European Union

"I cannot see any scenario in which the European taxpayers alone will pay the bill," von der Leyen said

In many arid and semi-arid regions, rural women are at the heart of water-related dynamics – and therefore greatly affected by its scarcity. This scarcity affects their daily lives, farming activities, economic initiatives and solidarity networks, which are directly dependent on the availability of this resource. These women are often more vulnerable to climate change because of the difficulties they sometimes experience in accessing public services, land, water and institutions. At the same time, they play a central role in the rural development of the oases, in particular through their know-how, initiatives and ability to adapt. This policy brief analyses the experiences of women in the oases of south-eastern Morocco. It shows that water stress acts as a multidimensional factor which redefines women’s domestic tasks, agricultural practices, economic opportunities and forms of sociability, as well as their contribution to development. It highlights three major challenges facing women in vulnerable rural areas: (a) limited access to resources (land, credit, infrastructure and education); (b) training that is often ill-suited to rural realities and their needs; and (c) social norms that restrict their participation in decision-making bodies and spaces. The heterogeneity of the women encountered and of their needs underlines the necessity for targeted and diverse approaches. The example of Moroccan oases also shows the importance of considering water in all its dimensions: domestic, agricultural, economic and institutional. This would provide a better understanding of both women’s vulnerabilities and their contributions to sustainable development. The lessons learnt from the Moroccan oases provide a benchmark for other arid countries, highlighting four action areas for Moroccan institutions and development policies:
1. Produce and disseminate gendered data
• Collect information disaggregated by gender, age, socio-economic status and other factors.
• Map women’s vulnerabilities, resources and skills.
• Ensure better circulation of these data between the field and decision-makers to provide appropriate support.
2. Support women’s access to public services, land and credit
• Promote access to health and education services according to specific needs, as well as access to credit and land.
3. Support women’s initiatives
• Support collective and individual initiatives through appropriate training, access to finance, and product development and marketing.
4. Support changes in social norms and institutional representation
• Integrate the cultural and social dimensions into development policies and programmes.
• Promote changes in the social representations of women’s roles and abilities.
• Promote the diversity of women’s initiatives and facilitate the participation of women in governance institutions, including water governance, through training and awareness-raising.

Hind Ftouhi is a senior researcher at the Institut National d’Aménagement et d'Urbanisme (INAU-Rabat).
Lisa Bossenbroek is a senior researcher at the Centre de Recherche sur les Sociétés Contemporaines (CRESC-Rabat).
Amal Belghazi is a doctoral student at l’Université Hassan II, Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines et sociales Ain Chock in Casablanca.

In many arid and semi-arid regions, rural women are at the heart of water-related dynamics – and therefore greatly affected by its scarcity. This scarcity affects their daily lives, farming activities, economic initiatives and solidarity networks, which are directly dependent on the availability of this resource. These women are often more vulnerable to climate change because of the difficulties they sometimes experience in accessing public services, land, water and institutions. At the same time, they play a central role in the rural development of the oases, in particular through their know-how, initiatives and ability to adapt. This policy brief analyses the experiences of women in the oases of south-eastern Morocco. It shows that water stress acts as a multidimensional factor which redefines women’s domestic tasks, agricultural practices, economic opportunities and forms of sociability, as well as their contribution to development. It highlights three major challenges facing women in vulnerable rural areas: (a) limited access to resources (land, credit, infrastructure and education); (b) training that is often ill-suited to rural realities and their needs; and (c) social norms that restrict their participation in decision-making bodies and spaces. The heterogeneity of the women encountered and of their needs underlines the necessity for targeted and diverse approaches. The example of Moroccan oases also shows the importance of considering water in all its dimensions: domestic, agricultural, economic and institutional. This would provide a better understanding of both women’s vulnerabilities and their contributions to sustainable development. The lessons learnt from the Moroccan oases provide a benchmark for other arid countries, highlighting four action areas for Moroccan institutions and development policies:
1. Produce and disseminate gendered data
• Collect information disaggregated by gender, age, socio-economic status and other factors.
• Map women’s vulnerabilities, resources and skills.
• Ensure better circulation of these data between the field and decision-makers to provide appropriate support.
2. Support women’s access to public services, land and credit
• Promote access to health and education services according to specific needs, as well as access to credit and land.
3. Support women’s initiatives
• Support collective and individual initiatives through appropriate training, access to finance, and product development and marketing.
4. Support changes in social norms and institutional representation
• Integrate the cultural and social dimensions into development policies and programmes.
• Promote changes in the social representations of women’s roles and abilities.
• Promote the diversity of women’s initiatives and facilitate the participation of women in governance institutions, including water governance, through training and awareness-raising.

Hind Ftouhi is a senior researcher at the Institut National d’Aménagement et d'Urbanisme (INAU-Rabat).
Lisa Bossenbroek is a senior researcher at the Centre de Recherche sur les Sociétés Contemporaines (CRESC-Rabat).
Amal Belghazi is a doctoral student at l’Université Hassan II, Faculté des lettres et des sciences humaines et sociales Ain Chock in Casablanca.

Negotiations with MEPs on the proposal to combat the spread of online child sexual abuse material can start after countries ditch controversial mandatory detection orders

Europe has relearned a hard truth - deterrence is expensive. War on its eastern flank and instability to the south have forced governments to promise more kit, stockpiles and industrial capacity. But pledges do not build factories. They need financing that turns commitments into production, fast.

The law adopted on Tuesday is designed to strengthen the EU defence industry, foster joint European defence procurement, ramp up defence manufacturing and increase support for Ukraine.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The law adopted on Tuesday is designed to strengthen the EU defence industry, foster joint European defence procurement, ramp up defence manufacturing and increase support for Ukraine.
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In today's edition: Digital decade, EU boosts DSA enforcement, Poland probes Apple ATT

In today's edition: Tobacco, health workforce, toy-safety rules.

Die am DIW Berlin angesiedelte forschungsbasierte Infrastruktureinrichtung Sozio-oekonomische Panel (SOEP) ist eine der größten und am längsten laufenden multidisziplinären Panelstudien weltweit, für die derzeit jährlich etwa 30.000 Menschen in knapp 15.000 Haushalten befragt werden. Das SOEP hat den Anspruch den gesellschaftlichen Wandel zu erfassen und steht somit immer neuen und vielfältigen Themen- und Aufgabenfelder gegenüber. Seine Datenerhebung und -generierung folgt dem Konzept des Survey bzw. Data Life Cycle.

Die ausgeschriebene Stelle ist Teil des Projekts „RDCnet“. Ziel des RDCnet ist es, den Zugang zu sensiblen Forschungsdaten für Wissenschaftler*innen zu erleichtern und so datengetriebene Forschung nachhaltig zu fördern. Das Projekt ist in das tragende Konsortium KonsortSWD eingebettet, das als Teil der NFDI die Infrastruktur für Sozial-, Verhaltens-, Bildungs- und Wirtschaftsdaten in Deutschland weiterentwickelt. Im Sinne der FAIR-Prinzipien arbeitet KonsortSWD unter anderem daran, die Forschungsdatenlandschaft zu verbessern und den Austausch von Daten über Disziplinen und Institutionen hinweg zu stärken.

Zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt suchen wir eine*n

Softwareentwickler*in (Full-Stack) (w/m/div) (Vollzeit/Teilzeit)

Das Konjunkturbarometer des Deutschen Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW Berlin) hat sich im November leicht erholt und steht bei 92,9 Punkten. Im Oktober war der vorherige Aufwärtstrend noch durch ein Absacken auf 91,1 Punkte unterbrochen worden. Der Wert rückt somit wieder etwas näher an die ...

Plus the Omnibus, the ESA Summit, and RESourceEU

In today's edition: EDUR, Morocco, MRLs

Wednesday 26 November

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Wednesday 26 November

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Wednesday 26 November

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The arrests come as fears of Russian interference across Europe are at a high

DIW-Studie wertet auf Basis des Mikrozensus 2022 die Erwerbstätigkeit älterer Menschen in Deutschland aus – Jeder 15. im Alter von 66 oder älter ist noch erwerbstätig – Gesundheit und Ausbildung beeinflussen Erwerbsbeteiligung älterer Menschen entscheidend Nach Erreichen der Regelaltersgrenze sind ...

In today’s edition: Kaja Kallas doubles down on her push for a €140bn reparations loan despite Belgium’s resistance, an exclusive migration scoop sheds light on a fragile emerging returns compromise, and Spain drifts into a political siesta as corruption trials and coalition fractures freeze policymaking

The construction sector in Europe is undergoing profound transformation. With increasing labour mobility, complex subcontracting chains and heightened pressure to ensure fair competition, there is a growing need for reliable, real-time information on workers and companies operating across borders. Social ID cards – digital or physical tools containing verified information on a worker’s identity, employment […]