EU policy news

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This section summarises recent EU policy news and opportunities that are relevant to geoscientists. It includes recently passed legislation, EU funding opportunities and EU Commission consultations.

The tags on the right-hand side of this page can be used to easily locate open EU funding calls sourced from the EU’s participant portal and the EU Commission consultations that are most likely to be of interest to EGU members. EU consultations allow individuals and organisations to provide expertise or submit their opinion on a particular issue.

If you would like to inform others about an EU geoscience-relevant news item or opportunity that is not listed below, please forward the details to the EGU’s Policy Officer, Chloe Hill via policy@egu.eu.

5 items found

Call for assistance in creating the Global Network for Geoscience and Society platform!

General policy news
4 June 2021

The newly formed Global Network for Geoscience and Society (GNGS) will address aspects of science-policy while also highlighting non-policy-related opportunities for civic-minded geoscientists to address societal challenges related to natural resource exploitation, environmental contamination, natural hazards, and climate change. GNGS are currently asking for feedback on the design of this new platform that will be guided by input from end-users.You can have your say on this new initiative by contributing to this 15-10 minute survey!

MEPs approve new, more inclusive Erasmus+ programme

General policy news
1 June 2021

On 18 May 2021, the European Parliament adopted ERASMUS+, the 2021-2027 edition of the EU’s flagship programme for education, training, youth and sports. The 2021-2027 programme will have almost double the funding (over €28 billion EUR) compared with the previous programme. ERASMUS+ will now include the “European Universities” initiative, which enables students to obtain a degree by combining studies in several EU countries, as well as the “Centres of Vocational Excellence”, which will create local, internationally connected skills ecosystems. The new programme will also have a green focus with less paperwork and sustainable methods of travel encouraged.

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Council adopts conclusions to improve conditions for research careers in Europe

General policy news
31 May 2021

On 28 May 2021, the Council of the European Union called for mechanisms to support career development and counselling services for researchers in order to address the increasing trend towards precariousness of employment in academia, loss of talent and reduction of job security in many countries. This call also stressed the importance of attracting and retaining talent in Europe and facilitating comparability among researches through the development of a European framework for research careers. Furthermore, it highlighted the importance of fostering intersectoral mobility to provide further opportunities for employment and career development, especially for young researchers.

2021 EU Blue Economy report

General policy news
21 May 2021

On 20 May 2021, the European Commission has published the fourth edition of “The EU Blue Economy Report”, which provides an overview of the performance of the sectors related to oceans and the coastal environment. Emerging activities such as ocean energy, marine biotechnology, and robotics are developing quickly and will play an important role in the EU’s transition towards a carbon-neutral, circular, and biodiverse economy. You can read more about the growth of these sectors, emerging activities, and connections to education and research in the report.

Natural hazard triggered industrial accidents: Are they Black Swans?

General policy news
13 May 2021

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre has published a study that examines whether technological accidents caused by natural hazards (Natech accidents) are “Blacks Swans” (unpredictable and hence unpreventable events). The study discusses possible strategies to reduce these extreme risks, prepare better for their consequences, and make Black Swans more accessible, including risk-based versus precaution-based strategies, disaster incubation theory and warning signals, resilience engineering, scenario planning, and red teaming.

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