38796 research outputs found
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The macroeconomic impact and insights of EU digital investment
Get PDF→ The Digital Agenda for Europe (2010) set in motion the EU's focus on digital technologies for economic growth and prosperity, laying the foundation for a digital single market.
→ The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation, boosting telework, e-learning, e-commerce, and AI adoption driven by data and computing power.
→ This Insight reports the key insights of a mod-elling analysis of €175 billion of digital in-vestment deployed through five EU funds.
→ The analysis suggests that digital investment can have sizeable macroeconomic gains in terms of GDP, net exports and productivity, with territorial heterogeneity that should be taken into account by policymakers when devising the interventions.JRC.B.7 - Innovation Policies and Economic Impac
Use of the Consumption Footprint for overall monitoring and evaluation of environmental impacts of measures under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Product Regulation
Get PDFBuilding on the 2009 Directive on Ecodesign for Energy-related Products, the 2024 Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) has the aim of making sustainable products the norm.
This report proposes a method using the Consumption Footprint (CF) Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) model to conduct (i) periodic ex-post monitoring and evaluations of the environmental impacts of the overall implementation of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and (ii) ex-ante ESPR Preparatory Studies and regulatory impact assessments of product-specific and horizontal measures.
In this context, this report:
1. reflects on the methodological needs (data and modelling) to use the CF for the monitoring and evaluation (both ex-post and ex-ante) of the ESPR, and proposes ESPR-specific amendments to the CF to improve its suitability for overall ESPR impact evaluation use;
2. provides an illustrative example of modelling hypothetical design options within an ESPR Preparatory Study, with textiles (apparel) group of products, as a case study; and
3. gives illustrative scenarios and sensitivity analyses on hypothetical ESPR policy interventions, of the type that might be simulated in the impact assessment phase during considerations of a potential ESPR delegated act. The sub-product group of a T-shirt within the “textiles” apparel product is used as the representative example.
Reflections on how the CF approach could be adapted for future monitoring and evaluation exercises are also given, via creating a library of models for horizontal product-specific ESPR measures, taken from Preparatory Studies based and regulatory Impact Assessments related to ESPR over time.JRC.D.3 - Land Resources and Supply Chain Assessment
Minimum Income Schemes indexation in EU-27
Get PDFThis paper examines the effectiveness of Minimum Income Schemes (MIS) across EU-27 countries during the high inflation period of 2021-2024. Using microsimulation techniques, we analyse how well MIS parameters kept pace with inflation and assess their capacity to protect vulnerable households from monetary poverty. Our results suggest that countries with automatic indexation mechanisms demonstrate superior poverty outcomes with respect to those lacking formal indexation mechanisms or implementing insufficient adjustments. Moreover, in some countries MIS seem able to mitigate a large part of the increase in poverty rates, while in others they have a limited potential to do so, even with optimal indexation conditions. This work demonstrates that the interaction between indexation mechanisms and underlying design features, such as coverage, generosity and eligibility criteria, fundamentally shapes the schemes’ distributional outcomes.JRC.B.2 - Fiscal Policy Analysi
Fishing for wages: remuneration gaps and attractiveness of the EU fisheries sector
No full textWhile fishers are often perceived to earn below-average wages, few studies suggest that those in developed economies can achieve relatively high incomes, potentially due to shared remuneration systems that allow fishers to capture part of the resource rent during economic upturns. This study analyses the gross remuneration of over 130,000 EU fishers, confirming an overall remuneration gap, with most fishers earning 30% to 70% below their national economy averages. However, notable exceptions exist within specific fleets. Using a hedonic analysis, we investigate the factors such as fishing gear, vessel size, and country-specific economic conditions contributing to these disparities. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of comparing fishing sector wages with those in other economic activities to assess the sector’s attractiveness, identify potential labour and skill shortages, underscoring the need for targeted policies to address labour shortages and ensure the long-term sustainability of the EU fisheries workforce.JRC.D.2 - Ocean and Wate
Method for the assessment of circularity aspects and integration in or relation with the Methodology for the Ecodesign of Energy-related Products (MEErP)
Get PDFThe Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which aims to improve the environmental sustainability and circularity of products in the European market, entered into force in 2024. This report contributes to streamlining several intermediate processes that are needed to define ecodesign requirements that will be set in product-specific Delegated Acts.
The revised MEErP – which serves as the basis for the development of Preparatory Studies – is expected to be complemented with the methods presented in this report, which aim to better integrate circularity aspects in the methodology. The role of the EU’s Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) has also been considered in the development of such methods.
The report includes the following methods: i) how to assess the relevance of circularity aspects, ii) how to assess the relevance of the EU OSA, and iii) how to define ecodesign requirements based on circularity aspects, considering potential synergies and trade-offs. In spite of the efforts made in the revision of the MEErP, some methods to assess specific performance requirements in the context of the ESPR still appear to be lacking. Therefore, more efforts should be dedicated to the development of standards or standardised product rules to allow comparability.
The aim of this work, and that of other tasks, is to provide guidance to the study team in the development of Preparatory Studies within the context of the ESPR, specifically on the aspects where this was lacking.JRC.B.5 - Circular Economy and Sustainable Industr
Determination of the total mass fraction of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in Pig Feed
Get PDFThe European Union Reference Laboratory for Feed Additives ‘Control’ (EURL-FA Control) organised a proficiency test (FAC-25/01) for the determination of the total mass fraction of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in compound feed, to support Regulation (EU) 2017/625 [1] on official controls and Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) No 2017/2330 [2], 2017/1490 [3], 2018/1039 [4] and 2016/1095 [5] authorising respectively iron, manganese, copper and zinc as feed additives for all animal species. This proficiency test was open to National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) and official feed control laboratories (OCLs).
The material used as test item was a commercially available compound feed for pig containing, among others, Cu (3b405, Copper (II) Sulphate Pentahydrate), Fe (3b103, Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate), Mn (3b502, Manganese (II) Oxide) and Zn (3b605, Zinc Sulphate, Monohydrate). The pelleted material was milled, homogenised, placed under vacuum in labelled aluminium bags and dispatched to participants. The EURL assessed the homogeneity and stability of the test item, and established the assigned value based on the consensus of three expert laboratories. An assigned value for iron could not be established because of the large scatter observed among the results from the three expert laboratories.
Nineteen NRLs and nine OCLs from sixteen EU Member States and Switzerland registered to the exercise and all but one reported results within the given deadline. Laboratory results were rated using z, z’ and ζ (zeta) performance scores in accordance with ISO 13528:2022 [6]. For Fe, Mn and Zn a relative standard deviation for proficiency assessment (σpt) of 15 % of the assigned value was used; for Cu, present at lower concentration, a σpt of 20 % was selected. The decision was derived from the reproducibility standard deviation reported in standard methods and from the experience acquired in similar previous PT rounds.
The totality of the reported results demonstrated satisfactory performance according to the z or z’ scores. This confirms the capability of NRLs and OCLs to accurately monitor the total mass fraction of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in compound feed.JRC.F.5 - Food and Feed Complianc
The Impact of Financial Support to Firms During Crises: The Case of Covid Aid in the EU
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic caused a global economic crisis, prompting governments to provide substantial state aid. This study examines the effectiveness of Covid-related financial support in Spain and Italy, focusing on its impact on firm recovery. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) approach with propensity score weighting, it compares firms receiving aid to those without. The results show significant benefits for micro-firms, including mitigated turnover declines and increased investments in both tangible and intangible assets. The construction sector particularly benefited from the aid. These findings highlight the critical role of government support in business survival and recovery, especially for SMEs, during the pandemic.JRC.S.3 - Science for Modelling, Monitoring and Evaluatio
Impacts of sea level rise and adaptation across Asia and the Pacific
No full textCoastal communities worldwide face increasing risks from sea level rise (SLR) and more frequent coastal flooding, threatening densely populated areas. This study applies a Coastal Flood Risk Modelling Framework to evaluate permanent inundation from SLR and episodic flooding from extreme events across Asia and the Pacific, while also estimating the costs and benefits of adaptation. Using probabilistic projections of mean and extreme sea levels under five Shared Socio-economic Pathway (SSP) scenarios, ranging from ambitious mitigation (SSP1-1.9) to high fossil-fuel development (SSP5-8.5), the framework integrates hazard, exposure, and vulnerability data to estimate economic impacts. Current annual economic losses from coastal flooding in Asia and the Pacific amount to 143.7 and $197.8 billion just considering SLR effects (depending on the scenario), with further exacerbation by the century’s end. Atoll nations, including Kiribati, Maldives, RMI and Tuvalu will face the most severe losses relative to GDP. These findings underscore the urgent need for holistic adaptation measures including, grey, green and hybrid solutions, adaptive planning, resilient infrastructure, improved governance systems, alongside mitigation policies to reduce future emissions and consequent flood risks.JRC.C.6 - Economics of Climate Change, Energy and Transpor
Pre-qualification of additively manufactured 316L stainless steel using Small Punch and Uniaxial Creep testing
No full textAdditive manufacturing represents a cutting-edge technology that offers significant reductions in both manufacturing time and cost. However, any new technology or material must go through a qualification process before it can be used in the nuclear industry. This article reports on a pre-qualification process of 316L stainless steel manufactured using the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing process. The study compares LPBF 316L, aged, and non-aged materials from two different manufacturers. A small punch creep test campaign at 650 °C was performed at different loads. These tests are particularly advantageous because they require only a small amount of material, making them ideal when material availability is limited. Additionally, standard uniaxial creep tests were performed at the same temperature for comparative reference. A good correlation for the time to rupture–equivalent stress between the two test types was observed, with the equivalent stress calculated using the Small Punch Test EN 10371:2021 standard. A significant finding is that the small punch creep deflection rate curves for LPBF-manufactured 316L exhibit multiple minima, unlike the single minimum observed in forged 316L. This is believed to result from micro-cracking and has important implications for determining
the equivalent stress creep properties, which are based on the single minimum value in the EN 10371:2021 standard. The multiple minima finding suggests that the approach used to determine equivalent stress and strain rate in small punch creep tests in the EN 10371:2021 standard must be re-evaluated to accommodate this complexity.JRC.G.I.4 - Reactor Safety and Component
Quantification of Hotspot Methane Emissions Using Sentinel-5P TROPOMI Observations
Get PDFThis report investigates the ability to determine methane (CH₄) emission rates at facility level using satellite data provided by the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) (Veefkind et al., 2012) on board the Copernicus Sentinel-5 Precursor satellite. Instantaneous plume observations from single satellite images are combined with data-driven inverse modeling to quantify methane emissions from sources such as landfills, oil and gas exploitation, and coal mines.
Three-point source quantification approaches—Gaussian Plume Inversion (GPI), Integrated Mass Enhancements (IME), and Cross-Sectional Flux (CSF)— were implemented using effective wind speeds as driving variables, derived from the Reanalysis v5 (ERA5) data provided by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). These inversion methods are tested for reliability on specific point sources located in Libya, Russia, Morocco, and Spain. CH₄ flux estimates based on these methods are compared with data available in the scientific literature and data provided by the International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) for the same point sources investigated in this report.
Results presented in this report are the initial step towards developing an in-house methodology to estimate methane emissions from hot spots, aiming to provide independent data in support of the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) and the EU’s Methane Strategy.JRC.C.5 - Clean Air and Climat