Neueste Dokumente

Zusammenfassung : The United Kingdom (UK) has so far taken a light-touch regulatory approach to its strong artificial intelligence (AI) sector. While the lack of horizontal laws may create a complicated legislative patchwork, the government argues that this is conducive to innovation and agile technology. With its new broad AI Act, the EU has taken a different path, but despite diverging approaches there are some promising signs for future cooperation.

Verfasser(in) : Marcin SZCZEPANSKI

Zusammenfassung : Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in the EU and causes significant damage to ecosystems. As part of the European Green Deal's zero pollution ambition, on 26 October 2022 the European Commission tabled a proposal for a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives. The proposed directive would set air quality standards for 2030 that are more closely aligned with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, as updated in 2021. It would also include a mechanism for the standards' regular review based on the latest scientific information. To achieve them on time, the Member States would have to establish air quality plans ahead of 2030. Provisions on air quality monitoring and assessment would be updated, including through new requirements for monitoring pollutants of emerging concern, such as ultrafine particles. Stakeholders' reactions to the proposal have been mixed. Non-governmental organisations call for full alignment with the WHO guidelines by 2030 at the latest, and for penalties if the 2030 deadline is missed. Industry representatives insist on the need to meet current standards first, before aiming for higher ones. The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the file on 20 February 2024. The text, approved in March by Member States representatives in the Council and by Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, now requires formal adoption by the co-legislators. Parliament is expected to vote on the final text during its second April 2024 part-session. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Vivienne HALLEUX

Zusammenfassung : This briefing, published by the European Parliamentary Research Service, aims to provide a broad range of key facts and figures about the European Parliament. Its many graphics offer a picture of the Parliament's Members and the institution's structures and activity in the current parliamentary term (July 2019 to June 2024) and in previous five-year terms since direct elections were introduced in June 1979.

Verfasser(in) : Giulio SABBATI

Zusammenfassung : Once dispersed in the environment, microplastic particles under 5 mm in size are extremely difficult to remove and very persistent. Today, they are present in the air, soil, freshwater, seas, oceans, plants and animals, and in several components of the human diet. Human exposure to microplastic particles is therefore widespread, raising concerns about potential health impacts. The EU has committed to addressing microplastic pollution in two action plans –on the new circular economy and on zero pollution for air, water and soil – both of which are part of the European Green Deal. On 16 October 2023, the European Commission proposed a regulation to tackle microplastic pollution resulting from losses of plastic pellets – the industrial raw materials used to make plastic products. These losses are the third largest source of unintentional microplastic releases into the EU environment. The proposal would apply to all economic operators handling plastic pellets in the EU in quantities above 5 tonnes per year, as well as to EU and non-EU carriers transporting plastic pellets within the EU. It would set requirements for best handling practices, mandatory certification and self-declaration, and provide for the development of a harmonised methodology to estimate losses. Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), responsible for the file, adopted its legislative report on 19 March 2024. The text awaits a vote during the second April 2024 plenary session, with a view to establishing Parliament's position at first reading. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Vivienne HALLEUX

Zusammenfassung : Teachers play an essential role in providing high-quality education and making education a rewarding experience for all learners. This makes teachers key to achieving a true European education area (EEA) that offers improved access to quality education and lifelong learning for all. However, the current shortage of teachers is a widespread issue across the European Union (EU). Not only is the teaching workforce ageing but the profession has become less attractive owing to factors such as challenging working conditions and perceived low societal recognition. Teacher shortages are more acute in certain subjects, specialisations and geographic areas. There is also a significant gender disparity in the teaching profession at various educational levels across the EU. Against this backdrop, the 2023 Education and Training Monitor – the European Commission's annual report on EU education and training systems – put a spotlight on the teaching profession, focusing in particular on teacher shortages across the Member States. The report noted that, while shortages are an increasing concern, reinforcing the teaching profession's attractiveness requires a balanced policy approach to both teacher recruitment and teacher retention. While the organisation and content of education fall under the responsibility of the Member States, the EU is working on boosting the prestige of the teaching profession and has launched several initiatives to offer professional education and development opportunities to educators. Examples include providing EU-level guidance on various topics relating to the teaching profession, establishing the Erasmus+ teacher academies that create communities of practice, and promoting cross-border teacher mobility. Over the years, the European Parliament has expressed continued support for teachers and for making the teaching profession more attractive. In February 2024, it held a plenary debate on the working conditions of teachers in the EU, with the participation of the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.

Verfasser(in) : Krisztina BINDER

Zusammenfassung : This EPRS paper analyses how the European Commission has delivered on the policy agenda set by its President, Ursula von der Leyen, and her College of Commissioners when they took office in December 2019, and by further commitments taken over the years to address new issues, crises and challenges. It provides an end-of-term assessment of the delivery of the agenda's six key priorities, on the eve of the ninth legislature's last plenary session, two months before the 2024 European elections. The von der Leyen Commission has announced a total of 661 planned initiatives. In concrete terms, EPRS finds that four out of five (526) have now been submitted and, for those which are legislative proposals, the co-legislators have started work. Of the 526, more than half (301) have already been adopted by the co-legislators, or, for the non-legislative initiatives (such as strategies, action plans and other communications, amounting to around one fifth of the total), by the Commission itself. A further 97 (18 %) are close to adoption, with some of them likely to be adopted still during this legislature. The remainder (102, or 19 %) are still proceeding normally through the legislative process and will not reach adoption under this term. While the Commission's first priority – the European Green Deal – ranks highest in terms of the number of initiatives planned (167), the other priorities – 'A Europe fit for the digital age', 'An economy that works for people', 'A stronger Europe in the world', 'Promoting our European way of life', and 'A new push for European democracy' – have higher rates of initiatives actually adopted (from 52 % to 60 %, and 82 % for the fourth, largely due, for the latter, to its less legislative nature).

Verfasser(in) : Etienne BASSOT

Zusammenfassung : The COVID-19 pandemic shone a light on the growing importance of digital health technologies, both to enable remote medical care and to facilitate the health response from international, national and local authorities. The European Commission's May 2022 proposal for a regulation on a European health data space aims to improve individuals' access to and control over their electronic personal data (primary use), while facilitating data re-use for the good of society across the EU (secondary use). The proposal establishes a set of rules, infrastructure and governance mechanisms to promote the primary and secondary use of electronic health data, while ensuring data protection and strengthening cybersecurity. The Commission expects the initiative to have a broad socio-economic impact. Its success is thought to depend not only on the capacity to implement the legal base effectively, but also on broader conditions such as EU-wide connectivity, social trust and digital skills. The European Parliament's Committees on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted their joint report on 28 November 2023. The Council adopted its general approach on 6 December 2023. Parliament voted the report in plenary on 13 December. ENVI and LIBE endorsed the agreement resulting from interinstitutional negotiations on 9 April 2024. It is due to be put to the vote during the April II 2024 plenary session. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : CLEMENT THIERRY EVROUX

Zusammenfassung : The supplementary protection certificate (SPC) is a specific intellectual property right that extends the basic patent's market exclusivity for plant protection products. The unitary patent became operational in the EU on 1 June 2023, unifying patent protection in all participating Member States. Despite this significant change, SPCs, which are inseparable from patent protection, remain regulated at national level. This fragmented regulatory approach has proven ineffective, leading to excessive administrative costs for SPC applicants, who have to navigate the national laws of each Member State where they seek SPC protection. To address this issue, on 27 April 2023 the Commission submitted a proposal for a regulation introducing a unitary SPC for plant protection products as a complement to the protection offered by the unitary patent. This proposal, coupled with a parallel proposal for an SPC for plant protection products of the same date, seeks to harmonise the process of granting SPCs for plant protection products in the single market. In Parliament, the proposal was assigned to the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), with Tiemo Wölken (S&D, Germany) as rapporteur. Following the approval of the reports on the two proposals by the Parliament plenary at first reading, Parliament adopted its position for the interinstitutional negotiations. The Council has yet to agree on its negotiating mandate. First edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Kamil BARANÍK

Zusammenfassung : Climate change, a global phenomenon, affects every aspect of our lives, including cultural heritage in both its forms – tangible and intangible. Extreme weather conditions expose these important elements of our cultural identity to serious threats. These threats must be addressed to protect valuable sites and preserve them for future generations. Research on climate change is not a novelty, but climate change as it relates to cultural heritage is a relatively new area of exploration and policy. The impact of climate change on cultural heritage made its way to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Madrid in 2019 (COP25) and has become increasingly visible at subsequent COPs. In 2003, the European Commission became the first European Union institution to launch a research project addressing the intersection of climate change and cultural heritage. Since then, the EU has expanded the scope and scale of its projects in this policy area. The EU's competence in cultural policy is limited to providing funds, which it does in the areas of cooperation, networking, exchange of best practices, research and education. Despite this limitation, EU level policies offer a broad perspective, much needed given the interdisciplinary and global nature of this issue. The dual challenge of climate change and protection of cultural heritage does not often feature clearly in European Parliament resolutions or European Commission policy documents. However, policy instruments are indeed available, and an integrated approach including not only economic, but also social, environmental, sustainability and identity dimensions of this complex issue is well underway.

Verfasser(in) : Magdalena PASIKOWSKA-SCHNASS

Zusammenfassung : A key function of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is to serve for its members as a forum for the negotiation of global trade rules. However, since the WTO's foundation in 1995, WTO members have largely failed to meet their self-defined negotiating objectives as set out in the comprehensive 2001 Doha Development Agenda (DDA). By the time of the 2024 Abu Dhabi Ministerial Conference, WTO members had settled on merely two multilateral agreements in almost 30 years: a 2013 agreement on trade facilitation and a partial agreement on fisheries subsidies, concluded in 2022. As some of the DDA's trade liberalisation items were dropped and negotiations on other items have stalled, sub-sets of WTO members have found other ways to craft new trade rules outside the WTO: either through bilateral or regional preferential trade agreements or through plurilateral trade negotiations, leading to the fragmentation of rules and questioning of the WTO's legitimacy. Modelled on the successful conclusion in 1997 of the first WTO plurilateral agreement eliminating tariffs on information technology, groups of WTO members led by developed countries set up two separate tracks of plurilateral talks on liberalising trade in services and in environmental goods in 2013 and 2014 respectively. Both stalled in 2016 and virtually ended market access-enhancing efforts within the WTO. In 2017, a group of members launched three initiatives – on domestic services regulation, investment facilitation and e-commerce – to re-invigorate the WTO's negotiating function. The initiatives marked a shift from a new market access-seeking approach to an approach prioritising trade and investment facilitation with a strong development dimension. Albeit more successful, their incorporation into the WTO legal architecture has been challenging given opposition from some members. If opposition were overcome, plurilaterals could be a means of multilateralising new trade rules, as was the case for the 'codes of conduct' under the pre-WTO GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) regime by 1995. To retain legitimacy and relevance, experts suggest that the WTO could do more to leverage its role as a forum for deliberating emerging issues, such as plastics pollution, trade and gender, green and fossil fuel subsidies, trade and industrial policies, carbon border mechanisms and regulatory action, for sustainable trade towards concrete negotiated outcomes.

Verfasser(in) : Gisela GRIEGER

Zusammenfassung : From 19 April to 1 June 2024, 968 million Indian voters are eligible to elect the members of the Lok Sabha (lower house). Voting is to take more than six weeks in seven phases across states and territories, concluding with a final round on 1 June; the votes are set to be counted on 4 June. Since 1999, elections to the Lok Sabha have coincided with those for the European Parliament. In 2023, India overtook China as the world's most populous country. The government has been able to lower India's poverty rate substantially through efficient delivery of welfare schemes, while other layers of Indian society have steadily improved their situation since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014. Inequality has not improved significantly, however, and job creation is lagging. India is one of the world's fastest growing economies, and the Modi government has set the goal of becoming a developed country by 2047, the centenary of Indian independence. However, analysts argue that India's economic growth has failed to create the necessary stock of employment, especially for young people. In recent years, India has undergone a major digital transformation. With the landing on the moon in August 2023, India also consolidated its status as a space power. Analysts have expressed concern about the situation of India's democracy and human rights. This includes the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy, violence and discrimination against Muslims and members of other religious minorities, the rise of Hindu nationalism and abandonment of the country's traditional secularist posture, and the legislation on telecommunications. The year 2023 was an important moment for India's foreign policy and its pursuit of global recognition and growing international stature. India hosted the G-20 Summit, championing the cause of the 'Global South' while projecting India's global leadership. Modi also proposed to host the COP33 Summit in 2028, highlighting New Delhi's commitment to fighting climate change. The EU is India's second largest trading partner and their cooperation is increasing; recently, an EU-India Connectivity Partnership and an EU-India Trade and Technology Council were added. They are currently negotiating three agreements, on free trade, investment protection and geographical indications.

Verfasser(in) : Enrico D'AMBROGIO

Zusammenfassung : Alternative proteins are of increasing interest in terms of their potential to improve food security and reduce the environmental impacts of food and feed production. This study assesses the current state and future prospects of protein production globally and in the EU to 2050, with a focus on conventional and alternative protein sources for food and feed. While projections show increased conventional protein needs up to 2050, climate change necessitates exploring non-linear scenarios and the potential of alternative proteins in the global and EU protein balance. In this context, four sources of alternative proteins – algae, insects, microbial fermentation and cultured meat – are assessed by comparing them to the conventional sources they may replace, in terms of their relative energy needs, environmental impacts, nutritional content, and their potential for being used as substitutes to conventional proteins in food and feed in the EU. The current level of R&D activity, technological and commercial readiness, and industrial capacity of the said alternatives in the EU is also examined. Finally, the study explores regulatory and technical obstacles to and opportunities for development of alternative proteins in Europe, before proposing a set of policy options that may be considered by EU policymakers for targeted support to the growth of the alternative proteins sector.

Verfasser(in) : DG, EPRS

Verfasser(in) : KINGA OSTANSKA, ANDRZEJ SANDERSKI

Zusammenfassung : Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) was set up on 10 March 2022. Chaired by MEP Jeroen LENAERS, PEGA Committee investigated infringements and maladministration in application of EU law in relation to the use of Pegasus and equivalent spyware surveillance software. Spyware and other hacking techniques are critical threats to privacy, data protection and democracy in the EU. They serve oppressive agendas against journalists, political activists and human rights defenders. On 8 May 2023, PEGA Committee adopted its final report (Rapporteur: MEP Sophia IN 'T VELD), after 14 months of hearings, studies and fact-finding missions. Following the PEGA Committee’s report, on 15 June 2023, the European Parliament adopted its recommendation calling on the European Commission, the Council, European Ombudsman, the Europol and a number of Member States for a number of actions.

Verfasser(in) : Mariusz MACIEJEWSKI, PABLO ABRIL MARTI

Zusammenfassung : This paper presents findings from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) midterm evaluation, with a particular focus on assessments from various stakeholders regarding its setup and initial implementation. It also builds on the latest activities and assessments by previously published papers summarizing the stakeholders views at the EU, national, regional, and local levels in connection with the national Recovery and Resilience Plans. Additionally, it offers a collection of the most recent opinions and assessments from EU stakeholders, as well as other pertinent institutions and bodies, on the execution of these plans.

Verfasser(in) : WOLFGANG LEHOFER, KATERYNA HANINA

Zusammenfassung : Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Gentiloni are invited to the 15th Recovery and Resilience Dialogue (RRD) under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) Regulation. The previous RRD took place on 5 February 2024. This briefing comments on the Commission’s RRF midterm review in section 1, focuses on some of the Commission’s recent preliminary assessments related to payment requests submitted by Czechia, Denmark, and Malta in section 2, summarises the state of play of the implementation of the RRF in section 3, touches on the EPPO annual report and recent cases of RRF fraud in section 4, sets out an analysis of the 100 largest recipients of RRF funds per Member State in section 5, and comments on the impact of NGEU related interest payments in section 6.

Verfasser(in) : András SCHWARCZ, FRANCISCO JAVIE PADILLA OLIVARES, Marcel MAGNUS, GIACOMO LOI

Zusammenfassung : This study presents an overview of how the issue of obstetric and gynaecological violence is currently being apprehended in the EU. Based on research carried out across the EU 27 Member States, it identifies issues and challenges; looks at the legal framework currently applicable to this form of violence; examines ongoing political and legal developments; and gathers initiatives carried out at the national level to improve understanding and prevention of this form of gender-based violence by healthcare professionals and society in general. Finally, it provides recommendations for different stakeholders.

Verfasser(in) : BRUNELLO Silvia, GAY-BERTHOMIEU Magali, SMILES Beth, BARDHO Eneidia, SCHANTZ Clémence & ROZEE Virginie

Zusammenfassung : Auf seiner April-II-Plenartagung dürfte das Parlament seinen Standpunkt in erster Lesung zu einem Vorschlag annehmen, mit dem die Freisetzung von Kunststoffgranulat verhindert werden soll, um die Verschmutzung durch Mikroplastik zu verringern. Der Rat hat seinen Standpunkt bis jetzt noch nicht festgelegt.

Verfasser(in) : Vivienne HALLEUX

Zusammenfassung : Das Europäische Parlament soll auf seiner April-II-Plenartagung über die Verlängerung der autonomen Handelsmaßnahmen auf Ausfuhren aus der Ukraine um ein weiteres Jahr abstimmen. Mit den Maßnahmen wurden bisher Einfuhren aus der Ukraine in die EU liberalisiert, um die Wirtschaft der Ukraine zu unterstützen. Der Vorschlag enthält auch Maßnahmen, um Landwirte in der EU bei Marktstörungen besser zu schützen.

Zusammenfassung : Im November 2022 legte die Kommission einen Vorschlag für eine Überarbeitung der Richtlinie über Verpackungen und Verpackungsabfälle (Richtlinie 94/62/EG) vor. Das Europäische Parlament soll auf seiner April-II-Plenartagung 2024 über die von den Verhandlungsführern des Rates und des Europäischen Parlaments am 4. März 2024 erzielte politische Einigung abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Guillaume RAGONNAUD

Zusammenfassung : Die Reform- und Wachstumsfazilität für den Westbalkan wurde konzipiert, um interne Reformen in den Westbalkanländern zu unterstützen, indem sie bereits vor dem EU-Beitritt bestimmte Vorteile einer EU-Mitgliedschaft erhalten. Über die Fazilität werden bis zu 6 Mrd. EUR für den Zeitraum 2024-2027 bereitgestellt. Das Parlament stimmt voraussichtlich auf der April-II-Plenartagung 2024 über den im Rahmen der interinstitutionellen Verhandlungen vereinbarten Text ab.

Verfasser(in) : BRANISLAV STANICEK

Zusammenfassung : Das Europäische Parlament soll über die mit dem Rat erzielte Einigung abstimmen, die zu einer neuen Richtlinie erzielt wurde, mit der Mindeststandards zur Verbesserung der Arbeitsbedingungen von Menschen festgelegt werden, die über digitale Arbeitsplattformen arbeiten. Es sollen erstmals EU-Vorschriften zur Regelung des algorithmengestützten Managements am Arbeitsplatz eingeführt werden. Die Richtlinie ist das Ergebnis schwieriger Verhandlungen, und durch sie soll ein Signal an Beschäftigte von Taxiunternehmen und Essenslieferdiensten sowie Hausangestellte gesendet werden, dass die EU entschlossen ist, Regeln für den Einsatz von Arbeitskräften mit zeitlich begrenzten Verträgen durch die Plattformen festzulegen, wenn auch weniger weitreichend als im ursprünglichen Vorschlag.

Verfasser(in) : Marketa PAPE

Zusammenfassung : Im Laufe der Zeit hat sich die Europäische Union zunehmend mit der Frage der Freizügigkeit von Menschen mit Behinderungen befasst – ein Thema, das einen von vier Menschen in der EU betrifft. Am 6. September 2023 leitete die Kommission eine Gesetzgebungsinitiative zur Einführung eines Europäischen Behindertenausweises und eines Europäischen Parkausweises ein, die in allen Mitgliedstaaten anerkannt werden sollen. Über den im Trilog vereinbarten endgültigen Text soll auf der April-II-Tagung abgestimmt werden.

Verfasser(in) : Marie LECERF

Zusammenfassung : Das Parlament dürfte auf der April-II-Plenartagung über den Entwurf einer Einigung über die Einrichtung eines interinstitutionellen Gremiums für ethische Normen abstimmen. Die Abstimmung wird auf Grundlage einer Empfehlung erfolgen, die am 22. April im Ausschuss für konstitutionelle Fragen erörtert werden soll. Die Einigung konnte nach Verhandlungen zwischen acht Organen und Einrichtungen der EU erzielt werden und basiert auf einem Vorschlag der Kommission, den diese als Reaktion auf Forderungen des Parlaments erarbeitet hatte. Das interinstitutionelle Gremium für ethische Normen soll die Ethik, Integrität und Transparenz der EU-Organe stärken, indem es dafür sorgt, dass die Vorschriften der Organe zu den entsprechenden Bereichen aneinander angeglichen werden. Außerdem soll es einen institutionellen Ethik-Rahmen gewährleisten und das ethische Bewusstsein stärken.

Verfasser(in) : Silvia KOTANIDIS

Zusammenfassung : Im Dezember 2021 schlug die Kommission vor, den EU-Rechtsrahmen für die Erhebung und Übermittlung vorab übermittelter Fluggastdaten (API) zu überarbeiten. Die geltende API-Richtlinie wird durch zwei Verordnungen ersetzt, eine Verordnung über die Erhebung und Übermittlung von vorab übermittelten Fluggastdaten zum Zwecke des Grenzmanagements und eine Verordnung über die Erhebung und Übermittlung von vorab übermittelten Fluggastdaten zu Strafverfolgungszwecken. Nachdem die beiden gesetzgebenden Organe im März 2024 eine vorläufige Einigung erzielt haben, soll das Europäische Parlament auf der April-II-Plenartagung über die Vorschläge abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Costica DUMBRAVA

Zusammenfassung : Die Überarbeitung des Mehrjährigen Finanzrahmens (MFR) 2021-2027 macht Änderungen am Gesamthaushaltsplan der EU für 2024 erforderlich. Mit dem Entwurf des Berichtigungshaushaltsplans Nr. 1/2024 (EBH Nr. 1/2024) wird der Haushalt 2024 um 5,83 Mrd. EUR an Mitteln für Verpflichtungen und 4,14 Mrd. EUR an Mitteln für Zahlungen aufgestockt. Die betroffenen MFR-Rubriken sind die Rubrik 5 (Sicherheit und Verteidigung – 376 Mio. EUR) und die Rubrik 6 (Nachbarschaft und die Welt – 501 Mio. EUR). Auch aus der neu geschaffenen Ukrainereserve werden 4,8 Mrd. EUR an Mitteln für Verpflichtungen und 3,8 Mrd. EUR an Mitteln für Zahlungen bereitgestellt. Die Abstimmung im Plenum des Parlaments über den Standpunkt des Rates ist für die April-II-Tagung geplant.

Verfasser(in) : Sidonia MAZUR

Zusammenfassung : Im März 2023 schlug die Kommission eine Richtlinie vor, mit der die Reparatur von Waren gefördert und gegen die derzeitigen linearen Verhaltensmuster von Wirtschaft und Verbrauchern vorgegangen werden soll, die von der häufigen und vorzeitigen Ersetzung und Entsorgung von Waren geprägt sind. Auf der April-II-Plenartagung soll über die vorläufige politische Einigung, die im Februar 2024 zwischen dem Europäischen Parlament und dem Rat erzielt wurde, abgestimmt werden.

Verfasser(in) : STEFANO SPINACI

Zusammenfassung : Im September 2022 schlug die Kommission eine Verordnung vor, um in Zwangsarbeit hergestellte Produkte auf dem Unionsmarkt zu verbieten. Gemeinsam mit den nationalen Behörden will sie verdächtige Produkte untersuchen, bei denen das Risiko für Zwangsarbeit erhöht ist und dieses stärkere Auswirkungen hätte. Stellt sich heraus, dass Produkte in Zwangsarbeit hergestellt wurden, werden diese vom Markt genommen. Nachdem im März 2024 mit dem Rat eine vorläufige Einigung über den Text erzielt wurde, wird das Parlament voraussichtlich auf der April-II-Plenartagung über den vereinbarten Text abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : STEFANO SPINACI

Zusammenfassung : Im April 2023 schlug die Kommission eine Verordnung über die Übertragung von Verfahren in Strafsachen zwischen den Mitgliedstaaten vor. Das Europäische Parlament wird voraussichtlich auf der April-II-Tagung über die zwischen Parlament und Rat erzielte Einigung abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Martina PRPIC

Zusammenfassung : Im Februar 2023 hat die Kommission einen Vorschlag für eine Verordnung über Maßnahmen zur Senkung der Kosten des Ausbaus von Gigabit-Netzen für die elektronische Kommunikation und zur Aufhebung der Richtlinie 2014/61/EU (Richtlinie über die Senkung der Breitbandkosten) vorgelegt. Nach drei Trilogsitzungen erzielten das Europäische Parlament und der Rat im Februar 2024 eine vorläufige Einigung über den Wortlaut, der nun förmlich angenommen werden muss. Das Europäische Parlament soll auf seiner April-II-Plenartagung darüber abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Stefano DE LUCA

Zusammenfassung : Während der April-II-Plenartagung soll das Parlament über vorläufige Einigungen abstimmen, die im Rahmen der interinstitutionellen Verhandlungen über drei zusammenhängende EU-Rechtsakte über Geldwäsche und Terrorismusfinanzierung erzielt wurden.

Verfasser(in) : Piotr BAKOWSKI

Zusammenfassung : Im April 2023 schlug die Kommission eine Verordnung über Maßnahmen zur Stärkung der Solidarität und der Kapazitäten in der EU für die Erkennung, Vorsorge und Bewältigung von Cybersicherheitsbedrohungen und -vorfällen (Cybersolidaritätsgesetz) vor. Auf der April-II-Tagung wird das Parlament voraussichtlich über die in Verhandlungen mit dem Rat erzielte politische Einigung abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : POLONA CAR

Zusammenfassung : Am 10. Februar 2024 erzielten der Rat und das Parlament eine vorläufige Einigung über einen neuen Rahmen für die wirtschaftspolitische Steuerung der EU, mit dem die nationale Schuldentragfähigkeit mit nachhaltigem und inklusivem Wachstum in allen Mitgliedstaaten in Einklang gebracht werden soll. Das Parlament soll auf der April-II-Plenartagung 2024 über den endgültigen Wortlaut abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : MARTIN HOFLMAYR

Zusammenfassung : Im März 2023 schlug die Kommission eine Verordnung zur Stärkung des europäischen Ökosystems für die Fertigung von Netto-Null-Technologieprodukten („Netto-Null-Industrie-Verordnung“) vor. Das Europäische Parlament soll nun auf seiner April-II-Plenartagung über die am 6. Februar 2024 erzielte politische Einigung der beiden gesetzgebenden Organe abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Guillaume RAGONNAUD

Zusammenfassung : Das Parlament dürfte auf der April-II-Plenartagung über die vorläufigen Einigungen zu Änderungen an der Eigenkapitalrichtlinie und der Eigenmittelverordnung abstimmen. Die Eigenkapitalrichtlinie und die Eigenmittelverordnung bilden den Aufsichtsrahmen für das einheitliche Regelwerk für Banken in der EU. Die Kommission hat im Jahr 2021 ein Paket mit zwei miteinander verbundenen Vorschlägen zur Änderung der Eigenkapitalrichtlinie und der Eigenmittelverordnung vorgelegt. Damit werden zwei Ziele verfolgt: Zum einen sollen die jüngsten Vereinbarungen im Rahmen der Basler Vereinbarungen umgesetzt werden, zum anderen soll die Bankenaufsicht in der EU stärker vereinheitlicht werden.

Verfasser(in) : ISSAM HALLAK

Zusammenfassung : Am 5. Juli 2023 schlug die Kommission Verordnungen über die Erzeugung und das Inverkehrbringen von Pflanzenvermehrungsmaterial (PVM) und forstlichem Vermehrungsgut (FVG) vor. Die Vorschläge zielen darauf ab, die Verfügbarkeit von hochwertigem PVM und FVG, die bessere Nachhaltigkeit neuer Sorten und die Erhaltung der genetischen Vielfalt sicherzustellen, die für die Anpassung der Landwirtschaft und der Wälder der EU an künftige Veränderungen des Klimas von entscheidender Bedeutung sein könnten. Der Ausschuss für Landwirtschaft und ländliche Entwicklung (AGRI) nahm seine Berichte am 19. März 2024 an. Das Parlament stimmt voraussichtlich während der April-II-Plenartagung über seinen Standpunkt in erster Lesung ab.

Verfasser(in) : Nikolina SAJN

Zusammenfassung : Im Dezember 2022 schlug die Kommission eine Überarbeitung der Richtlinie 2011/36/EU vor, wobei es sich um das wichtigste Instrument der EU zur Bekämpfung des Menschenhandels handelt. Im Rahmen der April-II-Tagung soll das Europäische Parlament über die zwischen den Verhandlungsführern des Parlaments und des Rates erzielte Einigung über den Vorschlag abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Martina PRPIC

Zusammenfassung : Im Dezember 2021 schlug die Europäische Kommission vor, den Schengener Grenzkodex zu überarbeiten, um den Schengen-Raum zu stärken. Mit der Überarbeitung werden neue Bestimmungen eingeführt, deren Ziel es ist, Probleme im Zusammenhang mit irregulärer Migration, Sicherheit und Notlagen im Bereich der öffentlichen Gesundheit anzugehen. Nach einer vorläufigen Einigung der Rechtsetzungsorgane im Dezember 2023 stimmt das Parlament nun auf seiner April-II-Plenartagung über den Vorschlag ab.

Verfasser(in) : Costica DUMBRAVA

Zusammenfassung : Im März 2022 schlug die Kommission eine Richtlinie zur Bekämpfung von Gewalt gegen Frauen und häuslicher Gewalt in der EU vor. Anfang 2024 einigten sich die beiden gesetzgebenden Organe auf einen Kompromisstext. Das Parlament dürfte im Rahmen der April-II-Plenartagung über den Text abstimmen. Mit der neuen Richtlinie würden Mindestnormen für die Kriminalisierung schwerer Formen von Gewalt geschaffen. Außerdem sollen mit Mindestnormen Prävention und Opferschutz verbessert und Opfern besseren Zugang zur Justiz gewährt werden.

Verfasser(in) : Ionel ZAMFIR

Zusammenfassung : The European Council consists of the 27 Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, who are voting members, together with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, who have no vote (Article 15(2) Treaty on European Union). The chart shows the current members, the national office they hold, their most recent European political affiliation, and the year their membership began.

Verfasser(in) : Ralf DRACHENBERG

Zusammenfassung : Denmark's national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) corresponds to 0.2 % of the entire Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), or 0.5 % of Denmark's 2019 gross domestic product (GDP). The financial contribution from the EU totals €1625.9 million. In June 2022, the maximum RRF grant allocation available for Denmark was revised downwards, from €1551.4 million to €1 429 million (- 7.9 %). On 7 November 2023, the Council approved the amended plan, which includes a REPowerEU chapter, adding €196.7 million to the revised amount. This includes an additional REPowerEU grant allocation worth €130.7 million and a transfer of part of the Danish allocation under the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to the plan (€66.0 million). Denmark has so far received 33.4 % of the NRRP resources in the form of pre-financing and one payment; this is slightly below the EU average. A further five payments will depend on progress made in implementing the plan. Denmark requested the second payment on 21 December 2023. The amended plan reinforces green initiatives and seeks to enhance the resilience of the Danish economy and society, devoting 65 % of the RRF grant allocation to the green transition (up from 59 % in the original plan). While there is no change in digital investment, the share of the total increases to 27 % (including REPowerEU) as a result of the change of the overall Danish allocation. In the context of the European Semester, the Commission assessed the implementation of the Danish plan as 'well under way'. The European Parliament participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on NRRP implementation and scrutinises the Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Third edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans.

Verfasser(in) : LISELOTTE JENSEN

Zusammenfassung : EU support for the implementation of Slovenia's modified national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) amounts to €2 685.3 million, and includes €1 612.9 million in grants and €1 072.4 million in loans. This amount is by €203.3 million higher than that initially approved and takes into account a June 2022 update of the maximum financial contribution form the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), additional loans requested by Slovenia, and non-repayable allocation for REPowerEU made available in 2023. While the overall allocation is only 0.4 % of the total RRF, it stood at 5.5 % of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 (the RRF being 5.2 % of EU-27 GDP in 2019). With €1 274 per citizen (grants and loans), Slovenia is among the 10 biggest RRF beneficiaries per capita. So far, Slovenia has received €841 million (€531 million in grants and €310 million in loans) in pre-financing and three instalments based on the achievement of 58 milestones and targets (28 % of all to be achieved). The next payment request is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024 and should cover the fourth and fifth instalments (€392.7 million). Slovenia's NRRP tackles both the COVID-19 pandemic's socio-economic consequences and more long-standing challenges identified in the Slovenian development strategy 2030. The plan is strongly focused on the green and digital transitions. Planned spending on these areas meets the compulsory targets, totalling 48.9 % for climate and 20 % for digital (the latter excluding the REPowerEU chapter). Investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable mobility have been further reinforced under the new REPowerEU chapter. Other priority areas include smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and health and welfare. The European Parliament participates in interinstitutional forums for cooperation and discussion on RRF implementation, and scrutinises the European Commission's work. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States. Third edition. The 'NGEU delivery' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the lifecycle of the plans.

Verfasser(in) : POLONA CAR, Magdalena SAPALA

Zusammenfassung : Stratospheric ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun and reduces the overall amount of radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are human-made chemicals that, once emitted, reach the upper atmosphere and destroy the protective ozone layer, causing what is known as the ozone hole. They have significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment and are also greenhouse gases with high global warming potential. Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer lays down rules on the production, use, trade, recovery, recycling, reclamation and destruction of ODS and sets out requirements and measures for products and equipment containing these substances. On 5 April 2022, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on ODS repealing the current one. The aim was to increase the efficiency of the existing measures in order to achieve additional emissions reductions in line with the European Green Deal, to ensure more comprehensive monitoring of ODS, to reduce administrative costs by simplifying the rules, to modernise the licensing system and reduce costs for industry, and to improve the coherence with other pieces of legislation such as Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases – being revised in parallel. One of the main objectives of the proposal was to prevent emissions from old products and equipment still containing ODS that have to be recovered and destroyed. Parliament and Council adopted their positions on 30 March 2023 and 5 April 2023, respectively. Interinstitutional negotiations concluded on 5 October 2023 with a provisional agreement, adopted by Parliament on 16 January and by Council on 29 January 2024. The regulation was published in the Official Journal on 20 February 2024 and entered into force on 11 March 2024. Fourth edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Dessislava YOUGOVA

Zusammenfassung : The special European Council meeting on 17-18 April will be an important step towards agreeing on the EU's political priorities for the 2024-2029 period. The three main priorities are likely to centre on 'a strong and secure Europe', 'a prosperous and competitive Europe' and 'a free and democratic Europe'. EU leaders are also expected to adopt lengthy conclusions related to competitiveness, notably addressing the single market and the capital markets union. They will also address the war in Ukraine, and hold a strategic debate on EU-Türkiye relations. They may also discuss developments in the Middle East following Iran's attack on Israel.

Verfasser(in) : Annastiina PAPUNEN, Ralf DRACHENBERG

Zusammenfassung : In December 2022, the European Commission presented two proposals to revise the rules on the collection and transfer of advance passenger information (API) data – data collected by air carriers at check-in and sent to competent authorities in the country of destination prior to take-off. One of the proposals is for a new regulation on the collection and transfer of API data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime. The proposal seeks to align the rules on the collection and transfer of API data with the rules on the processing of passenger name records – data from air travellers' ticket reservations – in order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against serious crime and terrorism in the EU. The proposal provides uniform criteria for the collection and transfer of API data on extra-EU flights and selected intra-EU flights. It builds on the provisions of another proposal for a regulation on the collection and transfer of API data for enhancing and facilitating external border controls. Both proposals rely on the establishment of a centralised router to enable the transmission of API data between air carriers and the competent national authorities dealing with API data. In March 2024, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the proposal. Following the approval of the agreement by the Council and the responsible committee in Parliament, the agreed text has been tabled for a vote during the April II part-session. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Costica DUMBRAVA

Zusammenfassung : On 1 March 2023, the European Commission published its legislative proposal on driving licences – a matter of EU competence – with the purpose of enabling the free movement of persons and goods throughout the EU by modernising the driving licence system. This involves making driving licence rules future-proof, improving road safety and simplifying the rules for those wanting to get a driving licence. The proposal provides for accompanied driving for young learners, zero tolerance for drink- driving, better preparation for micro-mobility, and the introduction of digital driving licences. In the European Parliament, the legislative file was assigned to the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) (rapporteur: Karima Delli, Greens/EFA, France). The TRAN committee report was adopted on 7 December 2023. On 28 February, Parliament voted in plenary on its first reading position on the file, to be followed up during the next legislative term. Third edition of a briefing, the first edition of which was drafted by Karin Smit Jacobs. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Monika KISS

Zusammenfassung : On 1 March 2023, as part of the road safety package, the European Commission published a legislative proposal to help ensure EU-wide application of driving disqualifications. The proposal calls for increased cooperation, harmonisation of legislation, simplification of information exchange, capacity building, and improved public awareness efforts. In order to prevent impunity due to a lack of legislation, the proposal sets out rules to allow better EU-wide enforcement of driver disqualification decisions when drivers commit major traffic offences outside their own country. In the European Parliament, the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) is responsible for the file (rapporteur: Petar Vitanov, S&D, Bulgaria). The TRAN committee adopted its report on 29 November 2023. On 6 February, the Parliament voted in plenary on its first-reading position on the file, to be followed up in the next legislative term. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Monika KISS

Zusammenfassung : Ukraine enjoys excellent conditions for agriculture, including around a third of the world's most fertile land. Three crops dominate the country's agricultural production: wheat, maize and sunflower, intended primarily for export. Medium-sized agricultural enterprises lead crop production, although some companies farm as much as 500 000 hectares. This is a direct consequence of Soviet collectivisation, and the agricultural policies adopted after Ukraine's independence in 1991. Only recently did Ukraine start opening up its land market. In 2013, Russia blocked Ukrainian exports to prevent Kyiv from developing closer ties with the EU. Following Moscow's illegal annexation of Crimea and its military aggression in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv signed an association agreement with the EU, which became its primary market. Unlike most of its industrial production, Ukraine's crops remained competitive in the EU market and exports surged. By 2021, agriculture represented 41 % of Ukraine's exports, up from 27 % in 2013. In addition to stealing millions of hectares of land, Russia has inflicted a terrible economic, environmental and human cost on Ukraine. By the end of 2023, the Ukrainian agricultural sector had sustained an estimated US$80 billion in damages and losses. Rebuilding Ukraine's agriculture is expected to cost US$56.1 billion, and demining will cost an additional US$32 billion. Russia also blockaded Ukrainian agricultural exports. The EU Solidarity Lanes, the Black Sea Initiative, and the more recent Ukrainian Corridor have helped to keep Ukraine's economy afloat, and avert a wider global food security crisis. Ukraine applied for EU membership shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion. In December 2023, the European Council authorised the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine. Historically, agriculture has been a contentious issue in most enlargement negotiations, and integrating Ukraine's sizeable agricultural sector poses a challenge to the EU, especially without prior reform of the common agricultural policy. Despite the early stage of Kyiv's candidacy, some studies have tried to estimate the potential cost and benefits to the EU of Ukraine's eventual membership of the bloc.

Zusammenfassung : North Macedonia gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. The country applied for EU membership in March 2004 and was granted EU candidate status in December 2005. As part of the June 2018 Prespa Agreement, the country changed its name to the Republic of North Macedonia, in exchange for Greece ending its veto on its EU and NATO accession. The first intergovernmental conference on 19 July 2022 marked the beginning of accession negotiations. The Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, led by Prime Minister Talat Xhaferi since January 2024, continues to deepen relations with the EU. This 'At a glance' note has been produced at the request of a member of the European Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Parliament and the Committee.

Verfasser(in) : BRANISLAV STANICEK

Zusammenfassung : Serbia, with a population of 6.9 million, has been advancing towards EU accession since 2012, when it received candidate country status. Despite some progress, Serbia still has three major hurdles to overcome: improving internal political dialogue and reforms, reaching a comprehensive normalisation agreement with Kosovo* and ensuring better alignment with EU foreign policy. Although Serbia voted for Russia's suspension from the UN Human Rights Council, it has not applied any of the EU's sanctions on Russia. In April 2022, Aleksandar Vučić was elected for a second term as President, and the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) coalition, led by Vučić, won the parliamentary elections. Snap elections in December 2023 brought the SNS a larger-than-expected victory. This 'At a glance' note has been produced at the request of a member of the European Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Parliament and the Committee.

Verfasser(in) : BRANISLAV STANICEK

Zusammenfassung : Türkiye has long been a strategic European Union partner on migration, security, and trade. However, following the attempted coup in 2016, Türkiye's democratic backsliding led the Council to freeze accession negotiations in 2018. Although relations have thawed, the EU is exploring a more realistic framework for bilateral relations. This 'At a glance' note has been produced at the request of a member of the European Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Parliament and the Committee.

Verfasser(in) : BRANISLAV STANICEK

Zusammenfassung : Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 3.2 million, became independent from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992, following a referendum that was boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Bosnia and Herzegovina was offered a European Union membership perspective at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Thessaloniki in 2003. Building on the European Commission's recommendation of 12 March 2024, the European Council decided on 21 March to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. This 'At a glance' note has been produced at the request of a member of the European Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Parliament and the Committee.

Verfasser(in) : BRANISLAV STANICEK

Zusammenfassung : Montenegro began EU accession negotiations in 2012. The European Commission's latest report notes tensions leading to a blocked political system. On 2 April 2023, after securing 59 % of votes in a presidential election run-off, Montenegro's former Economy Minister Jakov Milatović declared victory over the incumbent, Milo Đukanović, who had been president or prime minister for more than three decades. The current pro-European Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić, took office in October 2023. Spajić's government replaced the technical mandate of the previous government, which faced a vote of no confidence in August 2022. This 'At a glance' note has been produced at the request of a member of the European Committee of the Regions, in the framework of the cooperation agreement between the Parliament and the Committee.

Verfasser(in) : BRANISLAV STANICEK

Zusammenfassung : Approaching the end of the mandate, a number of debates on important legislative proposals took place during the April I 2024 plenary session: on the migration and asylum package, reform of the EU electricity market, and the pharmaceutical package. Members also debated Russia's undemocratic elections, and in particular their extension to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, allegations of Russian interference in the European Parliament, Chinese police activity in Europe, the rule of law in Hungary, and the rule of law and media freedom in Slovakia. His Majesty King Philippe, King of the Belgians, addressed the Parliament to mark his country's presidency of the Council. Finally, President Roberta Metsola made a statement for International Roma Day.

Verfasser(in) : CLARE FERGUSON, KATARZYNA SOCHACKA

Zusammenfassung : Sanctions have become an increasingly central element of the EU's common and foreign security policy. At present, the EU has over 50 sanctions programmes in place, concerning nearly 40 countries. Unlike the comprehensive trade embargoes used in the past, the EU has moved towards asset freezes and visa bans targeting individual persons and companies, aiming to influence foreign governments while avoiding humanitarian costs for the general population. Other measures in the sanctions 'toolkit' include arms embargoes, sectoral trade and investment restrictions, and suspensions of development aid and trade preferences. The declared purpose of EU sanctions is to uphold the international security order, while also defending human rights and democracy standards by encouraging targeted countries to change their behaviour. Measuring sanctions' effectiveness is difficult, as sanctions alone rarely achieve all their aims, and usually there are other causes to which changes can also be attributed. However, even when this primary purpose is not achieved, sanctions may have useful secondary effects, for example by deterring other actors from similar behaviour. The broader the international support for EU sanctions and the closer the relationship between the EU and the targeted country are, the stronger the prospects for success will be. On the other hand, effectiveness can be undermined by inconsistent application of sanctions standards and by the difficulty of coordinating implementation between multiple stakeholders. The unprecedented scale and scope of sanctions imposed against Russia has put the spotlight on new implementation challenges, including inside the EU's borders. In response, the Council adopted a decision to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of particularly serious crimes ('EU crimes') under Article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. This is an update of an earlier briefing.

Verfasser(in) : Beatrix IMMENKAMP

Zusammenfassung : Dieses Dokument ist Teil einer Reihe von Studien, mit denen die unternehmerische Freiheit in verschiedene Rechtsordnungen aus rechtsvergleichender Perspektive dargestellt werden sollen. Nach einer kurzen historischen Einleitung und der Darstellung der einschlägigen Rechtsvorschriften und Rechtsprechung, werden der Inhalt, die Grenzen und die mögliche Entwicklung dieser Freiheit analysiert. Die vorliegende Studie hat den Fall Deutschland zum Gegenstand. In Deutschland ist „unternehmerische Freiheit“ auf der Ebene der Bundesverfassung nicht durch ein einziges, sondern durch verschiedene Grundrechte geschützt. Das Grundgesetz verbürgt sowohl die Berufsfreiheit (Art. 12 Abs. 1 GG) als auch die Vereinigungsfreiheit (Art. 9 Abs. 1 GG), das Eigentum (Art. 14 GG) und die Vertragsfreiheit (Art. 2 Abs. 1 GG) auch für juristische Personen des Privatrechts (Art. 19 Abs. 3 GG). Damit genießt auch die sog. Gewerbefreiheit nicht nur den einfachrechtlichen Schutz des § 1 Gewerbeordnung, sondern weitgehenden verfassungsrechtlichen Schutz. Diese Grundrechte – und nicht eine abstrakte verfassungsrechtliche Vorgabe – sind das Rückgrat der „Wirtschaftsverfassung“ des Grundgesetzes. Neben den Grundrechten bilden das Rechtsstaats-, das Sozialstaats- und das Umweltstaatsprinzip diese Wirtschaftsverfassung. Diese unternehmerischen Freiheiten werden durch ungezählte Normen des Privatrechts (vor allem des Bürgerlichen Rechts, des Handels- und Gesellschaftsrechts, des Wettbewerbsrechts) und des Verwaltungsrechts (und hier vor allem des Gewerbe-, Steuer-, Sozial- und Umweltrechts) bis hin zu autonomem Recht – Unfallverhütungsvorschriften – ausgeformt, d.h. in dialektischer Weise ermöglicht, gestaltet und begrenzt.

Verfasser(in) : EPRS, Comparative Law

Zusammenfassung : Progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been insufficient, not least because of shocks such as the COVID 19 pandemic and recent wars. The cost of this lack of progress is borne by 'least developed countries' – low-income countries with low indicators of socio-economic development, as defined by the UN. This study reviews the European Union's role in policies that affect poverty in these contexts. It identifies 12 challenges that could be addressed to some extent by further EU action on development policy, climate action, trade and global value chains, and by the EU as an actor in multilateral forums, in line with the policy coherence for development principle.

Verfasser(in) : ALEKSANDRA HEFLICH, Cecilia NAVARRA, MEENAKSHI FERNANDES

Zusammenfassung : Faced with the need to provide long-term support to Ukraine and upgrade its own defence, the EU is revisiting its financing arrangements for the Common Security and Defence component.

Verfasser(in) : STEFAN SCHULZ

Zusammenfassung : The emergence of quantum information science and technologies marks a pivotal moment in technological progress. As the strategic importance of quantum gains global recognition, efforts are intensifying to harness its potential while also addressing security and regulatory challenges. With China, the United States and the European Union investing heavily in quantum, the race for technological dominance is well under way.

Verfasser(in) : Stefano DE LUCA

Zusammenfassung : In December 2021, the European Commission presented a proposal to amend the Schengen Borders Code, which lays down the rules governing controls at the EU internal and external borders. While debates on the reform of Schengen have been going on for a while, recent challenges – relating to the coronavirus pandemic on the one hand, and attempts to instrumentalise migrants as a way to put pressure on the EU's external borders, on the other – have created new momentum for reform. The Commission's proposal aims to improve the Schengen system's resilience to serious threats, and to adapt it to new challenges. It introduces a new coordination mechanism to deal with health threats at the external borders and a new Schengen safeguard mechanism to provide a common response at the internal borders in situations of threats affecting Member States, including the possibility to transfer irregular migrants apprehended at the internal borders directly back to the competent authorities in the EU country from which it is assumed they just came, without undergoing an individual assessment. Following the provisional agreement reached by the co-legislators in December 2023, Parliament is scheduled to vote on the agreed text during its April II plenary session. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Costica DUMBRAVA

Zusammenfassung : Directive 2009/138/EC – also known as Solvency II – sets out the prudential regulatory framework for the insurance sector in the EU. The framework aims to establish the single market for insurance services further, while strengthening policyholders' protection. On 22 September 2021, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a directive that would amend Solvency II in essentially three ways: i) lowering regulatory obligations on small and low-risk profile insurance companies, ii) taking into account long-term and climate change risks, and iii) enhancing group-level and cross-border supervision. In the European Parliament, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) was assigned the file on 22 November 2021, with Markus Ferber (EPP, Germany) as rapporteur. After Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the text in December 2023, the ECON committee approved it on 29 January 2024. Parliament is set to vote on the adoption of the text at its April II plenary session, and the Council will put the text to the vote as well. Once adopted, the text will be signed by the co-legislators and published in the Official Journal. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : ISSAM HALLAK

Zusammenfassung : On 15 March 2024, the Commission put forward a regulation that would amend two regulations concerning the common agricultural policy (CAP) – the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation and the CAP Horizontal Regulation. The proposal is part of the Commission's response to widespread protests by farmers, opposing the CAP's administrative burden and environmental requirements. It was put forward without a formal public consultation and without an impact assessment. The proposal aims to reduce several environmental requirements to which farmers must abide to receive direct payments. The requirement to devote at least 4 % of arable land, at farm level, to non-productive areas or features, including land lying fallow, would no longer be mandatory for CAP beneficiaries. However, Member States would be required to offer a top-up, in the form of eco-schemes, to farmers setting aside land for non-productive features. Member States would be able to demand crop diversification instead of the more demanding crop rotation. They would also be able to introduce exemptions from certain requirements, and temporary derogations in case of extreme weather. The proposal would also eliminate controls and penalties regarding environmental requirements for small farms, and simplify the procedure to amend the national CAP strategic plans for Member States. Organisations representing farmers welcomed the proposed administrative simplification of the CAP, but were divided on the reduction in green requirements. Environmental organisations, meanwhile, criticised the proposal as harmful and undemocratic. The Commission called on the co-legislators to adopt the proposal as fast as possible. In the Council, the Special Committee on Agriculture endorsed the proposal with only minor technical modifications, and called on the Parliament to do the same. Should Parliament decide to apply the urgent procedure, the vote on the proposal would take place during the April II plenary session.

Verfasser(in) : Nikolina SAJN

Zusammenfassung : In October 2022, under the European Green Deal, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Dating back to 1991, and instrumental to the achievement of European Union water policy objectives, the directive needs to be updated and adapted to new challenges and realities. The recast proposal would introduce new obligations to do more to control pollution due to rainwater, impose stricter standards for nutrient removal and require advanced treatment for the removal of micro-pollutants. To cover treatment costs, a system of extended producer responsibility (EPR) targeting pharmaceuticals and cosmetics would be set up. To align the directive with the Green Deal's ambitions, an energy neutrality obligation would be introduced for wastewater treatment plants. Water reuse and sludge management requirements would be clarified to enhance circularity. Health parameters would be monitored in wastewater to support public health action. The European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on 29 January 2024. The text was endorsed by Member State representatives on 1 March and by Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety on 11 March 2024. It now awaits formal adoption by the co-legislators. The plenary vote is scheduled for the April I 2024 session. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages in the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Vivienne HALLEUX

Zusammenfassung : In July 2023, the European Commission tabled a package of proposals aimed at greening freight transport. One of these proposals focuses on improving the use of rail infrastructure capacity. The proposed text suggests changes to the rules governing the planning and allocation of railway infrastructure capacity, which are currently outlined in Directive 2012/34/EU and Regulation (EU) No 913/2010. The goal of the changes is to enhance the management of rail infrastructure capacity and traffic as a way to ensure improved service quality, optimised railway network usage, increased traffic capacity and the possibility for the transport sector to contribute to decarbonisation. In the European Parliament, the file was referred to the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), which appointed Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA, Luxembourg) as rapporteur. The TRAN committee adopted its report on 4 March 2024. Parliament adopted its first-reading position during its March 2024 plenary session. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.

Verfasser(in) : Jaan SOONE

Zusammenfassung : Eurodac ist eine biometrische Datenbank, in der die Mitgliedstaaten die Fingerabdruckdaten von Asylbewerbern oder irregulären Migranten erfassen müssen, um zu ermitteln, wo sie in die EU eingereist sind und ob sie zuvor Asylanträge in anderen Teilen der EU gestellt haben. 2016 schlug die Kommission vor, die Eurodac-Verordnung zu überarbeiten, um die praktische Umsetzung des Dublin-Systems zu verbessern, Rückführungen zu erleichtern und die Datenbank zur Bekämpfung der irregulären Migration zu nutzen. Das Europäische Parlament soll auf seiner April-I-Plenartagung über seinen Standpunkt in erster Lesung zu der im Zuge der interinstitutionellen Verhandlungen erzielten Einigung abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Anita ORAV

Zusammenfassung : In dem Vorschlag der Kommission zur Einführung des Screenings von Drittstaatsangehörigen an den Außengrenzen sind Identitäts- und Sicherheitskontrollen vorgesehen, die auf der Abfrage der einschlägigen Informationssysteme der einzelnen Mitgliedstaaten und der EU beruhen. Zur Durchführung dieser Kontrollen müssen die Rechtsgrundlagen der entsprechenden EU-Systeme für Grenzmanagement und Sicherheit geändert werden, und das Europäische Parlament soll im April über eine Trilog-Vereinbarung in dieser Angelegenheit abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Costica DUMBRAVA

Zusammenfassung : Die Migrationskrise in Europa im Jahr 2015 hat dazu geführt, dass bestehende EU-Rechtsvorschriften im Asylbereich hinterfragt werden. Dies betrifft insbesondere die Kriterien, nach denen Asylbewerber im Einklang mit der Anerkennungsrichtlinie Anspruch auf internationalen Schutzstatus haben können. Im Juli 2016 legte die Kommission einen Vorschlag vor, um die Richtlinie durch eine Verordnung zu ersetzen, wodurch einheitliche Normen für die Anerkennung von Schutzbedürftigen und für die Rechte, die Personen mit Anspruch auf internationalen Schutz gewährt werden, festgelegt wurden. Das Parlament wird voraussichtlich während der April-I-Plenartagung in erster Lesung über die im Dezember 2023 erzielte Einigung im Trilog abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Anja RADJENOVIC

Zusammenfassung : Im September 2020 nahm die Kommission im Rahmen des Migrations- und Asylpakets der EU einen Vorschlag zum Asyl- und Migrationsmanagement an. Damit würde die Dublin-Verordnung von 2013 ersetzt, in der festgelegt wird, welcher EU-Mitgliedstaat für die Prüfung von Asylanträgen zuständig ist. Mit dem Vorschlag werden die derzeitigen Kriterien für die Bestimmung dieser Zuständigkeit zwar im Wesentlichen beibehalten, doch sollen auch Ergänzungen zu der bestehenden Verordnung vorgenommen werden, insbesondere im Hinblick auf die Solidarität und die Aufteilung der Verantwortlichkeiten in Bezug auf Asylsuchende zwischen den Mitgliedstaaten. Auf der Plenartagung April I soll das Europäische Parlament über seinen Standpunkt in erster Lesung zu der im Dezember 2023 im Zuge von interinstitutionellen Verhandlungen erzielten Einigung abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Anja RADJENOVIC

Zusammenfassung : Aufgrund des anhaltenden Drucks an den Außengrenzen der EU und der hohen Zahl von Asylanträgen kamen Mängel an den Grenzen sowie Schwachstellen und Ungleichgewichte zwischen den Asylsystemen der einzelnen Mitgliedstaaten zum Vorschein. Im Dezember 2020 legte die Kommission ein neues Migrations- und Asylpaket vor, einschließlich eines Vorschlags für eine Verordnung zur Einführung des Screenings von irregulär an den Außengrenzen der EU ankommenden Drittstaatsangehörigen. Damit sollen die Migrations- und Asylverfahren der EU gestrafft werden, indem irreguläre Migranten und Asylsuchende rasch ermittelt und den geeigneten Verfahren zugeführt werden. Das Europäische Parlament soll im April über die von den beiden gesetzgebenden Organen im Dezember erzielte Einigung abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Costica DUMBRAVA

Zusammenfassung : Böden sind äußerst vielfältig, beherbergen mehr als 25 % der gesamten biologischen Vielfalt und sind der zweitgrößte Kohlenstoffspeicher der Erde. Auf der ersten Plenartagung im April 2024 nimmt das Europäische Parlament voraussichtlich seinen Standpunkt in erster Lesung zu einem Vorschlag der Kommission zur Schaffung des ersten EU-weiten gemeinsamen Rahmens für Böden an.

Verfasser(in) : Vivienne HALLEUX

Zusammenfassung : Im Februar 2023 schlug die Kommission eine Überarbeitung der Verordnung (EU) 2019/1242 zur Festlegung von CO2-Emissionsnormen für neue schwere Nutzfahrzeuge in der EU vor. Die vorgeschlagenen Änderungen würden den Geltungsbereich der Verordnung auf Stadtbusse, Reisebusse, Anhänger und weitere Lkw-Typen ausweiten. Ziel ist es, die durchschnittlichen CO2-Emissionen neuer schwerer Nutzfahrzeuge bis 2040 um 90 % im Vergleich zum Jahr 2019 zu senken. Der Rat und das Parlament haben ihre Standpunkte im Oktober 2023 bzw. bei der November-II-Plenartagung 2023 festgelegt. Nachdem im Januar 2024 eine Einigung im Trilog erzielt wurde, soll das Parlament bei seiner April-I-Plenartagung 2024 über den vereinbarten Text abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Gregor ERBACH

Zusammenfassung : Am 14. März 2023 schlug die Kommission eine Reform des Strommarkts vor, um die Preisvolatilität für die Verbraucher zu verringern und die Bedingungen für Investitionen in CO2-arme Energie zu verbessern. Die beiden gesetzgebenden Organe erzielten im Dezember 2023 eine vorläufige Einigung über den Vorschlag zur Verbesserung der Gestaltung des EU-Strommarkts. Das Europäische Parlament wird bei seiner April-I-Plenartagung 2024 über den vereinbarten Text abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Agnieszka WIDUTO

Zusammenfassung : Mit der CO2-Entnahme müssen die verbleibenden schwer zu verringernden Emissionen abgedeckt werden, um Klimaneutralität bis 2050 zu erreichen und ab 2050 negative Emissionen gemäß dem Europäischen Klimagesetz zu erzielen. Der vorgeschlagene Zertifizierungsrahmen zielt darauf ab, einen transparenten und glaubwürdigen Steuerungsrahmen für den Aufbau von Vertrauen in die in der EU zertifizierte CO2-Entnahme sicherzustellen und Anreize für die weitere Anwendung zu schaffen. Im Februar 2024 erzielten die beiden gesetzgebenden Organe eine vorläufige Einigung. Das Europäische Parlament stimmt voraussichtlich auf der April-I-Plenartagung über den endgültigen Text ab.

Verfasser(in) : LISELOTTE JENSEN

Zusammenfassung : Auf der April-I-Plenartagung soll das Europäische Parlament über zwei Vorschläge zur Stärkung der Befugnisse und des Mandats der nationalen Gleichstellungsstellen abstimmen. Mit diesen Vorschlägen soll Diskriminierung aus Gründen des Geschlechts, der Rasse, der Religion oder der Weltanschauung, einer Behinderung, des Alters oder der sexuellen Ausrichtung bekämpft werden.

Verfasser(in) : Ionel ZAMFIR

Zusammenfassung : Auf der April-I-Plenartagung nimmt das Europäische Parlament voraussichtlich seinen Standpunkt in erster Lesung zu zwei Vorschlägen der Kommission zur Überarbeitung des EU-Arzneimittelrechts an. Durch die Überarbeitung soll die Versorgungssicherheit bei Arzneimitteln verbessert werden, indem Arzneimittel in allen Ländern der EU besser verfügbar, zugänglicher und erschwinglicher gemacht werden und gleichzeitig die Attraktivität der pharmazeutischen Industrie in der EU durch die Förderung von Forschung und Innovation gestärkt wird.

Verfasser(in) : Laurence AMAND-EECKHOUT

Zusammenfassung : Das Europäische Parlament soll auf seiner April-I-Plenartagung über die Entlastung für die Ausführung des EU-Haushaltsplans 2022 abstimmen. Der Haushaltskontrollausschuss (CONT) empfiehlt, die Entlastung für die Ausführung von acht Einzelplänen des EU-Haushaltsplans und für die Europäische Staatsanwaltschaft zu erteilen. Der Ausschuss empfiehlt den Aufschub des Beschlusses über die Entlastung des Europäischen Rates und des Rates.

Verfasser(in) : TIM ULRICH PETERS

Zusammenfassung : Das Parlament soll bei seiner April-I-Plenartagung entscheiden, ob den verschiedenen Einrichtungen und Organen der EU Entlastung für das Haushaltsjahr 2022 erteilt wird. Dabei stimmt es u. a. über den Bericht ab, der sich auf die Kommission bezieht. Seit 2021 wird das Entlastungsverfahren auch auf das Zuschusselement der Aufbau- und Resilienzfazilität (ARF) im Rahmen des Aufbauinstruments angewandt. Daher enthält der Bericht über die Kommission auch ein Kapitel zur ARF. Davon getrennt wird der Kommission Entlastung erteilt, was die Verwaltung der Europäischen Entwicklungsfonds (EEF) betrifft. Der Haushaltskontrollausschuss (CONT) empfiehlt dem Parlament, der Kommission, allen sechs Exekutivagenturen und den EEF Entlastung für die Ausführung des Haushaltsplans 2022 zu erteilen.

Verfasser(in) : KAROLINE KOWALD

Zusammenfassung : Seit dem Inkrafttreten der Datenschutz-Grundverordnung (DSGVO) im Jahr 2018 haben das Europäische Parlament und Organisationen der Zivilgesellschaft Mängel bei den Durchsetzungsverfahren bei der grenzüberschreitenden Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten gemeldet. Die Kommission hat daher neue Vorschriften vorgeschlagen, um den unterschiedlichen Verfahrensansätzen der verschiedenen nationalen Datenschutzbehörden entgegenzuwirken. Das Parlament wird voraussichtlich während der April-I-Plenartagung über seinen Standpunkt abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : KATRIEN LUYTEN

Zusammenfassung : Mit dem Vorschlag der Kommission für eine Verordnung zur Einführung eines gemeinsamen Asylverfahrens aus dem Jahr 2020 soll ein vereinheitlichtes gemeinsames EU-Asylverfahren eingeführt werden. Ziel ist es, die Unterschiede bei den Anerkennungsquoten zwischen den Mitgliedstaaten zu verringern, Sekundärmigration zu verhindern und in der gesamten EU die gleichen Verfahrensgarantien sicherzustellen. Asylanträge sollen schneller bearbeitet werden, wobei für offensichtlich unbegründete und unzulässige Anträge erheblich kürzere Fristen vorgesehen sind. Auf der April-I-Plenartagung soll das Europäische Parlament über seinen Standpunkt in erster Lesung zu der im Dezember 2023 im Zuge von interinstitutionellen Verhandlungen erzielten Einigung abstimmen.

Verfasser(in) : Anita ORAV

Zusammenfassung : Im Jahr 2020 schlug die Kommission ein neues Migrations- und Asylpaket vor, das einen Vorschlag für eine Verordnung zur Bewältigung von Krisensituationen und Situationen höherer Gewalt im Bereich Migration und Asyl umfasst. Ziel ist es, einen Mechanismus für den Umgang mit massiven Zuströmen von irregulären Migranten in einem Mitgliedstaat zu schaffen. Bei der April-I-Plenartagung soll im Parlament in erster Lesung über die Einigung von Dezember 2023 abgestimmt werden.

Verfasser(in) : Anita ORAV