat of AMLA, the EU’s new enforcer in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Frankfurt has been chosen by Parliament and Council as the seat of AMLA, the EU’s new enforcer in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Frankfurt has been chosen by Parliament and Council as the seat of AMLA, the EU’s new enforcer in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Frankfurt has been chosen by Parliament and Council as the seat of AMLA, the EU’s new enforcer in the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Europe’s 340 million pets are unlikely to swing this year’s European elections, though with cats, one can never be sure. Jennifer Baker looks at Europe’s animal-related policy dynamics and how they could influence June’s electoral mix.

The EIT Summit 2024, which took place on 20 February, revealed the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) ambition to harness the power of the sun, focusing on solar technology innovation and the training of thousands of solar engineers.

Le budget cantonal fait l'objet d'un recours devant le Tribunal fédéral. Les droits constitutionnels des citoyens seraient bafoués.

Trade between the European Union and Russia kept sliding in the final quarter of 2023, as Brussels continues efforts to decouple itself from Moscow in the lead-up to the second anniversary of the full-scale war in Ukraine.

The EU executive proposed measures to loosen monitoring, controls and environmental requirements to alleviate the administrative burden of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on growers and member states, according to a document seen by Euractiv.

La personne a été retrouvée inanimée dans sa cellule à Carl-Vogt. Elle est décédée malgré l’intervention des secours. En janvier, un homme avait été découvert sans vie dans ce même poste.

La présidente de la Commission européenne a laissé entrevoir la possibilité que certains partis du groupe des Conservateurs et Réformistes européens (CRE) rejoignent son groupe de centre droit, le Parti populaire européen (PPE), au sein du nouveau Parlement européen après les élections européennes de juin.

Les autorités neuchâteloises menacent de résilier la convention pour le centre fédéral d’accueil. Beat Jans prévoit de se rendre sur place.

Written by Lauro Panella, Margarida Arenga, Marco Centrone, Christof Cesnovar, Meenakshi Fernandes, Aleksandra Heflich, Lenka Jančová, Christa Kammerhofer-Schlegel, and Jérôme Saulnier.

Why this study?

Since the signature of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, European integration has ensured peace and advanced democratic governance, environmental protection, innovation and economic growth. Efforts to create the euro and to strengthen the single market are credited with raising incomes by at least 6 %.

Yet, Europe could offer more to ensure an effective response to cross-border challenges such as climate change, widening social inequality and wars that affect people’s daily lives and future prospects. The European Union (EU) could take further action to boost the provision of public goods, generate efficiency gains, reduce administrative costs and integrate the impacts of externalities.

This study applies the cost of non-Europe methodology to assess the potential benefits of more EU action in 10 policy areas. It considers different intensities and forms of EU action, from legislative to non-legislative, budgetary spending, savings for national budgets, investment and guarantees, assistance, supervision and enforcement action or involving citizens and communication.

What are the key findings?

This study investigates where the greatest opportunities lie for more EU action – which has the potential to generate up to €3 trillion each year by 2032, or about 18 % of the EU’s 2022 GDP. This is equivalent to €6 700 of potential benefits of greater EU action per citizen per year in the EU.Theoretical foundations and practical considerations, EPRS, European Parliament, October 2023.

The benefits reflect economic gains, as well as gains in terms of social and fundamental rights, and also protection of the environment. The benefits of more EU action could take up to 10 years to realise, depending on the policy area and the specific measures underlying the EU action.

Based on a mapping of the cost of non-Europe, the study identifies 10 key proposals for EU action (one per policy area analysed) that are most relevant to realising Europe’s untapped potential. Each key proposal is supported by resolutions and reports adopted by the European Parliament during the 2019-2024 legislature. Findings from this study can contribute to the setting of EU policy priorities in the 2024-2029 legislature.

What are the conclusions?

The costs of EU inaction are high. Citizens, civil society and businesses are paying the costs of a weak Europe. They pay for it in terms of lower income and revenues, lower living standards, and lower quality of life.

Potential benefits of ambitious common EU action in 10 policy areas Source: EPRS

More Europe does not imply a reduction in benefits for Member States. EU action could take many forms, as illustrated above. Such action naturally need not replace, but could rather enhance the action taken by Member States themselves.

The benefit of more EU action could be greater and more sustainable when providing public goods, such as clean air and good working conditions, with a holistic approach. For example, energy policy should consider low-income and rural populations. Social policy must account for the economic situation and ensure that no-one is left behind. Economic reforms should benefit all citizens.

Read the complete study on ‘Ten ways that Europe could do more for you – Mapping the cost of non-Europe‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The launch of a new EU treaty with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of states was overshadowed by disputes over the clean-energy transition, critical minerals, and the refusal of over 30 countries to sign the treaty this week.

Bien que faire de l’exercice et maintenir une alimentation saine soient des stratégies reconnues qui contribuent à améliorer l’humeur, ce ne sont pas les seuls outils qui nous permettent d’atteindre ce résultat.

Acting Head of the OSCE Presence in Albania Clarisse Pasztory and Free Legal Aid Director Ergys Qirici signed a memorandum of understanding, on 22 February 2024, aimed at outlining areas of mutual interest and strengthening co-operation between the two institutions.

The mission of the Free Legal Aid Directorate is to guarantee equal access to justice to all people. The memorandum is an expression of the Presence’s full support for the very important work of this agency established in 2020.

As envisaged in the document, the Presence will help increase the Directorate’s capacities through targeted training on communication with vulnerable persons for civil society organizations licensed to offer free legal aid, and will support the Directorate develop resource materials for visually impaired people and foreign citizens. The Presence will also support the full establishment of a new university legal clinic at the University of Elbasan. Both initiatives aim at increasing the public access to justice.

During the signing event, the OSCE Presence provided the Directorate with a manual commissioned by the Presence containing methods and techniques to be applied by free legal aid providers when communicating and receiving vulnerable groups.

In 2022, the Presence developed a guideline on communication and reception of citizens from such groups, including minors, victims of domestic violence, minority populations (particularly Roma and Egyptian), and people with disabilities. The guide served as a resource material for a training for about 30 Free Legal Aid staff from across Albania that the Presence organized in November 2023.

The signing event took place in the framework of the Week for the Protection of Crime Victims organized by Albania’s Ministry of Justice from 15 to 22 February 2024.