Dossier

The road to the 2024 European Parliament elections

Insights from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung's offices and partners on the 2024 European Parliament elections, the next EU legislative term, and the "super election" year 2024 ✅🗳️🇪🇺

cover of "a digital world worth living for"

A Digital World Worth Living For

Policy Brief
A human-centric digital future is under threat from global competition. This policy brief outlines how Greens in the EU can defend digital rights, foster democratic norms, and build an inclusive, sustainable digital society that empowers citizens and communities.
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“Democracy cannot 'do the magic' and protect itself”

Interview
As part of an EU Democracy research project funded by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union office, Sophie Pornschlegel interviewed European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, during the summer break of the European Commission. In their conversation, Vice-President Jourová reflected on five years of efforts to safeguard democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the EU, amid increasing threats against democracy and a shifting geopolitical context, not least due to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. 
By Sophie Pornschlegel and Věra Jourová

Advancing gender equality: What perspective for the next EU legislative cycle?

Analysis
With the European Parliament elections taking place between on 6-9 June 2024, the European Union stands at a defining moment. The 2019-2024 term witnessed the breakthrough of long-stagnant gender initiatives, but challenges loom large in advancing gender equality in the EU. This article explores the prospects for the policy directions that will shape the gender equality agenda of the next European Parliament and Commission in this context.
By Victoire Olczak

The sustainability of AI beyond regulation: a revival of national strategies?

Commentary
Governments worldwide have been adopting national AI strategies to guide the design of policies for enhancing Artificial Intelligence (AI) development. Through these strategies, many countries have expressed AI’s potential for helping combat environmental degradation, but almost none have reflected on the role of strategies in reducing AI’s own environmental impacts. This article discusses this trend and reflects on how public policies could help make AI development and deployment less impactful.
By José Renato Laranjeira de Pereira

Trade unions, collective bargaining and the green transition in the next EU legislative period

Commentary
The climate emergency is the number one policy priority, requiring a fundamental overhaul of our economic system. During the Val Duchesse Social Partner meeting, the European Commission announced the creation of a Social Dialogue envoy. However, the roles of social dialogue and collective bargaining remain underappreciated, and the European Institutions need to focus on strengthening the role of trade unions in shaping the just transition throughout the next legislature.
By Béla Galgóczi

The EU AI Act and environmental protection: the case for a missed opportunity

Commentary
The AI Act has finally overcome its latest hurdle in the European Union’s legislative procedure after its adoption by the European Parliament. However, a void in its final version draws attention to the weakening of obligations aimed at reducing AI’s environmental impacts, despite the technology’s severe impacts on local communities, fauna and flora, both within and beyond European borders, particularly in the Majority World. This commentary investigates the opportunities missed by EU bodies to address such impacts during the AI Act debates.
By José Renato Laranjeira de Pereira

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