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PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkylsubstances) are known to be extremely difficult to degrade in the environment and to be bioaccumulative and toxic. Exposure to PFAS is suspected to increase the risk of adverse health effects, such as impacts on the thyroid gland, the liver, fat metabolism and the immune system. This study estimates the socioeconomic costs that may result from impacts on human health and the environment from the use of PFAS. Better awareness of the costs and problems associated with PFAS exposure will assist decision-makers and the general public to make more efficient and timely risk management decisions. Findings indicate that the costs are substantial, with annual health-related costs estimated to 2.8 – 4.6 billion EUR for the Nordic countries and 52 – 84 billion EUR for all EEA countries. Overall non-health costs are estimated at 46 million – 11 billion EUR for the Nordic countries.Upon request the excel spreadsheets used for the monetarisation and valuation in this report can also be provided along with a guidance on how to use the estimation of costs for value transfer. Please contact any of the consultants or members of the steering group from the Swedish Chemicals Agency or the Danish Environmental Protection Agency if you are interested in receiving these excel spreadsheets.

Preface -- Estimates of costs of inaction linked to exposure to PFAS -- Data used for environment-related cost calculations -- The case studies -- National / state screening for PFAS contamination -- The regulatory framework as baseline in relation to PFAS -- References -- Methodology to assess environment and health-related costs -- -- Abbreviations used -- Health impacts - additional information on evidence and calculations -- Introduction -- Conclusions.

Buildings are responsible for 40 % of final energy consumption and 36 % of all CO2 emissions in the EU, and therefore present an enormous potential for contributing to climate neutrality objectives mainly through improvements to their energy efficiency and use of renewable energies for heating and cooling purposes. Given most of the EU building stock was built before 1970, renovation of these buildings is an opportunity to deliver energy savings and further integrate use of renewable energies in the building sector. Furthermore, the benefits of building renovations go beyond the immediate cost savings: they improve living conditions, tackle indoor air quality, create synergies in addressing wider social issues and stimulate local economies by creating jobs. As such, they present a very promising venue of action, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis which pushes Europe to reconcile its transition to climate-neutrality with economic recovery. This study aims to contribute to the on-going discussions by providing an overview of the legal and policy framework in place, existing EU initiatives that can be used by LRAs, barriers to a larger uptake of renovation at local and regional level, examples of good practice at Member State level which have the potential to support the policy work of the LRAs, a selection of case studies from individual projects that successfully tackled the barriers and an assessment of the Renovation Wave Strategy as to what extent it facilitates the efforts at different policy levels. It concludes with recommendations which would help to overcome the barriers.

The aim of this report is to monitor and make public labour mobility flows and patterns in the EU as per Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2016/589 and provide key quantitative information in order to ensure better implementation of initiatives to support the right of workers to free movement. While reports based on different national sources are published from time to time, and EU-wide reports often focus on intra-EU mobility in general, information specifically on intra-EU labour mobility using harmonised and comparable data across the EU is not regularly available. This report, addressing the specific issue of intra-EU labour mobility, is published annually, presenting general information on stocks and flows of all — and specifically of active — intra-EU movers, along with information such as occupational structure, age structure and employment rates. The report also analyses a variety of specific topics, depending on current developments and policy needs

This report presents labour mobility flows and patterns in the EU, as per Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2016/589. It provides key quantitative information to ensure better implementation of initiatives to support the right of workers to free movement. While reports based on different national sources are published from time to time, and EU-wide reports often focus on intra-EU mobility in general, information specifically on intra-EU labour mobility using harmonised and comparable data across the EU is not regularly available. This annual report on the specific issue of intra-EU labour mobility presents general information on stocks and flows of all - particularly active - intra-EU movers, together with information on occupational structure, age structure and employment rates. The report addresses a variety of specific topics, depending on current developments and policy needs.

The latest developments indicate that the large growth in mobility seen in 2015 and 2016, has slightly slowed down. Intra-EU mobility is still increasing but with a slower speed. In 2017, there were 17 million EU-28 movers. This annual report provides updated information on labour-mobility trends in EU and EFTA countries. This year, the report also analyses the qualifications and the household’s composition of the EU-28 movers.

Through major commitments such as the Paris Agreement and its own 2050 Longterm Strategy and the European Green Deal, the European Union (EU) has set out to become a carbon neutral and pollution-free continent by 2050. This strategic vision is inextricably linked to efforts to improve the competitiveness, modernisation and prosperity of the Member States while ensuring that European societies benefit from the change on equal terms. The monumental work needed to achieve these objectives requires nothing short of systemic transformation in all policy fields across all levels of government. As the main level of implementation, local and regional authorities (LRAs) are on the frontline of change and are thus a central element in this transformation. The unfolding health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic and social impacts have created unforeseen challenges for policymakers. In many ways, the impacts of COVID-19 and the subsequent responses are already transforming Europe and will continue to do so in the future. The economic recovery from the crisis, especially under the historical Next Generation EU (NGEU) support package for the Member States, creates a unique opportunity to ensure Europe's resilience, while boosting the green transition. As active agents in designing and implementing policies, LRAs hold the key to successfully recovering from the economic crisis while fulfilling the EU's longterm vision of Europe. It is therefore crucial to understand how instruments such as the Green Deal can be better implemented at local and regional level and how recent developments - both COVID-19 and recovery efforts - have impacted their work towards this vision. This study provides an overview of the policy work that was already accomplished to promote climate neutrality before the COVID-19 pandemic and explores the impact of the pandemic on this work, looking at how early recovery initiatives at EU, national and local level incorporate the ambitions of the Green Deal and the perspectives of LRAs. Building on the findings, it draws key lessons and makes recommendations to maximise the contribution of the Green Deal in supporting local and regional policy action towards climate neutrality, especially in the context of economic recovery.