This document is part of a series of Comparative Law studies that analyze the freedom to conduct a business in different legal orders around the world. After a brief historic introduction and a presentation of applicable legislation and case law, the content, limits and possible evolution of this freedom are examined. The subject of this study is Canada’s federal legal system. While the freedom to conduct a business is a common law right, it does not possess supralegislative status. Nevertheless, various constitutional rules — including those arising from Canada’s federal structure and from the Charter of Rights — afford a degree of protection to businesses and to business activities. The study notes the pervasive influence of federalism on business regulation in Canada. The rules allocating responsibility between the Parliament and the provinces do not affect only the level of government at which regulatory laws are enacted, but also affect the form and content of those laws. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

A European digital product passport (DPP) could enhance textile industry traceability, circularity, and transparency. This study focuses on the possibility to introduce a DPP, framed within the European Union's strategy for sustainable and circular textiles. It examines the potential, needs, benefits, and challenges associated with deploying a DPP for all stakeholders throughout the European textile sector's value chain. A DPP could benefit all actors in this complex value chain, including producers, supply-chain tiers, regulatory authorities, sorters, recyclers, and consumers. To enhance EU textile industry traceability, sustainability and business strategy, identifying where added value can be generated is crucial. This research is grounded in a review of regulatory texts, scientific literature and existing initiatives, and proposes a generic DPP model for the textile sector. Drawing on a survey of over 80 stakeholders, it gathers essential insights and outlines a three-phase deployment scenario with policy options aimed at fostering a circular economy to minimise the sector's overall footprint. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Resolutions are an essential way for the European Parliament to express its views on political processes, EU policies and developments in the world. Parliament also uses them to scrutinise other EU institutions, including the European Council. The need for accountability and increased scrutiny of the European Council has been a constant theme in the European Parliament's resolutions throughout the 2019-2024 legislative term. The increased need to scrutinise the European Council also results from the changing role of the institution over recent years. Based on an analysis of Parliament's resolutions, this briefing will present the need for democratic oversight of the European Council and outline the different tools at Parliament's disposal to do so. It provides a unique overview of the content of Parliament's resolutions addressing the European Council and the messages it sends to EU leaders. Finally, the briefing identifies potential ways of further strengthening Parliament's scrutiny of the European Council. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Moves towards closer European integration have altered the role of the national parliaments. A number of instruments for cooperation between the European Parliament and the national parliaments have been introduced with a view to guaranteeing effective democratic scrutiny of European legislation at all levels. This trend has been reinforced by provisions introduced by the Lisbon Treaty. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The free movement of goods was bolstered by eliminating customs duties as well as other non-tariff barriers. Principles like mutual recognition and standardisation further advanced the internal market. The 2008 New Legislative Framework enhanced the movement of goods, EU market surveillance, and the CE (European Conformity) mark. Yet, challenges on internal market harmonisation remain, as the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors can still hinder the full free movement of goods. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Information and communication technologies (ICTs), as well as data services, now surpass traditional telephone services in importance for both consumers and businesses. With the surge in on-demand content and 4G/5G growth, the EU has introduced a telecommunications regulatory framework. This encompasses all types of telecommunications, including broadcasting. Research indicates that these services contribute EUR 86.1 billion to the EU’s GDP annually, with new measures potentially adding another EUR 40 billion. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Intellectual property includes all exclusive rights to intellectual creations. It encompasses two types of rights: industrial property, which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs and models and designations of origin, and copyright, which includes artistic and literary property. Since the entry into force of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) in 2009, the EU has had explicit competence for intellectual property rights (Article 118). Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Fisheries in Europe's marine environment use different types of mobile and static fishing gears that come into contact with the seabed, including mobile bottom-contacting gears (MBCGs) towed through the water and across the seabed. This study explores: the innovative gears that could be deployed as an alternative to the exclusion of bottom trawling in EU marine protected areas (MPAs); the efficacy and feasibility of implementing such innovations; and the environmental and socioeconomic effects on maintaining and restoring biodiversity. The study shows that mitigating the impact on the seabed with innovations will likely not suffice to reach the conservation objectives. Given the lack of voluntary uptake, the most promising innovations would have to be made mandatory. It recommends that MBCGs be excluded from the designated MPAs deemed vulnerable to bottom fishing. So far, innovations for lighter-impacting gears or solutions not affecting catch rates are lacking. This induces a net increase in impact when fishers increase effort to compensate for loss in catch efficiency. Excluding MBCGs likely comes with only a limited displacement effect, which might be larger if future MPA designation were to better match sensitive features needing protection. For now, discontinuing the use of other fishing techniques such as passive gears is not required, as they do not impact MPAs where vulnerable seabeds are found. However, some MPAs will be sensitive to passive gears, and these techniques should be limited there if innovations do not reduce the bycatch of vulnerable species to levels deemed acceptable under the EU common fisheries policy and Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The European Council consists of the 27 Heads of State or Government of the EU Member States, who are voting members, together with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, who have no vote (Article 15(2) Treaty on European Union). The chart shows the current members, the national office they hold, their most recent European political affiliation, and the year their membership began. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

This infographic provides an insight into the economic performance of Indonesia compared to the EU and looks at the trade dynamics between them. Indonesia’s economy managed to maintain sustained growth after the 2020 economic recession. The EU’s GDP growth, on the other hand, faced a slowdown starting in 2022. Divergent trends are also found in the foreign direct investment and remittance net inflows. For the former, Indonesia presents a more stable time series; for the latter, the EU remittances net inflow is more stable. The EU’s trade with Indonesia has shown a generally upward trend, with a sharp increase after the 2020 global economic slowdown. EU's main exports are mechanical appliances and electrical equipment, while Indonesia's primary export is agri-food. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The internal market is an area of prosperity and freedom, providing access to goods, services, jobs, business opportunities and culture. Continuous efforts ensure its further expansion bringing benefits for EU consumers and businesses. The digital market opens up opportunities to boost the economy via e-commerce and cuts red tape through e-governance. However, challenges still persist, for example, in the way in which COVID-19 reintroduced obstacles to the four freedoms (free movement of goods, services, capital and persons). Drawing lessons from the pandemic, the EU Single Market Emergency and Resilience Act is intended to preserve the free movement of goods, services and persons, as well as the availability of essential goods, and render the EU single market resilient in the event of future crises. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The freedoms of establishment and service provision are pivotal for business and professional mobility within the EU. The complete implementation of the Services Directive is crucial for solidifying the internal market, but obstacles still persist. The COVID-19 pandemic added new challenges. In response, the European Parliament passed a resolution in February 2022, outlining how economic recovery after COVID-19 can best mitigate the negative effects on these vital freedoms. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The field of direct taxation is not directly governed by European Union rules. Nevertheless, a number of directives and the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) establish harmonised standards for taxation of companies and private individuals. Moreover, actions have been taken to prevent tax evasion and double taxation. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Individual citizens’ rights and European citizenship are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EUCFR), the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 9 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). They are essential factors in the formation of a European identity. In the event of a serious breach of basic values of the Union, a Member State can be sanctioned. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Since the entry into force of the Treaty of Maastricht, every EU citizen and all natural or legal persons residing in the Member States have had the right to submit a petition to the European Parliament, in the form of a complaint or a request on an issue that falls within the European Union’s fields of activity. Petitions are examined by Parliament’s Committee on Petitions, which takes a decision on their admissibility and is responsible for dealing with them. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

This is the sixth edition of the EPRS's rolling check-list on review and monitoring clauses in EU international agreements. It is designed to serve as an implementation monitoring tool for the European Parliament. As such, it gives an analytical overview of the various review and monitoring clauses, management and implementation clauses, reporting clauses, consultation clauses and sunset clauses contained in the bilateral and multilateral agreements the EU has concluded with third countries. Complementing the April 2023 edition, the dataset of this sixth edition covers all international agreements signed between 1 January 2023 and 31 May 2024 – those in force, those with a clause for provisional application, and those that have expired. The dataset is preceded by an update to the fifth edition's analysis of the European Parliament's role in the negotiation, conclusion, monitoring and implementation of EU international agreements. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The European Council meeting on 27–28 June 2024 has a full agenda. As the current EU institutional cycle draws to a close, it marks a critical moment in launching the new cycle. EU leaders will discuss, and likely agree on, high-level appointments to EU institutions, including on the proposed candidate for European Commission President. They are also set to adopt the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, outlining the EU's political priorities for the coming five years. They will also discuss Ukraine, security and defence, Middle East, competitiveness, migration and Georgia. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The concept of European Union (EU) citizenship was formally introduced into the EU constitutional order by Article 8 of the Treaty of Maastricht (today Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, TFEU). This form of citizenship is additional to national citizenship and does not replace it. However, the introduction of European citizenship took over two decades to reach fruition – from discussions in the early 1970s up to the 1992 Maastricht Treaty. This briefing examines the formative phase in the development of European citizenship, from the early 1970s to the 1984 Draft Treaty establishing the European Union. It highlights key milestones, including the 1975 Tindemans Report, the 1979 European elections, and the Spinelli Project of the early 1980s, emphasising the European Parliament's role in this process. Despite lacking substantial legislative power at the time, Parliament introduced crucial ideas that shifted the discourse from a market-centred to a politically oriented concept of citizenship. Leaders like Tindemans and Spinelli were instrumental in this transformation, striving relentlessly – though only partially successfully – to move beyond the nation-state and market integration as the ultimate reference points for European citizenship. Their efforts laid the groundwork for the more comprehensive notion of European citizenship that would eventually emerge during the Maastricht negotiations, indicating how these early debates marked a significant step towards democratising European integration and enriching the debate on European citizenship. This is the first in a series of briefings looking at the role of the European Parliament in the development of European citizenship, ranging from the 1972 Paris Summit to the 2003 Draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

This briefing provides a summary of the recent economic developments in the EU Member States and gives an overview of relevant economic projections forecasted by major international and EU institutions. Annex 1 includes latest GDP data and forecasts for all EU Member States and Annex 2 the latest inflation data and developments. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The European Union's research and innovation (R&I) policy has become central in the attempt to safeguard the EU's technological sovereignty, ensure prosperity, and advance social, economic and environmental sustainability. Various challenges persist nevertheless, from ageing populations and health hazards to (economic) security and the climate crisis. In addition, underinvestment in R&I is a shared concern across Member States, although to varying degrees. To reach the EU's spending target for R&I of 3 % of the EU's annual gross domestic product, the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument and its main spending tool, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), could play a vital role in providing additional funding to Member States. To emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis and benefit from these resources (channelled partly into R&I ecosystems), countries have drawn up individual national recovery and resilience plans (NRRPs). As a funding condition, Member States needed to address at least a significant subset of the European Semester's country-specific recommendations and foster the green and digital transitions, by achieving the milestones and targets linked to the measures agreed in their NRRPs. The RRF is financing over €47 billion worth of R&I measures in the NRRPs, but the focus on R&I investment differs across the plans. In this briefing, six case studies (either investment or reform measures) in R&I from individual recovery plans have been analysed. These measures range from investing in sustainable agriculture (Portugal), to reforming and integrating research, development and innovation organisations in the European Research Area (Romania). Each of the assessed case studies has been linked to one of the six R&I policy guidelines developed by the European Commission. The briefing also touches on other financing opportunities for R&I under the traditional multiannual financial framework. Experts point out that NGEU might contribute to closing the innovation and underinvestment gap between Member States and the EU's 3 % target. The European Parliament supports an ambitious EU-wide R&I policy, and continues to ensure transparency and democratic scrutiny in the implementation of the NGEU recovery instrument. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Ce document s’intègre dans une série d’études qui, avec une perspective de droit comparé, visent à faire une présentation de la liberté d’entreprise dans différents ordres juridiques. Après avoir expliqué le droit positif et la jurisprudence d’application, le contenu, les limites et la possible évolution de cette liberté sont examinés. La présente étude a pour objet le cas de la Suisse. La liberté d’entreprise n’est pas expressément garantie en Suisse. Ni la jurisprudence ni la doctrine n’utilisent cette terminologie. La liberté du commerce et de l’industrie, puis la liberté économique sont les libertés pertinentes dans le contexte helvétique. La Constitution fédérale du 18 avril 1999 garantit la liberté économique, laquelle englobe la liberté d’entreprise. Ainsi, le Tribunal fédéral a rendu plusieurs arrêts de principe protégeant diverses composantes de cette dernière. La place des entreprises dans l’économie est prise en compte et protégée non seulement par le droit constitutionnel, mais aussi par le droit infra-constitutionnel. La liberté d’entreprise est confrontée à de nombreux défis. Si elle est protégée en Suisse, elle subit néanmoins de nombreuses restrictions. La plupart des domaines du droit suisse sont pertinents à cet égard et forment un cadre au sein duquel est exercée et peut se développer la liberté d’entreprise. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The EU's digital decade connectivity target is designed to ensure that by 2030 a fixed gigabit network of a very high capacity (1 Gbps) will be covering all EU households and that all populated areas will have 5G. This would enable the deployment of a high-quality digital infrastructure underpinning almost all sectors of a modern and innovative economy, while also ensuring that citizens and business can reap the benefits of the internet of things, machine-to-machine technologies, cloud computing and big data. In April 2024, the EU co-legislators signed the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA), a regulation that reviewed and replaced the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive. The regulation should facilitate and encourage the provision of networks of a very high capacity by promoting the joint use of existing physical infrastructure and enabling a more efficient deployment of new physical infrastructure, so that such networks can be rolled out faster and at a lower cost. The GIA was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 8 May 2024 and entered into force on 11 May 2024. It will be fully applicable from November 2025. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On 17 June, the European Council members met for an informal dinner to discuss the results of the 2024 European Parliament elections and possible candidates for the leadership positions in the coming EU institutional cycle. The Heads of State or Government did not come to any decision on the appointments, and indeed they were not due to take any formal decision at this stage in the procedure. High-level discussions will now take place between the European Council and the European Parliament, as well as between the political families. The EU leaders are expected to agree on the package of high-level EU posts, and on the political priorities for the next 5 years, at the formal European Council meeting on 27 28 June 2024. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Exposure to 'forever chemicals', air pollution, stress and many other factors depends on where a person lives and their lifestyle choices. These exposures combine over the course of a lifetime, affecting human biology and health. The 'exposome' concept offers a framework for understanding and analysing this complex reality, and ultimately for informing the shaping of evidence-based policy on chemicals, food and the workplace, as well as on pollution, public health and the environment more generally. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Several EU directives dealing with equality require EU Member States to establish equality bodies to assist victims of discrimination and to fight discrimination more broadly. However, their rules are general and do not define these bodies' duties and operation, leading to disparities among Member States. Additionally, some Member States' bodies have experienced a lack of resources, limited independence or a narrow remit. To address this situation, in December 2022 the European Commission published a proposal, under the ordinary legislative procedure, setting standards for equality bodies involved in fighting discrimination on grounds of sex in the area of employment, in parallel to another proposal, under the consent procedure, on fighting discrimination on other grounds. The proposal focusing on equality bodies also sought to reinforce their independence, resources and mandate. Overall, stakeholders welcomed the proposal but suggested changes. In trilogue negotiations, the co-legislators agreed on an amended text affording more flexibility to Member States by taking into account their institutional and legal setups. Parliament endorsed the agreement in its April I 2024 plenary. Council adopted the act on 7 May. The act was published in the Official Journal on 29 May and entered into force on 18 June 2024. The transposition deadline is set for June 2026. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Several EU directives dealing with equality require EU Member States to establish equality bodies with a focus on assisting victims of discrimination and preventing and fighting discrimination more broadly. However, their rules are too general with regard to these bodies' duties and manner of operation, leading to disparities among Member States. Additionally, the work of some bodies has been hampered by lack of resources, insufficient independence or a narrow remit. As part of a package of legislative measures on equality adopted in December 2022, the European Commission published a proposal setting standards for equality bodies fighting discrimination on the grounds enounced in Article 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The proposal also sought to reinforce the equality bodies' independence, resources and mandate. Stakeholders welcomed the proposal but suggested specific changes to its provisions. On 20 February 2024, the Council agreed unanimously to request the European Parliament's consent on an amended text, which is substantially identical to that agreed in trilogue negotiations for the parallel proposal under the ordinary legislative procedure dealing with discrimination on grounds of sex. The plenary endorsed the act in April 2024, and the Council adopted it on 7 May. It was published in the Official Journal on 29 May and entered into force on 18 June 2024. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly designated 20 June as World Refugee Day, to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention on to the Status of Refugees. It is a day to honour the courage of people who have been forced to flee their homes to escape conflict or persecution. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

According to United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) estimates, the number of migrant children increased from 24 million in the 1990–2000 period to 36 million in 2020. In 2022 alone, some 35 200 children arrived in southern European countries. Of them, some 23 500 (67 %) were unaccompanied or had been separated from family members during the journey. A child may be unaccompanied or get separated for various reasons, including persecution of the child or parents; international conflict and civil war; human trafficking and smuggling, including sale by parents; accidental separation from parents during the journey; and a search for better economic opportunities. There is a comprehensive international legal framework on children's rights and their protection in place, yet irregular migrant children, especially those unaccompanied or separated from their parents during their journey, face numerous obstacles and challenges during and after migration. These include a heightened risk of sexual exploitation and abuse, military recruitment, child labour (including for foster families) or detention. In many countries, children are routinely denied entry or detained by border or immigration officials. In other cases, they are admitted but denied access to asylum procedures, or their asylum claims are not handled in an age- or gender-sensitive manner. The vulnerable situation of unaccompanied and separated children worldwide, and the threats they face, need to be addressed, particularly in view of the constant rise in their numbers. Applying the 'best interests of the child' principle, EU asylum law offers special protection to such children, and the EU has adopted numerous instruments and identified key actions for the protection of all children in migration, including those who are unaccompanied or who have been separated from their parents. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The roles of the EU institutions in negotiating and concluding international agreements, and the procedural steps, are set out in the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The European Parliament's role corresponds to its law-making competences under the Treaties. If an international agreement falls exclusively within common and foreign security policy (CFSP), Parliament has no active role, but must still be informed at all stages by the Council, the European Commission or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. If an international agreement does not fall exclusively within the CFSP, Parliament's specific powers depend on whether the agreement's substantive legal basis corresponds to an area of competence covered by the ordinary legislative procedure or special legislative procedure (SLP) with consent; if so, Parliament has the power to give or refuse consent to the conclusion of the agreement. If the agreement falls within the scope of an SLP where Parliament does not need to give consent, its role is limited to giving an opinion. Parliament is also entitled to call on the Court of Justice to verify ex ante whether an envisaged agreement is compatible with the EU Treaties. The 2010 framework agreement on relations between the European Parliament and the European Commission was a key step in developing Parliament's role in the negotiation and conclusion of international agreements. The agreement provides for Parliament to be informed from an early stage of negotiations on an international agreement, and for Members of Parliament to participate as observers in negotiations. The Commission undertook to keep Parliament informed on the entire negotiation process, with particular emphasis on agreements that fall within Parliament's power of consent. Parliament's Rules of Procedure lay down detailed procedural arrangements for the exercise of Parliament's competences in concluding international agreements, in particular for verification of the legal basis of an envisaged agreement that impacts Parliament's powers. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

At the constituent plenary sitting of the new parliamentary term (16-19 July 2024), the European Parliament will elect its 32nd President, to hold office for the first half of the 10th parliamentary term, until January 2026. The President has an important and increasingly visible function in the EU institutional and international setting, mirroring Parliament's influential role as shaper of EU policies and as co-legislator. This further updates an 'at a glance' note of January 2022. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The members of the European Council – the 27 EU Heads of State or Government, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission – will gather in Brussels for an informal meeting on Monday 17 June to consider the results of the European Parliament elections of 6 9 June 2024. The European Council has an important role to play at this point in the institutional cycle; the meeting marks the starting point for the appointment process to the EU's highest ranking positions (namely European Commission President, European Council President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy). While no final decisions are expected, EU leaders may set out the procedure they envisage for the process, which they aim to complete at their next formal meeting, on 27 28 June 2024. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

There have been six multiannual financial frameworks (MFFs) to date, including 2021-2027. The Treaty of Lisbon transformed the MFF from an interinstitutional agreement into a regulation. Established for a period of at least five years, an MFF is there to ensure that the EU’s expenditure develops in an orderly manner and within the limits of its own resources. It sets out provisions with which the annual budget of the EU must comply. The MFF Regulation sets expenditure ceilings for broad categories of spending called headings. After its initial proposals of 2 May 2018 and in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, on 27 May 2020 the Commission proposed a recovery plan (NextGenerationEU) that included revised proposals for the MFF 2021-2027 and own resources, and the setting up of a recovery instrument worth EUR 750 billion (in 2018 prices). The package was adopted on 16 December 2020 following interinstitutional negotiations. In the light of new developments, the MFF was revised in December 2022 and then again more substantially in February 2024. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Medicines and medical devices are subject to the rules of the single market and have a direct impact on people’s health. A robust legal framework is in place to protect public health and guarantee the safety of these products. Access to affordable medicines, the fight against antimicrobial resistance, the ethical conduct of clinical trials, the use of artificial intelligence in medical devices and incentives for research and development are just some of the key issues the EU deals with in this field. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Taxation is a prerogative of the Member States, the EU having only limited competences. As EU tax policy is geared towards the smooth running of the single market, the harmonisation of indirect taxation was addressed before that of direct taxation. Efforts to combat the problem of tax evasion and tax avoidance then followed. EU tax legislation must be adopted unanimously by the Member States. The European Parliament has the right to be consulted on tax matters; for budgetary-related issues it is even co-legislator. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

This report investigates how the EU should deal with shockflation - inflation unleashed by shocks to systemically significant prices such as energy and food. We argue that the ECB’s monetary policy is not an adequate instrument to deal with this kind of inflation. Therefore, the EU currently lacks adequate governance structures. The EU should develop a new inflation governance framework that targets shocks to systemically significant prices directly, before they are propagated through the economy. This document was provided/prepared by the Economic Governance and EMU Scrutiny Unit at the request of the ECON Committee. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP