European Union

The EU farming sector is faced with an ageing population. In 2016 only 11% of farm managers in the EU were young farmers under the age of 40 years, according to Eurostat.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán launched his European elections campaign Sunday (10 February) calling for voters to defend "Christian" nations against immigration, which he said led to the "virus of terrorism".

Romania is due to join the single currency in 2024 - despite currently only meeting one of the four criteria. Now the government in Bucharest is enlisting an unlikely ally to promote the euro to the public: the clergy.

When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visits Hungary, Slovakia and Poland this week he wants to make up for a lack of US engagement that opened the door to more Chinese and Russian influence in central Europe, administration officials say.

Kosovo's leaders have got themselves in a serious political crisis. They need to re-set the clock and the agenda of talks with Serbia, write Leke Batalli and Perparim Kryeziu.

The Commission is a good example of transparency for other institutions, such as the Parliament and the Council, Frans Timmermans writes.

Despite being one of the most beautiful countries in the European Union, despite having talented and educated people, despite a favourable tax environment, Bulgaria is likely to stay as the poorest in the EU, and to continue losing its population, writes Blaga Thavard.

The EU needs to adapt its approach vis-à-vis the different partner countries in the Mediterranean, and pay more attention to his country, which he described as a “success story”, a Tunisian politician visiting Brussels told EURACTIV.

The European Union’s effort to rewrite two-decade old copyright rules to take into account online platforms such as Alphabet Inc’s Google moved a step forward on Friday (8 February) when a majority of member countries agreed on a common position for talks with lawmakers next week.

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 election observers.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

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Do you believe that democracy is key to world security and universal respect of human rights? Do you want to get involved in democratisation in the world? The EU is on your side.

Election observation is one of the main ways the EU promotes democracy, seeking to help stabilise states and increase EU citizens’ security worldwide. Providing election observers shows that Europe cares, and that it is watching, making it easier for voters to accept the outcome of an electoral process and avoid the post-electoral unrest that tends to affect young democracies. Since 2000, the EU has been invited to take part in over 100 election observation missions to third countries. Each mission observes and assesses the electoral process, neither intervening nor validating its result. Indeed, EU missions remain independent, without preference for who wins or loses, but rather make specific recommendations to deepen countries’ democratic processes. To complement this action, the EU can provide capacity-building, technical, and material support for the electoral process: in the last five years, €400 million in EU electoral assistance has been spread between 40 different countries.

Since 2000, about 11 000 experienced observers have taken part in long and short-term election observation missions. Do you fancy taking part in this important task? Advertisements for positions are published on the Commission website regularly, enabling a large spectrum of EU citizens to gain unique experience, while contributing to the noble aim of promoting democracy.

Further information

• EPRS publication on Democracy support in EU external policy, 2018, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)614717
• European Commission’s Directorate General for Development Cooperation website on Support to elections, https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sectors/human-rights-and-governance/democracy-and-human-rights/election-observation-missions-0_en

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 citizens using e-government.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

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We live in a time of electronic communication, and enjoy easy and immediate access to friends and information. The internet and social media seem to reign as kings.  We also want this ease and freedom to extent to other parts of our life, such as our interaction with administrations. The European Union is actively helping with that. Since 2006, as part of EU policies, countries benchmark each other and exchange good practices. The most advanced country so far is Estonia, and others are advancing though still big differences exist.

The aim is to fully modernise the public administrations with the digital access for citizens being at the centre of the process. The EU wants to go all digital, thus facilitating the contact between the citizens and public administration as much as possible. The EU intends to help modernise the national public administrations, and will also give the good example by making its own European administrations, such as the European Commission, much more user-friendly and digitally accessible.

Once the administrations are modernised we will enjoy a totally new user experience. For example, supporting documents will only have to be submitted to the public administrations once. Tax declarations can already be done online. The same would apply when we are dealing with administrations in other EU countries. The exchange of information between national administration and across borders will be done with a high level of data security. Legislation has been put forward that make these services also available for people with disabilities.

Further information

• Communication of the Commission on an eGovernment Action Plan, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52016DC0179
• European eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020, https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/european-egovernment-action-plan-2016-2020

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 students who want to learn coding.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

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We increasingly use digital products, services and connected devices. The digitalisation of society changes the way we communicate, work, shop and requires people to acquire new digital skills.

Currently, there are more than 350,000 vacancies in Europe for highly skilled technical experts in areas such as artificial intelligence or cybersecurity. Are you a student interested in technology and computers? If yes, you should learn coding because knowing how to write computer language is necessary for creating new applications, websites or software and will be a key competence in tomorrow’s digital world.  

The European Coding Initiative brings together a wide range of companies, schools and organisations to promote coding in the education system in Europe. Already several countries have introduced coding classes in primary or in secondary schools. Moreover, every year a Europe Code Week is organised to give all participants the opportunity to take part to coding classes in a fun way. The next EU Code Week 2018 will take place in October 2018 and the EU wants to involve at least half of schools in EU. Check for your country!

In addition, thanks to the Digital Education Action and the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition promoted by the EU, many high tech companies are financing coding classes for students. Furthermore, the new Digital Opportunity traineeship initiative will provide cross-border traineeships for up to 6,000 students and recent graduates between 2018 and 2020.  Check if you can participate!

Further information

• EPRS briefing, Digital skills in the EU labour market, 2017
• European Commission: the European Coding Initiative
• European Commission: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalSkillsEU/

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 pre-school children.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

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Our children’s early years matter a great deal for their well-being and personal development and later for their success in education and employment. Research shows how ‘skills beget skills’; how stunting by the age of two is difficult to reverse; how good-quality early childhood education and care services can help children, even in the long term, to overcome difficulties caused by a lack of help at home.

In 2002, EU countries agreed to provide early-childhood education and care services for 30 % of children under the age of 3, and for 90 % of those between 3 years of age and school age. The EU helps countries to improve their services in meeting the diverse needs of young children and their families, emphasising families’ rights to access good-quality early childhood resources and services, such as crèches, kindergartens, benefits, education, jobs, health and housing.

EU funding for improving early childhood services includes projects supported under the European Social Fund. A further €1.22 billion for improving early childhood facilities is available from the European Regional Development Fund. The EU’s Erasmus+ education and training programme assists early childhood teachers’ and carers’ development. A platform called eTwinning helps pre-schools to work together on projects across borders. The Horizon 2020 programme supports research helping to get a better understanding of how to create services that best meet the needs of early-age children and their families.

Further information

• EPRS publication on ‘Early childhood education and care in family friendly policies’, http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2016)582008
• European Commission Directorate for Education and Culture Early Childhood Education and Care policy website,  https://ec.europa.eu/info/education/policy-educational-issues/shared-challenges-education-and-training/early-childhood-education_en
• European Structural and Investment Funds data website, https://cohesiondata.ec.europa.eu/

Weekly schedule of President Donald Tusk 11-17 February 2019

EU ambassadors gave a mandate to the Council Presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament on an amendment to the gas directive.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

President Tusk received the letters of credentials from two new ambassadors to the European Union.

Written by Marcin Grajewski,

© Rawf8 / Fotolia

China’s increasingly autocratic domestic stance and its assertive foreign policy pose a dilemma for European Union policy-makers as to whether to treat the Asian powerhouse as a partner or a rival, or to take a position somewhere in between. Formally, the EU and China are strategic partners since 2003 – a partnership that was broadened five years ago by the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation. No EU country wants to be openly confrontational towards China, contrary to the approach of the current United States administration. However, several European governments are wary of Beijing’s economic expansionism and its efforts to take the global lead in digital technologies. Controversy over China’s telecoms giant Huawei has exacerbated those concerns.
This note offers links to recent commentaries, studies and reports from major international think tanks on China, its ties with the EU and related issues. More studies on the topics can be found in a previous edition of ‘What Think Tanks are thinking’ published in September 2018.

EU-China

China’s new policy on the European Union: A toughening line on political issues
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, January 2019

Assessing China’s influence in Europe through investments
Leiden Asia Centre, Clingendael, January 2019

Is Europe tough enough on China?
Carnegie Europe, January 2019

Political values in Europe-China relations
European Think-Tank Network on China, December 2018

The EU and China: Modest signs of convergence?
Egmont, December 2018

A United Nations with Chinese characteristics?
Cligendael, December 2018

How Europe will try to dodge the US–China standoff in 2019
Chatham House, December 2018

China’s ambitions in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus
Institut français des relations internationales, December 2018

Chinese views of European defensce integration
Mercator Institute for China Studies, December 2018

The 21st century maritime silk road: Security implications and ways forward for the European Union
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, November 2018

Guns, engines and turbines: The EU’s hard power in Asia
European Union Institute for Security Studies, November 2018

China and Europe: Buying hearts and minds?
Centre for European Reform, November 2018

The China-EU relationship: Trade but verify
Barcelona Institute for International Affairs, October 2018

Europe and changing Asian geopolitics
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, October 2018

How could Europe benefit from the US-China trade war?
Bruegel, October 2018

The ‘16+1’ platform. China’s opportunities for Central and Eastern Europe
Institut de relations internationales et stratégiques, October 2018

Europe’s emerging approach to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Carnegie Europe, October 2018

China and the EU: The contradictions of exercising joint trade leadership
Centre for European Policy Studies, September 2018

Security and foreign policy

How US monetary policy tamed Chinese foreign policy
Chatham House, January 2019

Lose-lose scenario for Europe from ongoing China-US negotiations
Bruegel, January 2019

Rare earths and China: A review of changing criticality in the new economy
Institut français des relations internationales, January 2019

China: Between key role and marginalisation
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, December 2018

The Sino-Russian and US-Russian relationships: Current developments and future trends
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, December 2018

Along the road: China in the Arctic
European Union Institute for Security Studies, December 2018

Experiences with Chinese investment in the Western Balkans and the post-Soviet space: Lessons for Central Europe?
Centre for European Neighbourhood Studies, December 2018

Russia-China: Security ties them together?
Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, December 2018

China’s ambitions to become a global security actor
Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, December 2018

Les multiples atouts de la stratégie sécuritaire de la Chine en Afrique
Groupe de Recherche et d’Information sur la Paix et la Sécurité, December 2018

China expands its peace and security footprint in Africa
International Crisis Group, October 2018

China expands its global governance ambitions in the Arctic
Chatham House, October 2018

Huawei

5G, Huawei und die Sicherheit unserer Kommunikationsnetze
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, February 2019

China testing Trump in Canada
Center for Strategic and International Studies, February 2019

Huawei, the U.S., and its anxious allies
Council on Foreign Relations, January 2019

Huawei and Europe’s 5G conundrum
Carnegie Europe, December 2018

Huawei and the new Thirty Years War
Center for Security Studies, December 2018

Economy and trade

Chinese growth: A balancing act
Bruegel, January 2019

The Belt and Road turns five
Bruegel, January 2019

China’s vision of an ecological civilisation: A struggle for environmental leadership in the era of climate change
Istituto Affari Internazionali, January 20198

From Paris to Beijing: Implementing the Paris Agreement in the People’s Republic of China
Atlantic Council, January 2019

Xi Jinping’s turn away from the market puts Chinese growth at risk
Peterson Institute for International Economics, January 2019

Will China’s currency hit a wall?
Council on Foreign Relations, January 2019

Are China’s trade practices really unfair?
Centre for European Policy Studies, December 2018

Emerging technology dominance: What China’s pursuit of advanced dual-use technologies means for the future of Europe’s economy and defence innovation
International Institute for Strategic Studies, Mercator Institute for China Studies, December 2018

China’s view of the trade war has changed, and so has its strategy
Bruegel, December 2018

Does China force foreign firms to surrender their sensitive technology?
Peterson Institute for International Economics, December 2018

Trump’s trade war with China makes Russia great again
Council on Foreign Relations, December 2018

China’s big push for solar energy
Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, December 2018

The myth of China’s forced technology transfer
Centre for European Policy Studies, November 2018

L’intelligence artificielle en Chine: un état des lieux
Fondation pour l’innovation politique, November 2018

Disciplining China’s trade practices at the WTO: How WTO complaints can help make China more market-oriented
Cato Institute, November 2018

China’s risky drive into new-energy vehicles
Center for Strategic and International Studies, November 2018

The China dream goes digital: Technology in the age of Xi
European Council on Foreign Relations, October 2018

Ten years after the crisis: The West’s failure pushing China towards state capitalism
Bruegel, October 2018

The Belt and Road Initiative: China’s new geopolitical strategy?
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, October 2018

With growth sagging, China shifts back to socialism
Council on Foreign Relations, October 2018

The belt and road initiative looks East
The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, October 2018

China and the United States: Trade conflict and systemic competition Peterson Institute for International Economics, October 2019

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

Germany alone will decide whether to enforce EU law on its new gas pipeline with Russia, after France caved in on last-minute talks.

Plenary session, Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2019 - EP