European Union

Written by Lena Hirschenberger.

How do you think Europe should develop? Youthideas.eu is inviting young Europeans to outline your own ideas on the issues that Europe is facing today and your visions for the Europe of tomorrow. This online platform is available for young people to share ideas on specific topics and questions, not least related to Parliament’s initiatives for youth.

Your ideas will enrich the biennial European Youth Event (EYE) programme, and also provide inspiration and input for other European Parliament youth initiatives. Moreover, Youthideas.eu will forward a selection of the ideas to the Members of the European Parliament and other policy-makers, inviting them to join the debate.

But before you launch your ideas, perhaps you would like to know more about the field of EU action that interests you. The European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) has compiled a selection of publications to provide you with background information and insights, linked to the central topics of the EYE.

Climate Change and Environment

• EU Climate Action Policy, Study, March 2021
• Climate change and climate action (europa.eu), Ideas paper, July 2020
• Reparability: longer-lasting electronics, Video, May 2021

• Building up resilience to cross-border health threats (europa.eu), Briefing, April 2021
• What if we could engineer the planet to help fight climate change?, Science and Technology podcast, March 2021

• Green and sustainable finance, Policy Podcast, March 2021

Health

• Rethinking the future of EU public health, Ideas paper, July 2020
• Building up resilience to cross-border health threats (europa.eu), Briefing, April 2021
• Most important factors when buying food, Video, May 2020

• The rise of digital health technologies during the pandemic (europa.eu), Briefing, April 2021
• European Union food system (europa.eu), Briefing, September 2020
• Alcohol labelling, Policy Podcast, December 2021

• The rise of digital health technologies during the pandemic, Policy Podcast, April 2021

A stronger economy, social justice and jobs

• Social and employment policies in Europe, Ideas paper, September 2020
• Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2021, Video, February 2021

• Living in the EU: Work before the coronavirus crisis, Video, July 2020

• The future of work (europa.eu), Ideas paper, February 2021

Migration

• Migrant seasonal workers in the European agricultural sector – Think Tank (europa.eu), Briefing, February 2021
• Vulnerability of unaccompanied and separated child migrants (europa.eu), Briefing, April 2021
• EU policies to fight racial discrimination, Briefing, March 2021
• The external dimension of the new pact on migration and asylum: A focus on prevention and readmission, Policy Podcast, May 2021

• Search and rescue in the Mediterranean, Policy Podcast, February 2021

Values and Rights, Rule of Law, Security

• EU civil protection capabilities, Ideas paper, July 2020
• Protecting EU common values within the Member States, Video, February 2021

• The road to LGBTI equality, Video, May 2021

• The rights of LGBTI people in the European Union (europa.eu), Briefing, November 2020
• EU legislation and policies to fight racial and ethnic discrimination, Policy Podcast, April 2021

Digital Transformation

• What is a smart village?, Video, April 2021

• Workplace Monitoring In The Era Of Artificial Intelligence, Video, February 2021

• Potentially negative effects of internet use, Video, November 2020

• Regulating digital gatekeepers: Background on the future digital markets act, Policy Podcast, January 2021

Education, Culture, Youth and Sport

• Digital Cultural diversity, Briefing, April 2021
• Lifelong Learning, Video, March 2021

• The future of tertiary education in Europe, Video, November 2020

• Lifelong Learning, Animated infographic, January 2021

EU in the World

• Addressing violations of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (europa.eu), Ideas paper, September 2020
• Protecting, promoting and projecting Europe’s values and interests in the world, Ideas paper, September 2020
• Slowing down or changing track? Understanding the dynamics of ‘Slowbalisation’, Video, December 2020

• What is Strategic Autonomy?, Video, November 2020

• Peace and Security, Animated infographic, May 2021

European Democracy

• Addressing violations of democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights (europa.eu), Ideas paper, September 2020
• What could be the future of democracy?, Video, September 2020

• Strengthening media freedom in the EU (europa.eu), Briefing, November 2020
• A practice of democracy – A selection of civic engagement initiatives, Study, June 2020

EU countries reached an agreement on Wednesday (2 June) on the instrument first proposed in 2012 to ensure that European companies have access to third countries’ public procurement markets as foreign companies enjoy in Europe.

Puigdemont i Casamajó and Others v Parliament
Le vice-président du Tribunal de l’Union européenne suspend provisoirement la levée de l’immunité parlementaire de MM. Carles Puigdemont i Casamajó et Antoni Comín i Oliveres ainsi que de Mme Clara Ponsatí i Obiols

Ahead of US President Joe Biden’s maiden trip to Europe in mid-June, Germany and the United States are holding talks in Washington in a bid to settle the long-running row over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The timing of...

The print media in Serbia that most often violate the journalistic code of professional conduct continue to be the beneficiaries of public funding, warned an internal EU paper obtained by EURACTIV that painted a bleak picture of the EU candidate country's democratic record.

The EU is not investing enough in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain to keep up with the US and China and it should start investing €5-10 billion each year but also strengthen its eco-systems in order to be competitive, a report said.

Testing work on Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany will start next week, Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region where the pipeline starts, was cited as saying by the TASS news agency on Wednesday (2 June).

Africa’s version of the 'Kissinger question', which originally referred to who should be the United States’ first contact in Europe, is one of the issues that remain open as the EU and African leaders seek to develop a so called ‘strategic partnership’.

The history of lignite mining in the Žitava Basin dates back to 1740. In the 19th century, there were nearly 100 private underground mines and opencast pits here. Regular opencast mining on an industrial scale began here in 1904. Since...

"Major changes" are needed to ensure the decarbonisation of buildings in the EU if the bloc is to make a success of its energy transition and comply with the Paris Agreement, the European Academies' Scientific Advisory Council (EASAC) said in a report published on Wednesday (2 June). EURACTIV France reports.

The European Commission should make sure its decisions remain in line with its climate targets and keep an eye on the social acceptance of the coal transition, stakeholders in Central and Eastern Europe say.

The two recently approved Codes of Conduct for the cloud industry, which will be open to everyone willing to subscribe, could foster the uptake of a technology at the heart of the digital economy, following a green light from the European Data Protection Board.

French MEPs are blaming the EU's agriculture ministers for the failure of "super-trilogue" talks to reach an agreement on the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) last week, warning that it will now be difficult to break the deadlock. EURACTIV France reports.

Portuguese presidency reached a provisional political agreement with the European Parliament on the directive on the disclosure of income tax information by certain undertakings and branches (CBCR).

Press briefing ahead of Justice and Home Affairs Council of 7 and 8 June 2021 will be organised on 3 June at 10.00.

Global energy investment is likely to rebound to pre-pandemic levels this year, with most finance going towards renewables - but, ultimately, the new generation capacity financed will not be compatible with long-term climate goals.

The prevention of fraud, embezzlement and corruption in connection with EU funds is the mission of the newly established European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), which began its operations on Tuesday. The head of the authority, which is based in Luxembourg, is Laura Codruța Kövesi, who gained a reputation as a committed anti-corruption fighter in Romania. Commentators examine the opportunities offered by cross-border cooperation.