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What if the problem with cars was not their method of propulsion?
The European automotive industry is striving to adapt to market changes driven by the dual green and digital transition. Electrification has become the main strategy for reducing CO2 emissions, especially in urban traffic. At the same time, the average size and weight of cars have greatly increased. Big electric cars are the trend, but are they really the solution? Could better planning and optimisation of resources help?
Global challenges – including climate change, geopolitical conflict, erosion of democratic principles and social inequalities – affect people's daily lives and future prospects. A collective European response over the next 10 years could help to address these challenges – and offer benefits worth up to €3 trillion a year. This represents around 18 % of EU gross domestic product (GDP), equivalent to €6 700 per citizen every year. Referring to the European Parliament's work during the 2019-2024 term ...
Digital labelling of EU fertilising products
On 27 February 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation to allow voluntary digital labelling of EU fertilising products. This initiative follows similar EU legislative initiatives establishing the digital labelling of goods in other economic sectors, such as batteries. The rationale for digital labelling is provided by the deployment of digital solutions, such as QR codes, that can lower the cost of labelling while facilitating the updating of content, and also by the increasing ...
The ubiquitous digital single market
The digital single market benefits the economy, reduces environmental impacts and enhances quality of life through e-commerce and e-governance. With services transitioning from fixed to mobile platforms, this shift necessitates an EU framework for cloud computing, cross-border content access and seamless mobile data, while ensuring privacy and cybersecurity. The European digital single market was vital during the COVID-19 crisis. The Digital Services and Digital Markets Acts will significantly transform ...
Affordable communications for businesses and consumers
Information and communication technologies (ICTs), as well as data services, now surpass traditional telephone services in importance for both consumers and businesses. With the surge in on-demand content and 4G/5G growth, the EU has introduced a telecommunications regulatory framework. This encompasses all types of telecommunications, including broadcasting. Research indicates that these services contribute EUR 86.1 billion to the EU’s GDP annually, with new measures potentially adding another EUR ...
Digital agenda for Europe
Digital service platforms and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) profoundly influence our societal landscape. These innovations have redefined how we communicate, shop and access information online, making them daily essentials. The European digital agenda for 2020-2030 addresses these shifts. It prioritises establishing secure digital spaces, ensuring fair competition in digital markets and enhancing Europe’s digital sovereignty, all while aiming for climate neutrality by 2050 ...
Continuation of the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area
In 2023, the Commission adopted a proposal for a decision of the Parliament and of the Council amending Decision (EU) 2017/1324, to ensure the EU's continued participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) under Horizon Europe. A partnership between the EU and 19 states, including 11 EU Member States, PRIMA seeks to build research and innovation capacities, and to develop knowledge and common innovative solutions for sustainable agro-food systems and ...
Innovation policy
Innovation plays an increasingly important role in our economy. As well as benefiting the EU’s consumers and workers, it is essential to creating better jobs, building a greener society, and improving our quality of life. It is also key to maintaining the EU’s competitiveness on global markets. Innovation policy is the interface between research and technological development policy and industrial policy and aims to create a framework conducive to bringing ideas to market.
Policy for research and technological development
EU policy for research and technological development (RTD) has been an important area of European legislation since the start, and was extended in the 1980s with a European framework programme for research. In 2014, most EU research funding came under the umbrella of Horizon 2020, which covered the period 2014-2020 and aimed at ensuring the EU’s global competitiveness. Its successor Horizon Europe, the current EU research and innovation programme, was launched in 2021 for the period 2021-2027.
Policy Departments’ Monthly Highlights January 2024