Section: European Parliamentary Research Service Blog (EU)
How the EU budget is spent: European Neighbourhood Instrument
Written by Matthew Parry, © M.studio / Fotolia The European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) was established in 2014 by Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 and endowed with a budget of just over €15.4 billion for the 2014-2020 period. The ENI funds EU efforts to cooperate with and promote development in 16 countries and territories on its eastern and...
Implementing the EU global strategy: who, what and how?
Written by Patryk Pawlak, EPRS Policy Roundtable: ‘ The EU’s Global Strategy: from Vision to Action ‘ The EU global strategy, presented by High Representative Federica Mogherini in June 2016, aims to give the European Union a collective sense of direction in dealing with external challenges like the conflict in Syria, sanctions on Russia,...
Outcome of the European Council of 20-21 October 2016
Written by Ralf Drachenberg and Suzana Anghel, Migration was the main topic at the European Council of 20-21 October 2016, and featured most prominently in its conclusions. Other topics discussed were global and economic issues, external relations and trade issues, in particular the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with Canada. This was...
The European Neighbourhood Policy
Written by Philippe Perchoc, Since 2004, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) has provided a framework for relations between the EU and its 16 geographically closest eastern and southern neighbours, affording enhanced cooperation and access to the EU market under bilateral action plans, which are intended to lead eventually to association...
Counter-terrorist sanctions regimes: Legal framework and challenges at UN and EU levels
Written by Carmen-Cristina Cîrlig, © Argus / Fotolia Targeted sanctions against individuals and entities suspected of supporting terrorism are an important part of the United Nations Security Council’s counter-terrorism programme. Under the main counter-terrorist sanctions regimes created under Chapter VII of the United Nations (UN)...
Outlook for the European Council of 20-21 October 2016
Written by Ralf Drachenberg and Izabela Bacian, doom.ko/shutterstock The 20-21 October 2016 European Council meeting will focus primarily on migration and trade issues, but will also address global economic issues and external relations. On migration, EU leaders will most likely concentrate on progress on the Partnership Framework of cooperation...
A guide to the Sakharov Prize (2016)
fotolia / ibreakstock Find out more on the procedure related to the European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought and how its nominees are chosen. Each year the European Parliament awards the Sakharov to honour individuals or organisations for their efforts on behalf of human rights and fundamental freedoms. This prize was set up in...
The EU’s Russia policy: Five guiding principles
Written by Martin Russell, © Dugwy / Fotolia While EU-Russia relations had long been difficult, in 2013 they took an abrupt turn for the worse, after Ukraine signed an association agreement with the EU, and Russia responded with attacks on its former ally in spring 2014. The latest setback came in October 2016, following Western condemnation of...
Russia and security in Europe [What Think Tanks are Thinking]
Written by Marcin Grajewski, Russia’s assertive foreign policy, its annexation of Crimea and conflict with Ukraine have challenged the post-Cold War security order in Europe, highlighting the need for NATO and the European Union to bolster defence strategies, according to many analysts and politicians. The EU, along with the United States,...
Human rights in Russia
Written by Martin Russell, © zatvorniknik / Fotolia Russia is a signatory to several international human rights treaties and, as a member of the Council of Europe, the European Convention on Human Rights. Its constitution directly guarantees the human rights of Russian citizens, which are also protected by institutions such as a Human Rights...
