The European Commission estimates that the global market for the Internet of Things (“IoT”) will grow to 75.4 billion devices by 2023. It also estimates that the economic value of spectrum enabled services is at present worth €500 billion per year. This is expected to increase by 200% – up to €1 trillion a year … Continue Reading
Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionise many industries; it has been said that “blockchain will do to the financial system what the internet did to media”. Its most famous use is its role as the architecture of the cryptocurrency Bitcoin, however it has many other potential uses in the financial sector, for instance in … Continue Reading
The UK’s anti-slavery commissioner resigns On 17 May 2018, the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Kevin Hyland OBE, announced his imminent resignation. While praising the Prime Minister’s leadership in the fight against modern slavery, he expressed concern about Home Office interference with the role, and the hope that any future Commissioner would be assured of independence. … Continue Reading
Summary Next week is a committee week in the European Parliament. It is also the last week of parliamentary activities before the summer break. The Parliament will resume its activities on August 27, 2018. The Week Ahead in the European Parliament will therefore return on August 24, 2018. On Monday afternoon, the Committee on Environment, … Continue Reading
Summary Next week is a plenary week in Strasbourg, France. Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will hold a number of important votes, committee meetings and debates. In addition, the week will see visits from the Polish Prime Minister and the Angolan President, as well as from the Austrian Chancellor and Bulgarian President for the … Continue Reading
Summary Next week is committee and political group week in the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will prepare for the plenary session in the week of July 2. However, this week also sees a number of interesting votes, debates, and committee meetings. On Monday, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home … Continue Reading
Transatlantic trade tensions, the Brexit negotiations, migration, and Eurozone reform will dominate the June 28 European Council. Each of these issues are potentially divisive, and the leaders know that a new dose of solidarity will be needed to address them properly. They also know that next year will see additional challenges to the cohesion and … Continue Reading
Summary Next week is a Committee week in the European Parliament (“EP”). The week will see many votes, debates and committee meetings. On Monday, Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) from the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (“ECON”) will hold a number of important votes. Inter alia, the Committee will vote on the proposed … Continue Reading
Summary Next week is plenary week in Strasbourg, France. A number of important votes, committee meetings and debates will take place. In addition, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will visit the Parliament on Wednesday to discuss the future of Europe with Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. During Monday’s plenary … Continue Reading
Summary After this week’s plenary in Strasbourg, the upcoming week will see the Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) gather in Brussels for a committee and political group week. Next week also marks the 30th anniversary for the European Parliament’s annual Sakharov Prize, awarded to individuals or groups who have made an exceptional contribution to … Continue Reading
Summary The coming week will see the European Parliament hold a plenary setting in Strasbourg, France. Besides important votes, debates and committee meetings, this week will see visits from two Presidents and a Prime Minister. The first session on Monday focuses on fisheries. Members of European Parliament (“MEPs”) will debate the multi-annual plan for demersal … Continue Reading
Introduction Health technology assessment (“HTA”) is a multidisciplinary assessment process that seeks to evaluate the added therapeutic value of health technologies (i.e., drugs, certain medical devices, medical treatments including surgical procedures, and measures for disease prevention and diagnosis) based on both clinical and non-clinical elements. Until now, HTA has strictly fallen in the purview of … Continue Reading
In light of increasing discussion about the public policy implications of encryption, opinions among EU Member States on how best to tackle the issue are split. Certain Member States, such as the UK, have repeatedly called for uninhibited access by national authorities to encrypted messages for national security purposes. Others recognize the legitimate security interests … Continue Reading
Four major issues dominated the EU agenda in the first quarter of 2018: institutional adaptations in view of next year’s elections and appointments; a threat by the United States to impose tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium; a proposal for a tax on technology companies; and the beginning of the second phase of the … Continue Reading
Summary Next week is a political group week in the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will hold meetings with their respective political party to prepare the plenary session, to be held in Strasbourg from May 28 to 31. However, there will also be a few interesting (committee) meetings. The upcoming week also … Continue Reading
Summary By contrast to last week, which was quieter in Brussels due to the Parliamentary recess and bank holidays, the week ahead will see a number of committee meetings and votes. On Monday, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs will discuss new challenges to the labor market and social security systems posed by digitalization … Continue Reading
Given recent developments in the global economy, especially Brexit and the Trump administration’s “America First” policy, it is worth assessing how Africa’s three largest commercial partners—China, the European Union, and the United States—are likely to impact the region in the near future as it relates to trade and investment trends. The China-in-Africa story may be … Continue Reading
On April 17, 2018, the European Commission published the e-Evidence Initiative, long-awaited legislation that would create a new framework for European Union (“EU”) Member States to access content data and metadata (collectively “e-evidence”) across national borders. The European Commission released the proposal less than one month after the United States created its own framework governing … Continue Reading
Reflecting evidence from 280 witnesses from the government, academia and industry, and nine months of investigation, the UK House of Lords Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence published its report “AI in the UK: ready, willing and able?” on April 16, 2018 (the Report). The Report considers the future of AI in the UK, from perceived … Continue Reading
Summary Due to the bank holidays, next week will be a relatively calm week in the European Parliament. However, there will be a mini plenary session and one committee meeting. On Wednesday, Members of Parliament (“MEPs”) will debate various topics, including the Post-2020 budget proposal. On March 14, MEPs adopted a resolution in which they … Continue Reading
Summary Next week will be a committee week in the European Parliament. Interesting votes, discussions and events will take place. On Tuesday, the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (“INTA”) will debate the draft parliamentary report on the Commission’s proposal for macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. The Commission proposes that the EU provide additional financial assistance … Continue Reading
Summary Next week, there will be a plenary sitting of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Several significant debates, votes and committee meetings will take place. On Monday, Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will debate a report by Norbert Lins MEP (DE, EPP) on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land … Continue Reading
Summary Next week will be a political group week in the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”) will return from their Easter break and gear up for the Parliament’s plenary session that will be held from April 16 to 19, in Strasbourg. A few interesting meetings will also take place in committee. On … Continue Reading
Summary Next week is a constituency week for Members of the European Parliament (“MEPs”). MEPs will go back to their home countries to handle national issues, or convene in their parliamentary delegations to work on matters related to non-EU Member States, after a short Easter break. This past week, however, a number of initiatives were … Continue Reading
