European Union

In view of rapidly rising gas prices, EU leaders at the summit in Slovenia discussed joint purchases of natural gas and new rules for the European electricity market. Time is running out because winter could leave many consumers facing huge heating costs. Europe's media takes up the case.

Mr Koen Lenaerts is re-elected as President of the Court of Justice of the European Union

The 'windfall charge' imposed on Spain’s four largest electricity companies risks having far more negative consequences than the infamous 2013 law that retroactively changed the country's green energy subsidies, argues Christopher Jones.

Digital technologies and the rise of online platforms have reshaped how we produce, share and consume news, but the concept of media freedom has seen comparatively little change.

This week our Beyond the Byline podcast focuses on the Pandora papers.

The European Union on Thursday (7 October) won its battle at the UN Human Rights Council to create a new special rapporteur on Afghanistan, despite opposition from China, Russia and Pakistan.

Written by Christiaan Van Lierop.

Not many events on the EU policy calendar attract over 10 000 participants – but then again few events can truly rival the European Week of Regions and Cities in terms of numbers, impact and reach. After all, this annual four-day fixture has grown to become the world’s largest gathering of local and regional stakeholders, with the event a byword for regional expertise. This year’s edition, which will be held from 11 to 14 October 2021, is certainly no exception.

Taking place as an online only event for the second year running, the 2021 European Week of Regions and Cities will focus on four themes, organised under the headline banner of ‘Together for Recovery’: green transition, cohesion, digital transition, and citizens’ engagement. With the negotiations on the post-2020 multiannual financial framework (MFF) and cohesion policy framework completed and an ambitious recovery plan in place to support EU growth, this year’s event offers a key platform for EU regions and cities to share their experiences and consider how the post-2020 MFF and recovery package can make a real difference on the ground. Providing fertile ground for in-depth discussion and debate, the EPRS is delighted to be part of the conversation once again.

As in previous years, the EPRS has published a topical digest linked to the event. Drafted exclusively to tie in with the 2021 European Week of Regions and Cities, this publication includes a selection of briefings and studies published by the European Parliament on many of the major issues under discussion, such as the recovery plan for Europe, sustainable and smart mobility or smart villages to name a few. But our involvement in this year’s EU regions week doesn’t just stop there.

For the sixth year running, EPRS will be organising a workshop on research as part of the EU RegionsWeek College. Entitled ‘Research for policy impact: the European Parliament‘, the workshop will examine how EPRS supports the work of the Members of the European Parliament during the policy-making process and discuss how to forge closer ties between academic researchers and policy-makers in the EU institutions. Once again, our workshop will be open to all, not just to early-career researchers and students, providing us with an exciting platform to talk about the work of the EPRS. What’s more, we have gone one better this year, and will be organising not one but two workshops.

Organised jointly with our partners the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Cities and Local Governments, our workshop on pathways towards resilience: the future of EU urban areas, including mid-sized cities will examine the challenges and global trends affecting urban areas, and discuss how to increase their resilience, bringing together urban experts and political practitioners. With the event showcasing an EPRS publication prepared specially for this event on Cities in a globalised world, we will once again be on hand to engage with participants and share our expertise, staying true to our EPRS motto of ‘Empowering through knowledge’.

Bahrain, Russia and other members of the UN Human Rights Council pushed through a vote to shut down the body's war crimes investigations in Yemen, in a stinging defeat for Western states who sought to keep the mission going.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about the UN calling Italy out for its treatment of migrant workers, Poland's Consitutional Tribunal declaring the country's ultimate supremacy over EU Treaties, and so much more.

The centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the largest political group in the European Parliament, sounded the alarm on Thursday (7 October), warning that Poland's ruling party is pushing the country towards ‘Polexit’.

A populist billionaire at odds with the European Union who featured in the Pandora Papers is the narrow favourite in Czech elections starting on Friday (8 October) that promise a tight result.

Pandora Papers revelations hit their mark, world panics as Facebook goes dark, and not much happened in Brdo apart from the snark.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) is in turmoil after the party leadership removed ex-leader Davor Bernardić and six other parliamentary deputies. Four MPs were expelled several months ago. “They caused enormous damage to the SDP with public statements, and that...

Bulgarian police arrested a Russian citizen and two Lithuanians on suspicion of exporting “sensitive information” from the Arsenal military plant in Kazanlak. One arrested is a 24-year-old Lithuanian, the other is a 59-year-old Lithuanian citizen and the third is a 60-year-old...

The Albanian government has postponed the start of the academic year for students by one week, until 18 October, due to a lack of uptake in COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccines are mandatory for students over 18 who want to attend university,...