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A new idea to “equip the EU Parliament” with a scientifically-based service could not come at a better time: nearly 75 years after the signing of the initial European Communities’ founding Treaties (turning to presently Union of 27 states, with all its sub-unions), it is in serious trouble. But presently widely deployed numerous AI models are available to assist both politicians and decision-makers to reach almost optimal solutions to modern challenges and problems.
Background
The “scientific move” is expected to “beef up” Parliament’s science and research capacities, which follows a rejig of the sectoral “communications” bodies and department, and aims to “ensure structured collaboration with the academic community”. The initiative would enabling the members of the Parliament (MEPs) to consistently access a network of experts who can ensure timely input of high scientific quality at every stage of the executive, administrative and legislative processes. according to a note from the EP’s secretary-general.
Some experts say, that what was once a union of quasi-independent national economic “powerhouses” has turned now into a “stagnant collection” of countries lagging behind dynamic global rivals from the US and Asian states. Popular discontent is fueling growing political polarization and the rise of ultranationalist leaders and extreme right groups, additionally shaking the Union’s fundamental values. Thus, the world-wide prized European welfare state model and “social market economy’s concept” are at risk of being destabilized by a rapidly aging population and rising migration; the latter, actually could help addressing the continent-wide demographic crisis, though at a high cost.
Experts are aware that the European continent’s looming economic problems, as well as military conflicts the EU is involved, coped with the resurgence of the far right and a growing discontent from the US longtime ally, many traditional European political power figures have found themselves not only sidelined, but less powerful and even disoriented.
Quite interesting that prominent Politico, suggested three categories of “influential capacities” among the present political elites: a) doers (those most adept at imposing their will), b) disrupters (those shaking up the status quo), and c) dreamers (whose bold ideas are driving the conversation). At the very top sits the most powerful person in Europe, someone who embodies all three traits of influence in a way that feels especially resonant this year.
Citation from: https://www.politico.eu/article/politico-28-class-of-2025-methodology/
The list of the most powerful persons in Europe can be seen in: https://www.politico.eu/politico-28-class-of-2025/
EP’s scientific advisers’ service: initial steps
The right-hand- Udo Zolleis – of the main EP’s Peoples Party’s chief Manfred Weber, is presently on a shortlist of candidates to become the director for the future Parliament “service” uniting academia, researchers and foresight within the three powerful co-legislative EU institutions. The new position has been created for him, some officials said.
The European Peoples Party (EPP) is “composed” of MEPs from, e.g. Germany’s Christian Democrats, Spain’s People’s Party and France’s Les Républicains, etc.
As the largest pan-European party, the EPP has an outsized influence in Parliament and the European Commission; it is the grouping from which Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hails.
More in:
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-election-2024-matters-more-than-ever/
At the end of November, the Parliament’s vice presidents were due to sign off on the shortlist of candidates for the Parliament’s research service boss’ position. But while the EPP seems to have it all sewn up, other political groups in the EP (about 5-6 most influential) are expected to raise serious concerns, as all parties are trying to take an active part both in occupying the high EP’s consultative position and in the work of the “service”.
Officially, as Politico confirmed, the expected new department’s head (Udo Zolleis) has been created as part of a bigger reshuffle of the EP’s administration that aims to allocate more resources to the Parliament’s scientific-policy-making functions.
Besides, U. Zolleis has a side job lecturing at the University of Tübingen, and some have suggested that the new post will be based in Strasbourg for his convenience (it’s just 2.5 hours from Tübingen). Another vital factor is also likely: Parliament is increasingly sending non-legislative posts to Strasbourg to fill up the gargantuan Osmose building that the French government forced it to rent in 2023.
European way to future through the scientific projections
European Environmental Bureau adopted in September 2024 an “action plan for hope”, which could provide a testing ground for a new EP’s “science’s service; the plan included the following urgent actions:
= Embracing the vision of “living well within the planetary boundaries”, which means that the European Pact for the Future (aka “green and social deal for a one-planet economy”) will guide the EU’s political priorities, with a specific flagship action: i.e. to continue prioritizing “green and just transition” towards climate neutrality, zero pollution and thriving nature.
= Chart an ecological transformation: fully address the linked triple planetary climate, biodiversity and pollution crises. Flagship action: Table an Action Plan for 2030 with commitments for the ecological transformation needed by 2040 and 2050 and address areas of insufficient progress. Address the legislative gaps, ramp up ambition, and remove barriers to tackling the existential threats to households and humankind.
= Reduce resource use and seize: Circular Economy (CE) opportunities; shift to a wellbeing economy. Flagship actions: Fast track the CE by resource use and material footprint reduction targets and resource efficiency measures.
= Refocus the economy on wellbeing and healthy peoples’ priorities: replacing the Stability and Growth Pact with a Wellbeing and Sustainability Pact and adjusting the European Semester to put environmental and social justice goals at the heart of EU economic governance; create the fiscal space for countries to make investments in the transition. Fast-track: towards a one-planet Economy
= Support sectors in becoming resilient and competitive on sustainability. Flagship actions: Ramp up support for skills development, training, job creation and research in key sectors of the green and climate neutral economy. Invest in smart electricity grids and wider infrastructure to help vanguard sustainable companies prosper. Design and launch a policy package for sustainable food systems. Strengthen chemicals legislation and implementation to support human health, catalyse innovation, and avoid toxic supply chains.
= Drive system changes through investments, fair taxation and distribution. Flagship action: Commit to a Social and Green Investment Plan for the Green Deal transition. Reform taxation and pricing to ensure fairness and distribution, putting in practice the polluter pays principle.
= Make the safe and sustainable choice the easy choice for people and business. Flagship action: Use both supply and demand policies, and increase policy coherence and cooperation across all levels of government to create the right “service and product environment” – the physical, economic, political and socio-cultural context within which citizens operate to make their choices. Citizens should be able to choose the sustainable options by default, whether for mobility, housing, energy, food or other necessary consumables. Revise sustainable public and corporate procurement policy to champion the market transformation.
= Promote a “Just Transition” concept and develop a new social contract to leave no-one behind. Flagship action: Commit to an EU-wide strategy and results-orientated social protection plan with monitoring via the European Semester to address inequalities and end poverty, ensure minimum income for all, systematically social proof policies to take account of gender, economic and other inequalities.
= Strengthen environmental democracy and give a voice to youth and others too often forgotten.
Flagship actions: Support and promote the adoption of an additional Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights recognising the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; Implement a European Civil Society Strategy and civic dialogue, with a focus on younger generations and marginalised groups, and innovations in participatory democracy. Show solidarity and embrace responsibilities.
= Support and manifest solidarity across an enlarging EU. Flagship action: Roll out the green and just transition in candidate countries to support fossil- fuel independence, decent work, health and security with due legal, administrative and financial support. Reform EU governance to ensure decision-making is not undermined by EU enlargement.
= Commit to global justice and drive partnerships to face common challenges. Flagship action: Take responsibility for and scale back Europe’s negative externalities and resource exploitation, lead on global diplomacy for multilateral solutions and green-deal type partnerships and systematically push for the respect for the international rule of law.
= Implement and enforce EU legislation to protect the rule of law and our health. Flagship action: Set up an Implementation and Enforcement Action plan, with strong focus on an unerring commitment to upholding the rule of law across the EU.
= Strengthen EU governance and trust in the European Project. Flagship actions: EU strategy to combat disinformation, weed out inappropriate influence by vested interests, and strengthen public accountability. Appoint a Commission Vice president for the European Green Deal and Social Investments, a VP for Just Transition and a Commissioner for Youth and Future Generations.
Source and citations from: https://eeb.org/library/european-pact-for-the-future-the-action-plan/