The Gene Editing Race: The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled that gene-edited crops must follow the same stringent regulations as conventional genetically modified organisms. Considering the fierce global competition in biotechnologies, how should the EU adapt its inflexible regulatory packages to the emerging scientific innovations in the field of agricultural genetics?
Real money moves: As their popularity grows at a rapid pace, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and IOTA continue to lack a clear legal or economic definition, thus cannot be considered “money”, according to the European Central Bank. Bearing in mind the ambiguous status of Bitcoin, as well as its increasing involvement in cybercrime, how and to what extent should the EU regulate virtual currencies?
Fill in the gaps: Based on reports from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a minimum of 80 million European workers are mismatched in terms of required qualifications for jobs. In an era where the skill gap is enlarged through digitalisation and the shift to a circular economy, how can the EU conduct Member States into ensuring the stability of the labour market whilst maintaining its run towards innovation?
Better safe than sorry: As of February 2019, new regulations have been implemented against the falsification of medicines in the EU. Usually containing ingredients of bad or toxic quality, these pharmaceuticals pose a real risk to public health. As falsified medicines become more sophisticated and harder to track, how can the EU further ensure the safety of consumers all over Europe?
The E-cigarettes Dilemma: Despite the fact that electronic cigarettes and novel tobacco products have emerged as alternatives to traditional smoking, the European Commission compares them to ‘poison’, affirming the need for a consistent science-based view. Considering that smoking is responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths every year in the EU alone, what stance should Member States take in order to reduce the health risks caused by tobacco consumption?
Hear us out: With the reform on copyright regulations in February 2019, the EU will eventually force platforms such as YouTube, Twitter or Google News to take down user-generated content that breaches intellectual property. How can the EU ensure guaranteed rights for users and creators, while avoiding censorship and limiting freedom of expression?
The atomic divergence: Nuclear power is regarded as a key component of a sustainable energy production model, accounting for over half of the EU’s low-carbon electricity. Yet with radically different energy policies across its Member States and an increasingly negative public opinion among citizens, what stance should the EU adopt on the usage of nuclear power in a long-term perspective?
The digitalisation of health: Despite facilitating cross-border healthcare and an easy access to medical information, the growing popularity of eHealth, especially within national health systems, can pose a significant threat to human rights. In the era of increasing digital loopholes, how can the confidentiality of patients and the security of health-related data be preserved?