Issue 106
May 2022
ISSN 2315-0017
EU Newsflash
- 9 May 2022: the Conference on the Future of Europe, a year-long journey that generated over 18 000 ideas from across the European Union, culminated in Strasbourg on Europe Day. Presidents of the EU institutions received the final report with 49 proposals and more than 300 measures on how to achieve them. The EU institutions will now examine how to follow up on this.
- 18 May 2022: The European Commission presents the REPowerEU Plan, its response to the hardships and global energy market disruption caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Spotlight on the EU in the world
The EU was conceived as a peace project in the aftermath of the Second World War, building on the conviction that close cooperation between European countries can prevent war from reoccurring. Today, the EU possesses a wide array of strengths that make it a significant global influence. It is home to nearly 500 million citizens, is one of the largest economies in the world and has achieved high living standards and a social model sought after globally. It is seen as a model of democracy, prosperity and solidarity by a large part of the world.
The EU acts in unity on subjects with global effect, such as trade policy, environmental policy and product safety, where it sets global standards. It is also equipped with a set of tools to act both in the EU’s neighbouring regions and on the global stage, notably through the common foreign and security policy under the political guidance of Josep Borrell Fontelles, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (often referred to as the HR/VP). Through these tools, the EU takes action all over the world with the objectives of preventing and resolving conflicts, supporting resilient democracies, promoting human rights and sustainable development, fighting climate change and bolstering a rules-based global order.
The EU is the largest donor of development aid in the world and has one of the most efficient humanitarian intervention capabilities. This has now been activated to the fullest to help people affected by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
This edition of our newsletter features EU publications charting the EU’s action as a global actor, along with publications on other interesting topics, from research and innovation to journalism and illustrated stories for children.
Staying on Course in Troubled Waters PDF
EU foreign policy in 2021
In this book, which contains a collection of articles, blog posts, op-eds and speeches, Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President for a Stronger Europe in the World, addresses the main questions that the EU's foreign and security policy faces. How can the EU become a more credible global security actor? How should the EU act in the face of ‘new empires‘ that try to destabilise our neighbourhood? And in what concrete ways can we reinforce the transatlantic partnership and strengthen our engagement with Africa, the Indo-Pacific region and Latin America?
Available in English
Global Solutions, International Partnerships PDF/EPUB
The European Investment Bank development report 2021
The climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic remind us that we cannot face our challenges alone—our solutions must be global. The European Investment Bank is at the heart of the push to turn EU policy initiatives into real development solutions on the ground. This report provides insights into key projects and initiatives being carried out outside the European Union, data on their impact, and ideas for the future of development through a series of essays by experts.
Available in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish and Arabic
Shaping and securing the EU's open strategic autonomy by 2040 and beyond PDF
This report presents foresight scenarios on the global standing of the EU in 2040, in relation to open strategic autonomy. These scenarios were derived in participatory workshops with experts and stakeholders and they point to ways for the EU to build preparedness through anticipation.
Available in English
EU Foreign Policy in Action PDF/EPUB
10 years of EU diplomacy around the world
This publication offers a collection of photos from all 144 EU Diplomatic Representations and 17 Missions and Operations highlighting the EU’s action in countries across the globe. It zooms in on the diversity of the work accomplished by the EU Delegations, Missions and Operations, giving a glimpse of what the EU does in the field, and how EU foreign policy is put into action around the world.
Bilingual publication: English/French
The EU and the World PDF/EPUB/Paper
Players and policies post-Lisbon: a handbook
This publication is intended to offer interested readers a portrait of how the European Union conducts diplomacy, but also defence, development and other related policies. It offers an overview of how the EU has evolved as a foreign policy actor especially since the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, and includes analyses of the main players in the EU system and their interplay.
Available in English
Understanding EU Financing for External Action PDF
In-depth analysis
To achieve its external objectives and priorities, the EU needs financial means in adequate proportions. Its global role and impact are defined to a great extent by the scope of its resources, but just as importantly by their efficient and coordinated use. This paper aims to examine the structure of EU external financing in the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework and the agreed changes for the post-2020 period.
Available in English, French and German
The future of conflict prevention PDF/Paper
Preparing for a hotter, increasingly digital and fragmented 2030
Looking ahead to the 2030 horizon, this paper analyses the need for a conflict prevention approach in the face of three megatrends that will have far-reaching global repercussions. The three trends – climate change, digitalisation and the fragmentation of authority – will not only have manifold environmental, social and political implications, but may also have a considerable impact on peace and conflict dynamics.
Available in English
Research and innovation
CORDIS results pack on citizen science PDF
Citizen science, where citizens collaborate with scientists on research and innovation, has the potential to improve the excellence and impact of research and deepen the relationship between science and society. This results pack showcases 12 EU-funded projects that are developing good practices and building the capacities and networks needed to foster successful collaborations with citizens across Europe.
Available in English (Individual articles also available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish on the CORDIS website)
Also out recently
Monitoring Media Pluralism in the Digital Era PDF/Paper
Application of the Media Pluralism Monitor in the European Union, Albania, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey in the year 2020
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day (3 May), the European Commission reaffirmed its commitment to defending media freedom and pluralism in the EU and beyond. Freedom of expression and freedom and pluralism of the media are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and their protection is underpinned by the European Convention on Human Rights. This report assesses the risks to media pluralism in EU member states and in candidate countries (32 countries in total).
Available in English
Disinformation and Propaganda PDF
Impact on the functioning of the rule of law in the EU and its Member States: 2021 update
Between January 2019 and January 2021, the impact of disinformation actions and responses to them were considerably different than in previous years. Disinformation actions increasingly merged with genuine content, and their sources became even more difficult to identify. Particularly strong impacts were seen in cases where disinformation and manipulative propaganda were spread by individuals with high levels of political authority, who enjoy the trust and attention of citizens. This study aims to provide recommendations on legislative and policy measures to protect democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights from the impact of disinformation.
Available in English
EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025 PDF/Paper
The 2021–2025 EU drugs strategy provides the overarching political framework and priorities for the EU’s drugs policy for that period. Its objectives are to protect and improve the well-being of society and of the individual, to protect and promote public health, to offer a high level of security and well-being for the general public and to increase health literacy.
Available in all official languages of the EU except Irish
You may also like
New Trade and Economic Relations between EU-UK PDF
The impact on regions and cities
This report investigates the impact of Brexit on EU regions and cities, focusing on the potential effects of the EU-UK Trade Cooperation Agreement that entered into force in 2021. It provides an extensive analysis on the new EU-UK relations, illustrating the main characteristics of the agreement and reviewing the most recent literature on the macroeconomic effects of Brexit on EU economies, trade, migration flows, and the new legislative competition framework.
Available in English
The European Commission 1986-2000 PDF/EPUB/Paper
History and memories of an institution
This is the 3rd 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 took part in its drafting, based on a wealth of documentation that enabled them to shed new light on the history of the institution and the evolution of what came to become the European Union. If you are interested to learn more on this subject, you can also check out the first volume, dedicated to the 1958-1972 period, and the second volume (1973-1986).
Available in English, French and German
Yooki and the Union of the Forest PDF
This book is part of a larger package that is being developed to explain to children aged 7-9 what the European Union is and how it all started. The illustrated metaphorical story highlights the key reason behind the foundation of the European Union: to ensure lasting peace between its member countries. Teachers can also use the complementary teacher’s guide offering ideas for thematic discussions, group games and practice activities that children can engage with to reach set learning objectives.
Available in English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish
Our news
EU Datathon 2022: 24 teams selected for the next round
This year´s call for proposals for apps built on EU open data and contributing to four EU challenges has resulted in 156 ideas from 121 teams, coming from 38 countries. We are pleased to announce the 24 teams selected for the next stage of the EU Datathon 2022. Congratulations to the teams! They now have time until 26 June to elaborate on their original ideas. The competition jury will then select the 12 finalist teams who will develop fully functioning applications to be presented in the competition finals on 20 October 2022.
Follow the news on the EU Datathon website and on Twitter (@EU_opendata) with the hashtags #EUdatathon.
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