Search

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 ...

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 ...

In February 2023, the European Commission proposed a regulation aimed at reducing the cost of deploying gigabit electronic communications networks, and repealing Directive 2014/61/EU (the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive). After three rounds of trilogue meetings, the Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the text in February 2024, and now need to formally adopt it. Parliament is scheduled to vote on the text during its second April plenary session.

In March 2023, the European Commission proposed a regulation to strengthen the EU's ecosystem for net-zero technology products manufacturing ('net-zero industry act' – NZIA). During its April II plenary session, the European Parliament is due to vote on the political agreement reached by the co-legislators on 6 February 2024.

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.

In November 2022, the European Commission tabled a pair of proposals as part of a 'design package', as a step towards coherent rules fit for purpose in today's digital age and more efficient for applicants. The first proposal was the amendment of the Community Design Regulation and the second, the recast of the Design Directive. During its March 2024 plenary session, the European Parliament is set to vote on the political agreement on both files reached in trilogue negotiations with the Council.

The deployment of clean energy technologies required to support the achievement of Europe's 2030 and 2050 climate targets is considerable. Europe already largely imports these technologies, and like many third countries is increasing efforts to expand clean energy manufacturing capacity to reduce strategic dependencies for key products. On 16 March 2023, the Commission put forward a proposal for a 'net-zero industry act' that aims to expand the manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies in the ...

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?

In June 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation establishing a new platform for strategic technologies for Europe (STEP). After three rounds of trilogue meetings, the Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the text on 7 February 2024, and now need to formally adopt it. Parliament is due to vote on the text during its second February plenary session.