European Union Intellectual Property Office and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, European Commission, 2022.

Illicit trade in counterfeit goods causes economic damage by reducing sales and profits as well as innovation incentives in legitimate industries. At the same time, some counterfeits can be of low quality and create significant additional risks, including health risks (fake pharmaceuticals or food products), safety risks (counterfeit automotive spare parts, fake batteries) and environmental risks (fake chemicals or pesticides).

European Environment Agency, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

This document is the annual EU emission inventory report under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (Air Convention) (UNECE, 1979). The report and its accompanying data constitute the official submission to the Air Convention from the European Commission on behalf of the EU as a Party to the UNECE Air Convention (Box ES.1). Submission to the Air Convention is done via the UNECE secretariat. The EEA compiled the report in cooperation with the EU Member States and the European Commission.

European Environment Agency, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Cette évaluation recense 36 risques climatiques susceptibles d’avoir de graves effets dans toute l’Europe. Ces risques sont évalués en fonction de leur gravité, de l’horizon politique (délai de réalisation et horizon décisionnel), de l’état de préparation de la politique et de l’appropriation des risques. Elle définit en outre les priorités de l’action politique de l’UE, sur la base d’une évaluation structurée des risques assortie d’aspects qualitatifs, telle que la prise en considération de la justice sociale.

European Parliament, Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services, European Parliament, 2024.

Air pollution is the single most significant environmental health risk in the European Union, causing chronic disease and premature mortality. Some 300 000 premature deaths are caused by fine particulate matter annually in the EU, and the annual economic cost of air pollution is at least €330 billion. Industrial plants are a significant source of air pollution, releasing a wide range of harmful pollutants that can seriously impact on human health and the environment. While previous research has examined the health effects of individual air pollutants, there is a growing need to investigate the health consequences of prolonged exposure and exposure to multiple pollutants, as may occur in locations close to industrial plants.

European Committee of the Regions, Commission for the Environment, European Committee of the Regions, 2024.

Climate change and environmental degradation are recognised as key existential threats to human health. The European Green Deal aims to address these threats, and its associated polices and targets act to improve the health and well-being of citizens across Europe. Actions taken at local or regional level, particularly in cities, are at the core of delivering the ambitions of the Green Deal. Reflecting on the types of local and regional action already taken and investigating successful examples where improvements to the environment and health have been achieved is essential.

European Parliament, Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services, Breuil, G., Diafas, I., et al., European Parliament, 2024.

The European Green Deal, aimed at making the EU climate-neutral by 2050, outlines a comprehensive approach to sustainability, requiring profound transformation across all industrial sectors. Horizon Europe, the EU's foremost research and innovation programme, can be a critical enabler, providing the necessary funding, framework and innovation pathways to support this transition. Employing a combination of desk research and stakeholder consultations, this study evaluates Horizon Europe's alignment with the Green Deal, focusing specifically on Horizon's impact on European industry.

European Central Bank, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.

As part of the supervisory work on the transparency of banks’ risk profiles, the European Central Bank (ECB) is publishing its third review of the disclosure of climate-related and environmental (C&E) risks among significant institutions (SIs) and a selected number of less significant institutions (LSIs). The assessment of C&E risk management and disclosures was highlighted as one of the supervisory priorities for 2023-25 and is based on the expectations set out by the ECB in its Guide on climate-related and environmental risks (the Guide), which was published in November 2020 to ensure that the banking sector discloses C&E risks effectively and comprehensively.

European Commission: Joint Research Centre, El Hadri, H., Giechaskiel, B., Al Wasif Ruiz, T., Putaud, J. et al., Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Plastics have been instrumental in providing innovative solutions to society, owing to their versatility, durability, and adaptability. As a result, plastic manufacturing has seen an exponential increase, with global production reaching almost 390 million tons in 2021 (57 million tons in Europe). This surge in plastic production has led to the proliferation of micro- and nanoplastics, which are small plastic particles generally less than 5 millimetres in size. These particles originate from various sources like cigarette filters, textile fibres, cleaning products, personal care items, and also from tyre wear and weathered plastic products. Unfortunately, their small size and persistence have resulted in their widespread presence in land, water, food, and air, posing significant environmental risks and potential threats to human health.

European Commission, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, Van de Velde, E., Kretz, D., et al., Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Measuring performance and monitoring change within an industrial ecosystem are vital components that enable policymakers and industry stakeholders to track progress over time and obtain valuable feedback on whether the system is moving in the desired direction. This report is a contribution to the ‘European Monitor of Industrial Ecosystems’ (EMI) project, initiated by the European Commission's Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs, in partnership with the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Its primary objective is to present the current state and the advancements achieved over time in terms of the green and digital transition of the Agri-Food Industrial Ecosystem.

European Environment Agency, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Countries in Europe have made considerable progress in developing and planning policies to adapt to climate change. However, the pace and scale of adaptation actions needs to increase, as Europe is still not adequately prepared to address the risks posed by climate change. This briefing aims to inspire further adaptation actions across Europe. It presents Climate-ADAPT case studies as a pool of practical examples of implemented adaptation measures. These examples are applicable at different governance levels and policy sectors across European countries and can facilitate peer-to-peer learning.

European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Publications Office of the European Union, 2023.

The quality of the environment we live and work in is a powerful determinant of our health and well-being. Environmental factors such as air, soil and water quality, urbanisation, the built environment, climate change and exposure to chemicals, nanomaterials, noise and radiation have a significant influence in the risk and incidence of disease. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 12.6 million deaths each year (24% of global deaths) are attributable to environmental risk factors. In Europe, environmental risk factors are responsible for almost 20% of the deaths per year. Environment-related disease burden also has significant economic effects. On the other hand, exposure to green and blue environments can have positive impacts on health and well-being. The current state of the natural environment and the emergence of new environmental pressures calls for coordinated and timely action to understand, prevent and minimise the impacts of these stressors on human, animal and environmental health.

European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Muench, S., Whyte, J., Hauer, G., Maleville, A. et al., Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Decision makers are faced with a world characterised by increasing turbulence, uncertainty, novelty, and ambiguity. These conditions make it more difficult to assess risks when making strategic decisions or planning for the long-term. This study presents a foresight approach to increase preparedness for unexpected developments and the risks they could create. Foresight methods offer a way to consider and focus on risks that may be beyond the scope of traditional quantitative and qualitative risk assessment approaches.

European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

Der freie Warenverkehr im europäischen Binnenmarkt ist eine wichtige Errungenschaft, die das Leben der Menschen in der gesamten EU verbessert hat. Alle Hersteller, Vertreiber, Einzelhändler und Online-Marktplätze, die Waren in der EU verkaufen, sind dafür verantwortlich, für die Sicherheit des Marktes zu sorgen. Sie müssen sicherstellen, dass ihre Produkte den Gesundheits- und Sicherheitsanforderungen entsprechen, die für alle Produkte auf dem EU-Markt gelten. Die nationalen Marktüberwachungsbehörden überwachen, ob Unternehmen die Vorschriften einhalten. Entdeckt eine nationale Behörde ein gefährliches Produkt auf dem Markt, so kann sie seinen Verkauf verbieten oder einschränken, es an der Grenze stoppen oder anordnen, dass es zurückgerufen wird.

European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Huygens, D., García-Gutierrez, P., Orveillon, G., Schillaci, C. et al., Publications Office of the European Union, 2022.

Sewage sludge is the residue following the treatment of wastewaters. It contains valuable agricultural resources, but also contaminants and pollutants that may pose risks to human health and the environment. Therefore, sewage sludge spreading on agricultural land is a controversial issue, and the occurrence of this practice varies widely amongst EU Member States. This study aims to assess impacts on the environment and human health from main sludge management routes occurring in the EU.

European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Münch, A., Gorny, H., et al., Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

This study on funding for EU rural areas assesses the role of the CAP 2014-2022 in addressing needs and actions outlined under the EU’s Long-term vision for rural areas (LTVRA) in Europe. This role is considered in the context of Member States’ strategic frameworks, plans or other policies for rural areas. The study also assesses the specific role of the CAP alongside those of other EU funds targeting rural areas (2014-2020), primarily ERDF/CF, ESF and EMFF, and national funds. The study addresses seven evaluation study questions covering three criteria: effectiveness, relevance, and coherence, with most emphasis upon analysis of relevance and coherence. It finds that while the LTVRA covers very diverse needs, they are well targeted by CAP, often through bottom-up approaches and small-scale delivery that reflect regional and local variation in challenges and opportunities.

European Commission, Eurostat, Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.

The EU is fully committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in September 2015. Eurostat monitors the EU’s progress towards the SDGs along a set of 102 indicators. The EU indicator set has been carefully selected in cooperation with a large number of stakeholders based on criteria of statistical quality and relevance in an EU policy context. The indicators are assessed annually over both a short-term (past five years of available data) and a long-term (15-year) period. This report is the eighth in the series. It also looks at the impact of some recent developments in the SDGs based on quarterly and monthly data. In addition, it includes a section on the EU in the world and the spillover effects of EU consumption.

European Committee of the Regions, Commission for Natural Resources, Marcinkowska, I., Maj, A., European Committee of the Regions, 2024.

This study analyses the role of tourism in rural development. It explores the challenges and opportunities for public authorities interested in boosting their rural tourism profiles and making tourism an effective tool for rural development. The study highlights the relationship between the long-term vision for rural areas and tourism policy and describes how to access funds to support such policy developments. It provides a review of good practice examples and evaluates their scalability and potential for reproduction in other regions across the EU.