Think Tank

The Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) held a public hearing on 23 January 2023, with the aim to analyse whether the delays with cohesion partnership agreements have affected the level of monitoring and controls of the spending in Member States. The topic of this public hearing was broad and encompassed concepts of two policy areas/instruments that are both unique and very complex in themselves. This briefing provided background information about key concepts and elements (including monitoring ...

On 30 November 2022, as part of the European Green Deal, the Commission presented the legislative proposal for a Union certification framework for carbon removals. The initiative was first announced in the March 2020 new circular economy action plan and again highlighted in the climate target plan, as well as in the proposed 'fit for 55' revision of the regulation on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), as an essential tool to drive progress towards the 2050 climate neutrality target. ...

The Committees on Budget (BUDG) and Budgetary Control (CONT) are holding a workshop on the role of the EU budget in international climate finance with invitation to Members of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI). The workshop will cover a series of important questions regarding the financial instruments that are needed to reach the environmental goals that are set out in the Paris Agreement to which the European Union (EU) and all its Member States (MS) are signatories ...

Our infographic provides an insight into the economic performance of Australia and New Zealand compared to the EU, and looks at the trade dynamics between the two blocs. Australia and New Zealand are among the most developed countries in the world. Although the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted economic growth in 2020, GDP per capita quickly recovered and reached all-time highs the following year. While low unemployment rates and stable currencies contribute to economic strength, rising public debt and ...

While the Eurogroup did not agree on concrete steps towards the completion of Banking Union, its June 2022 statement does entail some elements that the forthcoming Commission proposals could build upon, making improvements to the crisis management and deposit insurance framework that eventually bring the completion of the Banking Union closer.