Research for the EU and Other Brussels-Based Organisations

People are pictured outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2017.
  • 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.

  • Skull hologram on modern computer background, cybercrime and hacking concept, photo by Igor/Adobe Stock

    Technology and the future of cybercrime

    15 Dec 2020

    To prepare for and mitigate the impact of emerging technologies on cybercrime, Estonia could consider broad anti-cybercrime capacity building; seek legal, regulatory and organisational agility; and invest in technological expertise, skills and research.

  • Mother holding baby and working at her computer, photo by Burlingham/Adobe Stock

    Incentivising parents to return to the labour market after parental leave

    25 Nov 2020

    Employers in the EU have a wide range of options to incentivise parents of young children to return to work. Government policies addressing the unequal distribution of unpaid (care) work and reducing the gender pay gap would also help increase the employment of mothers.

  • Hand raised to stop violence, photo by artit/Adobe Stock

    What factors encourage witnesses of intimate partner violence to help?

    13 Nov 2020

    Numerous factors discourage witnesses of intimate partner violence to report to the police or other relevant authorities. Strengthening protection for witnesses and including the option to report anonymously may help encourage witnesses to help.

  • amsterdam, coffee shop, cannabis, maria, marijuana, bar, libero, libertà, canna, olanda, paesi bassi, orange, città, canale, luci rosse, quartiere, proibito, legge

    Evaluating the closed coffeeshop chain cannabis experiment in the Netherlands

    07 Jul 2020

    Researchers are examining the possible effects of a new experiment to cultivate and deliver quality-controlled cannabis through a closed supply chain for coffeeshops in the Netherlands.

  • Close-up of police body camera, photo by Lutsenko Oleksandr/Adobe Stock

    Assessing the impacts of digital government transformation in the EU

    26 Jun 2020

    A case study on the use of body worn cameras by police forces in the UK offers an example of how governments can potentially take advantage of emerging digital technologies to address systemic challenges.

  • Computer keyboard with VOTE keys

    The benefits and drawbacks of remote voting solutions

    25 Jun 2020

    RAND Europe and Open Evidence examined the extent to which remote voting solutions—particularly internet voting—are employed in the European member states. The research identified the costs, risks and challenges associated with seven remote voting options.

  • Equal pay for equal work and the gender pay gap

    06 Mar 2020

    The European Parliament is exploring legislation around pay-transparency measures. Such measures have a clear potential to address unjustified or discriminatory wage gaps, but certain disadvantages need to be considered in implementing them.

  • Engineer showing apprentice how to use drill in factory

    Building evidence on EU defence-related skills

    24 Feb 2020

    An examination of the shortages and mismatches in EU defence-related skills found that a focus on cross-cutting technical skills, domain-specific skills, skills relating to new and emerging technologies, and soft skills could help the industry address existing and future skills gaps.

  • Doctor holds out hands in front of tech screen with 'like' icon, photo by wladimir1804/Adobe Stock

    Assessing the use of new technologies for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control

    14 Jan 2020

    RAND Europe is providing research and support for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for the assessment of new technologies for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control over the next two years.

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

    Supporting the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy

    14 Jan 2020

    In support of the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy, researchers are examining various aspects of the relationships between platforms and their business users: terms and conditions, ranking of search engine results by algorithms, pricing, access to data by platforms, and more.

  • Abstract globe with blue lights and networks, photo by imaginima/Getty Images

    Measuring migration using big data

    12 Dec 2019

    Social media data may help decisionmakers to 'nowcast' migration flows and stocks of migrants. A team of researchers attempted to develop a method of measuring real-time mobility and migration. The results of the study were promising.

  • Doctor working with modern computer interface map, photo by maxsim/Adobe Stock

    Assessing digital technologies for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control

    02 Dec 2019

    Research into up-and-coming technologies is intended help to improve situational awareness and inform the coordination of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)’s infection control in response to outbreak events.

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

    Assessing EHR for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control

    02 Dec 2019

    Electronic health records (EHR) data could greatly help infectious disease surveillance, but their use varies across Europe. Researchers are mapping 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 2019

    Researchers are examining the availability of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices to diagnose the 56 communicable diseases and related health issues currently under EU surveillance, and mapping trends in the use of POCT in Europe.

  • Shoes and arrows pointing in different directions on asphalt floor, photo by Delphine Poggianti/Adobe Stock

    Scenarios help explore the future of education and youth in the EU

    25 Oct 2019

    Researchers developed a set of scenarios to explore the future of education and youth in the EU, and found that personalised learning policies could be helpful across all scenarios if funded sufficiently and targeted appropriately. Supporting and reinforcing the teaching profession is also key.