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Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact under exceptional times
This document provides an overview of key developments under the preventive and corrective arms of the Stability and Growth Pact on the basis of the latest Commission and Council decisions and recommendations in the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact and the latest European Commission economic forecasts. It also includes a section on the on-going review of the EU fiscal framework. This document is regularly updated.
Estonia's National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play
Estonia's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) – one of the last NRRPs submitted to the European Commission – sets out the reforms and public investment projects Estonia intends to implement with the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The RRF is one of the main components of Next Generation EU, an EU instrument to counter the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Estonia's plan is one of the smallest in the EU in terms of the total amount allocated. However, when taking into ...
Energy poverty in the EU
In 2022, over 41 million Europeans were unable to keep their homes adequately warm. Energy poverty is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, considered to be caused by a combination of low income, high energy expenses, and poor energy efficiency in buildings. The EU has been addressing this issue in various legislative and non-legislative initiatives, most recently in the context of its climate policies and energy transition, as well as the energy crisis. The Gas and Electricity Directives ensure the protection ...
Lithuania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play
Lithuania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) sets out the package of reforms and investment measures designed by the country in the context of the EU response to the crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. In absolute figures, Lithuania decided to use its full grant allocation of €2 224 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), while declining to avail of the loan component. These resources represent 0.3 % of the entire RRF, equal to 4.6 % of the country's gross ...
Luxembourg's National Recovery and Resilience Plan: Latest state of play
Luxembourg's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) was initially to be financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) with a total of €93.4 million in grants. This allocation accounted for around 51 % of the total estimated value of the Luxembourgish NRRP (€183.1 million). A further 46 % of the costs are to be covered by the national budget, and 3 % from other EU co-financing. Under the RRF Regulation, Member States can request RRF loans until 31 August 2023; Luxembourg has not done ...
Single market emergency instrument: Protecting the single market in future crises
In 2023, the EU celebrates the 30th anniversary of the single market. Recent shocks have shown not only how vulnerable to crises the single market is, but also the extent to which the EU economy relies on a well-functioning single market. It is now considered to be a key driver of EU resilience. In September 2022, the Commission put forward a single market emergency instrument (SMEI) package. It includes one main proposal for a regulation establishing a SMEI, and two accompanying proposals amending ...
EU-Türkiye relations: Macroeconomic situation and EU financial support
Following the backsliding in democratic standards that occurred after the unsuccessful coup of 2016 and the Council of the European Union's June 2018 decision ruling out the opening of any new EU accession negotiation chapters, accession talks with Türkiye are frozen. The disputes in the eastern Mediterranean that involved some Member States, as well as the military engagement of Türkiye in Syria, provided additional tensions in relations with the EU in 2019 and 2020. In February 2020, the Commission ...
Ukraine: Financing of reconstruction and the role of the EU budget
This briefing provides background information on the financing needs of Ukraine’s reconstruction, options to finance the process and the possible role of the EU budget, as well as the governance architecture and the involvement of the European Parliament.
Kenya and its role in intra-Africa regional trade: The prospects of the EU-Kenya EPA
This briefing provides an insight into the implications of the EU's Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Kenya – with a particular focus on the extent to which it could affect regional trade in the East African Economic Community (EAC) and the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It examines the new EPA and its implications in terms of its trade schemes as well as provisions in the area of sustainable development. It provides an overview of key factors that may affect regional and intra-African ...
Future Shocks 2023: Anticipating and weathering the next storms
The European Parliament started monitoring future shocks during the coronavirus crisis, and has continued to do so during Russia's unprecedented war on Ukraine. The annual 'Future Shocks' series reviews global risks, with a focus on specific risks and the capabilities and resilience of the EU system in the face of multiple challenges. It seeks to provide up-to-date, objective and authoritative information on these risks, based on risk literature from a broad range of sources. 'Future Shocks' includes ...