Dokumendid - Think Tank - Euroopa Parlament

Briefing - Nomination for a Member of the European Court of Auditors: Romania - 24-03-2025

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

This note describes the treaty provisions and appointment procedure for ECA members at EU level. In addition, it provides information on the national nomination procedure for the ECA member in Romania and the country’s candidate.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Lühitutvustus - The emergence of EU defence ETFs - 19-03-2025

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The European Union's defence industry requires a major increase in private investment due to the evolving geopolitical landscape. The emergence of new EU defence exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold shares in the underlying companies could encourage this investment and provide EU defence firms with dearly needed capital.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Outlook for the meetings of EU leaders on 20-21 March 2025 - 19-03-2025

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The first quarter of 2025 has been a very busy one for the European Council, with EU leaders having already convened three times before their regular March meeting – once for an informal retreat on defence on 3 February, in a video-conference on 26 February and then for a special European Council meeting on 6 March. The increasingly complex geopolitical situation, as well as the current strains on the transatlantic relationship, make the regular March meeting a crucial one. According to the Leaders' Agenda, the meeting was expected to concentrate mainly on competitiveness, but due to recent events many items have been added to the agenda, including Ukraine, the Middle East and defence. As usual, the meeting will start with an exchange of views with European �Ϸ��վ President Roberta Metsola. EU leaders will also have a discussion with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. There will be a working lunch with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, dedicated to multilateralism and other global issues. In the afternoon, a Euro Summit meeting will take place in inclusive format, with European Central Bank President, Christine Lagarde, and Eurogroup President, Paschal Donohoe, taking part in the discussions on economic issues and competitiveness.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Lühitutvustus - Euroopa kinopubliku auhind LUX toob Euroopa Parlamendi inimestele lähemale - 18-03-2025

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:58:33 GMT

Auhinna annavad igal aastal välja Euroopa Parlament ja European Film Academy koostöös programmi „Loov Euroopa“ allprogrammiga MEDIA ja kinovõrgustikuga Europa Cinemas. Nüüdseks on Euroopa kinopubliku auhinnast LUX saanud suurim vaatajaskonna auhind Euroopa Liidus. Igal aastal kandideerib auhinnale viis filmi, mis kõik käsitlevad ELis olulisi sotsiaalseid ja poliitilisi küsimusi, tutvustades ühtlasi mõningaid Euroopa põnevaimaid filmitegijaid.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Lühitutvustus - EGOV 2024 Annual Activity Report - 14-03-2025

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Stock-taking of the 2024 European �Ϸ��վ Elections - 13-03-2025

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

In the 2024 European �Ϸ��վ elections turnout varied significantly across EU Member States, influenced by institutional factors such as compulsory voting and concurrent elections. Socioeconomic disparities persisted; older, higher-educated, and wealthier citizens were more likely to vote, while economically disadvantaged and unemployed individuals participated less. Gender and age gaps in turnout reaffirmed the importance of role models and political efficacy in mobilization. Vote choice reflected both ideological convictions and protest voting, with established pro-EU parties retaining support while Euroskeptic and far-right parties made gains. The elections confirmed the enduring importance of economic redistribution, European integration, and climate policy as key axes of political contestation. While high-quality representation fosters legitimacy and political engagement, turnout and ideological representation disparities highlight ongoing challenges for democratic inclusivity in the EU. Key recommendations for higher quality of representation include: (1) strengthening political efficacy among women; (2) encouraging youth political engagement; (3) balancing age representation in politics; (4) simplifying electoral processes; (5) strengthening social safety nets to sustain political engagement; (6) addressing political disengagement stemming from economic dissatisfaction; (7) enhancing representation for disadvantaged groups; (8) considering candidate age in party strategies; (9) bridging climate policy divides; and (10) leveraging EU defense cooperation for political consensus.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Stock-taking of the European Elections 2024 - 13-03-2025

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The European Electoral Act decrees that the Members of the European �Ϸ��վ shall be elected on the basis of proportional representation, using the list system or the single transferable vote. There is much leeway for a Member State to turn terms like “proportional representation” or “the list system” into executable rules. As a result, Member States differ considerably as to their electoral provisions. The briefing presents an overview of the vote patterns used by the Member States, of the apportionment methods to convert the votes of a domestic electorate into seats for the competing parties, and of the ways in which the seats of a party are assigned to this party's candidates.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - António Costa as President of the European Council: The first 100 days - 10-03-2025

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:21:48 GMT

On 1 December 2024, António Costa became the fourth President of the European Council. He was a long-time prime minister of Portugal (2015-2024) and, before that, a Member of the European �Ϸ��վ (2004-2005). With nearly a decade of experience as a member of the European Council, he hit the ground running at the start of his term, consolidating his acquaintance with EU leaders, adjusting the European Council's working methods and improving EU interinstitutional relations. As the office of European Council President is shaped to a large degree by the person holding this position, the briefing also indicates how Costa's approach differs from that of previous Presidents.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Lühitutvustus - Current membership of the European Council - 05-03-2025

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The European Council consists of the 27 Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, who are voting members, together with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, who have no vote (Article 15(2) Treaty on European Union). The chart shows the current members, the national office they hold, their most recent European political affiliation, and the year their membership began.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Analüüs - Economic Dialogue with the President of the ECOFIN - 19 February 2025 - 14-02-2025

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Andrzej Domański, Minister of Finance of Poland, is participating in the ECON Committee in his capacity of President of the ECOFIN Council during the Polish Presidency January - June 2025). In accordance with the Treaty of the Union, “Member States shall regard their economic policies as a matter of common concern and shall coordinate them within the Council”.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Lühitutvustus - Council Decision (EU) 2018/994 modifying the 1976 European Electoral Act: Ratification status - 12-02-2025

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Council Decision (EU) 2018/994, amending the 1976 European Electoral act is not yet in force. According to Article 223 TFEU, �Ϸ��վ has the exclusive right to propose amendments to the electoral rules, while the Council adopts them unanimously after �Ϸ��վ's consent. Moreover, Member States must approve those adopted rules in accordance with their constitutional requirements. However, not all Member States have ratified the Council's 2018 decision.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - The right to petition the European �Ϸ��վ - 03-02-2025

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 09:36:01 GMT

The right to petition the European �Ϸ��վ was formally set out in the Maastricht Treaty as one of the rights of European Union citizenship. �Ϸ��վ's predecessors, from the beginnings of the Communities in the 1950s, had already recognised the importance of receiving petitions from citizens, and this has become a major expression of �Ϸ��վ's role as the direct representative of EU citizens. �Ϸ��վ's practice is based on those of national parliaments, but is often more extensive in terms of scope. The right of petition has developed substantially over time. In particular, petitions addressed to the European �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Petitions (PETI committee) and then transferred to the European Commission can potentially lead to infringement procedures against Member States. There are, however, still some problems regarding exercise of the right of petition – particularly concerning the responsiveness of the Commission and how to involve national parliaments more effectively. The PETI committee plays a key role in the election of the European Ombudsman, as it is responsible for organising the hearings of the nominees. The committee attaches paramount importance to the examination and public discussion of petitions at its meetings and petitioners have the right to present their petitions. They frequently take the floor in the discussion, thereby actively contributing to the work of the committee. In this way, efficient communication takes place between �Ϸ��վ, the Commission and citizens. This briefing modifies and further develops a briefing published in 2015.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Lühitutvustus - Current Membership of the European Council - 03-02-2025

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Uuring - Quality analysis of European Commission impact assessments - 03-02-2025

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 23:00:00 GMT

This study provides an analysis of the quality of European Commission ex-ante impact assessments (IAs) published between December 2019 and November 2024, following their appraisal by the Ex-Ante Impact Assessment Unit (IMPA) of the European �Ϸ��վary Research Service (EPRS). Drawing on a review of 143 initial appraisals of Commission IAs, the study analyses them according to quality criteria stemming from the Commission's Better Regulation Guidelines, European �Ϸ��վ resolutions and the �Ϸ��վ's Impact Assessment Handbook. During the term under review, the average quality of Commission IAs has developed positively, and in several respects. This reflects the Commission's significant efforts to apply the better regulation rules and tools. At the same time, the study reveals shortcomings in certain parts of IAs, the improvement of which will need a careful and systematic approach in future, in particular the assessment of impacts, the range of feasible options, and elements such as the inclusion of operational objectives and the quantification of benefits. As regards the uptake of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) recommendations in the final IA, the intensified upstream scrutiny of the RSB appears to have benefited overall IA quality during this review term and should therefore be maintained. With this study, IMPA seeks to contribute to the joint effort to improve the quality of EU law-making. The aim is for the findings of the review to feed into the broader discussion on better regulation in the European Union, and impact assessment in particular.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Lühitutvustus - EU anti-fraud architecture – the role of EU-level players, how they cooperate and the challenges they face - 30-01-2025

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The original full study commissioned by the European �Ϸ��վ's Committee on Budgetary Control, presents an overview of the current anti-fraud architecture of the European Union, describing the composition, roles and responsibilities of the organisations involved, as well as their governance structures and forms of cooperation. The study examines the status quo, identifies potential risks and challenges related to the design and functioning of the architecture which can suggest further actions to improve its effectiveness. It places a particular focus on the role of the European �Ϸ��վ in this context.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - The EU's new bilateral security and defence partnerships - 24-01-2025

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The Strategic Compass, adopted by the 27 EU Member States in March 2022 – only weeks after the onset of Russia's unjustified and unprovoked aggression on Ukraine –emphasised the need for robust partnerships, for the EU to be able to achieve its objectives in the area of security and defence. Alongside 'acting' (operations), 'securing' (resilience) and 'investing', 'partnering' is one of the four main pillars of the Compass. The document itself outlines specific targets and deadlines to measure progress in this area. While the EU has partnered with other security and defence actors (essentially states and international organisations) in the past, a new model of tailored security and defence partnership was launched shortly after the adoption of the Compass, as a reinforced framework for enhanced partnership. To date, the EU has signed six such partnerships – with (by date of signature) Norway, Moldova, South Korea, Japan, Albania and North Macedonia, and more are envisaged. While the partnerships vary in content, depending on the assessed mutual interests of the EU and each individual partner, some ten areas of cooperation are common to all six. �Ϸ��վ has highlighted the significance of the Strategic Compass's partnership dimension and, in particular, the value of security and defence dialogues with partners from the Western Balkans, the Eastern Partnership, as well as with key partners in strategic maritime areas such as the Southern Neighbourhood and the Indo-Pacific. �Ϸ��վ has underlined that cooperation with countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, Ukraine, Georgia, the Western Balkans, Japan, Australia and certain African countries serves as a key element of the common security and defence policy. In 2023, it called for deeper military and defence cooperation with Japan and South Korea, and for closer cooperation with partners in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - �Ϸ��վ's right of legislative initiative - 23-01-2025

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The European Commission has a near monopoly on legislative initiative in the European Union (EU), with special initiative rights for other institutions applying only in certain specific cases. However, the European �Ϸ��վ and the Council may invite the Commission to submit legislative proposals. While this 'indirect' initiative right does not create an obligation on the Commission to propose the legislation requested, the Treaty of Lisbon codified the Commission's obligation to provide reasons for any refusal to follow a parliamentary initiative. Against this backdrop, some argue that �Ϸ��վ could take the Commission to the Court of Justice of the EU if it fails to justify a negative decision. Others see �Ϸ��վ's increasing participation in overall political planning – particularly through negotiations on the Commission's annual work programme (CWP) – as a further channel for �Ϸ��վ to increase its influence on EU legislation. It is thus argued that the increased role of �Ϸ��վ in the legislative procedure should have reduced the need for its Members to make use of legislative initiatives. Notwithstanding that, there is a trend towards greater use of formal parliamentary legislative initiatives to assert greater influence on the political process. In her inaugural address in July 2019 and in her political guidelines, the then newly elected President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, pledged to strengthen the partnership with the European �Ϸ��վ, inter alia, by responding with a proposal for a legislative act whenever �Ϸ��վ, acting by a majority of its Members, adopts a resolution requesting that the Commission submit legislative proposals. She added that this commitment would have to fully respect the proportionality, subsidiarity and better law-making principles. President von der Leyen also said that she supported moves towards recognising a right for �Ϸ��վ of legislative initiative. A similar commitment to strengthen cooperation with �Ϸ��վ on the exercise of �Ϸ��վ's indirect right of legislative initiative was expressed by Ursula von der Leyen in her 2024-2029 political guidelines. This briefing is an update of a 2013 briefing by Eva-Maria Poptcheva, and a 2020 briefing by Silvia Kotanidis.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - The gender dimension of asylum claims - 22-01-2025

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

In recent years, the European Union has faced a significant number of asylum applications, with over 513 000 applications received in the first half of 2024 alone. Women and girls make up a substantial proportion of asylum seekers, with one in three asylum-seekers being female. In international law, the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention is the main instrument regulating asylum. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Istanbul Convention provide a framework for protecting the rights of women who seek protection. The EU has developed a common European asylum system that has gradually incorporated gender-sensitive elements in legal texts such as the Qualification Directive, the Asylum Procedures Directive and the Reception Conditions Directive. These directives offer special protection to vulnerable individuals, including women and children. The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has played a crucial role in advancing a gender-sensitive approach in EU asylum law, acknowledging the specific experiences and circumstances of women and other vulnerable individuals seeking protection in the EU. The CJEU has recognised gender-based violence as a form of persecution and grounds for asylum or subsidiary protection. It has also acknowledged the importance of considering the individual circumstances and experiences of asylum seekers, particularly women and girls, who may face persecution or harm owing to their adherence to certain values or lifestyles. This aligns with a more gender-sensitive approach in EU asylum law and policy in recent years. Nevertheless continued progress is needed to address the human rights challenges faced by women and girls in asylum procedures.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Revision of the EU legislation on design protection - 22-01-2025

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

The EU design legislative reform package includes two texts amending Council Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 (the Community Design Regulation) and, in parallel, recasting Directive 98/71/EC (the Design Directive) to align the design protection system in the EU with the digital age and make it more accessible and efficient for applicants. In terms of digitalisation, the update of the requirements for representing designs will allow applicants to file new digital design types (e.g. by using 3D printing technologies). In terms of efficiency, the reform package aims to make application procedures cheaper and simpler and registration procedures faster, while also ensuring greater predictability and legal certainty for stakeholders looking for design protection in the EU. Within the European �Ϸ��վ, the files were assigned to the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), with Gilles Lebreton (ID, France) as rapporteur. The EU design legislative reform package was published in the EU's Official Journal on 18 November 2024; the two texts entered into force 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal. The Community Design Regulation will apply from 1 May 2025 (with a few articles applying from 1 July 2026), whereas Member States will have to transpose the Design Directive into their national legal systems by 9 December 2027. Fourth edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Uuring - The European Council in 2023 - Overview of dynamics, discussions and decisions - 20-01-2025

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 18:04:23 GMT

Ukraine, migration, and the economy were uppermost on the agenda of the European Council in 2023 as EU leaders sought to maximise support for the victim of Russia's military aggression, cope with a rising number of refugees and asylum seekers and halt the EU's declining global competitiveness. Towards the end of the year, events in Gaza preoccupied EU leaders as Israel responded forcefully to the horrendous terrorist attack by Hamas on 7 October. EU leaders met seven times in 2023, including via videoconference on 17 October, as events in Gaza unfolded. Two of the meetings, in February and March, lasted only one day, not the planned two days. The relatively fewer and shorter meetings of the European Council in 2023 hints at the institution's greater efficiency rather than declining importance. The European Council was fully engaged throughout 2023 in tackling a host of critical issues and planning a new Strategic Agenda, despite the increasing obstructionism of one of its members.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Uuring - �Ϸ��վs in the EU enlargement process: Strengthening capacities of accession country parliaments under the evolving enlargement methodology - 10-01-2025

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

This study explores the role and enhancement of parliamentary capacities in the European Union (EU) enlargement process, focusing on the EU’s evolving accession methodology and its emphasis on the ‘fundamentals’ approach. It examines the European Commission’s criteria for ‘functioning democratic institutions’ in accession countries and evaluates the effectiveness of support measures from EU institutions, Member States, and international organisations. Based on desk research, mapping, and over 90 expert and stakeholder interviews, the study analyses EU democracy support initiatives for parliaments in 10 enlargement countries, namely Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Kosovo. The study highlights best practices and identifies challenges that require increased attention from the European �Ϸ��վ and the core actors involved in parliamentary capacity-building. While past efforts by the European �Ϸ��վ, Member States, and international organisations have strengthened parliaments in these countries, ongoing democratic backsliding calls for more coherent and concerted action. �Ϸ��վ and its Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) play a crucial role in addressing these challenges.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Commitments made at the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate 2024-2029 - 10-01-2025

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Commitments made at the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate 2024-2029

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Commitments made by Wopke Hoekstra - 09-01-2025

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Commitments made by Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner-designate for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, 2024-2029

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Briefing - Priority dossiers under the Polish EU Council Presidency - 07-01-2025

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 23:00:00 GMT

Poland assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January, and will hold the office until 30 June 2025. This is the second Polish Presidency after the country's first stint in 2011. Poland is the opening member of a new trio, along with Denmark and Cyprus. Following Poland, Denmark will take over the presidency on 1 July 2025.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2025 - EP

Uuring - Review clauses in EU legislation adopted during the second half of the ninth parliamentary term (January 2022-September 2024) - A Rolling Check-List - 20-12-2024

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:00:00 GMT

Reviews of existing legislation provide an evidence-based assessment of the performance of policies and legislation. Review findings support political decision-making and inform the design of possible future revisions. The systematic review of legislation has become a key policy-making tool at the EU level, most notably in the context of the EU's better regulation agenda. This rolling check-list has been published periodically since 2014. It contributes to the European �Ϸ��վ's scrutiny of the European Commission's reporting duties by analysing all review clauses contained in EU legislative acts adopted during a certain time period. This ninth edition covers all review clauses in legislative acts adopted during the second half of the ninth parliamentary term (i.e. January 2022-September 2024), complementing the previous eighth edition, which covers the first half of the ninth term. The complete dataset of review clauses is preceded by an initial analysis that places review clauses within the broader context of better law-making and explores the main features of the review clauses included in the dataset, reflecting the choices of the co-legislators during the second half of the ninth parliamentary term. In an effort to show the evolution of review clauses over the past decade, the analysis also compares data of the ninth with those of the eighth term.

Allikas : © Euroopa Liit, 2024 - EP

Dokumendid - Think Tank - Euroopa Parlament

Briefing - Nomination for a Member of the European Court of Auditors: Romania - 24-03-2025

Lühitutvustus - The emergence of EU defence ETFs - 19-03-2025

Briefing - Outlook for the meetings of EU leaders on 20-21 March 2025 - 19-03-2025

Lühitutvustus - Euroopa kinopubliku auhind LUX toob Euroopa Parlamendi inimestele lähemale - 18-03-2025

Lühitutvustus - EGOV 2024 Annual Activity Report - 14-03-2025

Briefing - Stock-taking of the 2024 European �Ϸ�������վ Elections - 13-03-2025

Briefing - Stock-taking of the European Elections 2024 - 13-03-2025

Briefing - António Costa as President of the European Council: The first 100 days - 10-03-2025

Lühitutvustus - Current membership of the European Council - 05-03-2025

Analüüs - Economic Dialogue with the President of the ECOFIN - 19 February 2025 - 14-02-2025

Lühitutvustus - Council Decision (EU) 2018/994 modifying the 1976 European Electoral Act: Ratification status - 12-02-2025

Briefing - The right to petition the European �Ϸ�������վ - 03-02-2025

Lühitutvustus - Current Membership of the European Council - 03-02-2025

Uuring - Quality analysis of European Commission impact assessments - 03-02-2025

Lühitutvustus - EU anti-fraud architecture – the role of EU-level players, how they cooperate and the challenges they face - 30-01-2025

Briefing - The EU's new bilateral security and defence partnerships - 24-01-2025

Briefing - �Ϸ�������վ's right of legislative initiative - 23-01-2025

Briefing - The gender dimension of asylum claims - 22-01-2025

Briefing - Revision of the EU legislation on design protection - 22-01-2025

Uuring - The European Council in 2023 - Overview of dynamics, discussions and decisions - 20-01-2025

Uuring - �Ϸ�������վs in the EU enlargement process: Strengthening capacities of accession country parliaments under the evolving enlargement methodology - 10-01-2025

Briefing - Commitments made at the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate 2024-2029 - 10-01-2025

Briefing - Commitments made by Wopke Hoekstra - 09-01-2025

Briefing - Priority dossiers under the Polish EU Council Presidency - 07-01-2025

Uuring - Review clauses in EU legislation adopted during the second half of the ninth parliamentary term (January 2022-September 2024) - A Rolling Check-List - 20-12-2024

Briefing - Stock-taking of the 2024 European �Ϸ��վ Elections - 13-03-2025

Briefing - The right to petition the European �Ϸ��վ - 03-02-2025

Briefing - �Ϸ��վ's right of legislative initiative - 23-01-2025

Uuring - �Ϸ��վs in the EU enlargement process: Strengthening capacities of accession country parliaments under the evolving enlargement methodology - 10-01-2025