European Union

Big brands - from Coca Cola to Kellogg - pledged on Monday (29 October) to cut all plastic waste from their operations in what the United Nations called the most ambitious effort yet to fight plastic pollution.

Ex-French diplomat Salome Zurabishvili has taken a slight lead in Georgia's presidential election, seen as a crucial test for the increasingly unpopular ruling party, results showed on Monday (29 October).

Salt is essential to a healthy life. But due to a lack of regulatory framework and harmonisation, European public health policies have failed to address issues linked to malnutrition, particularly lack of micronutrients and the ensuing health impacts, writes Inge Neetens.

Faced with the upsurge in xenophobia in Europe, MEPs want to take firm action against neo-fascist and neo-Nazi groups, which currently benefit from a certain level of discretion in several countries. EURACTIV France reports.

The ongoing trade dispute is an instrument of cold economic warfare launched by the US to “contain” China, and it could lead to the fragmentation of the global economic and financial system, warned Alicia García-Herrero, a senior fellow at Bruegel think tank.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday (28 October) that the United States was in consultation with its European allies on an arms control treaty, as NATO members urge Washington to try to bring Russia back into compliance with the pact rather than quit it.

The leaders of Russia, Germany, France and Turkey stressed the importance on Saturday (27 October) of a lasting ceasefire in Syria, and said a committee to create a new constitution should meet by the end of the year.

Only sixteen countries out of the 197 that have signed the Paris Agreement have defined national climate action plan ambitious enough to meet their pledges, according to a policy brief released on Monday (29 October), ahead of the crucial UN climate conference COP24 in Katowice (Poland) in December.

British finance minister Philip Hammond will use his annual budget speech on Monday (30 October) to urge his divided Conservative Party to get behind the government's push for a Brexit deal, or put at risk a long-awaited easing of austerity.

In a fresh blow for Chancellor Angela Merkel, her CDU conservatives and the social-democrats from the SPD suffered major losses in the regional elections in Hesse on Sunday (29 October), prompting SPD party leader Andrea Nahles to question the future of the national ruling coalition.

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for victims of cyberbullying.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

Cyberbullying is verbal or psychological harassment carried out via electronic means of communication, usually repetitively and mostly via social media. It can take various forms such as insults, threats and intimidation, gossip, exclusion, stalking or identity theft. The internet offers anonymity and a sense of impunity to perpetrators, and aggravates the victimisation, as the harmful content is spread instantly to a far wider audience. While cyberbullying also affects adults, it occurs at an alarming rate among children and young people.

© Photographee.eu / Fotolia

One problem with cyberbullying is that information remains online for a long time and can be difficult to remove. New EU data protection rules introduced a ‘right to be forgotten’ that allows victims to request the erasure of their personal data. There is no specific EU law on cyberbullying but some aspects are covered, for instance expressions of racism or xenophobia or sexual harassment of a victim under 18. Europe is also funding action on the ground to prevent violence against women, children and young people (including online). To protect children and teenagers and arm them with the skills and tools they need to use the internet safely and responsibly, the EU has adopted a Better Internet for Kids strategy and co-funds Safer Internet Centres in all EU countries (forming a pan-European network – Insafe). Each national centre operates a helpline, providing advice and assistance for children and teenagers confronted with harmful online content or conduct (cyberbullying is the main reason for contacting helplines).

Further information

• Network of Safer Internet Centres, links to services in your country,https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/web/portal/policy/insafe-inhope
• Better Internet for Kids, ‘Cyberbullying revisited’, 2017, https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/web/portal/practice/awareness/detail?articleId=1733931
• European Parliament, study ‘Cyberbullying among young people’, 2016, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/571367/IPOL_STU(2016)571367_EN.pdf

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for victims of cybercrime.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

Like 70 % of EU citizens you probably use the internet every day. Maybe you are one of the 86 % of Europeans feeling increasingly worried about cybercrime. Indeed the scale and sophistication of cyber-attacks have reached unprecedented levels. In some European countries, cybercrime accounts for half of all crimes committed.

Cybercrime takes various forms. Criminals can gain control over your devices using malware, with ransomware attacks being one of the main threats. They can steal or compromise your data and your identity, notably to commit online fraud. They also use Darknet to sell illicit goods and hacking services. Some cybercrimes, such as child sexual exploitation, cause serious harm to their victims.

© Antonioguillem / Fotolia

To prevent and combat cybercrime, the European Union has developed a comprehensive cybersecurity policy (which has been undergoing an ambitious reform since 2017). A new cybersecurity law designed to enhance Europe’s cyber-resilience entered into force in May 2018. Specific EU laws criminalise online child abuse, attacks against information systems and non-cash payment fraud. A European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) helps EU countries to investigate online crimes and dismantle criminal networks. Together with private partners, the EC3 launched an initiative to help victims of ransomware to regain access without paying: www.nomoreransom.org. Through its Internal Security Fund, meanwhile, the EU contributes to the fight against cybercrime by funding concrete action around the EU (training, operational cooperation, the acquisition of equipment and setting up of IT systems).

Further information

• Europol, ’15 ways you could be the next victim of cybercrime’, 2018, https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/15-ways-you-could-be-next-victim-of-cybercrime
• European Commission, ‘EU cybersecurity initiatives’, 2017, http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/image/document/2017-3/factsheet_cybersecurity_update_january_2017_41543.pdf
• EPRS publication on ‘Cyber-attacks: Not just a phantom menace’, 2018, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2018/614759/EPRS_ATA(2018)614759_EN.pdf

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for migrant children.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

Children are particularly vulnerable during migration, and need careful protection against the dangers of people trafficking and abuse. The number of children arriving from third countries in the EU has increased significantly, particularly since the migratory crisis in 2015. About one in four people currently seeking asylum in the EU are children. In April 2017, the European Commission proposed to reinforce the protection of all migrant children at all stages of the migration process, complementing national efforts in this area.

© Lydia Geissler / Fotolia

The proposed measures include: swift identification and protection upon arrival; adequate reception conditions for children; rapid status determination and effective guardianship; durable solutions for early integration; and addressing root causes and protecting children along migrant routes outside the EU. Current proposals to reform the common European asylum system and strengthen EU borders contain specific provisions on the protection of children. For example, a new Schengen alert will be created for ‘missing children’ to enable authorities to identify such cases.

Education plays an essential role in preparing immigrant children to participate in society and the labour market. The European Commission facilitates the exchange of good practices on integrating migrants, and funds projects promoting inclusive education. Giving migrant children opportunities to fully develop their potential is vital for future EU economic growth and social cohesion.

Further information

• Communication on priority actions needed to reinforce the protection of all children in migration, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1524055031459&uri=CELEX:52017DC0211
• Unaccompanied migrant children in the EU, https://epthinktank.eu/2016/01/20/unaccompanied-migrant-children-in-the-eu/
• Vulnerability of unaccompanied and separated child migrants, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/595853/EPRS_BRI(2016)595853_EN.pdf

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for human rights defenders.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

If you care about human rights and you want the EU to support human rights activists around the world you might be interested to know about the ways the European Union upholds and safeguards human rights standards as part of its external action.

© Chinnapong / Fotolia

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) is aimed at preserving values such as democracy, the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and respect for human dignity. One of the programme’s priorities is to support for human rights and human rights defenders in situations where they are most at risk. Between €200 and 250 million or 20‑25 % of the overall EIDHR budget for 2014 to 2020 has been allocated for funding and providing support for human rights defenders.

The EIDHR provides support for human rights defenders through local programmes, especially when it comes to the rights of vulnerable groups. The EIDHR also provides material and nonmaterial support for numerous human rights defenders, for example psychological assistance, relocation due to immediate risk or training workshops to overcome security challenges. After identifying activists in danger or stress, a platform of national, regional and international organisations committed to programmes for the temporary relocation of human rights defenders arranges temporary shelter for them providing protection and capacity-building opportunities.

Further information

• EPRS publication ‘How the EU budget is spent: European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights’, 2015 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2015/568332/EPRS_BRI(2015)568332_EN.pdf
• EU Human Rights Defenders Relocation Platform, https://hrdrelocation.eu/en/hrds
• European Commission’s website ‘Human rights defenders’, https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sectors/human-rights-and-governance/democracy-and-human-rights/human-rights-defenders_en

Written by Marcin Grajewski,

© zapp2photo / Fotolia

Cybersecurity was back in the spotlight earlier in October, when several Western countries issued a coordinated denunciation of Russia, accusing it of running a global hacking campaign. Moscow denied the allegations. On 4 October, the UK and the Netherlands accused Moscow of sending agents to The Hague to hack into the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, while the United States indicted suspected Russian agents for conspiring to hack computers and steal data to delegitimise international anti-doping organisations. They were also accused of trying to hack into Westinghouse Electric, a nuclear power company.

Russia and other countries had earlier been accused of cyber-espionage, proliferation of fake news, and misuse of social media in some election campaigns. Cybersecurity can be defined as the protection of computer systems and mobile devices from theft and damage to their hardware, software or information, as well as from disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.

This note offers links to reports and commentaries from major international think-tanks and research institutes on cyber-security and related issues. More reports on the topic can be found in a previous edition of ‘What Think Tanks are thinking’, published in April 2018.

Hacks, leaks and disruptions: Russian cyber strategies
European Union Institute for Security Studies, October 2018

Intelligence artificielle: Vers une nouvelle révolution militaire?
Institut français des relations internationales, October 2018

The future of financial stability and cyber risk
Brookings Institution, October 2018

Disinformation on steroids
Council on Foreign Relations, October 2018

Olympic-caliber cybersecurity: Lessons for safeguarding the 2020 Games and other major events
Rand Corporation, October 2018

Sharing is caring: The United States’ new cyber commitment for NATO
Council on Foreign Relations, October 2018

Extending federal cybersecurity to the endpoint
Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 2018

Shifting borders and new technological frontiers: The case of Italy
Istituto Affari Internazionali, September 2018

Is China still stealing Western intellectual property?
Council on Foreign Relations, September 2018

Defining Russian election interference: An analysis of select 2014 to 2018 cyber enabled incidents
Atlantic Council, September 2018

Facebook, Twitter, and the challenge from Washington
Council on Foreign Relations, September 2018

Who’s afraid of a digital planet?
Brookings Institution, September 2018

Tech companies must do more to secure U.S. elections from authoritarian interference
German Marshall Fund, September 2018

Cognitive effect and state conflict in cyberspace
Center for Strategic and International Studies, September 2018

Sécurité numérique des objets connectés, l’heure des choix
Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique, September 2018

How Ukraine’s government has struggled to adapt to Russia’s digital onslaught
Council on Foreign Relations, August 2018

China’s Junmin Ronghe and cybersecurity
Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, August 2018

Developing cybersecurity capacity: A proof-of-concept implementation guide
Rand Corporation, August 2018

Eliminating a blind spot: The effect of cyber conflict on civil society
Council on Foreign Relations, August 2018

The disconnected dots between meddling and collusion
Cato Institute, August 2018

How Chinese cybersecurity standards impact doing business in China
Center for Strategic and International Studies, August 2018

Game over? Europe’s cyber problem
Centre for European Reform, Open Society European Policy Institute, July 2018

Cybercrime as a threat to international security
Istituto per gli Studi Politica Internazionale, July 2018

No middle ground: Moving on from the crypto wars
European Council on Foreign Relations, July 2018

Using social media and social network analysis in law enforcement
Rand Corporation, July 2018

Cybersécurité: Une question de confiance
Confrontations Europe, July 2018

Protecting Europe against software vulnerabilities: It’s time to act!
Centre for European Policy Studies, June 2018

Géopolitique de la cyber-conflictualité
Institut français des relations internationales, June 2018

Shaping responsible state behavior in cyberspace
German Marshall Fund, June 2018

Software vulnerability disclosure in Europe: Technology, policies and legal challenges
Centre for European Policy Studies, June 2018

Cybersecurity in finance: Getting the policy mix right
Centre for European Policy Studies, June 2018

A balance of power in cyberspace
The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, 2018

E-emblems: Protective emblems and the legal challenges of cyber warfare
Istituto Affari Internazionali, June 2018

Russian election interference: Europe’s counter to fake news and cyber attacks
Carnegie Europe, May 2018

Cybersecurity in an age of insecurity
Observer Research Foundation, May 2018

Attribution in cyberspace: Beyond the “Whodunnit”
GLOBSEC Policy Institute, May 2018

Speed and security: Promises, perils, and paradoxes of accelerating everything
Rand Corporation, May 2018

Read this briefing on ‘Cybersecurity‘ on the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

EU and China relations kicked off 15 years ago after signing a strategic partnership. Trade has increased dramatically but human rights and other issues remain tricky as the two seek to defend international law and international trade.

The commission plans to address tax avoidance schemes in some EU states by shifting tax decisions away from unanimity to a majority system in what amounts to a long shot.

Time will be on the agenda of transport ministers as much of Brussels empties out for Halloween. Meanwhile, Merkel's CDU party is facing a hard test in local elections.

The rejection of Italy’s draft budget by the European Commission on Tuesday is unprecedented in the history of the Stability and Growth Pact. Member states cannot sit idly by but must take a more active role in the political conflict over fiscal sovereignty.

In January next year, a new regulation will govern matrimonial property across 18 member states. We analyse how a real case would have been different with the new legislation in place.