Research for the EU and Other Brussels-Based Organisations

People are pictured outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2017.
  • Hands holding seedlings, implying modern sustainable agriculture, photo by Worawut/Adobe Stock

    Developing future scenarios for the sustainable use of pesticides

    12 Jul 2022

    There is a complex landscape surrounding pesticide use, which needs to be addressed holistically across all contexts, including political, legal, economic, societal, technological and environmental. The inherent variation across regions must also be considered, in an increasingly globalised context.

  • Puzzle with flags of Netherlands and the UK, photo by luzitanija/Adobe Stock

    How the Dutch approached Brexit

    17 May 2022

    Britain's departure from the EU, or Brexit, has had a considerable impact for the Netherlands. Researchers are conducting an independent evaluation of the Dutch government's response to Brexit.

  • Marijuana leaf and stethoscope. Photo by amedeoemaja/AdobeStock

    New insights into the medical use of cannabis

    17 May 2022

    Researchers are examining the latest developments and available evidence concerning the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids for the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.

  • Magnifying glass over map of Europe, photo by amazing studio/Adobe Stock

    Truth Decay in Europe

    17 May 2022

    Using the framework of RAND's original 2018 Truth Decay study, which focused on the United States, researchers uncovered evidence for the trends, drivers and consequences of Truth Decay in Europe. As the phenomenon is less pervasive than in the US, however, they also suggest actions to slow its growth.

  • The socioeconomic impact of poor indoor climate on health and life satisfaction

    22 Mar 2022

    Poor indoor climate can result in a higher risk of health and wellbeing disorders, especially in children, the elderly and those with existing health conditions. Exposure of Europeans to damp, mould, and insufficient daylight in residential buildings could cost €53 billion over the next 30 years.

  • Flower tributes for the victims of the March 22, 2017 terrorist attack at Westminster Bridge, Big Ben and British Parliament, photo by Pawel Pajor - photobboy/Adobe Stock

    The evidence on measures to prevent and mitigate terrorism attacks using vehicles

    08 Mar 2022

    Researchers identified legal, practical and technological challenges to preventing vehicular terrorism and offered an assessment of future threats and vulnerabilities.

  • Smoke free environment sign in a forest, photo by Michel Piccaya/Adobe Stock

    Smoke-free environments and the advertising of tobacco and related products

    04 Jan 2022

    Although EU member states are generally compliant with national rules on smoke-free environments and tobacco-related advertising, some areas require closer scrutiny, including protecting children from the harms of smoking.

  • Group Of Elementary Age Schoolchildren In Music Class With Instruments

    European Platform for Investing in Children identifies 'practices that work' across member states

    29 Dec 2021

    Reflecting the European Commission’s policy focus on children at risk, EPIC evaluates and disseminates practices that improve outcomes. RAND Europe's latest EPIC policy memo examines juggling work and childcare during the pandemic.

  • Stethoscope on tablet computer with digital images, photo by BillionPhotos.com/Adobe Stock

    Assessing EHR for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control

    10 Dec 2021

    Electronic health records (EHR) data could greatly help infectious disease surveillance, but their use varies across Europe. Researchers mapped EHR use to assess the feasibility of using EHR data for infectious disease surveillance.

  • Medical devices on grey background, photo by New Africa/Adobe Stock

    Assessing POCT for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control

    02 Dec 2021

    Researchers examined the availability of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices to diagnose 56 communicable diseases and related health issues under EU surveillance — not including COVID-19 — and mapped trends in the use of POCT in Europe.

  • 5G network with high speed motion blur, photo illustration by Tierney/Adobe Stock

    5G supply market trends

    23 Aug 2021

    An in-depth analysis of plausible developments of the 5G equipment and services supply market looking out to 2030 identified four potential trend scenarios and analysed economic, technological, environmental, and societal impacts for each.

  • Sad woman with head in hands, photo by Photoboyko/Getty Images

    Combatting psychological violence against women across the EU

    23 Jul 2021

    Commissioned by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), researchers are conducting a study to help strengthen the institutional capacity of the EU and member states to combat psychological violence against women and coercive control.

  • Mobile-digital communication concept, illustration by j-mel/Adobe Stock

    Supporting the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy

    09 Jun 2021

    In support of the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy, researchers produced two analytical papers discussing issues relating to approaches taken to identify online platforms with significant market power and developments concerning business-to-business platforms, and emerging cloud services.

  • Two engineers using CAD programming software on laptop, photo by Monkey Business Images/Adobe Stock

    Improving working conditions using artificial intelligence

    08 Jun 2021

    Increasing investment in technology and computer literacy, and updating existing labour market and employment rules and regulations, could enable AI to reduce human exposure to harmful and hazardous workplace conditions and create more quality and decent jobs.

  • Filter cigarettes on a heap of loose tobacco, Photo by Maren Winter info@maren-winter.de/Adobe Stock

    Identifying an approach to measure the illicit market for tobacco

    11 May 2021

    To capture the total volume of the illicit tobacco trade in the EU and member states, as well as distinguish between the legal and illegal market, types of tobacco products, and types of illicit trade, researchers propose a combination of five methods and three cross-validating resources.

  • Conceptual representation of the protection and interaction of the personal data of the inhabitants of the planet and industrial data using artificial intelligence and the Internet of things, photo by kosssmosss/Adobe Stock

    How AI can support the European Border and Coast Guard

    29 Mar 2021

    Three baseline gaps should be addressed to maximise the opportunities provided by artificial intelligence in European border security: knowledge gaps between stakeholder groups; organisational, structural, cultural and expertise gaps; and broader gaps in the evidence base.

  • A pack of banknotes in hand with a face value of five hundred euros, photo by Evgeny Savchenko/Adobe Stock.

    Assessing the economic value of illicit markets in the EU

    22 Mar 2021

    The aggregate annual revenues of the nine main criminal markets in the EU ranged from €92 to €188 billion in 2019, according to research that examined the scale, actors, modus operandi and trends in these markets.

  • Hands of women and a child on opposite sides of window pane, photo by Jevanto Productions/Adobe Stock

    Examining COVID-19 and intimate partner violence

    08 Mar 2021

    Researchers identified 27 practices that—to varying degrees—have ensured the continuity, accessibility and sustainability of support to women victims during the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Overlapping silhouettes of hands in a watercolour , photo by smartboy10/Getty Images

    Examining child participation in EU political and democratic life

    22 Feb 2021

    An examination of how children participate in decision-making processes across the EU — including at the member state and local level — highlights both challenges and opportunities for improvement. The most successful schemes to promote children’s participation are inclusive, impactful and child-led, but societal views and attitudes can present barriers.

  • Mining of gems, gold and sapphires in the Ihorombe Region of Madagascar, photo by homocosmicos/Adobe Stock

    Identifying conflict-affected and high-risk areas for EU importers of minerals

    16 Dec 2020

    RAND Europe is developing and maintaining an updated list of conflict-affected and high-risk areas to facilitate the calibration of due-diligence efforts made by EU importers of specific metals and minerals.