European Parliamentary Research Service

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Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) with independent factual analyses that are also publicly available."/> <meta itemprop="image" content="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/images/20180626PHT06601/20180626PHT06601_original.jpg"> <meta name="description" content="The Research Service provides Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) with independent factual analyses that are also publicly available."/> <meta name="available" content="26-06-2018"> <meta name="last-modified" content="30-09-2024"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta property="twitter:site" content="Europarl_EN"> <meta property="twitter:title" content="European Parliamentary Research Service"> <meta property="twitter:description" content="The Research Service provides Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) with independent factual analyses that are also publicly available."> <meta property="twitter:image" 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data-view750="12" data-view640="8" data-view480="8" data-view320="4"> <div class="ep_gridrow"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_header" data-view1200="8" data-view1020="8" data-view750="12" data-view640="8" data-view480="8" data-view320="4"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h1 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level1"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS)</span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></div> </div> </h1> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="8" data-view1020="8" data-view750="12" data-view640="8" data-view480="8" data-view320="4"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" spellcheck="false"> <p>The European Parliament's in-house research service.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow ep-o_product ep-layout_greycolor ep-layout_border"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn" data-view1200="2" data-view1020="2" data-view750="0" data-view640="0" data-view480="0" data-view320="0"></div> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="8" data-view1020="8" data-view750="12" data-view640="8" data-view480="8" data-view320="4"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" spellcheck="false"> <p><strong>Empowering through knowledge</strong></p> <p>EPRS’ mission is to provide Members of the European Parliament, and where appropriate parliamentary committees, with independent, objective and authoritative analysis of, and research on, policy issues relating to the European Union, in order to assist them in their parliamentary work.</p> <p>EPRS provides a comprehensive range of products and services, backed by specialist internal expertise and knowledge sources in all policy fields, so empowering Members and committees through knowledge and contributing to the Parliament’s effectiveness and influence as an institution. EPRS also supports and promotes parliamentary outreach to the wider public.</p> </div> <div class="ep-a_links ep-layout_titlehidden"> <div class="ep_list"> <div class=""> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_page"><span class="ep_name">Download the EPRS app to browse publications: <br><ul class="ep_list_split"><li><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ep-research-service/id1317036784?mt=8" target="_blank"><span class="ep_name">On App Store </span><span class="ep_hidden">Go to the website</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.europa.publications.eprs&hl=en" target="_blank"><span class="ep_name">On Google play </span><span class="ep_hidden">Go to the website</span></a></li> </ul></span><span class="ep_icon"> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn" data-view1200="2" data-view1020="2" data-view750="0" data-view640="0" data-view480="0" data-view320="0"> </div> <div class="ep_gridcolumn" data-view1200="8" data-view1020="8" data-view750="12" data-view640="8" data-view480="8" data-view320="4"> <div class="ep_gridrow"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep_gridcolumn ep-m_header"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2-large"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" spellcheck="false">Support for members</span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></div> </div> </h2> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <div class="ep-a_media ep-layout_video"> <figure><a class="ep_media ep-layout_image" target="_blank" title="The video presents the roles and te mission of the European Parliamentary Research Service, which is the European Parliament's in-house research department and think tank." href="https://youtu.be/sMBLKXKhOhE"> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_title"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">EPRS video presentation</span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></div> <div class="ep-p_image ep-layout_video"> <div class="ep_image"><img src="/news/img/mediasize_video.png" alt="" title=""><span class="ep_small" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/eprs-promotion-2024.png");"> </span><span class="ep_medium" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/eprs-promotion-2024.png");"> </span><span class="ep_large" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/eprs-promotion-2024.png");"> </span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></div> </div> </a></figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="8" data-view1020="8" data-view750="12" data-view640="8" data-view480="8" data-view320="4"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <div class="ep-a_media" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320=""> <figure> <div class="ep_media ep-layout_image"> <div class="ep-p_image ep-layout_fixedheight"> <div class="ep_image"><img src="/news/img/fixedheight_thumb.png" alt="" title=""><span class="ep_small" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/information_offices_small.jpg");"> </span><span class="ep_medium" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/information_offices_medium.jpg");"> </span><span class="ep_large" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/information_offices_large.jpg");"> </span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></div> </div> </div> </figure> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow ep-o_productlist" data-layout480="separation" data-layout320="separation"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="4" data-view1020="4" data-view750="6" data-view640="4" data-view480="8" data-view320="4" data-layout1200="left" data-layout1020="left" data-layout750="left" data-layout640="left" data-layout480="center-link" data-layout320="center-link"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">Research for Members</span></div> </div> </h2> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false" spellcheck="false"> <p>EPRS produces a comprehensive range of content-rich and easy-to-read publications on major EU policies, issues and legislation. It also answers requests for research and analysis from MEPs and their staff.</p> </div> <div class="ep-a_links ep-layout_titlehidden"> <ul class="ep_list"> <li> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_page ep-layout_page"><a href="/thinktank/en/home.html" target="_self"><span class="ep_name">EP Think Tank <span class="ep_hidden">Go to the page</span></span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></a></div> </li> <li> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_page ep-layout_page"><a href="http://epthinktank.eu/" target="_blank"><span class="ep_name">EPRS Blog <span class="ep_hidden">Go to the website</span></span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></a></div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="4" data-view1020="4" data-view750="6" data-view640="4" data-view480="8" data-view320="4" data-layout1200="left" data-layout1020="left" data-layout750="left" data-layout640="left" data-layout480="center-link" data-layout320="center-link"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">Legislative Train</span></div> </div> </h2> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false" spellcheck="false"> <p>The Legislative Train Schedule animated tool monitors progress on the main legislative files in the five-year-term of the current European Parliament.</p> </div> <div class="ep-a_links ep-layout_titlehidden"> <div class="ep_list"> <div class=""> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_page ep-layout_page"><a href="/legislative-train/" target="_self"><span class="ep_name"><span class="ep_linklabel">Legislative Train Schedule</span><span class="ep_hidden">: </span><span class="ep_hidden">Go to the page</span></span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="4" data-view1020="4" data-view750="6" data-view640="4" data-view480="8" data-view320="4" data-layout1200="left" data-layout1020="left" data-layout750="left" data-layout640="left" data-layout480="center-link" data-layout320="center-link"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">EU Legislation in Progress</span></div> </div> </h2> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false" spellcheck="false"> <p>‘EU Legislation in progress’ briefings analyse the progress of all substantial legislative proposals at each stage of the legislative procedure.</p> </div> <div class="ep-a_links ep-layout_titlehidden"> <div class="ep_list"> <div class=""> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_page ep-layout_page"><a href="https://epthinktank.eu/eu-legislation-in-progress/" target="_blank"><span class="ep_name"><span class="ep_linklabel">EU Legislation in Progress</span><span class="ep_hidden">: </span><span class="ep_hidden">Go to the website</span></span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="4" data-view1020="4" data-view750="6" data-view640="4" data-view480="8" data-view320="4" data-layout1200="left" data-layout1020="left" data-layout750="left" data-layout640="left" data-layout480="center-link" data-layout320="center-link"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">Topical Digests</span></div> </div> </h2> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false" spellcheck="false"> <p>Topical digests provide fast access to the most pertinent and up-to-date publications on European Union policy issues.</p> </div> <div class="ep-a_links ep-layout_titlehidden"> <div class="ep_list"> <div class=""> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_page ep-layout_page"><a href="https://epthinktank.eu/topical-digests/" target="_blank"><span class="ep_name"><span class="ep_linklabel">Topical digests</span><span class="ep_hidden">: </span><span class="ep_hidden">Go to the website</span></span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep_gridcolumn ep-m_header"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2-large"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" spellcheck="false">Support for the policy cycle</span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></div> </div> </h2> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="8" data-view1020="8" data-view750="12" data-view640="8" data-view480="8" data-view320="4"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <div class="ep-a_media" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320=""> <figure> <div class="ep_media ep-layout_image"> <div class="ep-p_image ep-layout_fixedheight"> <div class="ep_image"><img src="/news/img/fixedheight_thumb.png" alt="" title=""><span class="ep_small" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/EPRS_support_policy_cycle_small.jpg");"> </span><span class="ep_medium" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/EPRS_support_policy_cycle_medium.jpg");"> </span><span class="ep_large" style="background-image: url("/at-your-service/files/stay-informed/research-and-analysis/EPRS_support_policy_cycle_large.jpg");"> </span><span class="ep_icon"> </span></div> </div> </div> </figure> </div> <div class="ep-a_links ep-layout_titlehidden"> <div class="ep_list"> <div class=""> <div class="ep-p_text ep-layout_page"><span class="ep_name"><ul class="ep_list_split"><li><a href="/thinktank/en/home.html" target="_blank"><span class="ep_name">EP Think Tank </span><span class="ep_hidden">Go to the page</span></a></li> <li><a href="http://epthinktank.eu/" target="_blank"><span class="ep_name">EPRS Blog </span><span class="ep_hidden">EPRS Blog</span></a></li> </ul></span><span class="ep_icon"> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridrow ep-o_productlist" data-layout480="separation" data-layout320="separation"> <div class="ep_gridrow-content"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="4" data-view1020="4" data-view750="6" data-view640="4" data-view480="8" data-view320="4" data-layout1200="left" data-layout1020="left" data-layout750="left" data-layout640="left" data-layout480="center-link" data-layout320="center-link"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320=""> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">Impact Assessment and European Added Value</span></div> </div> </h2> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" spellcheck="false"> <p>Before parliamentary committees discuss proposals, EPRS provides an initial appraisal of the quality of the European Commission's <strong>impact assessments</strong>. EPRS also analyses the potential benefits of future action by the European Union through 'Cost of Non-Europe reports' in policy areas where common action at European level could benefit citizens.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ep_gridcolumn ep-m_product" data-view1200="4" data-view1020="4" data-view750="6" data-view640="4" data-view480="8" data-view320="4" data-layout1200="left" data-layout1020="left" data-layout750="left" data-layout640="left" data-layout480="center-link" data-layout320="center-link"> <div class="ep_gridcolumn-content"> <h2 class="ep-a_heading ep-layout_level2" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false"> <div class="ep_title"> <div class="ep-p_text"><span class="ep_name" data-visibility480="" data-visibility320="" style="position: relative;" spellcheck="false">Scrutiny and Oversight of the Executive</span></div> </div> </h2> <div class="ep-a_text" data-visibility480="false" data-visibility320="false" spellcheck="false"> <p>Before MEPs discuss a proposal, EPRS provides information on the implementation and effectiveness of EU law and policies in practice. 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