Local and regional success stories of investing in disaster resilience

The world is currently facing a water crisis driven by overdemand, mismanagement and the impacts of the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Alarmingly, 40% of the global population resides in regions confronting water scarcity.  In the southern Mediterranean, particularly within the MENA region, the situation is even more dire. This area … Continued

  Since February 2022, the war in Ukraine has significantly reshaped the geopolitical landscape and exacerbated the multiple challenges and tensions in the Mediterranean region. The conflict has highlighted the vulnerability of traditional energy supply routes, and the need to reassess future energy development strategies in the Mediterranean region. Like the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical uncertainties … Continued

  The COVID-19 pandemic, the war right on our doorstep, the devastating floods in Slovenia, wildfires in Greece and Cyprus, relentless heatwaves in Italy and Spain, to name just a few: all of them highlight the need to better prepare for, cope with and recover from disasters and crises. It is one of the most important challenges for … Continued

  The study will contribute to the reflection on possible policy solutions to affordable sustainable housing in the EU, by examining a number of initiatives taken at (sub)national level innovating in the field of housing and determining how these could be relevant in a European context. The current challenges surrounding the availability of affordable and … Continued

The study's primary objective is to collect and supply economic information from existing official economic and statistical databases, as well as to gather primary data from national authorities. The study will also conduct macroeconomic analysis for country-specific VAT compliance and policy gap estimations and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the study will include up to five case studies on specific countries and/or topics, to be proposed by the contractor in their technical offer. Geographically, the study will cover all EU Member States, subject to quality checks for data reliability and robustness. This includes coverage of the United Kingdom during its time as an EU Member State. In addition, the study will test and implement, where possible, the inclusion of EU candidate countries and possible candidate countries, except for Türkiye. These countries include: • Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia1 (candidate countries at the stage of accession negotiations); • Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Candidate countries for which the Council has decided to open accession negotiations); • Georgia (candidate country); • Kosovo (potential candidate country). The study's temporal scope will cover primarily a 6-year period, comprising: • a comprehensive review and revision of ‘full estimates’ for the first four years, i.e., for 2019-2022; • a new ‘full estimate’ for the fifth year, i.e., for 2023; • provisional ‘fast estimates’ for the sixth year based on simplified methodology for 2024. In addition to the 6-year coverage, the study will provide a historical context by reporting on VAT compliance gaps from 2000 onwards, and VAT policy gap estimates, including its components, from 2016 onwards. This will provide a comprehensive timeline of these indicators. The study will also include a review of the economic and policy context, also including an outlook beyond this 6-year period.

The study aims to provide further information regarding the uptake and economic consequences of introducing wealth-related taxes. The purpose of the study is to shed further light firstly into recurrent wealth related taxes by (i) reviewing the conditions for the implementation of a net wealth tax and its consequences, to provide a detailed literature review on recurrent capital taxes in the EU and analyse their economic consequences; and secondly (ii) to provide an overview of existing non-recurrent wealth related taxes, namely, by providing an overview of capital taxes, inheritance and gift taxes and the existing exit tax provisions in the field of personal income taxation (including relevant statutory references), and how these interrelate with and complement the legal framework of taxing net wealth and capital gains. The study builds on previous research work mapping wealth taxes and estimating the consequences of their introduction. It is structured along two parts comprised of two and three workstreams respectively, related to the topics outlined above. Part 1 – Recurrent taxation, Workstream 1 – Net wealth taxes Part 1 – Recurrent taxation, Workstream 2 – Capital taxes Part 2 – Non-recurrent taxation, Workstream 3 – Capital taxes Part 2 – Non-recurrent taxation, Workstream 4 – Inheritance and gift taxes Part 2 – Non-recurrent taxation, Workstream 5 – Exit taxes

The primary objective of the “FUTURE FOR ALL - Advancing Cross-Generational Collaboration through Futures Literacy (FFA)” project is to encourage active participation of citizens in the life of their respective neighborhoods with a specific emphasis on promoting intergenerational cooperation. The project addressed to elderly and youth residing in youth sociotheraphy centres (and the educators of the respective groups) identifies specific objectives: Face social problems between generations and contributing to lifelong learning Fight stereotypes, improve mutual knowledge and understanding Transfer of knowledge between Norway and Poland, and exchange of experience in applying futures thinking tools in working with intergenerational group Equip seniors and (socially maladjusted) youth with Futures Literacy tools to help them achieve developmental goals for their life stage Raise awareness of the local environment and a sense of responsibility, and agency to improve it To achieve these goals, the project intend to leverage the innovative approach of Futures Literacy to empower and engage the two crucial demographics. Futures Literacy is a concept and methodology developed by the UNESCO that presents an altered perspective on how to perceive and engage with the future (UNESCO, n.a.). It is a cognitive skill and a framework designed to enhance one’s capacity to comprehend, navigate and shape the complex and uncertain nature of the future. Apart from Futures Literacy approach the project will use additional activities designed to address key issues and encourage intergenerational collaboration such as: anti-stereotype and integrational workshops to provide a platform for both generations to openly discuss and challenge stereotypes that may hinder effective collaboration and understanding Urban Game Design: The elderly will take the lead in designing an urban game for the youth, offering them an opportunity to explore and connect with the city they know from a different perspective Planting activity: A shared activity of planting flowers will be organised to foster active citizenship and environmental awareness among the groups. Intergenerational trip: Organisation of a day trip to a museum or a concert chosen by either the elderly or the youth hold immense potential for interesting experiences among the participants The activities planned in the project support intergenerational cooperation, leverage the strengths of different age groups, creating a synergy that is particularly relevant in the context of modern world. By promoting understanding, collaboration, and mutual support among generations we can collectively adapt to and address the complex challenges of today’s rapidly changing world. The project will also strengthen bilateral cooperation between Poland and Norway in the area of building social capital in local communities. It will be achieved by a Polish and a Norwegian organisation that will combine their experiences in supporting active citizenship in their various environments and by using their different areas of expertise. Funding: Fund for Bilateral Relations, hereinafter referred to as the “FBR” the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 and Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021 Project Leader: CASE Project Partner: Fremtenkt