The European Council is increasingly central to the governance of the European Union. Even if national parliaments have originally focused their involvement in EU affairs on the ordinary legislative process, most of the chambers have started to develop specific activities, before or after...

This study reviews several instruments to finance environmentally sound recycling of ships. The main focus is on a levy and fund system as per an amendment by Mr Carl Schlyter, MEP, to the Commission’s proposal.

Independent candidates remain marginal vote-getters in the vast majority of elections in which they compete. However, they do regularly win seats in legislative assemblies in a number of European countries, and occasionally achieve surprise victories in others. Half of the EU member states...

This study looks at the possibilities to complement the general data protection framework with specific rules for employment relations. Data protection in employment relations clearly touches on labour law. The specific actors involved, the social partners, and the strategies used in the past to...

On 23 January 2013, the Coordinators of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) requested a Cost of Non-Europe report with regard to the Single Market for Energy to support the preparation of an own-initiative report entitled ‘Making the internal energy market work’...

This study examines the triangular relationship between fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law in the EU and the challenges that arise in reflecting on ways to strengthen EU competences in these terrains. It analyses the current ‘state of play’ and provides a map of EU-level...

This study is a literature review about the ability of undocumented migrant women who experience domestic violence to access shelter and support. The study brings together data on characteristics of this group of women and the difficulties they face in seeking help. It includes eight case...

The study collates information on discrimination against consumers on grounds of place of residence or nationality in the Digital Single Market (DSM). Collected evidence indicates such practices as refusals to sell or discriminatory conditions depriving consumers of access to goods and services...

This report provides an overview of the development of the negotiations within the UNFCCC since COP 18 in Doha. It summarises the key developments in 2013 and provides short overviews for all negotiation areas. The overview also includes a state of play of the Doha Climate Gateway and explains...

The negative external effects of profit orientated businesses on the environment and society are most visible and destructive in developing countries, where compensation measures for adversely affected groups rarely exist and where high corruption rates often impede meaningful enforcement of...