European Union

The first round of the French presidential elections will take place in less than two weeks. Polls show the incumbent liberal president Emmanuel Macron in the lead with 28 percentage points, ahead of far-right politician Marine Le Pen (21 percent) and leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon (14 percent). Commentators evaluate possible outcomes against the backdrop of current events.

Russia's war against Ukraine has prompted Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden and other countries to announce increases in their military budgets. Berlin alone plans to spend an additional 100 billion euros this year. But defence requires more than just money, Europe's press observes.

On Wednesday, MEPs will assess the work done by the Working Groups of the Plenary.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

On Wednesday, MEPs will assess the work done by the Working Groups of the Plenary.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will meet at the European Parliament in Strasbourg from 1-3 April.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

The Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly will meet at the European Parliament in Strasbourg from 1-3 April.
Committee on Development

Source : © European Union, 2022 - EP

Getin Noble Bank
Approximation of laws
The mere fact that a judge was appointed at a time when that judge's Member State was not a democratic regime does not affect the independence and impartiality of that judge

The activism of regions can play a critical role in ensuring the development of personalised medicine, according to health policymakers and stakeholders.

For Ukrainians, victory over the Russian invaders is the only choice. For that, Ukraine needs support from Europe in the form of military support, further sanctions, and in creating the preconditions for a lasting peace, argues Nataliya Popovych.

Citizens often turn to the European Parliament to ask what the European Union (EU) is doing to ensure a supply of microchips and semiconductors.

Computer chips are ubiquitous. We use them in an impressive range of products, from computers to medical devices, 5G and artificial intelligence systems, and security and defence devices. The production of these chips is dependent on a large global supply chain in which countries all over the world participate. Disruptions in one part of the supply chain can lead to major problems. In 2020, a storm in Texas and fires in Taiwan and Japan, combined with the coronavirus pandemic, led to a global shortage in chips.

We import nearly all the chips used in the EU, mostly from Taiwan. This means that the EU is dependent on foreign production, making it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and trade disputes. To prevent shortages in the future, the European Union is planning to increase the production of chips in EU countries. 

Boosting the production of microchips in the EU

In February 2022, the European Commission proposed a European chips act. The aim is to double the EU’s current market share of chips to 20 % by 2030. To achieve this target, the EU would increase its funding of the chips industry to almost €5 billion. The EU also aims to encourage a large amount of private investment.

The European Union would boost chips production in several ways. The proposed European chips act would establish a mechanism promoting research into the development of chips, in part by making it easier for researchers to test new prototypes. The proposed legislation also aims to help companies train staff to work on chips. Additionally, the EU would set up a chips fund, which would finance start-ups and help them attract investment. The European chips act would also fund factories that produce chips.

Lastly, the Commission proposes to improve coordination between EU countries in monitoring potential shortages, and evaluating future supply and demand.  

You can find more information about progress on the proposal on the legislative train schedule website. The Parliament and government ministers from the EU countries are now considering the proposal.

Position of the European Parliament

The European Parliament has not yet adopted a formal position on the proposal for a European chips act. However, in a June 2021 resolution, Parliament already called on the Commission and EU countries to invest in the production of chips and similar technologies.

Further information

• European Chips Act – Questions and Answers, European Commission, 2022
• Digital sovereignty: Commission proposes Chips Act to confront semiconductor shortages and strengthen Europe’s technological leadership, European Commission 2022
• Ten issues to watch in 2022, European Parliamentary Research Service, In-Depth Analysis, 2022

Keep sending your questions to the Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP)! We reply in the EU language that you use to write to us.

Ukraine's military intelligence on Monday (28 March) published the names and contact details of 620 people it alleged were officers of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) involved in "criminal activities" in Europe.

Russian soldiers who seized the site of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster drove their armoured vehicles without radiation protection through a highly toxic zone called the "Red Forest", kicking up clouds of radioactive dust, workers at the site said.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about Montenegro welcoming 5,500 refugees, Lithuania calling on countries to unite and forgo energy imports from Russia, and so much more.