EU newsflash
- EU Enlargement package 2019: on 29 May 2019, the European Commission adopted its annual assessment of the implementation of reforms in the Western Balkan partners and Turkey, together with recommendations on the next steps for those countries.
- 6 June 2019: the Council adopted new rules on open data to boost the EU data economy, contribute to the development of a data-based society and stimulate growth.
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Spotlight on the environmental policy of the European Union
Many of the environmental changes that we observe nowadays are unprecedented over decades to millennia. This is turning the environment more and more to an issue of primary concern for millions of citizens worldwide. The EU addresses this concern with what many consider the highest environmental standards and the most extensive environmental laws of any international organization.
Developed over decades, EU environmental policy and legislation help to protect natural habitats, keep air and water clean, ensure proper waste disposal, improve knowledge about toxic chemicals and guide businesses toward a sustainable economy. However, most environmental problems, particularly climate change, bear a particular challenge: they need to be addressed globally if they are to be tackled effectively. Therefore, the EU does not only formulate local climate policies and strategies but it also exports its expertise and plays a leading role in international negotiations.
Find out more about what the EU does to protect the environment in this month's newsletter, along with some of the most interesting EU publications on other topics, including research.
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The objective of the book is to explain the EU's climate policies in an accessible way and to demonstrate how they have been tested and further improved in light of experience. The book shows that there is no single policy instrument that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions; the challenge has been to put a jigsaw of policy instruments together that is coherent, delivers emissions reductions and is cost effective.
Available in Chinese, English, French, Korean and Spanish |
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A strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral EU economy
Following a call by members of the European Parliament for a mid-century zero-emissions strategy, in November 2018 the European Commission presented a long-term strategic vision showing how Europe can lead the way to climate neutrality. This publication explores how this can be achieved by looking at all the key economic sectors, including energy, transport, industry and agriculture. A portfolio of options was explored to underline that it is possible to move to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 based on existing though in some cases emerging technological solutions.
Available in English, French and Spanish |
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It is light, it is cheap, it is everywhere and we cannot live without it. Plastic is fantastic, but it has serious downsides as well. It is time to rethink plastic and ask questions. How can we get beyond single-use plastics? Can we make recycling it easier? And how can we stop plastic from ending up where it does not belong? You can find answers to these questions in this factsheet.
Available in all the official languages of the EU except Irish |
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More on this topic |
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Enterprises play a key role in climate change mitigation
This publication by the European Economic and Social Committee argues for the possibility to achieve the greatest global impact by investing in and exporting technologies contributing to climate change mitigation. This way the European Union could simultaneously strengthen the EU economy, enhance the well-being of its citizens and help to mitigate climate change.
Available in English and French |
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Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets
This report by the European Environment Agency tracks the progress made towards the new 2030 targets for renewable energy, energy efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. After analysing and evaluating the recent trends, it concludes that renewed efforts towards achieving these targets will be necessary.
Available in English |
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Emissions from transport are the main contributor to air pollution. This dataset provides information and visualisations on transport emissions of nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds and particulate matter, with yearly data starting from 1990. 2000 has been set as the base year, so an index of 100 corresponds to 2000 or to a year with the same level of emissions.
Available in English |
Research and innovation |
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A thematic collection of innovative EU-funded research results. March 2019
Plastic constitutes an essential ingredient of our modern life. However, if not disposed of properly, plastic pollutes the environment causing substantial environmental and economic damages. This Community Research and Development Information Service results pack examines eight EU-funded projects that are taking on the challenge to find new, sustainable and achievable solutions to help us address, and ultimately overcome, this global problem.
Available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish
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Considerable uncertainty surrounds the knowledge of the ecological and health risks associated with microplastic pollution. The absence of population-wide studies means that it is not yet possible to assess the risks for human health. Ongoing and planned EU policy measures aim to reduce all plastic pollution including microplastics. What more, if anything, should be done as a precaution against future risks from microplastics? This scientific opinion makes recommendations for policies and practices in this area.
Available in English
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Also out recently |
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History and memories of an institution
This is the third volume of a series dedicated to the history of the European Commission. A total of 52 academics and researchers from more than 30 universities and research centres in Europe, the United States and around 15 countries took part in the drafting of this work. The authors had access to new Commission archives, and many witnesses to the events, former officials, Commissioners and Presidents of the Commission were interviewed. These new sources constituted a wealth of documentation that enabled the researchers to shed new light on the work of the Commission between 1986 and 2000.
Available in English, French and German |
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Challenges and prospects from an industrial and innovation powerhouse - Study
China is rapidly becoming a major industrial competitor in high-tech and growth sectors. Through its 'Made in China' 2025 strategy it aims to become the world leader in a number of key industrial sectors. This report analyses China's approach to attaining a dominant position in international markets. It also offers an assessment of China's current position compared to those of the EU and the United States as regards a range of dimensions related to innovation.
Available in English |
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The inside story of the European Stability Mechanism
This book tells the inside story of those who played a key role in setting up the organisations and combatting the crisis. In exclusive interviews, global financial leaders and insiders of the European Stability Mechanism provide a rich supply of perspectives and anecdotes that bring to life the urgency of the crisis as well as the innovative solutions found to resolve it. As Europe strives to further strengthen its architecture in preparation for any possible future crises, it is important to reflect upon how the euro area reinvigorated its fortunes and to draw the relevant lessons for future crisis management in Europe and beyond.
Available in English |
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Preparing for a more united, stronger and more democratic Union in an increasingly uncertain world
This publication consolidates the contribution of the European Commission to the informal EU leaders' meeting in Sibiu on 9 May 2019 and to the discussions on the EU's strategic agenda 2019-2024.
Available in all the official languages of the EU except Irish
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Part IV - Women as victims of partner violence
Are victims of violent crime properly informed, empowered and listened to? Do they tend to feel that justice has been brought? This report — fourth part of a series aiming at answering these questions — focuses on a particular group of victims: women who have experienced partner violence.
Available in English |
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Entrepreneurs of Europe: connecting, sharing and innovating
This publication showcases small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU Member States under COSME, Europe's programme for small and medium-sized enterprises. It probes into the journeys of entrepreneurs from across Europe, discovering their motivation and recording their struggles along the way.
Available in English |
Our news |
Teams from Greece, Italy and Austria are the winners of the 2019 EU Datathon
The third edition of the EU Datathon culminated on 13 June 2019 with the final conference in Brussels. 12 finalist teams competed with their skills and innovative ideas for the top prizes in three different thematic challenges. The 12 finalists were selected among 99 submissions from all over Europe, proposing apps offering new services or insights by using data made available by the EU institutions. The competition was organised by the Publications Office of the EU in partnership with the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
To discover more about the winning teams and their applications, please visit the event's website: https://publications.europa.eu/eudatathon.
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