Keres

With the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) policy, the European Union seeks to develop a modern, efficient and climate-friendly network covering all transport modes. Despite the TEN-T's importance for the economy and society, and despite the binding timelines and targeted financial support, it risks not being completed as planned. This is partly due to complex administrative procedures linked to permit-granting for cross-border projects as well as broader regulatory uncertainty, often resulting ...

During the May plenary session, Parliament is due to vote on a report adopted by its Environment Committee, on a proposal aimed at ensuring EU compliance with its obligations as a party to the 1998 Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters.

This At A Glance summarises the key findings of the original study, which analysed the role and development of Points of Single Contact and other information services. The study reviewed recent policy documents, and identified a range of weaknesses for the provision of contact points. The main recommendations were to improve monitoring (using the indicators and the Single Market Scoreboard) and make use of infringement proceedings in case of non-compliance. The actions could be built on the instruments ...

Removing obstacles to investments in infrastructure projects, like the Trans-European Transport network (TEN-T), contributes to the Investment Plan for Europe. The European Commission recently issued a legislative proposal to streamline measures for advancing realisation of the TEN-T, as problems concerning delays and legal uncertainties impact on the effective completion. This briefing provides an initial analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the European Commission’s impact assessment accompanying ...

This paper provides an analysis of two crucial and interconnected aspects of the current legal framework on the investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF): the procedural safeguards for the individuals subject to the administrative investigations conducted by OLAF and the admissibility in evidence of OLAF Final Reports in national criminal proceedings. The state of the art and its shortcomings are analysed in the double perspective of the coherent protection of the EU’s financial ...

This paper, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Budgetary Affairs, at the request of the Committee on Budgetary Control, analyses the future cooperation between OLAF and the EPPO, two bodies specialised in the protection of the Union’s financial interests. Three main dimensions of their cooperation are analysed, as well as elements of complexity that may influence it. The paper highlights elements essential for their close cooperation and complementarity, especially considering ...

This study analyses the closure process for programmes funded under the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund in 2007-13. It details the regulatory provisions, guidance and support provided for closure in 2007-13 and assesses the closure experiences of programme authorities before drawing lessons and developing conclusions and recommendations for EU-level institutions and programme authorities.

The ERANET scheme, developed in 2002, was the first instrument to support joint programming of national research activities. The scheme created networks of programme owners and programme managers from national or regional research funding institutions, to foster mutual knowledge and exchange of good practices. However, the instrument revealed existing national administrative and legal barriers that prevent the implementation of transnational joint programmes, and thus had a limited impact on the ...

To date, the United States has been a world leader in admitting people fleeing conflicts and persecution to settle on its territory. However, the nation wants to choose who it admits as a refugee. While refugees resettled by the US government enjoy generous support, asylum-seekers coming to the country on their own initiative risk facing tougher treatment.

Traditionally, Canada has been a leading nation in accepting refugees through the UN. It has a comprehensive programme for resettling refugees, which assigns an important role to private sponsors. However, a number of legislative changes in recent years, aiming at deterring 'irregular arrivals' of asylum-seekers, have raised concerns about human rights violations.