Influence peddling or trading in influence occurs when an individual who has real or apparent influence over someone else another person exchanges their influence for undue advantage. There are demand and supply sides to this act. The person holding an influential position solicits benefits in exchange for using his or her influence to unduly and unfairly advance the interests of a select third party. An influence peddler receives or accepts the benefit (usually a bribe) from the third party so that he or she can exert her/his influence on another party’s decision. 

Application and Project Selection

Source: EC Rule of Law Report 2021

The 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI shows that EU Member States continue to be among the world’s best performers.

The European Commission has released its second-ever rule-of-law report, which includes updates on how lobbying rules have changed in EU countries in the 10 months since the last report was published. The Commission states  that ‘Lobbying is a legitimate act of political participation,’ and that ‘It needs to be accompanied by strong requirements of transparency and integrity to ensure accountability and inclusiveness in decision-making.’

Spyware is designed to enable secret, unauthorized access to an electronic device without being detected. It can be used to seize control of a person’s phone or computer, potentially exposing where they are, the identity of their sources, their private communications, and more.

Some spyware tools infect a target’s phone via spoof messages that look legitimate and trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link. Others can access a target’s device without their taking any action.

1. Help to close knowledge gaps on climate impacts and resilience, including on oceans, through Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, Copernicus and EMODnet;
2. Improve the state of the art on adaptation modelling, risk assessment and management tools – towards “asset-level modelling”.
3. Promote and support the use of its Risk Data Hub to harmonise the recording and collection of comprehensive and granular climate-related risk and losses data, and promote national level public private partnerships to collect and share such data;

In order to adapt to the impacts of climate change, civil protection organisations need to revise their internal structures and processes in particular. Also new means of communication and education regarding potential hazards can help to reduce negative impacts of climate change and raise awareness for climatic changes.

The Union Civil Protection Mechanism was established in 2001 to improve the EU response to natural and man-made disasters inside and outside Europe. It is governed by Decision No 1313/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.

The plans will be discussed over the coming months by the European Parliament and national governments.

Source: Robert Koch Institute (Germany’s National Public Health Institute)

Basic risk Areas