Issue 109
September 2022
ISSN 2315-0017
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Spotlight on the 2022 State of the Union
In September each year, the president of the European Commission delivers the annual State of the Union address before the European Parliament. In the State of the Union, the president sets out her vision on how to address the challenges facing the European Union in the year ahead and contribute to shaping the future of the EU. The address takes stock of the achievements of the past year and presents the priorities for the year ahead.
On 14 September 2022, President von der Leyen delivered her third State of the Union address,recalling that ‘never before has this Parliament debated the State of our Union with war raging on European soil’. The president’s message was one of a Union that stands together with resolve, courage and solidarity for democracy, in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and its war on Europe’s economy and values. The president recalled the tremendous solidarity of Europeans with Ukraine and its people, and outlined the flagship initiatives which the Commission plans to undertake in the coming year, with many of them being made in response to recommendations citizens made through the Conference on the Future of Europe. Among them are plans to support Europeans in weathering the energy crisis, investing further in renewable energy and supporting the business environment, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to strengthen Europe’s future competitiveness.
The Commission of President von de Leyen started its work in December 2019, setting an ambitious course towards a greener, more digital and fairer European Union. Since then, it has stayed the course and delivered on all headline ambitions, while managing two unprecedented crises – the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine. Our September newsletter is dedicated to the State of the Union address and the related initiatives, while presenting publications on many other interesting topics: from examining the relation between public health and the economy to presenting the EU to teens.
State of the Union 2022 PDF
This is the 2022 State of the Union address by the president of the European Commission. The publication includes President von der Leyen’s letter of intent to the president of the European Parliament and the presidency of the Council, in which she details the actions the Commission intends to take in the following year. It also details the achievements of the von der Leyen Commission and a timeline of the key moments from the last year.
Soon to be available in all official languages of the EU
Conference on the Future of Europe PDF/Paper
Report on the final outcome – May 2022
The Conference on the Future of Europe was a year-long democratic exercise that generated over 18 000 ideas from across the European Union and culminated in Strasbourg 9 May 2022 – Europe Day. This publication is the final report that the presidents of the EU institutions received at the conclusion of the conference. It includes 49 proposals and more than 300 proposed measures on how to achieve them. The EU institutions are following up on the report.
Available in English
EU emergency intervention to reduce electricity bills in Europe PDF
Russia’s weaponisation of gas flows is affecting EU and global energy markets. European gas prices have skyrocketed, which, in turn, has had an impact on electricity prices. The Commission is proposing an emergency intervention with three tools to help Europeans pay their bills and to speed up the green transition.
Available in all official languages of the EU, along with Russian and Ukrainian
Cyber Resilience Act PDF
On 14 September, the Commission presented a proposal for a new Cyber Resilience Act, which would be the first-ever EU-wide legislation of its kind, as was announced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her September 2021 State of the Union address. The act would introduce mandatory cybersecurity requirements for hardware and software products, throughout their whole life cycle, and is intended to protect consumers and businesses from products with inadequate security features. Find out more in this factsheet.
Available in English, French and German
A European Gas Demand Reduction Plan PDF
Europe is facing the possibility of a gas shortage this winter, against the background of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Coordinated action is needed now, with efforts by all Member States to reduce gas demand. This factsheet presents how to do this.
Available in all official languages of the EU, along with Russian and Ukrainian
Forced Labour Product Ban PDF
This factsheet concerns forced labour, which continues to be a major global issue. The latest estimates from the International Labour Organization put the global number of people in forced labour at 27.6 million. On 14 September, the Commission presented a proposal to prohibit products made with forced labour on the EU market.
Available in English, French and German
Research and innovation
CORDIS Results Pack on Open Innovation Test Beds PDF
Improving access to knowledge to accelerate European innovation
Often, small and medium-sized enterprises and industrial start-ups cannot afford to invest in their own testing and validation infrastructures. That is why the EU has invested more than EUR 285 million to support access to open innovation test beds. These provide access to the physical facilities and services required for the development, testing and upscaling of nanotechnology and advanced materials. The open innovation test beds featured in this results pack cover a broad range of industries, reflecting the far-reaching potential of this model.
Available in English
(Individual article also available in English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish on the CORDIS website )
Also out recently
European Investment Bank Group Sustainability Report 2021 PDF
In 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to disrupt lives and businesses around the globe. At the same time, it became clear that the climate and environment crises had reached emergency levels. The annual European Investment Bank Group Sustainability Report provides an overview of the group’s operations, the objective of which is to support smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. It also provides an overview of the impact of these operations in the context of challenging conditions at the European and global levels.
Available in English
2021 – A Year in Review PDF
This brochure looks back on some of the major initiatives and achievements of the European Economic and Social Committee in 2021 and how these echoed across Europe. It also looks at their effects on civil-society organisations and on decisions made by European policymakers.
Available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish
The ECB and the Ukraine War PDF
Threats to price, economic and financial stability
As a consequence of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, monetary policy in the euro area is severely challenged by the convergent threats to price, economic and financial stability. This paper examines the situation and argues that the burden of the euro-area stability should not be left entirely on the shoulders of the European Central Bank. The successful synergic coordination of monetary policy with central and national fiscal policies inaugurated in response to the pandemic should be strengthened.
Available in English
You may also like
The trade-off between public health and the economy in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic PDF
The COVID-19 crisis has profoundly affected the design of stabilisation policies. However, in comparison to other recessions witnessed in the last decades, this crisis has caused millions of fatalities globally. Since vaccines took time to be developed, lockdown policies were the first line of defence against epidemic outbreaks. But since lockdowns reduce economic activity, the costs and benefits of these policies were, and still are, a source of debate. The main contention of this interesting paper is that the so-called trade-off between health and the economy could in fact be weaker than previously thought.
Available in English
Europe’s Civil Society PDF/Paper
Still under pressure – update 2022
The role of civil society is central to Europe’s fundamental rights architecture. From supporting people affected by the pandemic to helping those fleeing the war in Ukraine, civil society plays a crucial role in upholding people’s rights. This report provides an overview of the many ways in which civil society contributes to the checks and balances that underpin the rule of law.
Available in English
Let’s Explore Europe! PDF
We come from different countries and speak different languages, but Europe is the home we share. Countries have been working together since the very beginning of the EU to help each other and make sure they live together in peace. Soon it will be your generation’s turn to take charge. You’re the future of the EU! So let’s learn more about the EU together with this book addressed mainly to 12- to 15-year-olds.
Available in all official languages of the EU
Our news
This year’s edition of the EU Datathon, the annual EU open data competition, promises to be particularly noteworthy. With 159 entries from 38 countries, the highest number in the EU Datathon’s history, we can expect an exciting finale.
Join us for the event, which will take place on 20 October 2022! Book your place to be there, meet the finalists, join in the discussions and help choose the winner of the Public Choice Award!
To find out more, join or follow the event, visit the EU Datathon website or follow us on Twitter (@EU_opendata) with the hashtag #EUDatathon.
‘TED: Innovating EU public procurement’: info session in the European Week of Regions and Cities 2022
As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities, we would like to invite you to participate in our virtual info session 'TED: Innovating EU public procurement' on Tuesday 11 October 2022 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Europe/Brussels time).
Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) helps public authorities reach out to businesses across the EU and provides European enterprises access to over 670 000 public procurement notices per year. Join the info session to master TED and familiarise yourself with its latest features, including procurement forms (eForms) for easy access to markets abroad and the public procurement data space.
To register, access the EU Week of Regions 2022 platform, click on the ‘Join the eventʼ button and create your profile. Once your profile is created you can add the TED session to your schedule. For more detailed information read this short user guide.
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