Highlights

The EU’s annual report on arms export control becomes more userfriendly with the introduction of a searchable online database. While looking at readability, comprehensiveness and comparability of data, the study makes recommendations on harmonisation of information presently not consistently interpreted across the EU. One key argument of the study is that the EU should move towards using data visualisation to complement the lengthy statistical tables in the report, thus making it more readable.

The use of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to mobilise private finance is seen as essential to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Many development agencies have set up de-risking initiatives to attract private investment to development projects and the EU is planning to scale up blending support soon. However, private shareholders may receive funds at the expense of sectors and regions most in need.

As we face a pandemic crisis and deep economic and social disruption, this dramatic situation has shown above all the importance of joint European action. The ECON, EMPL, ENVI, ITRE and IMCO committees will play a key role in shaping the European response to the pandemic and its fallout. With this COVID-19 newsletter, the Policy Department for Economic, Scientific and Quality of Life Policies will keep committees updated about recent developments and relevant expertise.

The objective of the Just Transition Mechanism is to provide support to territories facing serious socio-economic challenges arising from the transition to climate neutrality. This briefing focuses on concrete elements of the EC’s proposals: the JTF regulation proposal that lays down its objective and geographical coverage, the methodology for the allocation of resources and the content of the territorial just transition plans required to underpin the programming, and the targeted amendments.

The spread of COVID-19 in the EU has led Member States to adopt emergency measures. This briefing covers the impact of COVID-19 measures on democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights in the EU 27, the UK, international and EU institutions on the areas of state of emergency and exceptional powers, parliaments and the judiciary, free movement, freedom of expression and of the media, freedom of assembly, privacy and data protection, asylum, prisons, and discrimination and vulnerable groups.

A net budgetary balance is a highly misleading indicator of the benefits from EU membership. Budgetary decisions taken on this basis result in biased policies. They are focused on programmes with monetary backflows into Member States. This briefing presents strategies to overcome the ‘juste retour’ perspective as a precondition for a European budget devoted to genuine European added value and the EU’s future capability to reach its ambitious plans.